Supporter relations team office volunteer volunteer jobs

30 - 37 hours per week / Permanent / Monday - Thursday 0900 -1700, Friday 0900-1630 / hybrid working, requiring a minimum of three days working on sites each week, with up to two days working from home. Flexibility is essential, as the role involves regular travel across West Sussex and Surrey.

YMCA DownsLink Group is the leading charity for children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. We offer safe homes, mental health support and trusted advice.

We believe that every child and young person has the right to be safe, heard and to shape their own future. We work alongside them to make that happen.

We are here for children and young people, many of whom face multiple challenges and need our support.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections – guide us in all our actions.

The People Team are responsible for all aspects of candidate and employee experience across the organisation. We drive organisational performance, compensation, benefits, and people tools and technologies - and oversee the continuing evolution of the organisation's culture.

As a People Partner you will be proactive, curious, and solution focused partner to People Managers across the organisation. Working closely with the Head of People, you will play a key role in improving employee experience, strengthening leadership capability, and embedding a positive and engaging workplace culture.

This hands-on role requires the ability to shift between operational delivery and strategic priorities, balancing reactive needs with proactive planning to support short, medium, and long‑term organisational objectives. The role blends strategic people partnership with practical HR support, ensuring people practices are consistent, employee‑centred, and aligned with organisational values.

As a trusted People Partner, you will work closely with managers and leaders to build confident, capable people management across the organisation. Acting as a proactive and curious advisor, you will coach and support managers on employee relations, performance, engagement, and employment legislation, ensuring decisions are fair, consistent, and aligned with organisational values. You will lead on complex employee relations matters where needed, promote positive and informal resolution wherever possible, and role‑model a values‑led approach to leadership and culture.

In delivering the role, you will work in partnership with the Head of People to

• help shape an inclusive, engaging employee experience across the full lifecycle from recruitment and onboarding through to development, performance, and wellbeing.
• contribute to workforce planning, learning and development initiatives, policy development and compliance, and the effective delivery of HR operations, including HR data, records, and payroll support.
• build strong relationships with stakeholders across the organisation, you will use insight and collaboration to drive continuous improvement and deliver a professional, people‑centred HR service that enables both individuals and the organisation to thrive.

If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we’re looking for.

We are seeking an experienced HR Business Partner with a proven ability to deliver effective, high‑quality HR processes. You will bring a strong track record of working professionally and constructively with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels of the organisation. Proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 is essential, while CIPD Level 7 qualification (or working towards it/equivalent experience) is desirable, alongside sound knowledge of ED&I legislation and safeguarding best practice.

You will be comfortable managing a varied employee relations caseload, applying sound judgement, discretion, and a working knowledge of employment law to support fair and consistent outcomes. You will recognise the value of building and maintaining strong, trusted relationships with stakeholders from the outset. Genuinely passionate about developing others, you will partner closely with People Managers to unlock their potential, enabling them to manage and lead their teams with confidence and effectiveness.

You will bring a positive, proactive approach and genuine enthusiasm for the organisation’s work, alongside excellent communication, organisation, and problem‑solving skills. Confident working independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment, you will demonstrate strong cultural awareness, professionalism, and attention to detail.

CLOSING DATE: Thursday 14 May 2026 at midnight, proposed interview date Wednesday 20 May.

PLEASE NOTE: We are unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorship for this role, so applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. 

Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.

Stories Lead

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

About the role

Sense has a fantastic opportunity for someone to join our team as our Stories Lead. This is a full time, hybrid role, working 37.5 hours per week at either our office in Kings Cross, London or Selly Oak, Birmingham.

This role sits within Sense’s newly established social change directorate, supporting the directorate’s wider purpose of breaking down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs.  The role is closely connected to the organisation’s co-production area of work and supports organisational wide research and insight gathering from people with lived experience. It also works closely with the fundraising and marketing directorate to deliver storyteller needs and requirements to support their strategic objectives. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining and growing Sense’s storyteller portfolio, made up of disabled people with complex needs and their families, volunteers, supporters and staff. You will play a leading role in ensuring that the most compelling stories feature across the charity’s integrated influencing, and fundraising and marketing activity to drive engagement, lasting change, and sustainable income. You will also champion, steward and promote storytelling internally and externally, working with teams across Sense to identify new storytellers and support colleagues to facilitate story collection, and will be responsible for building trusted relationships with contributors, ensuring they have a positive experience throughout.

Key responsibilities

• Manage Sense’s stories database and play a leading role in ensuring the most compelling stories feature across our media, campaigns, fundraising and wider communications and content.
• Oversee the management of storyteller relationships at Sense, making sure that their needs are met and that they understand the role of the charity, how their story can support it and the impact of doing so - ensuring they have a positive experience throughout.
• Lead on conducting sensitive interviews with contributors, writing up their stories and updating the stories database.
• When required, translate storyteller experiences into meaningful and engaging written content across core formats, including blogs, social media posts and emails.   
• Capture additional content from storytellers that aligns with Sense’s content plan, for example photography or short video pieces to camera.
• Collaborate with teams and build strong working relationships with colleagues in the social change department and across Sense to agree priorities, develop briefs and deliver story leads to deadline.   
• Co-ordinate story development across the social change department and be the first point of contact for storytellers when multi-media assets are being collected. 

Key skills and experience:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification in media or communications related subjects.
• Strong understanding of what makes a good story to drive external engagement.
• Understanding of the core role of storytelling within the charity sector and how storytelling content enhances brand engagement.
• Understanding of ethical approach to gathering stories, informed consent, and data protection.
• Experience working in a marketing, communications, media, insights or content team.
• Demonstrable experience of sourcing, gathering and writing story content for both internal use and external communications.
• Experience conducting interviews with storytellers.
• Experience working with real-life stories in communications.
• Experience of working in a fast-moving, deadline-driven environment, and managing competing priorities effectively
• Ability to gather, adapt and edit stories to engage and motivate different audiences.
• Strong writing skills for digital channels.
• Strong proofreading skills and a great eye for detail.
• Interviewing skills and the ability to get to the heart of a story.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including negotiating stakeholder needs.

For a full Job Description and Person Specification please see the link on the left hand side

About Sense

Sense is a leading disability charity, here to break down barriers alongside disabled people with complex needs. We use our knowledge and expertise to deliver personalised, creative and flexible support at every stage of life. Together, we drive change, building a future where everyone has the power, choice and control to live the lives we choose.

We’re proud to be a Disability confident leader and a charity where people can grow their skills and careers in a supportive, flexible environment.

As part of our new three-year strategy, we’re delivering a transformational plan focused on strengthening support for disabled people with complex needs, driving social change and creating a fairer, more equal future.  For further information visit: Transforming Sense, together: our three-year plan - Sense

Our Values

Our values shape the way we behave and work alongside disabled people with complex needs to break down barriers:

• We’re creating change
• We’re always learning
• We’re better together

To apply

Please use the link below to complete your application. Managers will use your application to shortlist candidates for interview; in relation to the Personal Specification. Therefore, it is very important you complete this section thoroughly.  We would recommend that you read the candidate guidelines, job description and person specification (found at the base of this advert) before applying.

Please note to avoid disappointment, we advise you to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close posts at any time.

Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment. Therefore, all offers of employment, where appropriate, are subject to a DBS check; level dependent on the nature of the role.

For this role we particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented ethnic minority backgrounds and candidates with disabilities. Sense is committed to equality of opportunity, and to promoting and celebrating the diversity of staff, volunteers and the people we work with. Everyone's contribution is valued and we ensure they're given the opportunity to realise their potential. We welcome applications from talented people from all sections of the community who share our values and belief that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential. 

No agency submissions please: any submissions without prior authorisation from the Sense Recruitment Team will be treated as our own and as such no fee will be payable.

KSAAS (formerly East Kent Rape Crisis Centre) has provided sexual violence services in East Kent since 1981. We offer ongoing practical support and therapeutic services for survivors who have experienced any form of sexual violence, at any time in their lives, across Kent & Medway.

KSAAS holds UKAS accreditation through The Survivors Trust and is Professionally Approved by Rape Crisis England & Wales, demonstrating the consistent, high-quality services we provide.

KSAAS operates specialist Independent Sexual Violence Adviser (ISVA) services, including joint ISVA and Independent Domestic Violence Adviser (IDVA) provision for those experiencing sexual violence alongside domestic abuse.

We also offer trauma-focused therapeutic counselling for children, adolescents and adults, accessible through hubs across Kent & Medway.

Our Vision

KSAAS’s vision is a community where everyone is free from all forms of sexual violence. We work within a feminist, equalities and human rights framework, providing help, hope and healing to those impacted by sexual violence and helping to cultivate a safe, non-violent community.

Our Mission

It is our mission to:

• Respond to and promote the needs of those who have experienced sexual violence through a feminist empowerment model of work.
• Reduce the impact of sexual violence by supporting, educating, informing and advocating for all survivors.
• Challenge oppression in all forms.
• Challenge societal attitudes that condone and collude with sexual violence.

Please note that this post is restricted to women under the Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9, Part 1). Your supporting statement should demonstrate how you meet the candidate profile and should be no more than four A4 pages.

Role details

Salary: £24,133.20 (increasing to £26,133.20 once ISVA accredited).

• Base: Ashford / Canterbury
• Travel to other sites may be required.
• Hours: 35 hours per week (initial 1-year contract). Occasional out-of-hours meetings may be required.
• Benefits: 3% pension contribution; employee discounts scheme; 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays; employee assistance programme; flexible working negotiable.
• Requirements: right to work in the UK; enhanced DBS check (carried out through KSAAS); full UK driving licence and use of own car.
• Responsible to: Head of ISVA Services

Core functions

• Work as a committed member of the Kent Sexual Assault & Abuse Service (KSAAS) team.
• Support KSAAS’s aims, values and working principles, and work in line with KSAAS policies and procedures.
• Take all possible steps to ensure the safety and confidentiality of service users, staff, volunteers and KSAAS management.

Specific duties

• Provide support to children and young people, and their families, through a range of channels as appropriate, including face-to-face, video, text and telephone.
• Travel to schools and community venues to provide support as required by your caseload.
• Contact young people or the parents/carers of allocated child service users in a timely and professional manner.
• Work with children and young people who are survivors of sexual abuse to promote their emotional and physical wellbeing.
• Listen to service users’ needs and use a trauma-informed approach to develop an appropriate support plan.
• Undertake risk and needs assessments and provide ongoing support and advice on risk management.
• Support service users to report (if they choose to), and through each stage of the criminal justice process, explaining procedures and their rights and entitlements, including under the Victims’ Code.
• Support service users to make informed choices about their options.
• Support service users to access the services they need and to which they are entitled.
• Support service users to identify and work towards personal goals.
• Work in line with data protection legislation (including UK GDPR) and confidentiality requirements when working within multi-agency protocols.
• Identify and respond to child and adult safeguarding concerns, following relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
• Advocate and, where appropriate, challenge on behalf of service users.
• Develop and maintain effective communication with key partners including police, CPS, court services, education/schools, mental health and sexual health services, Victim Gateway, the Witness Service and other voluntary sector organisations.
• Highlight the needs of child survivors of sexual abuse and promote the service to partner agencies and local communities.
• Manage a caseload.
• Maintain accurate, timely notes and records for all service users, in line with UK GDPR and organisational requirements.
• Contribute to the development of service policies, protocols, guidelines and strategies within your area of practice, as required.
• Attend and contribute to supervision sessions.
• Work with a clear understanding of the myths and realities of sexual violence and trauma, including longer-term mental health impacts.
• Contribute accurate information, anonymised case studies and quantitative data to help monitor and evaluate service effectiveness.
• Complete ISVA/ChISVA training (if not already completed) and undertake ongoing training as directed throughout the role. 

General responsibilities

• Support the team to inform and educate the public, media, schools and other statutory agencies through networking, talks, training and presentations.
• Work flexibly to help KSAAS offer the best possible service to service users.
• Attend team and service meetings as required and collaborate with colleagues to achieve team and organisational objectives.
• Attend relevant training, conferences and workshops in line with identified professional objectives.

Performance will be monitored through regular line-management supervision and reviewed at the annual appraisal.

Due to the nature of work at KSAAS, tasks and responsibilities can be unpredictable and varied. All employees are therefore expected to work flexibly when required, including undertaking additional duties not specifically covered in this job description. These duties will normally be in response to unforeseen circumstances or changes in work and will be compatible with the post holder’s usual role.

Please note that you will be required to undertake a DBS check and may also be required to complete additional security checks to work in some settings.

A full driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Good standard of education (graduate level or equivalent experience)

• ISVA trained, or willing to attend training

• Child-related qualification

• Trauma-informed training

• Safeguarding training

• ISVA training

• Domestic abuse training

• Sexual abuse training

Experience

• Extensive knowledge and understanding of sexual violence, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and sexual coercion

• Experience of working with a range of statutory, non-statutory and voluntary agencies

• Experience of working with vulnerable adults or children

• Experience of working within the violence against women and girls’ sector

Knowledge & Understanding

• Knowledge of adult and child safeguarding issues, legislation and best practice

• Ability to maintain professional notes and records of interactions and interventions with service users

• Understanding of the effects of abuse on children

• Proficient IT skills (Windows, Microsoft Office, SharePoint, email and internet)

• Understanding of professional confidentiality and its boundaries in relation to service delivery, legal, ethical and safeguarding issues

• Specialist knowledge of the immediate and longer-term impacts of sexual violence, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation and sexual coercion

• Understanding of the need for accurate monitoring

• Knowledge of the Victims’ Code of Practice

Skills

• Able to prioritise own workload and manage competing demands

• Ability to use line management and supervision effectively

• Good communication skills (verbal, non-verbal and written)

• Ability to keep the service user at the centre of all processes

• Understanding of inequality and commitment to anti-oppressive practice

• Willingness to be creative in approach when working with children and young people

• Ability to work on own initiative, in partnership, and as part of a team

• Experience of proactive advocacy, representing the voices and needs of service users

Other

• Required to work flexibly to meet service users’ needs

• Expected to travel to meet service user needs; a driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential

How to Apply

To apply, please email a detailed CV along with a supporting statement explaining your suitability for the role, to the Head of ISVA Services, Caroline Carter.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 20 May 2026.