Hr assistant volunteer jobs in Lancashire, north west england

About Us

Catholic Care is a values-led charity dedicated to supporting individuals, families and communities through empowering and high-quality services. Guided by our values and mission, we empower the Yorkshire community to deliver lasting impact where it matters most.

We are seeking an exceptional candidate for the role of Head of Corporate Services to join our Strategic Leadership Team (SLT). This is a key leadership role with responsibility for leading and managing all corporate support functions across the Charity.

The successful candidate will play a central role in ensuring the organisation operates efficiently, remains compliant with all regulatory requirements and is well-positioned to deliver its strategic objectives. This is a hands-on role, where most operational tasks (excluding HR) are undertaken directly by the post-holder.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all corporate support functions across the Charity
• Ensure effective systems, processes and compliance frameworks are in place
• Oversee organisational governance, administration, IT and health & safety (via external contractors)
• Support the Chief Executive and SLT in delivering strategic objectives
• Contribute to the wider strategic development of the Charity
• Manage key external contracts, including IT and Health & Safety
• Promote and uphold the values and ethos of Catholic Care in all areas of work

About You

We are looking for a motivated and values-driven professional who brings:

• Significant experience in a senior operational, corporate services or business support role
• Strong organisational and leadership skills, with the ability to manage multiple functions
• Experience of governance, compliance and organisational systems or willingness to learn
• Confidence in managing external contracts and service providers
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement abilities
• A proactive, hands-on approach to work
• A commitment to the mission, values and ethos of Catholic Care

Experience within the charity or social care sector is desirable but not essential.

Pre-Application Discussion

Before applying for this role, it is mandatory to attend an informal discussion with our Chief Executive, either in person or via Microsoft Teams.

This is not an assessed part of the recruitment process. Instead, it is an opportunity for you to learn more about the role, our work and the mission of Catholic Care, helping you decide whether this is the right opportunity for you.

To arrange a meeting, please contact: Charlotte Grinham

About Chapter One 

Chapter One's mission is to ensure that every child has 1:1 reading support at the time they need it most. We want a world in which all children have the literacy skills they need to thrive.

Our unique Online Reading Volunteer programme currently supports about 3,500 children a year. It pairs disadvantaged, struggling five to eight-year old (KS1) readers with reading support volunteers who come from over 180 local and national businesses. The volunteer task is very focused: readers commit 30 minutes a week to read with a child using a bespoke digital platform for an entire academic year. The results are transformative, boosting children's reading confidence and ability.

We have set ourselves ambitious targets and want to support 3,900 children by 2026/27, so this role, with responsibility managing, stewarding and nurturing our existing corporate partners, will be crucial to ensuring that we have sufficient volunteers and support to achieve this target. 2026 has been designated by the Government as the National Year of Reading, so we have a great opportunity to capitalise on this and secure business commitment for our work!

For more information about our programmes please visit our website. Please also take some time to visit our social media channels and watch our videos.

About the role 

Chapter One is seeking a proactive, energetic and enthusiastic Corporate Partnerships Officer to be an integral part of a team which aims to both maximise corporate income and deliver an excellent partner experience. 

Reporting to our Corporate Partnerships Manager, but also working closely with our Business Development Manager, you’ll support them both to deliver our annual volunteer targets and maintain our strong partner retention rate (currently 84%). This will involve supporting the account management of a portfolio of existing partners and the responsibility to nurture relationships to increase partner investment in Chapter One over time. The role involves collaborating across departments to ensure a seamless and positive experience for volunteers and partners.

This role represents a great opportunity for an early career professional to learn about charity-business partnerships in a dynamic, small charity which is flexible and agile.

Key Responsibilities 

Partner Stewardship

• As determined by the Corporate Partnerships Manager, lead the account management of a selected portfolio of corporate partners, achieving annual retention and growth targets for these partnerships.

• Focus, in all corporate partnership discussions, on maximising income and identifying opportunities to grow a partner’s support.

• Plan and conduct a regular cycle of partnership meetings, including mid and end of year reviews, proactively seeking out new opportunities that will maximise income and retain and grow partner support. 

• Support the Corporate Partnerships Manager to produce high quality written communications, reports and pitches as per the requirements of each partner, collaborating with the Data and Systems Officer and other teams as needed.

• Advocate effectively, with passion and enthusiasm, for Chapter One’s programmes in a variety of internal and external settings.

• Ensure, in conjunction with the HR and Finance Assistant, that partners are invoiced for their Chapter One donations accurately and in a timely manner. 

Partner/Volunteer Onboarding and Experience

• Work closely with the Corporate Partnerships Manager, Head of Corporate Partnerships and Volunteer Support Team to ensure that partner and volunteer onboarding is a smooth and positive experience. 

• Lead volunteer recruitment meetings as requested by partners, including presenting the programme to prospective volunteers and creating excitement and interest. 

• Alongside the Corporate Partnerships Manager, use internal systems to assign partner teams and volunteers to specific schools and ensure that their needs are met.

• Build proactive, supportive relationships with Volunteer Coordinators across partner organisations, providing timely, high-quality data and insights, and delivering an excellent partner experience to foster long lasting relationships.

• Work with Programme Manager team, Volunteer Support Team and IT team, to troubleshoot any issues that arise. 

• Support the Programme Management team to liaise with partner contacts about the organisation of in-person school/office visits and virtual meet and greets.

• Attend Chapter One’s internal Volunteer Experience group and Corporate Engagement Group.

Marketing and Communications

• Work with the Marketing and Communications team to ensure that companies and volunteers have access to an array of promotional assets and recruitment materials.

• Contribute content for the regular volunteer and corporate partner newsletters, including working with partners to gather volunteer testimonials and partner profiles.

• Encourage corporate partners and volunteers to promote Chapter One through their own social media and channels.

• Support the organisation of online and in person partner and volunteer recognition events.

General

• Oversee and maintain specific Account Management related processes, including stewardship plans, recording of activity on the Salesforce CRM and internal spreadsheets and platform databases.

• Regularly use Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets to analyse data and support decision-making.

• Conduct administrative duties as required to support the Head of Corporate Partnerships and Corporate Partnerships Manager.

• Attend conferences and events to represent Chapter One and talk about its work to existing and potential new partners.

We are looking for some of the following attributes, though you might be more experienced in some areas than others: 

• .A commitment to Chapter One’s mission and values. 

• Experience of account management of Corporate Partnerships or equivalent relationship-based roles in a fundraising, events, sales or marketing environment

• An ability to create compelling written pitches, ensuring messaging and brand are consistent 

• Outstanding presentation skills, with the ability to excite and inspire an audience 

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build relationships with business professionals at all levels 

• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail 

• An understanding of CSR/social value and employee engagement 

• An understanding of social media platforms, particularly LinkedIn. 

• Able to take personal accountability for own workload and for delivery of targets 

• A ‘can do’ and flexible approach with an ability adapt to changing priorities 

• Awareness of the importance of data security best practice and GDPR regulations when processing a range of stakeholder data 

• Highly computer literate, particularly in Excel, with hands-on experience of using Google suite and platforms and tools such as Salesforce CRM, PowerPoint and more. 

You’ll be more successful in the role if you have: 

• Experience of using digital marketing platforms 

• Experience of working in the charity/non-profit sector 

How to Apply 

Please send your CV (maximum 2 A4 sides) and a covering letter via Charity Jobs. Your covering letter (maximum 1 side of A4) should: 

1) Detail your relevant experience, including clear examples.

2) Tell us about a partnership that you have initiated or been involved with and what you did to make it succeed. 

3) Tell us about how our organisational mission is in line with your values. 

Applications that fail to meet these criteria will automatically be discounted. We understand that you may use AI to help craft your application, but do remember that we will be looking for individuals who write a letter that stands out. We want you to have every opportunity to shine and to show us your talents - please let us know if there is anything we can do to make sure the assessment process works for you.

Chapter One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and celebrate diversity in backgrounds and experience and are deliberate about the kind of inclusive teams we are building. Literacy is a universal concern, and we need people from all backgrounds to maximise our innovation, creativity and impact. We especially welcome applications from persons who have experienced disadvantage and/or from those who are of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities who are currently underrepresented in the organisation.

Chapter One is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All post holders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure. Copies of our Safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Policy are available on request.

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.