Jobs for the Elderly sector

About the role

This role leads our income generation and communications function, playing a central part in securing the charity’s long-term sustainability and growth.

You will be responsible for developing and delivering our fundraising and communications strategies, ensuring we generate the income needed to sustain and expand our work. A key focus will be building a diverse and resilient funding model, balancing multiple income streams while strengthening engagement with our supporters and stakeholders.

This is both a strategic and hands-on role. It is also a broad brief, and you won’t be expected to be an expert in everything. Instead, we are looking for someone with the knowledge, confidence and strategic approach to play to their strengths and those of their team, while drawing on additional expertise and capacity where needed.

The role includes leadership of our communications and media activity, ensuring our messaging is clear, compelling and aligned with our brand across all audiences, including supporters, partners and the wider public.

You will lead and support a team of staff and volunteers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment, with the capacity to grow and evolve in line with our ambitions.

As a senior leader, you will contribute to the wider strategic direction of the organisation, helping to identify new opportunities for innovation and impact.

This role would suit an experienced income generation or fundraising leader who is looking to broaden their impact across communications, or someone seeking an opportunity to play a key role in shaping the future direction of a values-driven organisation.

Closing date: midnight Sunday 14th June 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a first interview with OpenSight week beginning 22nd June and, if successful, a potential second interview week beginning 29th June.

Wimbledon Guild is a community charity offering practical help and support, so 
that no one in Merton has to face life’s challenges alone. Whether money’s tight, 
someone is feeling low or overwhelmed, or they’re looking for new friends and 
activities locally, we’re always here.

At Wimbledon Guild, our team of over 200 volunteers makes a real difference, supporting 
and connecting with people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences across Merton. 
Their support is truly invaluable, and we’re looking for a Volunteer Programme Manager to 
help us continue creating an inclusive and forward-thinking volunteering culture. 

In this role, the Volunteer Programme Manager will collaborate with six internal departments 
as well as our Marketing and Communications team to champion best practices in volunteer 
management. 

The role involves overseeing recruitment, training, supporting, and supervising our incredible 
volunteers, making sure they feel empowered and valued every step of the way.

In return, Wimbledon Guild offers a welcoming and supportive working environment with 
opportunities for professional development.

A new role and exciting local opportunity to inspire change in later life and make this a great place to grow old well.

We are reimagining our services for a new generation of older people, with more focus on earlier interventions and a shift away from reactive interventions.

We know that good health and happiness are closely linked and getting active is a great way to feel more positive. We think it is never too late to start something new.

History & Location

Fair Close (link to website) has a long history of enhancing independence in old age. We are ideally located in Newbury with the space, versatility and facilities to make the transition into become an ageing well centre and wellbeing hub for over the 70s (with low to moderate needs).

Your Impact

· Creating and delivering an inspiring programme of support within our building to promote active living, prevention, awareness and health management.

· Maximising the efficient use of our building to make the biggest difference for the most people.

· Driving innovation and continuous improvement tracking and measuring impact providing the data to support fundraising.

· Ensuring our services are relevant and based on individuals’ skills, experiences and interests’ whilst encouraging them to change their lives for the better.

About you

· Evidence of continuing professional development  

· Specialized knowledge to promote health, independence, and social engagement in older adults

· Ability to create and implement wellness programmes

· Compassion and empathy for the elderly

· Positive “can do” attitude, integrity and team work

Fundraising Manager — £35,000–£40,000 | Hybrid / Somerset / Bristol | Permanent | 35 hrs (flexible)

Thrive has been at the heart of Somerset's communities for 100 years. Village agents supporting isolated older people. Diverse communities programmes. Fuel poverty campaigns. Real, local, human work — delivered across every corner of the county.

This centenary year, Thrive is building its next chapter. A new chief executive has reset the strategic direction. Community energy is building. And the organisation has made a clear decision: it wants a sustainable fundraising base that isn't dependent on statutory contracts alone.

This role is the cornerstone of that ambition.

This isn't a maintenance hire. It's a builder's role.

The Fundraising Manager will lead across community fundraising, individual giving and trusts and foundations — with community and individual giving as the primary focus. The tools are in place. The mission is compelling. The stories are extraordinary. Thrive already has the reach, the relationships and the centenary momentum. What's missing is the right person to build the pipeline and turn that momentum into lasting income.

The target: 2,000 active supporters by year end, with a clear pathway to converting them into regular givers over time.

What you'll be doing:

• Building a structured community fundraising programme — creating frameworks that enable supporters, staff and volunteers to fundraise on Thrive's behalf
• Growing the individual giving base from a low starting point — developing supporter journeys, regular giving and stewardship
• Managing a grants pipeline and writing compelling applications to trusts and foundations
• Leading digital acquisition campaigns in partnership with the marketing team
• Line managing the Fundraising Administrator and helping them develop grant-writing skills over time
• Helping build a fundraising culture across the organisation where frontline staff feel part of the story

What we're looking for:

• A track record in community fundraising, individual giving or events fundraising
• Some experience of trusts and foundations — this doesn't need to be your primary specialism
• Strong written skills — the ability to translate real human stories into compelling fundraising copy
• A self-starter who works well with autonomy in a small team
• Genuine connection to Thrive's mission and the communities it serves
• Based in Somerset or within easy reach of Taunton — primarily home-based with approximately one day per week in the office

What Thrive offers:

• £35,000–£40,000 FTE
• Genuine flexibility — hybrid working that actually reflects how the organisation operates
• A values-led culture where kindness, compassion and psychological safety aren't just policies
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Real scope for career progression — if the fundraising function delivers, the trajectory in salary, responsibility and seniority is genuine

This role will suit you if:

You want to be a Head of Fundraising one day. You're frustrated by being siloed. You want breadth, autonomy and the chance to build something that matters — in a place where the mission is real and the communities are real.

This role is being recruited exclusively through Raise + Recruit, an independent not-for-profit executive search adviser. All enquiries are handled in complete confidence.

For a confidential conversation, contact John Austin — no obligation, no lengthy application process at this stage.