Housing manager jobs

Department: COO’s Office
Contract type: Permanent
Salary: Up to £115,000 per annum
Location: Home Based (UK wide travel as required)
Reports To: Chief Executive and Council Chair

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to help lead the organisation through the next phase of its development. Reporting to the Chief Executive and Council Chair, Phil Garrigan, and working closely with the Board of Trustees, the COO will play a critical role in driving organisational transformation and delivery. This will ensure NFCC is well positioned to achieve its ambitious new three-year strategy and delivery plan, including preparations for the proposed College of Fire and Rescue in 2029.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a professional, responsive and agile organisation that is focused on making a real difference to public safety.

NFCC is a charity and membership organisation dedicated to making communities safer by providing national leadership, coordination and professional expertise across UK fire and rescue services. Working at NFCC offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to public safety, national resilience and the continuous improvement of an essential public service.

Operating at the intersection of operational practice, policy, assurance and system leadership, NFCC supports fire and rescue services to collaborate effectively, respond to complex and emerging risks, and maintain the highest professional standards. We work closely with government, regulators, emergency service partners and sector stakeholders to ensure that the collective voice of fire and rescue leaders is influential, credible and evidence-led.

As a values-driven organisation and registered charity, NFCC is committed to ethical leadership, transparency and public benefit. We foster a culture that is inclusive, collaborative and rooted in service to communities. Our people are trusted professionals, empowered to lead, innovate and deliver meaningful impact, supported by robust governance, assurance and accountability frameworks.

NFCC is a modern, agile organisation with a fully remote workforce. This enables us to attract and retain talented individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, while supporting flexible, inclusive and high-performing ways of working. We place strong emphasis on wellbeing, professional development and continuous learning, recognising that our effectiveness depends on the capability, integrity and commitment of our people.

Joining NFCC means working on issues of national significance, influencing the future of fire and rescue services, and helping to strengthen the resilience and safety of the communities we serve. If you are motivated by public service and professional excellence, have a strong focus on delivery and impact, and bring experience in leading business transformation and organisational change, this role offers a challenging and rewarding opportunity to operate at the highest level of leadership.

The Selection Process

How to apply:

If you are interested in this role and think you have the skills and experience we need, please do look at the Job description on the NFCC website.

Candidates are invited to submit their CV and a covering letter setting out how they can meet the requirements set out in the job description. Please email this to the Recruitment mailbox (details found on the NFCC Website) by 23rd April 2026.

Tests for shortlisted candidates are likely to be Week commencing 4th May 2026

Interviews taking place on the 18th & 19th May 2026

NFCC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and will require a DBS check to be completed prior to commencing in post.

NFCC is committed to being an inclusive employer. We comply with the Equality Act 2010, and we believe that everyone deserves to work in safe environments that are free from bullying, harassment and discrimination, abuse, and harm, where they feel supported, welcome, and able to thrive.

NFCC acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard, protect and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice, all staff are expected to share this commitment.

Age UK Westminster is delighted to offer a role within our successful Information and Advice Team, with a focus on supporting Westminster residents from Global Majorities, gaining skills and knowledge to develop your career in I&A.

The successful applicant will benefit from working within an experienced and friendly team. Full training, including completion of Level 3 Information and Advice certification, will be provided. If you are fluent in one of the following languages, Arabic, Somali or Bengali, and would like to  work with us to enable our team to better support non-English speaking Westminster older residents to access our Information and advice service, this could be the role for you.

This is a real opportunity to build a career in Information and Advice. Join us to make a real difference to the older residents of Westminster.

Closing Date: 8th April

Director of Influence and Innovation

Full time (35 hours pw) - flexible working considered

£60,000-£65,000 + pension and benefits

Hybrid, North London (NW5), 1-2 days per week in the office

Women in Prison (WIP) supports women affected by the criminal justice system and campaigns to end the harm it causes.

This is a new role which has been created to provide the vision and direction for our programming and systems change work as we embed our 2025-2030 strategy. Our ambition is to offer women in prisons and the community, impactful direct support that is more independent of government demands and funding, and with a new and deeper partnership model.

Our strategy also challenges us to mobilise women, drive women-led influencing and campaigning and co-design programmes with women with experience of the justice system.  We know we must design and deliver programmatic work that incorporates systems change work so that we are not propping up a harmful existing system.  The problem in the criminal justice system is not the women themselves, but the structures and systems that oppress them. Women in Prison is taking bold steps to design and embed new programmes that build evidence that directly challenge those harmful systems.

In this role you will:

Co-design and deliver quality programmes delivering measurable and impactful outcomes for women

Drive stronger influence and visibility with policymakers, funders and partners

Ensure that evidence from programmes is driving successful campaigns and policy changes

Develop your team so they are empowered, motivated and focused on delivering on the strategy and values of Women in Prison

The successful candidate is likely to bring a proven track record in a senior leadership role within in a charity/NGO in programming, policy, or advocacy. You will be a strategic thinker with the ability to connect operational delivery to systemic change, and bring a track record of success  in influencing policy, funding decisions, and/or public opinion.

Application is by way of CV with a Supporting Statement that should set out your motivations for applying and how your work experience to date meets the scope of the responsibilities. As a general guide, your Supporting Statement should be around two sides of A4.

Closing date: Midnight Sunday 12th April 2026

This role is only open to women, in accordance with the sex-based exemptions of the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.  Due to the nature of our work it will be necessary for an enhanced disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service for details of any previous criminal convictions which are not protected under the Act.

For further information and to apply please click the apply button.

Do you want to use data-driven approaches to bring change to people’s lives? Enjoy meeting new people, helping them, and teaching them new skills? Want to gain new experiences in the diverse and developing homelessness sector? If any of those sound like you, then we would love to hear from you! 

Homeless Link have an exciting opportunity for you to work with data to help thousands of rough sleepers get the help they need. We are looking for a new Database Support Officer to bring their enthusiasm and technical and communication skills to our fast-paced environment, which nurtures future development opportunities.

CHAIN – the Combined Homelessness and Information Network – is a multi-agency database for rough sleeping services in London. It plays a central role in the sector, allowing workers to share information with each other and ensuring their clients get the right support.  It is one of the world’s most comprehensive systems of its kind, and is used for developing London and UK-wide rough sleeping strategy and policy.

This dynamic role requires a flexible skillset, responsiveness, and a willingness to learn. Working collaboratively in our small team, you will:

• Develop relationships with rough sleeper outreach services,
• Help to run the busy CHAIN Helpdesk service,
• Create bespoke reports and statistics
• Facilitate training sessions
• Participate in the ongoing development and improvement of the system

The ideal candidate will combine a genuine enthusiasm for helping others and continuously improving services with great attention to detail, and problem-solving skills. You’ll have a high level of expertise in Excel and some understanding of managing databases. We’ll provide lots of support to develop your skills in using Access and Salesforce, as well as your understanding of data protection policies, and of the work of the homelessness sector.

We are actively seeking to increase diversity within our organisation and would greatly welcome applications from people with lived experience of homelessness, from a black or minority ethnic background and/or with a disability.

For full details of the role and how to apply use the link to visit our website.

Are you passionate about supporting children and young people affected by domestic abuse? Do you want to make a real difference through therapeutic support in a trauma-informed, child-centred environment? Join Acorns as a Mental Health & Wellbeing Project Worker.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and empathetic Mental Health & Wellbeing Project Worker to contribute to the development and delivery of flexible support services which address the psychological and emotional needs of children, young people and families living with the effects of domestic abuse, in North Tyneside and Northumberland. You will help to develop, organise and facilitate key aspects of the service as requested by the Team Coordinator such one-to-one support interventions, group work, and youth participation opportunities in a variety of settings including in-house, schools and community venues. Post is to be predominantly based in Northumberland.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver flexible one to one support sessions, using a range of interventions to assess and positively contribute to the individual wellbeing needs of children and young people impacted by domestic abuse.
• Support service users, particularly within the 11-16 age group to develop personal and life skills, promoting self-esteem and independence, and raising awareness of other support services and opportunities available to them and their families.
• Contribute to the planning and delivery of group work, activities and events, including the continued development of service user participation
• Work in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure coordinated care and refer service users to additional sources of help and protection as needed.
• Adhere to safeguarding, confidentiality, and equal opportunities policies while maintaining accurate and confidential records, reporting appropriately, and complying with organisational guidelines.
• Participate in training, supervision, and team activities, contributing flexibly to service development and supporting broader organisational goals as required by management.

About You

• Holds qualifications and relevant experience in social care, childcare, youth work, or a therapeutic field
• Experience working directly with children and young people with an excellent understanding of common issues relating to child development, mental health and wellbeing
• Experienced in one-to-one casework, group facilitation, youth programmes, and multi-agency working, with a proven ability to assess needs and connect individuals to appropriate support services.
• Effective communicator with the ability to engage sensitively and non-judgementally with service users, demonstrating empathy, professionalism, and a commitment to empowering individuals.
• Skilled in managing workloads, maintaining accurate records, writing reports, and meeting deadlines under pressure, with strong time management and attention to detail.
• A motivated, flexible team player who values equality and diversity, and brings creativity and initiative to their practice.
• Driver with access to a reliable vehicle for work purposes. This role involves frequent travel to and from locations across North Tyneside and Northumberland to meet the varied needs of service users.

Please note, that an enhanced DBS check will be required.

Why join us?

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a positive, compassionate and impact-driven team. You’ll enjoy flexible working arrangements and autonomy in your role, opportunities for professional development and training, a supportive environment, reflective supervision, and the chance to help shape our systems for the better.

We warmly welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to equal opportunities.

Ready to apply? Download the candidate pack and get started! We’ll invite you to send us your CV and a short supporting statement outlining your experience and fit for the role.

If you are committed to empowering children and young people and want to be part of a team making lasting change, we’d love to hear from you.

Please make sure you include in/with your CV and personal statement:

• Name, previous names, and address.
• Education and training history, including any qualifications and the awarding body, any relevant training recently undertaken and any professional memberships.
• A full employment history in chronological order.
• Details of any convictions, spent and unspent. Details of any relation to the organisation or staff.
• A signed & dated declaration confirming that information provided is true, with no omissions. You must understand that providing false details can lead to rejection or dismissal, plus a possible referral to the police.
• All of the above information is only used to assess the candidate suitability, and will be treated with the strictest confidentiality, and stored and retained according to our GDPR policies and procedures which are available upon request.

Equality & Diversity Statement

Acorns will be proactive in all matters relating to equality of opportunity and diversity. We value and will celebrate the benefits brought to our organisation by a diverse population within our communities, services, staff and volunteers team, and Board of Trustees. We commit to creating an environment, through training, practice and policy, where Trustees, employees, volunteers and service users are encouraged by example and guidance to confront and challenge discrimination where and whenever it arises, whether between colleagues or in any other area of the organisation’s work.

Acorns commits to:

• Actively challenge discrimination;
• Ensure that all staff, volunteers and service users are treated fairly;
• Make sure that our activities and services are truly accessible to all who might benefit;
• Work collaboratively with other organisations to address inequality; 
• Work to promote an organisational culture of diversity;
• Strive to ensure that the profile of trustees, staff and volunteers reflects the wider communities within which we operate.

Everyone engaging with Acorns, as a servicer user, volunteer, or staff member, will be expected at all times to treat other people with respect and consideration. Our full Equality & Diversity Policy is available upon request.

Safeguarding Statement

Acorns believes that no child, young person or adult should ever experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them, to promoting their well-being and enjoyment and protecting their health, safety and general welfare while in the company, employ or care of Acorns staff or volunteers. Safeguarding and protection of those at risk is everyone’s business; it is everyone’s duty to report any safeguarding concerns to the relevant agency. We also practice Safer Recruitment practices. Our full safeguarding policies are available upon request.

Make a real difference to families every day

Are you passionate about supporting families and giving children the best start in life?

We’re looking for a Family Support and Activities Coordinator to join our friendly and committed team. This is a varied, hands-on role where no two days are the same. You’ll work directly with families in their homes and communities, coordinate volunteers, and plan engaging activities for young children and parents.

About the role

You’ll support families with young children who may be facing challenges such as isolation, low confidence, or complex needs. At the same time, you’ll design and deliver fun, development-focused activities and groups that help children thrive and parents feel more confident.

A key part of this role is delivering sessions during school holidays, when families often need additional support. Your work will help ensure continuity of care and reduce isolation during these times.

You’ll also:

• Assess family needs and provide tailored support
• Match and support volunteers working with families
• Plan and deliver stay-and-play sessions, workshops, and activities
• Build strong relationships with local partners, schools, and services
• Promote our work in the community and support outreach efforts

Around 70% of your time will be spent out in the community, including home visits and delivering groups.

About you

We’re looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in working with children and families (e.g. schools, nurseries, family services or similar)
• Confident delivering group activities or workshops
• Warm, approachable, and able to build trust with a wide range of people
• Organised and able to manage a varied workload independently
• A strong communicator with good written and IT skills

Why join us?

At Home-Start, you’ll be part of a supportive team making a genuine difference in families’ lives. We offer:

• A meaningful and rewarding role in the community
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• A flexible, supportive working environment
• The chance to shape activities and support that truly meet families’ needs

Apply now

If you’re passionate about supporting families and want a role where you can see the impact of your work every day, we’d love to hear from you.

Your typical day could start with creating and implementing support plans consistently and correctly for our customers. Then you might be supporting individuals to pursue hobbies and leisure activities at home and in their community by being innovative, enthusiastic and encouraging.

As a Bank Support Worker, you’ll be assisting people to live their best life. With a particular focus supporting people with kindness and compassion. You will support people with all aspects of daily living including assisting people with their personal care and health needs.

You're kind, compassionate and driven to protect the rights of the people you support. You’ll respect individual characters you are supporting and the different wants and needs they may have. 

Your role covers all aspects of care and support. If you’re a caring & compassionate person, then we want to hear from you.

Could it be you?
To be a success in this role:

• You’re able to work on a rota basis, working across a 24/7 shift pattern. Some waking nights and sleep ins will be required.
• Able to understand and respond to people’s unique needs and desires. 
• Experienced in providing support to vulnerable individuals. 
• Able to maintain records, with high levels of attention to detail. 

This role will require an enhanced DBS check. Candidates must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle.

Here are just a few of the benefits of working at Peabody: 

• Up to 25 days annual leave (dependant on hours worked)
• Access to a discount portal 
• Sleep in allowance 
• Family friendly policies
• Paid travel expenses, including mileage
• Refer a friend bonus scheme

Please read before applying:

• We’ll be reviewing applications and holding interviews on a rolling weekly basis, so please keep an eye on your inbox and phone - our team will be in touch to get you booked in!
• If this sounds like we are right for you and you’d love to be part of Peabody, we’d like to hear from you. Please apply now by submitting an anonymised CV and a short statement explaining why you’re the perfect fit for this role.

Closing date: 9th April 2026 at midnight.

PLEASE NOTE: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Peabody are not able to offer Visa sponsorship.

About us

Through our Reset Outreach & Referral Service (RORS), we support people in Tower Hamlets affected by drugs and alcohol. Our team takes a harm-reduction approach: meeting people where they are, reducing stigma, and helping them access treatment, health services, and wider community support.

This role is an opportunity to make a real difference—whether you bring experience from substance use services or transferable skills and a passion for supporting people.

The ideal candidate

The ideal candidate is passionate about providing quality support to diverse groups of people in East London. You should have the drive and ambition to support your team to make positive lasting changes in people’s lives.

You might have some knowledge of substance use or transferrable skills from other experiences, like working in fast-paced environments where you had to respond to customer needs. The experience you have can be paid or voluntary and lived experiences of using substances is equally valued. 

You should be eager to engage with people about different drugs and alcohol and be understanding of how different barriers can impact a person’s access to services or education. You will live out Providence Row’s values (compassion, respect, inclusiveness, empowerment, and justice) in your approach to your work, as well as operating within a harm-reduction framework.

You are an excellent communicator and can create positive working relationships with a wide range of people.  You are active, able to work independently and as part of a team and are experienced in assessing risk in new situations. You are creative, driven, and well organised. 

Research shows some people, especially women and marginalised groups, may hesitate to apply unless they match all the criteria. However, we want to assure everyone that we encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of whether they fulfil every point in the job description. Your unique perspective matters to us – please apply with confidence.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan
• Employee assistance programme
• Access to shopping discounts
• Learning & development opportunities
• Monthly reflective practice 

To apply:  Please upload your CV with a covering letter detailing how you meet the job specification by 23 April 2026 at 23:30.

Interviews
Please note that we may interview on a rolling basis and therefore encourage early applications.

Providence Row is a charitable company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales; company number 07452798 registered charity number 1140192.

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Sessional Farm Education Assistant

Based at Oasis Southampton City Farm, Green Lane, Southampton SO16 9FQ

Hours: Flexible

Contract: Sessional

Hourly Rate: £12.73 per hour

Oasis Southampton City Farm is a community focused registered charity working in Southampton. We provide a range of supportive, wellbeing boosting, and nature-based activities for our communities, which include young people and adult learners with disabilities.

We are looking for sessional farm assistants who will support the Farm Lead in delivering the vision for the farm by supporting the delivery of the farm’s variety of activities, including:

 · To deliver youth activities on the farm, supporting young people to help care for the animals

· To deliver birthday parties on weekends to groups of up to 30,

· To deliver animal experiences, giving families the opportunity to meet and greet our rescued and rehomed animals

· To support our adult day service with caring for our animals

· To support with the animal cleaning and feeding rota, alongside groups or individuals.

· To support with the running of our café, which runs on the weekends. Working alongside our youth volunteers to serve refreshments and food.

The successful applicant will need to demonstrate:

· Relevant qualifications and experience in animal management/public sector

· Relevant qualifications and experience in youth work, teaching, or community based projects

· The flexibility to work across the week, including some weekends.

· Excellent verbal communication skills

· Proven ability to work alongside others in projects that work with the public.

· Punctuality, reliability, and honesty.

· Ability to always evidence the Oasis ethos and values.

This is a unique opportunity for a friendly, hardworking and driven individual, who is looking to make a difference in a growing and community focused field of work. In return we offer:

· Flexible working practices which encourage innovation and fresh ideas.

· A supportive network and friendly team in a motivating working environment.

If you are interested, please send your CV and Supporting Statement   In your supporting statement please address these questions:

1. Expand on your CV to explain how your skills and experience meets the Job Description.  Give specific examples.

2. What personal attributes does a person need to do well in this role? 

3. How do you see the Oasis ethos and 9 Habits being displayed in this role?

Applications will be looked at on a rolling basis with an invite to interview and a trial session.

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups. If you require any assistance to overcome potential barriers, please let us know. 

Applicants must be able to prove their right to work in the UK. Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos.  We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 1163889

Effro is an innovative dementia project which is part of Platfform for Change. It seeks to promote and support the benefits of physical activity and mental stimulation in slowing the progression of a range of conditions that are under the dementia umbrella.

Building on a range of UK and international approaches we work in a person centred, individual way to help people living with dementia to regain a sense of their own identity whilst offering vital short-term respite to those who care for them. Effro offers a range of training and advice to professionals and the public to help them better understand dementia and support those living with it.

Case Workers in the Effro project have a wide ranging and diverse role, 2 days are rarely the same, you will be in the dementia community supporting individuals on a 121 basis to identify goals, draw up a bucket list and remain as physically active as possible. You will build relationships with the individual living with dementia and be able to spend quality time with the in pursuit of their goals.

Groups are carried out wherever there is a community of people living with dementia, primarily, but by no means limited to, nursing/residential home settings. Case workers will receive role specific training from our in-house training team as well as having access to a wide range mandatory and optional organisational training.

Quote from current caseworker: “Every day is different, it is a pleasure and a privilege to meet so many amazing people with so much knowledge, skill and expertise to share. Groups can be busy and varied but are always fun.” 

Lead a National Voice Driving Cardiovascular Health in the UK
Chief Executive - HEART UK
Location: Hybrid, with regular national engagement
Salary: Up to £90,000 dependent on experience
Type: Full time

About HEART UK
HEART UK is the nation's leading cholesterol charity - an organisation with a powerful voice, a bold mission, and the potential to transform millions of lives. With high cholesterol affecting up to half of the UK population, our work spans patients, clinicians, policymakers and the general public. The organisation is known and respected for its expertise, evidence based advocacy, and the ability to convene national conversations on cardiovascular health at the highest levels.

HEART UK is a dynamic, values driven charity with a turnover of c.£2m and a deeply committed team. Its influence rivals organisations many times its size, and they are poised for significant strategic growth. This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead a national health charity that is respected across clinical, policy and patient communities, and ready to scale its impact further.

What You Can Look Forward To
As CEO, you will shape the future direction of a charity with profound purpose and national significance.

You will:
* Drive Strategic Growth and Innovation
* Influence National Policy
* Strengthen Income and Build Long Term Sustainability
* Lead and Inspire a Dedicated Team

Why This Role Matters:
* The cause is vast and urgent
* HEART UK's voice is powerful and its influence is national
* The organisational culture is exceptional
* Your impact will be visible and immediate
* You will be leading at a pivotal moment

About You
HEART UK seek a leader who combines emotional intelligence, commercial strength and strategic vision.

Skills and Experience
* Strong track record in charity leadership, senior operational roles, or income generation leadership
* Skilled relationship builder comfortable with high level external representation
* Ability to oversee marketing/comms development (specialist knowledge not essential)
* Experience leading organisations through growth or transformation
* Health sector knowledge helpful but not required - learning will be supported in house

Personal Attributes
* Visionary and strategic, with a passion for public health
* Empathetic, people centred and values driven
* Adaptable, resilient and skilled at navigating complexity
* Confident communicator with natural presence and credibility
* Hands on, practical and comfortable working at pace in a small, high achieving charity

Recruitment Timeline
To ensure equitable access to information and uphold HEART UK's commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the charity will be hosting a Q&A webinar in place of individual informal calls with the Chair/Outgoing CEO. We encourage all interested candidates to submit questions in advance, which will be addressed during the session. Please register your interest in attending this webinar on Tuesday 14th April 2026 and we will send you a link.

Application Deadline: 5pm Friday 1st May 2026
First Interviews: w/c 1st June 2026
Final Interviews: w/c 8th June 2026

How to Apply
Charity People Ltd is acting as a recruitment agency advisor HEART UK on this appointment. Interested candidates are invited to submit a CV to Senior Appointments at Charity People and request a candidate pack in the first instance.
For an informal conversation about the role or if you have further questions prior to applying, please contact Fabrice Yala at Charity People

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so we can help make the application process work for you.

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.

SMART CJS – Trust and Foundations Bid Writer

Role Overview

Are you committed to supporting people who are homeless or rough sleeping?

Are you proactive with a positive attitude?

Job Title: Trust and Foundations Bid Writer (with some responsibility for corporate fundraising)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Location: Working from our office in central Bedford, with some provision for remote working.

About SMART CJS

Founded in 1997, we are a charity that provides safe spaces for people who are facing or experiencing homelessness, are rough sleeping or have fallen on tough times. As times have changed, our services have adapted and grown, but we’ve always kept the people we support at the centre of all that we do. We believe that everyone needs a little help sometimes and, with trust, respect and honesty, people can make incredible changes. Our vision is to transform communities so that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential, participate in and contribute to all aspects of life. Our mission is to provide safe spaces to work with vulnerable people within our communities, empowering them to make positive changes and take control of their lives.

Why Join Us?

We believe in diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

Benefits include:

• 27 days Annual Leave (rising to 30 after 3 years) + Bank Holidays (pro rata)
• Generous Pension scheme (after successfully completing a probation period)
• Excellent Development and Growth Opportunities
• Access to a Charity Worker Discount scheme
• Access to the company health and wellbeing service including support with mental health, legal advice and more
• Access to an online GP service

We require all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This job description will be supplemented by annual objectives which will be developed in conjunction with the post holder.

The Role

SMART CJS is looking to recruit a Trusts and Foundations Bid Writer. The successful candidate will also have some responsibility for corporate fundraising with businesses based in Bedford and beyond; this responsibility will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.

The main responsibility, though, will be to generate income by writing bids to charitable trusts and foundations, and to statutory funders.

The role will include researching and identifying charity trusts and similar bodies which are able to make an award to SMART. It will also include keeping abreast of developments in fundraising in the charity sector as a whole, especially in the field of grant awarding and, to a lesser extent, of corporate giving.

There will be a probationary period for the role. As it generally takes six months for a grant to be awarded (though some arrive more quickly), the probationary period will need to be for a minimum of seven months, though its precise duration can be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Training will be given; the scope of the training will depend on the candidate’s previous experience.

This is an exciting opportunity to join SMART’s friendly and dedicated team. You’ll need to be able to manage your time effectively; the role is primarily self-directed. We envisage that you’ll be working primarily from our offices in Prebend Street, Bedford, though you'll be able to work from home for some of the time as well. Given the nature of our work, personal resilience is important; some of the stories we use when applying for funding can be emotionally challenging.

Our fundraising comes from regular gifts, donations from the community (individuals and groups), and corporate bodies (businesses). The majority of our fundraising income comes from grants. There will be a realistic target for the amount you need to raise; this will reflect the performance for grant applications in the charity sector as a whole and it will not be unrealistic. Fundraising is not an exact science; the assessment of performance against the targets will be fair and reasonable. The final responsibility for SMART’s fundraising rests with the trustees; they appreciate and understand the complexity of the issues involved.

Main Purpose of the Role

You will work closely with the CEO, the Chair of Trustees, the Head of Business and the fundraising team. The post involves gathering information, writing the bids, tracking the progress of submissions, and reporting back to grant awarders on how their money has been spent, if they require this.

There will also be a responsibility for corporate fundraising. This will involve building relationships with businesses in and beyond the Bedford area. The responsibility for this will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising and Bid Writing

• Research and identify suitable grant and funding opportunities from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies.
• Write and submit high-quality funding applications and proposals in line with SMART’s strategic priorities.
• Work collaboratively with service leads and front line teams to gather accurate, up-to-date data and service information for applications.
• Tailor the applications to the funder’s criteria, using storytelling effectively.
• Manage a pipeline of applications and submissions, ensuring deadlines are met and income targets are tracked.
• Maintain and build relationships with key funders, providing timely reports and updates on grant-funded work.
• Work to realistic targets and be able to provide feedback on these.
• Organisational Development and Support
• Contribute to the strategic development of SMART’s income generation plans.
• Support development of strong internal bid and grant management systems.
• Monitor success rates and provide monthly reporting on funding performance to the Head of Business and to the Chair of Trustees.
• Represent SMART CJS at funding briefings, webinars, and networking opportunities where appropriate.

Other Responsibilities

• Participate in SMART’s performance management and appraisal process.
• Attend the monthly meetings of the Fundraising Committee (a sub‑committee of the Board of Trustees).
• Comply with health and safety policies and procedures.
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, as required by the CEO, the Head of Business or the Chair of Trustees.

Person Specification

Whether you’re already an experienced bid-writer, or whether you think this is something that you could learn to do effectively, we’d like to hear from you. You need to have excellent skills in written English and be able to write in prose that’s clear and readily understandable to the general reader. The criteria for each grant awarder are different; you need to be able to match your bid to what they would like to fund (homelessness, mental health, relief of poverty, women’s issues and so on). You need, then, to tell SMART’s story in a way which appeals to each funder.

You need to have excellent inter-personal skills and be able to work as part of a team. While there is a strong element of self-direction in the role, you need to be able to work closely with senior management and also with the trustees; the trustees have the final responsibility for fundraising in the charity.

You will need, too, to have a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to have a genuine interest in homelessness and the work of the charity, and a commitment to improving our clients’ lives and wellbeing.

Across the UK, makers are building creative businesses, sustaining heritage skills, experimenting with materials and influencing design, art, architecture, sustainability, wellbeing & much more.

At the Crafts Council we champion craft and the people who make it.

As our work grows and the craft sector evolves, we’re looking for a Director of Marketing, Communications & Audiences to help shape how we tell the story of craft today.

This role will enable us to connect insight, develop narrative and grow influence — ensuring that what we learn from audiences, makers, members and partners helps shape how craft is represented nationally and internationally.

The Role

The Director of Marketing, Communications & Audiences will lead our marketing, communications and audience development strategy.

We are looking for an exceptional candidate who can help the organisation interpret insight, articulate a confident narrative and strengthen our public presence.

Working closely with the Executive Director and senior leadership team, you will ensure that insight drawn from audiences, makers, members, programmes and partners informs:

· how we position craft nationally and internationally

· how we grow and engage our audiences

· how we strengthen our influence across the cultural and creative sectors

You will lead a small but talented team and work across the organisation to build clarity, confidence and collaboration around our communications and audience strategies.

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has significant experience leading marketing, communications or audience strategies
• Understands how cultural organisations build influence and public profile
• Is confident translating complex information into clear narrative and messaging
• Has strong experience with digital ecosystems, audience journeys and CRM insight
• Is collaborative, curious and comfortable working across organisational boundaries
• Brings a genuine interest in creativity, craft and the cultural sector

Why join us?

This is a rare opportunity to shape how a national cultural organisation listens to its audiences, understands its role and communicates its impact.

You will play a key role in strengthening the visibility and influence of craft — and the makers who shape our world.

We’re looking for someone who combines strategic thinking, strong marketing expertise and curiosity about the role creativity plays in society.

Someone who understands how cultural organisations build influence, bring people with them and tell stories that matter.

Contract and Hours - Permanent, part time, minimum of 3 days and up to 4 days per week. 0.6 - 0.8 / 21.75 – 29 hours per week (full time 36.25 hours per week). To commence as soon as possible from June 2026 onwards.

A typical working day is 9.15-5.30pm, including a lunch break (unpaid). We support flexible working and part-time arrangements where it is appropriate for the role.

We promote hybrid working with three days per week worked at our office and gallery for full-time staff, and two days per week office and gallery working for part-time staff.

Wednesday is a whole team office and gallery day when staff meetings take place.

Salary - £65,000 to £70,000 gross per annum based on full-time working, equating to:

£39,000 - £42,000 gross per annum based on part-time working 3 days per week,

£52,000- £56,000 gross per annum based on part-time working 4 days per week.

Location - Crafts Council Office and Gallery is based on the Pentonville Road in Islington, London, with some hybrid / home working.

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We have embarked on our 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.

Location: Crisis Skylight Edinburgh, 271 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8BQ

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £39,372 per annum

About the role

Working at Crisis Skylight Edinburgh, you will lead on the delivery of our volunteer programme. You will be responsible for the recruitment of new volunteers, the support of existing volunteers and volunteer to maintain a positive volunteer experience. You will work across teams to ensure volunteers’ experience of volunteering is positive and play a key role in volunteer retention. You will be collaborative and dynamic in working with the team to identify and develop new volunteering opportunities.  You will have the ability and confidence to increase the diversity and variety of our volunteering opportunities to reflect our local community and better serve our members. You will be flexible and innovative in reaching a diverse group of people from across the local community.   You will also lead on the delivery of events that involve our members, build networks and increase awareness of Crisis’ work in Scotland.

You will have experience of working with people who are socially excluded or with support needs. You will understand the importance of delivering equitable services and can empower our members to share their experience and contribute to continuous service adaptations and improvements. You will be creative and inclusive in establishing service-specific member involvement opportunities so members can influence our service locally. You will work across teams to ensure we deliver our service with people experiencing homelessness, instead of delivering a service to people experiencing homelessness. You will work with the central Crisis team to respond to member involvement opportunities, influencing policy and providing members with the opportunity to share their story with the wider public and media.  

About you

• Experience of developing and implementing volunteer programmes.
• Experience of organising successful events.

• Experience of working with socially isolated and excluded groups.

• Awareness of psychologically informed approaches.

• Person-centred, sensitive, and empathetic to the needs of members.

• A track record of successful partnership working.

• Flexible and adaptable to change. 

• A strong team player, able to use own initiative and reflect on own practice.

Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.

We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds.

Working at Crisis

Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.

Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.

As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:

• A competitive salary. Please note our salaries are fixed to counter inequity and we do not negotiate at offer stage
• Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy.
• Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%
• 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave
• Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.
• Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly
• And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)

Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career.

When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.

How do I apply?

Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.

Closing date: Monday 13th April 2026 at 23:59

Interview process: Competency based interview

Interview date and location: Thursday 23rd April, in-person at Crisis Skylight Edinburgh

AI in Job Applications

We understand some candidates use AI tools when applying. Whilst we welcome the use of technology to support clear communication and structure, we want to learn more about you, so please ensure that your application reflects your own skills, knowledge and experiences

Accessibility 

We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help. 

Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094