Public affairs assistant volunteer jobs

Who we are

IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) is a national charity working to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the educational support they are legally entitled to. Since we were formed in 1983, we have helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people across England. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support for families, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.

What you’ll do

Reports to: Chief Executive

Location: Home-based or Hybrid (with frequent travel for events and meeting with parliamentarians and other stakeholders) 

We are seeking a Policy Manager to lead IPSEA's policy and influencing work to achieve positive change for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Head of Legal and Training, trustees and colleagues across the organisation, you will set strategic policy priorities and develop evidence-based influencing plans that support IPSEA's mission and long-term objectives.

Drawing on insights from our advice and tribunal services, legal expertise and the experiences of families, you will identify systemic issues within the SEND system and develop policy solutions that improve children and young people's access to the support and education to which they are entitled. You will ensure that IPSEA's policy positions are credible, legally robust and informed by the lived experiences of those we support.

You will lead IPSEA's engagement with government, Parliament and other key decision-makers, identifying opportunities to influence legislation, policy and practice at both national and local level. This includes overseeing responses to consultations, parliamentary inquiries and calls for evidence, as well as preparing briefings and strategic advice to support senior-level engagement and advocacy.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across legal, communications, fundraising and training teams, you will ensure IPSEA's policy, campaigning and public affairs activities are aligned and maximise the organisation's impact. You will also monitor developments across the political, legal and policy landscape, helping IPSEA respond proactively to emerging opportunities and challenges affecting the rights of children and young people with SEND.

This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference as part of a small, friendly, and dedicated team. If you are passionate about helping children and young people with SEND and have the skills and experience needed, we would love to hear from you.

Who are we looking for?

You will have significant experience in a senior policy and campaigning/public affairs role and have good knowledge of local and national government structure including the legislative process.

You the ability to build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders including MPs, civil servants, campaigners and parents. You exhibit tact and diplomacy and can be impactful with people of varying levels and experience.

Your research and critical thinking skills enable you to analyse policy and data to produce relevant reports and position papers. You have experience of drafting organisation responses to government consultations and parliamentary calls for evidence.

IPSEA should also reflect the communities we support. We would particularly like to hear from candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, under-served communities and disabled people, as well as those with lived experience of the SEND system, either as a child or as a parent/carer.

What we can offer you

• 5% employer pension contributions
• Healthcare cash plan
• Flexible working arrangements
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an additional day off for your birthday (pro-rata if part-time).

To apply

Visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form.

Deadline for applications: 9am on 7 September 2026.

First-round interviews: on 15 September 2026 in our offices in Takeley, Essex, with second-round interviews (online) on 18 September 2026.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE.

Community Fundraising Assistant – East

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?

Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.

After a successful 2025, we’re building on our momentum and looking ahead with ambition. As our work continues to expand, so does our impact. We are now looking for passionate people to join us on the next stage of our journey!

It is a fantastic time to be joining us and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraising Assistant - East, to join our Income Generation and Development team.

• Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
• Are you able to provide friendly and professional support to fundraisers and supporters?   
• Do you have experience in supporting events or community activities?
• Do you live in our East Region (which includes Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Essex)?

Have you answered Yes to these questions?

Does this sound like the opportunity to really take the next step in your career?

Excited to learn more about this position? Then please take a read through our recruitment pack below. 

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we are excited to receive your application.  We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.

Closing Date: 30th August 2026 

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.

Job title: Partnerships Manager

Responsible to: Director of Delivery, Innovation & quality (MindCHWF) & Senior Operations Manager (Turning Point)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week - Full-time

Salary: Starting salary is £ £46,448.13 PA at full time equivalent (P04-SP41) with scope to increase to £49,612.14 (P04-SP44)

Contract type: 31 March 2027 (with potential for extension)

Location: [102-110 Mare Street, Hackney] with working across locations in City & Hackney

Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest, working in partnership with Turning Point and Antidote, provide the City and Hackney Integrated Recovery Service (Substance Use).  The service is based in each of City and Hackney’s neighbourhoods in order to be accessible, local and inclusive.  A full integrated service will contribute to recovery, social inclusion and improving the quality of life of all our service users in the City of London and Hackney borough. A full integrated service, shaped by the community needs and voices of service users, carers, families, communities, all staff and volunteers will contribute to recovery, social inclusion and improving the quality of life of all our service users in the City of London and Hackney borough.

The service has three elements: Out There, Everywhere- specialist outreach, in reach and engagement, Building Blocks- low, medium and hi intensity support pathways, and Get Connected- building on our local, individual, and shared assets to provide recovery capital and peer support.

This role will connect the staff teams and service users to wellbeing opportunities within the local community. The role will promote the City & Hackney Recovery Service within the local community through events, social media and local community engagement. They will identify the needs of the client group and provide adequate support.

This role will lead on management of subcontractors, coordinate quarterly contract monitoring and build partnerships including commissioners, GPs, politicians, and other stakeholders to increase collaborative and effective service in City and Hackney’s neighbourhoods. The role will also lead to support MindCHWF’s policies and delivery in the blended service in order to provide efficient and high-quality service.

Job Role:

1. Nurture external partnerships across specific areas and being responsible for overseeing and ensuring all appropriate pathways are in place and reviewed

2. Maintain and enhance appropriate key relationships with statutory and VCS partners who co-locate/joint work with or refer into the service

3. Lead on expanding the partnership network on an ongoing basis by identifying opportunities to streamline delivery and maximise joint working

4. Work as part of the service-wide team developing recovery treatment services that are truly connected to the community

5. Lead on development and management of a broad range of internal and external partnerships including but not limited to, homelessness prevention, outreach, community development and engagement, peer mentoring

6. Take a lead role in supporting the teams to improve and adapt to changing demands

7. Promote and raise the profile of the service and partners across the boroughs

8. Establish and review joint-working protocols to deliver joined up and effective support, using a population health perspective, reflecting the service’s aims

9. Oversee the innovation fund, establishing processes and protocols to set it up and the ongoing governance of the fund

10. Lead on management of all service sub-contractors – including liaison and cascade of information back and forth between the service, co-ordinate quarterly (and ad hoc) contract monitoring (manage KPI’s, staffing, service support etc.).

11. Develop and manage a Partnership Board that meets quarterly comprising Mind, London Friend and NHS Homerton (and any other organisations we begin sub-contracting to).

12. Generate and maintain/oversee SharePoint folders for all key stakeholders – including contact info, management details, premises and any joint working agreement paperwork.

13. Maintain and overarching Stakeholder contact list in Excel to be stored on SharePoint, update and amend as necessary over time.

14. Maintain and update the service satellite spreadsheet (including internal and external satellites).

15. Attend relevant CDP’s to represent the service and cover for colleagues at CDP’s as and when required.

16. Be the main link for partners/stakeholders when they are looking to initiate some joint working enterprise or have feedback or concerns to raise with the service.

17. To lead on organising stakeholder events and community events.

18. To establish and continue building a wide network of contacts for the service within as many professions as possible within CoL and Hackney.

19. To branch the service out more into the night-time economy of the borough, in terms of awareness, literature/posters and training where relevant.

20. Support the Training and Practice Lead to offer and deliver more training to external partners.

21. Run regular feedback sessions and surveys of partners to elicit feedback from the service and gather intelligence on what training and support they would like from our service. Share this information/intelligence regularly with the service at MGM’s.

22. To maintain and bolster 12-step and other mutual aid groups in the service, be the main liaison for these contacts and establish a SMART recovery Group to complement our existing mutual aid arrangements.

23. Lead on changes to the service website, review this site and consider how we could optimise promoting the service this way.

24. Lead on liaison with TP External Affairs and Marketing teams. Create and manage a service promotion plan.

25. Lead on negotiating, writing, collating and storing all MOU’s, RA’s ISA’s and all other written agreements with partner agencies relating to co-location and joint working.

26. Manage the service’s digital footprint including google reviews, and control or delegate the management of the service’s social media channels to boost our digital engagement with the local community.

27. Create a regular C&H Recovery Service newsletter to share with partners and stakeholders.

28. Engage with local media and politicians where appropriate to promote the service and position the service effectively politically within the borough.

29. Oversee the work we do with commissioners and public health teams on the PH Van and Hot Spot Activity including attending meetings relating to these with the council. Ensure a rota and staffing is organised for these outreach exercises months in advance.

30. Continue to manage the contracts and joint-working agreements with the GPSC scheme and our separate GP alcohol satellites with a view to setting up at least two more GP satellites in the borough.

31. Organise regular forums and training sessions with GP’s in the borough.

32. To field any complaints coming from GP’s and other key stakeholders.

General

· To comply with, promote, and contribute to the writing and development of Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest's values and with all organisational systems, policies and procedures

· To work with colleagues and partners within the service to provide a seamless service

· In accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to take responsibility for your own health and safety at work and that of any staff, service users or visitors you are working with, and to report any risks or potential hazards to the Health and Safety Representative

· To keep records and statistics for dissemination to effectively monitor the service, ensuring that all files and information are kept in accordance with Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest's policies on confidentiality and data protection

· To be administratively self-supporting

· To liaise with other Mind CHWF projects and staff from partner agencies and external stakeholders to facilitate and maintain effective links

· To attend and participate in staff meetings, contributing to discussions and giving reports if needed

· To attend supervision, appraisal meetings, and appropriate internal and external training courses as approved by your line manager

· To attend Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest staff away days

· To undertake any other tasks and duties commensurate with the post as directed by your manager, or any other senior manager in Mind in the City, Hackney and Waltham Forest

Person Specification

The following criteria will be used when assessing candidates. Criteria marked (E) are Essential and (D) are Desirable.

Values and Behaviours

· A passion and commitment to supporting good health for individuals and communities (E)

· A valuing of coproduction (E)

· Effective verbal and written communications that can be modified to different stakeholders (E)

· Collaborative team working skills (E)

· Proven negotiating and networking skills with an ability to establish new working partnerships (E)

· Adaptable and resilient to work in a changing and challenging environment (E)

· Ability to deliver against agreed goals, targets and outcomes (E)

· Ability to translate strategy into tangible action to enhance service KPI performance (E)

· Resilient and reflective (E)

· Ability to work under pressure and meet both service and central services deadlines (E)

· Able to work in a changing and sometimes challenging environment (E)

· Excellent report writing skills (E)

· Excellent organisational abilities, able to manage a complex workload of multiple priorities (E)

Knowledge & Experience

· Proven ability to establish new partnerships and collaboration with agencies, with enhanced negotiating skills (E)

· Significant Management experience of leading throughout challenge and change (E)

· Track record of developing innovative approaches to community-based collaboration and joint-working strategies (E)

· An understanding and interest in community development and peer support approaches (E)

· Proven knowledge of substance misuse (D)

· Experience of community-based interventions/collaboration / partnership making (E)

· Resilient and reflective (E)

· Ability to work under pressure and meet both service and central services deadlines (E)

Skills & abilities

· Strong collaborative leadership skills (E)

· Coaching skills to achieve successful outcomes (D)

· Proven experience in leading teams with an ability to improve and adapt to changing demands (E)

· Ability to prepare and manage the services Business Continuity Plans (D)

· Experience of Microsoft Office suite, Excel and Database systems (E)

· Experience of performance monitoring at a high level (E)

· Good communication skills and professional role model with staff and partners at all levels (E)

Qualifications

Essential

· Fluent written and spoken English with appropriate literacy and numeracy skills. (E)

Desirable

· Relevant qualification in health, social care, substance use, mental health, psychology, counselling, social work, or a related field, or equivalent experience. (D)

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

· Enhanced check required.

Community Fundraiser – East Midlands

Are you ready to take on a new challenge with a leading charity making a real difference in brain tumour research?

Brain Tumour Research is an exciting, innovative, and ambitious charity. We are passionate about finding a cure for brain tumours through the establishment of dedicated Brain Tumour Research Centres of Excellence around the UK.

After a successful 2025, we’re building on our momentum and looking ahead with ambition. As our work continues to expand, so does our impact. We are now looking for passionate people to join us on the next stage of our journey!

It is a fantastic time to be joining us and we are keen to share this with likeminded and talented individuals. We currently have an opening for a Community Fundraiser – East Midlands, to join our Income Generation and Development team.

• Do you want to make a difference in one of the most innovative and exciting medical research fundraising charities in the UK?
• Are you able to provide friendly and professional support to fundraisers and supporters?   
• Do you have experience in supporting events or community activities?
• Do you live in our East Midlands region (Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire or Rutland)?

Have you answered Yes to these questions?

Does this sound like the opportunity to really take the next step in your career?

Excited to learn more about this position? Then please take a read through our recruitment pack attached below. 

If you have the skills and ambition that we are looking for we are excited to receive your application.  We are really looking forward to welcoming a new member to our team!

We are asking for a CV as the first step but applicants may be asked to provide a targeted covering letter as part of the selection process.  Interviews will be conducted during the application window as appropriate, and will consist of a first interview via MS Teams, progressing, if successful to a face to face second interview, held at our offices in Milton Keynes.

We reserve the right to close the application window early and advise candidates to apply in good time to avoid disappointment.

Closing Date: 06th September 2026

We are looking for people who share our passion for finding a cure for brain tumours and who have the skills and experience to make a difference. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, abilities, and ages. We believe that diversity enriches our organisation and helps us achieve our mission. We are committed to providing an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be themselves and contribute to our vision.