Head garden volunteer volunteer jobs

Contract length: Permanent

Location: North West London

Hours per week: 35

Salary:  up to £33,700 pa depending on experience

Closing date for applications:  Monday 6 April 2026 , midnight, interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible

Every dog and cat in need deserves expert, personalised care and support, and to be loved. When you work for Mayhew, you understand that better than ever.  We’re a passionate, committed and diverse team of c80 staff and c150 volunteers, here for dogs, cats and communities in the UK, in Afghanistan and in Georgia. We offer expert veterinary care, rescue and rehoming services, programmes in the community and guidance and support to improve the lives of dogs and cats in need.

This is a challenging climate for pet owners; we are contending with a significant increase in demand for all areas of our work. We can only rise to meet this challenge by cultivating and sustaining a diverse volunteer base, including of foster carer volunteers – they make it possible for us to scale our reach at pace so we can be there for many more dogs and cats who need us, and more pet owners who rely on our support.

Volunteering and Foster Caring Manager is a new role at Mayhew, reflective of the importance of volunteering and foster caring in our ability to deliver our onward strategy and direction. This is a highly visible and important role for Mayhew. The postholder will be working across all teams with staff and volunteers, supporters, partners and members of the public.

This role requires an effective leader and manager, with practical subject matter expertise in volunteering good practice, strong organisational skills, and a drive, rooted in passion for both animal welfare and volunteering, to enable Mayhew to reach many more dogs and cats and pet owners who need us by cultivating a thriving, engaged and diverse volunteer base.

Staff and volunteers at Mayhew, particularly in animal facing and public facing roles have duties that can be physically and emotionally demanding, sometimes interfacing with dogs and cats and pet owners who are in distress and facing heart-breaking situations. Yet our work is hugely rewarding; you can view some of our amazing rescue stories here.

We offer a caring and supportive team and the chance to make a lasting difference to the lives of dogs and cats who rely on us.

While we embrace hybrid and flexible working models, interested applicants should note this role requires at least three working days in five to be worked at Trenmar Gardens, NW10 6BJ.

Generally, you will:

• Lead on developing our onward volunteering strategy and plan
• Provide leadership and management of volunteering and foster caring at Mayhew
• Provide support, training and guidance to staff managing volunteers
• Lead on volunteer engagement and communication
• Engage a range of internal and external stakeholders including staff, volunteers, supporters and partners
• Collaborate with the Senior Management Team to ensure delivery of our strategic and operational goals
• Be self-driven and resilient, having a professional, friendly, calm and caring manner

To be successful in this role, you need relevant experience:

• Working in a volunteering management role in a charity or other organisation of comparable breadth and scope
• Leading and living volunteer management best practice, including overseeing policies, procedures and guidance
• Owning and improving volunteering management processes

Please note that successful candidates will be asked to evidence their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor licence therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.

We reserve the right to close this post at any time, should we receive a high volume of applications.

The Head Gardener role offers a unique opportunity to work in a historic and peaceful environment. You will be part of a dedicated team, working closely with colleagues to create and maintain the Palace's beautiful gardens. This role provides a chance to showcase your gardening expertise and leadership skills in a supportive and flexible work setting.

The Head Gardener has overall responsibility for the presentation, management, maintenance, upkeep and agreed development of Bishopthorpe Palace Gardens and line management of the garden staff engaged as employees and volunteers.

This post gives an excellent opportunity to work in a small, friendly, environment, in unusual and pleasant surroundings. Colleagues at Bishopthorpe Palace work as a small and close-knit team and support each other at busy periods with flexibility and good humour. The person appointed will relate directly to the Archbishop, Chief of Staff, Palace and Events Manager and Palace Warden. Working closely with the Assistant Gardener, casual staff and volunteers working in the grounds.

MAIN DUTIES

Responsible for the maintenance and management of the grounds of Bishopthorpe Palace, ensuring that the appearance of the entire garden site is kept to the best standard at all times including:

• Planning and balance of year-round needs of garden/estate.
• Designing the winter and summer annual bedding and arranging the
  purchase and cultivation of the plants.
• Maintaining paths, perimeter and riverbank vegetation
• Hands-on weeding, pruning, dead-heading, plant division and replanting
  where necessary throughout the grounds.
• Directing and assisting in the care, cultivation and maintenance of all
  plants, seasonal planting, borders, shrubs, trees, lawns and ponds.
• Management of wildlife in the grounds.
• Management of the pond.
• Planting of seeds and bulbs and caring for them during the winter.
• Ensure the safety of paths and the grounds during the winter, including
  clearing snow and salting paths
• Hands-on working with the garden team to achieve autumn leaf clearance
  and appropriate disposal.
• Hands-on working with the garden team to ensure all lawns and hedges
  are kept trimmed to the required standard.
• Irrigating all garden pots/planters and ornamental areas, including lawns,
  to ensure good growing conditions.
• Propagation of garden plant material for use in the garden and plant sales at garden events.

• Monitoring and control of weeds and algae in gravel paths, paving, ponds and borders and taking appropriate action.

Responsible for the management of the Palace woodland including:

• the use of chainsaws to fell and crosscut timber.
• monitoring existing trees and re-planting when necessary to ensure the continuation of a safe and healthy woodland.
  

Develop and implement a garden risk management control plan which includes, but is not limited to, the inspection and periodic pruning of trees

Responsible for the purchase, storage, handling and application of pesticides and weed killers used throughout the Palace grounds adhering to current Health and Safety legislation.

Ensuring the garden bothy, garden tool and machinery sheds, potting shed and greenhouse are all kept in a tidy, safe and well-presented manner

Manage the garden budget in conjunction with the Palace and Events Manager and Accounts Manager including:

• Production of an annual budget for expenditure relating to the maintenance and management of the grounds of Bishopthorpe Palace.
• Submitting requests and invoices for expenditure within the agreed budget for Bishopthorpe Palace garden.
• Agreeing expenditure items with the Palace and Events Manager and Accounts Manager in advance.
• Preparation of a schedule of maintenance and replacement for all machinery and tools including annual servicing.

HEALTH AND SAFETY DUTIES

• Attendance at Bishopthorpe Palace H&S meetings.
• Ensure all garden works are in full compliance with Health and Safety at Work and COSHH regulations.
• Ensure all chain saw and garden chemical licences remain current and comply with Health & Safety legislation.
• In consultation with the Palace & Events Manager and Palace Warden ensuring the safety of garden users by regular checks on trees, access areas, steps and paths and reporting or repairing any hazards.
• Responsible for monitoring all personal protection equipment used in the department to ensure expiry dates for critical safety equipment are adhered here.
• Responsible for maintenance of machinery and tools, including annual servicing.
  

LINE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for the line management of the Assistant Gardener.
• Responsible for the line management of casual and volunteer garden staff.
• Overseeing, directing and training garden staff when they are working in the garden.
• Assist the Palace manager with the sourcing, management and supervision of contractors working within the Palace grounds and woodland.
• Assist with the interviewing and appointment of future garden staff.

OTHER DUTIES

• Attendance of regular Bishopthorpe Palace Operation meetings to update on site work by other departments.
• Attendance of management training courses and in-house training and briefing courses when requested.
• Lead on internal and external communications for the Gardening team, including attending office meetings, including the huddle.
• Liaising with the wider Bishopthorpe Palace Estates team to enable maintenance and restoration work via garden areas and agreeing making-good costs for the garden.
• Liaising with the Hospitality team to enable smooth running of their events in both the Palace building and garden
• Dealing with garden enquiries and giving guided tours of the garden.
• Setting up garden open days and attending all garden events at Bishopthorpe Palace as requested by the Palace and Events Manager, to help with stewarding, event presentation and security.
• Helping with the security of the Palace when required, including:
  • Dealing with alarms - subject to their home location
  • Locking external gates
  • Making the Palace and grounds secure.
  • To help with various duties around the Palace as agreed with the Palace and Events Manager.

Volunteer Centre Hackney is a thriving charity (annual income circa £1.1m, with 29 paid staff) providing volunteering infrastructure to the voluntary sector across the City of London and the London borough of Hackney. We support over 1500 residents a year to realise their skills and passions through volunteering and social action, and to share these for the benefit of others. We also provide volunteering resource, and advice and guidance on best practice in volunteer management, to hundreds of charities and community organisations.

Through our specialist programmes, our impact on the lives of residents is huge. We match volunteers to housebound residents to help them engage with communities and leave their homes; we provide long term personalised support to people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities to help them volunteer and find paid jobs; we support patients to deliver hundreds of their own activities and peer support groups at GP practices across City and Hackney; and in partnership with Public Health, we support over 250 Community Health Champions to share vital health messaging with their own diverse communities.  

This is a hands-on and strategic role for an experienced fundraiser who thrives in a small to medium sized charity environment. You will have autonomy to develop a whole new fundraising strategy, utilising diverse fundraising methods, and building and developing new project ideas and partnerships. You will lead on income generation primarily through sourcing and applying to multiple trusts and foundations, but diversified by building new corporate partnerships, community campaigns and individual giving. You will build authentic relationships with funders and supporters, and together with VCH colleagues, will identify new programme models as ways to generate income. You will contribute to the development and production of compelling stories, evidence and marketing and build and maintain the infrastructure needed to track and achieve progress against annual income targets.

Post holders need to have excellent communication skills, to represent the charity in writing and in person. You must be enthusiastic, self-motivating and confident to work primarily alone, but also able to engage and collaborate with staff from across the organisation to share information and impact evidence to support your role. If you are successful in securing funding there will be the potential to recruit additional support, and for you to become the Head of Fundraising of a small team.

Sydenham Garden is seeking to appoint a Grants, Trusts and Statutory Fundraising Lead for two days per week on a fixed term contract for two years. They will join our team of 14 staff and 70 volunteers supporting people living with mental ill-health and dementia in south-east London. 

Position:  Grants, Trusts and Statutory Fundraising Lead 

Contract:  Fixed term for 2 years 

Hours:  0.4 FTE 15 hours per week

Salary: £38,000 pro rata

Annual leave: 33 days including bank holidays pro rata

Location: Sydenham Garden Resource Centre, SE23 2LW or working from home – minimum 1 day a month in office

Application closing date: 9am Monday 13 April 

Interview date: Friday 1 May 

Our Organisation 

Sydenham Garden, based in Lewisham in South-East London, is a special, unique and beloved wellbeing centre utilising its gardens, nature reserve and activity rooms to help people living with and recovering from mental and physical ill-health. We were established in 2002 and will celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2027. We provide nature and arts based creative, social and therapeutic activities for co-workers (the name we give our primary beneficiaries). People are referred to us from community organisations and health professionals and we use an integrative approach where those with different degrees of mental and physical ill health come together with volunteers from the local community to reduce social exclusion and prejudice. Each year we work with on average over 250 co-workers and over 70 volunteers. 

About you 

You’ll have experience in building relationships with a range of Trusts, Foundations and statutory funders, drafting compelling funding proposals and demonstrating impact through high-quality reports. You’ll have excellent communication and people skills and feel comfortable both thinking strategically and managing competing priorities day-to-day. Most importantly, you’ll thrive in a small team working to make a big impact for people living with mental ill-health and dementia. 

Why you should join us  

Sydenham Garden is a small team rooted in our local community, and that community is at the centre of everything we do; from the people we support, to the volunteers and neighbours who get involved in our gardens and our work in all sorts of ways. 

We work collaboratively, support each other across different areas of the organisation, and aren't afraid to try new approaches and learn from what doesn't work. We're values-led, we care deeply about our impact, and we hold ourselves accountable to the people and communities we serve. 

We're also confident advocates for our work, and comfortable making the case for Sydenham Garden to funders, partners and the wider community. 

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

Sydenham Garden is committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). We want to build a diverse and inclusive staff, volunteer and trustee team where everyone feels that they belong and that reflects the profile of the communities we serve. Therefore, we will welcome and consider applications from candidates of all backgrounds and protected characteristics, and we particularly encourage applications from people of African or Caribbean heritage to ensure our staff team represents the communities we serve. 

We are looking for an inspiring Support Services Manager to lead our supported housing schemes, ensuring high‑quality, person‑centred support for women and children across our services.

If you are passionate about transforming lives, improving service quality and leading dedicated teams — we’d love to hear from you.

About the Role

As Support Services Manager, you will:

Lead and develop high‑quality support services

• Provide operational leadership across supported housing schemes
• Ensure trauma‑informed, person‑centred support plans and risk assessments
• Monitor KPIs, contractual compliance and service performance
• Drive service improvement and co‑production with clients

Manage, motivate and develop staff

• Line manage Support Workers and Volunteers
• Ensure supervision, training and performance management
• Support recruitment and staff development across the region
• Build a strong, motivated and skilled team

Champion safeguarding & risk management

• Act as a safeguarding champion across supported housing
• Ensure robust risk assessments, incident reporting and GDPR‑compliant records
• Support staff to maintain the highest safeguarding standards

Ensure housing & compliance excellence

• Work closely with Estates teams to maintain safe, compliant accommodation
• Support quality improvements across physical properties and service delivery

Build impactful partnerships

• Liaise with local authorities, commissioners, health partners and referral agencies
• Represent Life at case conferences, multi‑agency meetings and contract reviews
• Identify and respond to new referral opportunities

Drive quality, governance & reporting

• Produce performance reports and maintain audit readiness
• Support strategic growth and contribute to the department’s business plan
• Promote Life Charity within local communities and public forums

Manage budgets & resources

• Monitor expenditure and support resource planning
• Support with funding bids and service redesign
• Work with finance teams to ensure clients receive appropriate financial support

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

Essential experience & skills

• Experience managing or delivering support and/or care services
• Understanding of supported housing and estates management
• Strong knowledge of support planning, risk assessment and safeguarding
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage at all levels
• Strong organisational, leadership and problem‑solving abilities
• Ability to work independently, handle pressure and prioritise workloads
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• Full UK driving licence

Desirable

• Relevant housing qualification (e.g., CIH Level 4)
• Experience working in a charity environment
• Experience in troubleshooting or service improvement roles
• Good strategic awareness

About Life: 

Life is a national pregnancy support charity that helps over 60,000 people a year. Through our services, we help people – whoever they are – to meet pregnancy or pregnancy loss with courage and dignity so they can flourish. 

Our services include:  

• Supported housing and community support   
• Counselling and skilled listening   
• Free pregnancy tests and baby supplies  

Our values :

All our work is underpinned by the following universal human values: 

• Humanity – All people are special and equal 
• Solidarity – We’re with you and for you 
• Community – We’re better together 
• Charity – Doing good for one another 
• Common good – Building a better world 

Information about the role: 

For further information, please see the attached job description. 

Salary: £34,000 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week over 5 days

Location: Home Based with Extensive Travel across the Midlands and South East England

Benefits:  

At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:  

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours) 
• Birthday Leave  (applicable after 1 years service)
• Additional annual leave for long term service  
• Company Pension Scheme  
• Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge 

Safeguarding and Equality: 

Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.   

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.  

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.  

Context and Purpose of the Role

After five years of dedicated leadership, GROW’s Managing Director is moving on. We are now seeking an exceptional, values-led leader to guide GROW through the next phase of our 2030 strategy and help realise our ambition to become a movement-shaping force within agroecology.

GROW is entering a pivotal stage of growth. Our focus now is on strengthening team capacity, centring community voice, developing pathways to leadership and employment, deepening hyper-local networks, and contributing more visibly to the agroecology sector.

With strong financial foundations, a committed team, and a long-standing partnership with a progressive secondary school, this is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation uniquely positioned at the intersection of farming, education, and community action.

The Managing Director will provide clear strategic direction and overall leadership, ensuring GROW remains responsibly-governed, financially resilient, and grounded in its agroecological values. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, they will nurture and inspire a multidisciplinary team of 16 employees and freelancers, strengthen key partnerships, and guide the organisation’s continued development and impact.

Job Title: Managing Director
Reports to: Board of Trustees
Salary: £48,000-£53,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full Time, 40 hours per week (9am-5pm with 1-hour paid lunch break)
Location: Hybrid. Minimum 3 days a week on site at The Totteridge Academy, Barnet Lane, N20 8AZ (more days on site expected for the first 3-6 months)
Pension: GROW participates in the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST) pension scheme and contributes 3%.
Benefits: 30% off all GROW Farm produce, annual training budget, subsidised lunches, and a generous holiday allowance of 28 days plus bank holidays.
Probation period: 6 months

GROW is a site-based organisation, and our farm sits at the heart of everything we do. We are looking for a Managing Director who is as comfortable talking with students, volunteers and visitors as they are shaping strategy and leading the organisation’s future. This is a role for a thoughtful, adaptable and hands-on leader who can hold the big picture while staying closely connected to our farm, outdoor programmes and the communities we work alongside.

Leadership at GROW is practical, relational and rooted in place. One day you might be gathering feedback from our Student Board of Advisors, listening to how our programmes are working for the young people who shape them. The next, you might be at the farm stall chatting with local community members selling jars of GROW’s homemade pickles. The Managing Director helps ensure that these everyday moments remain central to the organisation.

The successful candidate will lead a small, committed team of 16 staff, nurturing a culture that is collaborative, knowledgeable and grounded in our values. They will guide GROW’s strategic direction while staying attentive to the daily rhythms of farm and school life that make it a vibrant place for learning, growing and connection. 

Trustees recognise the breadth of this role and are committed to strengthening the organisation’s operational capacity. An early priority for the new Managing Director will be to shape and secure support for an additional capacity-building role that complements their leadership and enables GROW to thrive in the years ahead.

1. Strategy, Governance & Risk

• Provide overall leadership and strategic development of the charity.
• Oversee and report on organisational performance to the Board of Trustees quarterly.
• Ensure charity policies and legal guidelines are up to date, clearly communicated, and embedded in everyday culture.
• Ensure statutory filings (e.g. Charity Commission, Companies House) are accurate and timely.
• Maintain and regularly review the organisational Risk Register and report key risks and mitigations to the Board.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, including charity law, employment law, data protection, health & safety, safeguarding, and environmental regulations.
• Lead on crisis management and serious incident reporting.
• Prepare high-quality written reports for Board and sub-committee meetings.
• Advise Trustees on strategic opportunities, risks, and sector trends. Support Trustee recruitment, induction, and development.
• Enable Trustees to fulfil their governance responsibilities effectively.
• Engage relevant professional expertise where appropriate to support decision making. 

2. Operations, Education & Farm

• Ensure operational resilience, deputising and covering critical functions during staff absence.
• Work closely with Education Leads to develop the quality of our educational
• programmes, ensuring they align with agroecological principles.
• Ensure thorough Risk Assessments are completed, communicated, and
• implemented for all activities and programmes.
• Support the income generation strategy for the Farm.
• Support the Farm Manager with infrastructure development, including planning permission applications.

3. Finance & Fundraising

• Act as the main point of contact for the charity’s accountants.
• Develop and oversee organisational budgets, leading annual budget-setting and ongoing monthly, quarterly, and forecast reviews.
• Develop and deliver the annual income generation and fundraising strategy with the Head of Fundraising.
• Oversee effective impact reporting with the Head of Fundraising.
• Develop and implement plans to improve cost-efficiency.
• Support the completion of large and complex fundraising bids.

4. Partnerships

• Act as the main point of contact for GROW’s key partner, The Totteridge Academy (TTA), and the Academy Trust, United Learning, to ensure the partnership is effective and positive.
• Build and develop partnerships with schools, youth services, local authority, community growing networks and organisations to support the long-term development of educational programmes and participant recruitment and local environmental impact.

5. Marketing & Profile

• Oversee the charity’s overall marketing and communications strategy.
• Retain strategic oversight of all core marketing and communications, including the press opportunities, charity’s website, printed materials, and promotional content, ensuring that GROW’s voice, values, and impact are communicated clearly and consistently.
• Build and enhance the charity’s public profile through events, speaking engagements, and external representation.

6. People, HR & Safeguarding

• Manage and support the team to effectively perform their roles and develop within GROW, ensuring staff are fully trained and confident with organisational policies.
• Lead the recruitment and onboarding of all staff in line with Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Safeguarding policies, and Safer Recruitment best practice.
• Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead and ensure compliance with any safeguarding requirements set by partner school, The Totteridge Academy.
• Be rigorously mindful of child safeguarding at all times, embedding safeguarding policies in everyday culture and remain up to date with relevant legislation and training.
• Oversee HR processes including appraisals, performance management, and professional development.
• Develop progressive internal systems, policies, and training that promote a fair, inclusive, and supportive workplace, grounded in our agroecological principles.
• Ensuring the organisation is GDPR compliant and acts as the Data Protection Lead.

7. Values & Culture

• Act as a role model for GROW’s guiding agroecological principles and organisational values in all internal and external relationships.
• Create a supportive, nurturing, high-trust culture in which staff and freelancers can thrive.
• Champion a culture of reflection, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Centre community voice in decision making, governance, and organisational strategy

Direct reports:
Farm Manager
TTA Education Lead
Senior Facilitator
Head of Fundraising
Freelance Programme Leads

This job description is not exhaustive; as a small and evolving charity, flexibility is essential and all staff are expected to take a hands-on approach and support wider organisational needs where required.
 

Person Specification

Essential Personal Qualities

• Strong alignment with GROW’s mission, agroecological principles, and organisational values.
• Ability to lead and nurture a strong, cohesive, and collaborative team intuitively
• and with empathy.
• Resilient and adaptable.
• Calm under pressure.
• Collaborative by nature and solution-focussed in approach.
• Strong commitment to inclusive working practices and social justice.

Essential Experience

• Significant experience working in a Senior Leadership role within a not-for-profit,
• education, and/or environmental sectors.
• Experience of building and maintaining successful partnership work, for example
• with farms, schools, local authorities, funders, and/or community organisations.
• Significant experience of managing and developing staff and freelancers in a
• small team.
• Proven ability to lead organisational strategy and translate it into operational plans.
• Experience working with, and reporting to, a Board or governing body.
• Experience of financial management, including budgets, forecasting, and working with accountants.
• Track record in contributing to fundraising, including securing major bids.
• Strong understanding of governance, compliance, and risk in a regulated environment.
• Experience of safeguarding within an education, youth, or community context.
• Understanding of legal, progressive and inclusive HR systems and policies.
• Ability to develop and oversee marketing and communications that clearly articulate organisational mission, build community engagement and support financial sustainability.
• Demonstrable experience handling and reviewing legal documentation, including contracts, leases, and formal agreements.

Essential Skills & Abilities

• Strategic thinker, able to see and drive forward the “big picture” while managing operational detail.
• Skilled and inclusive people manager, able to motivate, develop, and challenge others.
• Excellent, adaptable and confident communication skills.
• Ability to prioritise and manage a broad and competing workload.
• Effective decision-making and ability to work independently with accountability.
• Strong relationship-builder with credibility across diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to lead teams through change and uncertainty.
• Strong organisational and administrative capability.
• Sound judgement and a high level of discretion when handling confidential or sensitive matters.

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of agroecological farming.
• Experience working with local councils, schools, academy trusts, and authorities.
• Knowledge of charity and regulatory frameworks.
• Knowledge of the local Barnet area.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

At GROW we’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace. All qualified and eligible applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, gender identity or expression, race, national origin, religion or belief,
disability, age, sexual orientation or pregnancy and maternity. We actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities, especially those who are under-represented in the charity and food growing sectors. This includes, but is not limited to, people from the global majority, neurodivergent individuals, and those with a range of lived experiences. 

We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diversity of our community and brings a rich mix of perspectives, skills, cultures, and ways of thinking.

Manager (Chief Executive) – Chorlton Good Neighbours
Location: Chorlton, Manchester
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent, full time

Could you be the steady, friendly, hands-on leader who helps more people in Chorlton feel connected, fulfilled and valued?

About Chorlton Good Neighbours
Chorlton Good Neighbours is a small, well-loved neighbourhood charity with roots back to the late 1960s, working to reduce loneliness and support older people across Chorlton and adjacent neighbourhoods. Our work is local, practical and volunteer-led: befriending, home visits, transport, weekly activities, monthly teas, intergenerational groups and occasional day trips are all delivered with warmth and care.

Our volunteer base is extraordinary - around 100 volunteers support drivers, befrienders, activity leads, admin roles and trustees - and in 2024–25 we supported 474 people in total. Funding is a mixed model of public grants, local donations and modest earned income and the charity holds healthy funds to deliver our work.

This is a practical, hands-on, delivery-focused leadership role: you will lead a neighbourhood organisation through planned transition, preserving the community culture that makes CGN trusted, while introducing proportionate systems and succession approaches that secure its future. You will also spend substantial time supporting and supervising volunteers and facilitating activities alongside strategic duties.

As our next Manager (Chief Executive), you will:

• Strategy & Impact: Lead the development and delivery of a clear long-term strategy that sustains CGN’s neighbourhood impact and reduces social isolation amongst older people.

• Governance & Finance: Strengthen proportionate financial controls, grant monitoring and reporting while working closely with trustees including the Treasurer.

• Operational Leadership: Manage day-to-day delivery of volunteer-led services and introduce accessible procedures and safeguarding arrangements.

• Income Generation: Support fundraising and bid activity to secure multi-year funding and diversify local income streams.

• Community & Partnerships: Act as CGN’s visible ambassador, maintaining and developing relationships with Manchester City Council, NHS partners and local organisations.

• Volunteer Development: Recruit, induct and support volunteers and facilitators, building a resilient volunteer pipeline and clear role pathways.

• Brand & Profile: Promote CGN’s offer across local channels to maintain footfall, attract new supporters and celebrate members’ stories.

• Premises & Risk: Work with trustees on lease and premises issues and maintain a robust risk register to protect continuity of service.

Who you are

• An experienced, hands-on manager with significant experience of running small, community-facing charities or local services and a hands-on approach to operational delivery.

• Demonstrable expertise in recruiting, supporting and retaining volunteers, with confidence in DBS/safeguarding practice and volunteer supervision.

• Highly organised with strong event/activity planning skills, practical problem solving and attention to detail.

• Financially literate - comfortable with budgeting, grant monitoring and basic financial controls and able to work with volunteer finance leads.

• An excellent communicator: approachable, diplomatic and skilled at building trust with older people, volunteers, trustees and statutory partners.

• Values driven, emotionally resilient and committed to inclusivity and dignity in later life.

• Desirable: experience of Age-Friendly programmes or befriending schemes and local credibility or knowledge of Manchester/South Manchester.

Why Chorlton Good Neighbours?

• Meaningful local impact - lead a well-regarded neighbourhood charity with deep community trust and a broad activities programme.

• Strong volunteer culture - join an organisation supported by around 100 committed volunteers and an engaged trustee board.

• Secure footing to build from - healthy funds and a clear focus on securing multi-year funding and premises.

• Hands-on role with strategic scope - keep delivery at the heart of the job while developing proportionate systems and succession planning.

• Supportive transition - trustees have planned a careful handover and you will be supported through induction and the subsequent recruitment of a part-time assistant.

For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via the apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 13th April 2026

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

Learning Disability Community Leader, L'Arche London

ABOUT THE ROLE

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week (including some evening and weekend working, and regular on-call)

Salary: £55,000 (including London weighting)

Reports to: L’Arche UK Director of Care and Communities

Place of work: L’Arche London Community, West Norwood, SE27. Some travel and overnight stays will be required within the UK.

Contract type: Permanent

Closing date: Thursday, 16th April, at midday

Notes: If you have already applied for this role and received an update on your application from us, please do not submit another application.

Main purpose of the role

The Community Leader is responsible for ensuring that the Community is living the mission of L’Arche, by providing excellent and sustainable care and support services, support for  spirituality, and engaging with our neighbours and the wider community around us.

The Community Leader will:

• Lead the Community by responding to the needs, choices and context of our members while being faithful to the L'Arche UK Vision and Values, the L'Arche International Identity and Mission Statement, and to a co-created Community Mandate and plan.
• Maintain and enhance high-quality, person-centred care, support, and housing for people with learning disabilities, both at home and in our day services in partnership with the Registered Manager, the Team in London, the National Leadership Team, individual circles of support, and external partners; 
• Ensure the Community's financial sustainability through robust financial planning and management, including setting budgets, controlling spending, maximising occupancy, negotiating care contracts, growing day services, and spotting fundraising opportunities;
• Foster a culture that maximises the voice and power for people with learning disabilities, building listening and collaboration between Community members with and without learning disabilities;
• Contribute to the national work programmes of L'Arche UK, as part of the National Council, collaborating with Community Leaders of other L'Arche Communities, to share skills, best practice, and resources

Key essential criteria

• Senior leadership experience in support to adults with learning disabilities (or transferable skills and experience in a closely related field);
• Experience in leading, managing, and developing an organisation or large teams to deliver results, maintain compliance and quality, and to respond to risks and opportunities;
• Good financial planning skills and experiences of successfully managing a substantial budget;
• Ability to think strategically and work collaboratively to develop and implement community plans;
• Experience of living or working alongside people with learning disabilities and/or autistic individuals;
• Passionate about person-centred support and the values and mission of L'Arche;

This role is subject to an enhanced DBS criminal record check. 

You may have held these job titles in the past: Registered Manager, Service Manager, Head of Care, Senior Operations Lead, Community Director, Head of Community Services, Country or Regional Lead, Learning Disability Services Manager, Head of Mission and Community Life, Health & Social Care Manager, Local Authority Commissioning Lead;

You can find more details about L'Arche London here.

Additional details about L'Arche can be found here.

Discover what makes L’Arche a rewarding place to work—explore our employee benefits here.

A full job description and person specification can be found in the Recruitment Pack.

To apply, please submit your CV and include a cover letter via our online application form. 

The closing date is: Thursday, 16th April at midday

First round interviews are expected to take place either on 22nd or 23rd April 2026 online via Microsoft Teams.

Second round interviews will take place on 30th April 2026 and will take place within the L'Arche London Community. 

We encourage you not to wait until the closing date to submit your application, as we may begin interviewing strong candidates before then.
We also reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive enough suitable applications.

Please also read our privacy notice for job applicants.

Our Service

Trauma Recovery CIC is a female founded not-for-profit Community Interest Company dedicated to providing vital support services for victims and survivors of trauma. Founded in 2020, our mission is to build a safe, supportive, accessible, and sustainable service for the community.

Butterflies Lived Experience Community is an integral part of Trauma Recovery CIC, bringing together people with lived experience of sexual, domestic and/or relational trauma to form a community that supports each members ongoing recovery journey.

Every member of the Butterflies team has direct personal lived experience of sexual, domestic and/or relational trauma and use their own courage to support others to connect with theirs and use this to fuel their recovery.

The team consists of level 1,2 and 3 Lived Experience Facilitators, Volunteer Ambassadors who come together to support community members and develop the service on a co-production model. 

The Level 3 LEF Role

Our Level 3 LEF role requires a Social Work qualification and registration.

As well as facilitating groups and key working, Level 3 LEF’s take responsibility for:

• Completing initial appointments with new community members to ensure that the team has a good
  understanding of their support needs and that they can be safely supported through Butterflies LEC.

• Mentoring and supporting the Level 1 and 2 LEF’s and Ambassadors

• Working with community members, team members, Trauma Recovery leadership team and partner
  organisations to develop the service.

• Facilitating the understanding trauma programmes

• Providing reporting data to Trauma Recovery CIC Business Operations Lead and working with them to complete
  reports for funders and funding/grant applications.

• Co-chairing the Lived Experience Forum

• Contribute to the newsletters, social media, attend events to promote the service (at times this may require
  attending events outside of usual working hours).

• Ensure that all team members complete required admin accurately and in a timely manner and processes are
  followed.

• Highlight concerns about team members to the leadership team, identify ways to support the team or team
  member and offer the support.

Our ideal candidate

• Is someone who has walked their own recovery journey, experienced therapeutic support as part of this and understands the benefits on both a personal and professional level of therapy and group support.
• They will be a qualified, registered Social Worker with relevant social work experience of co-ordinating a service, mentoring team members and working from a systemic perspective.
• They will have experience of completing risk assessments, keeping records and using software and systems to do this effectively.
• They will be able to communicate and connect with people from a variety of backgrounds, understand their individual needs and work creatively to meet them in way that supports recovery.

How to apply

As well as facilitating groups and key working, Level 3 LEF’s take responsibility for:

• Completing initial appointments with new community members to ensure that the team has a good
  understanding of their support needs and that they can be safely supported through Butterflies LEC.

• Mentoring and supporting the Level 1 and 2 LEF’s and Ambassadors

• Working with community members, team members, Trauma Recovery leadership team and partner
  organisations to develop the service.

• Facilitating the understanding trauma programmes

• Providing reporting data to Trauma Recovery CIC Business Operations Lead and working with them to complete
  reports for funders and funding/grant applications.

• Co-chairing the Lived Experience Forum

• Contribute to the newsletters, social media, attend events to promote the service (at times this may require
  attending events outside of usual working hours).

• Ensure that all team members complete required admin accurately and in a timely manner and processes are
  followed.

• Highlight concerns about team members to the leadership team, identify ways to support the team or team
  member and offer the support.

How to apply

Application is through our website where you will find an application pack with further information about our service and the role. Please read through the pack and complete the application form, when we read your application we hope to read not only about your experiences, but how they relate to this role and our service. 

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust was established 80 years ago and today is one of the UK’s fastest growing charities for nature. We seek to appoint a Digital Marketing Officer to join the communications and public affairs team.

We are looking for a digital marketing expert to lead and boost engagement online, drive footfall to our visitor centres as well as events, and inspire more people across Yorkshire to choose a wilder life. 

This is a role in which you could make a world of difference, by bringing wild experiences to more people through colourful content and stories, leading to positive action for wildlife and driving recognition for our trusted brand. 

Close collaboration with colleagues across the Trust is essential, working with communication, engagement, reserve and visitor services colleagues to promote events, and a growing programme of wildlife-themed festivals and wildlife watching experiences. 

You will have experience of planning and delivering strategy to reach different audiences through channels, as well as creating or commissioning content that reaches audiences with impact. You will have an ability and interest in using analytics to help bring continuous learning and improvement to our activity. 

People tell us that the best thing about working at the Trust is the people and you’ll join a dedicated communications and public affairs team, in the growing fundraising and engagement directorate. 

Yorkshire is home to some of the UK’s most amazing wildlife and wild places but much of it is under growing pressure and facing an uncertain future. We are part of UK wide movement restoring nature, helping people take meaningful action and creating an inclusive society where nature matters. You will have an opportunity to truly make a difference in one of England’s largest regions, to inspire more people to notice, enjoy and take action for Yorkshire’s incredible wildlife and wild places.  

This is an exceptional opportunity at one of the world's most prestigious universities at a time of extraordinary ambition and philanthropic momentum. 

Associate Director of Development – Principal Gifts
Employer: University of Oxford
Salary: £65,336 - £82,255 with scope to go beyond for a leading professional with outstanding experience and track record
Location: Oxford (Hybrid)

Here at the University of Oxford, we are recruiting three Associate Directors of Development – Principal Gifts to join our incredible team. These are new positions, part of an expansion of our friendly, collaborative and successful Principal Gifts team.

As Associate Director of Development – Principal Gifts, you will operate at the highest levels of the University to secure transformational gifts at the eight-figure-plus level, advancing Oxford’s mission and global impact.  Your work will help ensure that Oxford continues to attract the brightest minds, pursue world-leading research, and address the most urgent challenges facing humanity.

You will work closely with the Vice-Chancellor, Chief Development and Alumni Engagement Officer, Director of Development – Principal Gifts, and other senior leaders to align principal gift opportunities with institutional priorities and articulate a compelling case for support to some of the world’s most significant philanthropists.

Your impact will be enduring – enabling breakthrough discoveries, expanding opportunity for students, and strengthening Oxford’s position as a global leader in education and research.  The Associate Director of Development role offers the chance not only to secure transformational gifts, but also to shape the future of Oxford’s philanthropic culture and leave a legacy at an institution that has been changing the world for over nine centuries.

This is a chance to join a dedicated, professional and ambitious team at a time when Oxford’s fundraising is at unprecedented levels. With strong support from the Vice-Chancellor, a proven track record of principal gift success, and an unparalleled global reputation, you will have every opportunity to make your mark, both at Oxford and in your career.

You will be passionate about what we do here, not phased by complexity and ambiguity, and comfortable orchestrating a myriad of stakeholders.  We hope to hear from you!

The University of Oxford is partnering with Erin Hall-Westfall and Joanna Logan of Constellate Global Talent on this search.

Closing date: midnight on Monday, 6 April 2026.

Interested?

Please familiarise yourself with the attached Candidate Pack.
To apply, please submit a CV and covering letter.

Diversity and Inclusivity

The University of Oxford is committed to equal opportunity, and to being a place where everyone belongs and is supported to succeed. We recognise how the diversity of our community enriches our ability to deliver on our academic mission.

We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education. No applicant or members of staff shall be unlawfully discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

No agencies please