Rural officer jobs in London, england

The Woodland Trust is looking for an Engaging Communities Officer to join our exciting Sherwood’s Living Legends project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. A development grant has been awarded by Heritage Fund to help the Woodland Trust progress the project over 18-months to apply for a 5-year delivery stage grant. If this application is successful, the project will safeguard the future of ancient and veteran trees in Sherwood Forest and reconnect communities with this iconic landscape. This is a fixed term contract for 18-months, with the potential for an extension. 

The Role: 

• Lead the community-focused development of Sherwood’s Living Legends, shaping how people connect with the cultural, historical and ecological significance of ancient and veteran trees. 
• Co-create imaginative engagement approaches with consultants, using storytelling, heritage and local myth to inspire urban and rural communities. 
• Define target audiences and craft compelling key messages that will underpin the project’s delivery-stage communications. 
• Promote the project across the Sherwood NCA through social media, local press, PR events and creative outreach activity. 
• Ensure engagement plans are inclusive, accessible and responsive to the needs of diverse communities and participants. 
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners, community groups, landowners and Woodland Trust teams to support joined-up project development. 
• Monitor and evaluate engagement activity, gathering insight and data to inform project design and future delivery. 
• Represent the project internally and externally, sharing successes and supporting alignment with wider Woodland Trust communications. 

The Candidate: 

• Experienced in coordinating and delivering varied community events, including consultations tailored to different audiences and locations. 
• Confident leading groups outdoors, with experience engaging children, schools and community participants in nature-based activities. 
• Skilled in partnership working, able to collaborate with volunteers, community groups and external organisations to achieve shared outcomes. 
• Strong communicator with excellent written, verbal and digital skills, including social media content creation and public-facing representation. 
• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, with an understanding of how to design accessible and welcoming engagement. 
• Organised and proactive, able to manage multiple workstreams, prioritise effectively and work independently within a dispersed team. 
• Competent with IT systems, particularly MS Office and collaborative platforms such as Teams. 
• Professional, positive and adaptable, able to represent the Woodland Trust and partners with confidence and clarity. 
• The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Basic DBS Check, as part of our pre-employment screening. 

Benefits and Wellbeing: 

Joining our team means you’ll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer: 

• Enhanced Employer Pension 
• Life Assurance 
• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options 
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 Days Plus Bank Holidays (pro rata’d for part-time) 
• Buy and Sell Holiday Scheme 
• Enhanced Parental Pay 
• Employee Assistance Programme 

About Us: 

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.  We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crisis helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees. 

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: 

To achieve our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. All people, no matter their background, identity, ability, or circumstance, should benefit from trees.

People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply.  

Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application. 

Application Advice: 

For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and CVs are redacted until after shortlisting is complete. Make sure that your Personal Statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role. Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply.

Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI): 

We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications-for example, to help structure or edit written responses. We welcome the use of AI in this way, particularly where it helps improve accessibility, such as for neurodivergent applicants. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools.

Apply Now: 

If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We might close the job opening early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in process, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete. 

Interviews to be held on April 21st 2026.

At Dandelion Time, we support children facing significant emotional challenges, often, but not always, rooted in adverse childhood experiences such as domestic violence, abuse, or neglect. Our systemic, trauma‑informed approach focuses on the whole family, helping them build healthier relationships, create positive change, and move towards brighter futures.

Nature is at the heart of everything we do. Through hands‑on activities in the natural world, children and families connect with the earth, plants, animals and with each other.

About the Role 

As a Family Support Worker, you’ll play a key role in delivering our therapeutic programme. Working alongside the Therapeutic Programme Manager and Family Caseworker, you will help plan, prepare and facilitate meaningful therapeutic sessions for children and their families. This may include leading group sessions supported by Teaching Assistants or collaborating with teaching staff involved in each child’s care.

Why Join Us?

You’ll be part of a welcoming, energetic and committed team making a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children. The work is deeply rewarding, offering the opportunity to help families rebuild relationships and create new beginnings.

What can you bring to Dandelion Time?

To thrive in this role, you will have experience supporting disadvantaged children or those with SEND, as well as an understanding of the challenges faced by parents and carers managing their own wellbeing. Experience as a Youth Leader, Scout Leader, Forest School Leader,  or in a similar child‑centred, outdoor or community role, will be a real asset.

You’ll have a genuine passion for hands‑on, creative activities, whether that’s crafting, working with the land, or caring for animals. An interest in our land‑to‑table ethos, including the preparation and cooking of healthy, nutritious food, will help you feel right at home.

Above all, you’ll bring a warm, joyful presence to the families you support, helping to create a safe, nurturing environment where children can grow, explore and flourish.

Assistant Diocesan Secretary
Based at the Diocesan Office, Rochester (with travel across the Diocese)
Full time (35hrs) | Salary from: £66,485

Are you an experienced senior leader who thrives in complex organisations and enjoys bringing clarity, coordination, and strategic oversight to challenging programmes of work?

The Diocese of Rochester is seeking an Assistant Diocesan Secretary to work closely with the Diocesan Secretary at a significant moment of transformation. Following successful investment through the Diocesan Investment Plan, the Diocese is delivering an ambitious programme of work to support the Called Together vision and strategy.

This is a key leadership role providing oversight of governance, risk, and organisational coordination, ensuring the effective delivery of strategic priorities across the Diocese.

About the Role

You will play a central role in supporting the Diocesan Secretary and senior colleagues in managing governance, risk, and organisational capacity. Your key responsibilities will include:

· Overseeing governance planning, ensuring effective scheduling and coordination of diocesan committees and boards

· Monitoring implementation of actions arising from governance bodies to support organisational delivery

· Leading on the maintenance and monitoring of the diocesan risk register

· Supporting the Diocesan Secretary in responding to national policy developments affecting diocesan functions

· Helping manage internal capacity and performance monitoring as programme activity expands

· Supporting preparation for General Synod and Bishops Council, including planning and correspondence

· Advising colleagues on responding to emerging national policy developments

· Representing the Diocesan Secretary in internal and external meetings when required

· Line managing the Head of Property and overseeing the work of the DAC, Surveyors, and Net Zero teams

About You

We’re looking for someone who:

· Has proven experience in a senior management role, ideally within a charity or values-led organisation

· Has strong governance, risk management, and organisational oversight skills

· Is highly organised and able to manage complex priorities and competing demands

· Has excellent interpersonal and communication skills and can work effectively across teams

· Is resilient, discreet, and able to approach challenges with a solution-focused mindset

· Understands and supports the aims and ethos of the Church of England

 It would also be helpful if you:

· Have experience working within the Church of England or a similarly complex organisation

· Are familiar with General Synod, Bishops Council, or equivalent governance structures

· Have experience supporting senior executives or board-level leadership

What we can offer:

• Flexible working and TOIL

• Generous holiday entitlement

• Contributory pension scheme

• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and counselling service

The Diocese is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders and volunteers are expected to share this commitment.

The wider a group’s diversity, the smarter, wiser, and more compassionate and creative its decision making becomes.
We are committed to achieving diversity throughout our Diocese by seeking UKME/GMH colleagues and those from a wide range of backgrounds, to help us create a culture of inclusion and belonging.

Closing date for applications: 26 April 2026

Interviews will be held on: TBC