Advocacy Jobs in Birmingham
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Job Title West Midlands Community Engagement Officer
Hours 35 hours per week, term time only, permanent
(Some elements of this role will likely require out of hours working)
Reports to Head of Membership
Remuneration£20,462 (FTE equivalent £28,000)
Background
Our 68-year-old charity is one of the most exciting and flexible employers in the charity sector. Having supported 13,000 Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and their 100,000 heroic volunteer fundraisers to raise more than £1 Billion during the past decade, last year we began to lay the foundations for significant growth in impact during the decade ahead, not just to extend the impact of PTAs, but to provide more broader support for parents in enabling their children to live happy, healthy, and productive lives.
During the summer, we launched a membership magazine (PTA Extra), and a popular programme of parent webinar covering such topics as: ‘Supporting your child’s mental health’, ‘Helping your child succeed in KS2 English’, ‘Neurodiversity in Children Matters’.In the autumn began building a fundraising team to support PTAs by fundraising at the national level.In December we launched the highly successful ‘National Parent Survey’ to explore the challenges and concerns parents face. This year we relaunch a national publication for parents new to school, called ‘Be School Ready’, and our new ‘PTA Launchpad’ programme.
At Parentkind we have developed a culture of high expectations for supporting PTAs and Parents alongside an equally high expectation that colleagues take care of their mental health and well-being.We are obviously a parent-friendly and flexible employer, where colleagues work from home by choice, and are given agency to perform their duties in balance with life.Colleagues work around important life-commitments such as taking their children to school, attending a medical appointment, or just taking a walk.Colleagues are trusted to do great things, both at home and whilst working.
Main purpose and scope of Role
This role will play key to engaging with and supporting PTAs across the region, as well as a variety of stakeholders such as schools, parent groups, local authorities, potential sponsors or supporters and other organisations as our suite of programmes grows. This role initially focuses on the following, but is subject to change as programmes are launched or evolved:
PTA Programme
- Growing our network of PTAs.
- Supporting PTAs through leadership transition to minimise PTAs closing unnecessarily.
- Organising gatherings of PTAs to enhance the PTA community.
- Providing training and awareness sessions for PTAs.
- Providing community support to PTAs during peak activity periods online or by phone.
- Helping schools establish PTAs and supporting them during their first year through our new PTA Launchpad programme.
- Hosting and co-ordinating virtual webinars/meetings to demonstrate the value of PTA membership and the support available.
Parent Programme
- Raising awareness of Parentkind’s growing programme of support for parents, directly or indirectly through schools or other partners.
- Building relationships with parent groups to support engagement with our growing suite of parent support opportunities.
- Organising events for parents as part of our Parent Programme.
- Building relationships with regional stakeholders to support Parent Programme activities.
Other Programmes/Services
- Encouraging uptake or (when charged) sales of our broad and growing suite of programmes and services.
- Identifying and engaging with local and regional partners for our range of programmes.
- Feeding into programme design.
Wider Stakeholder Engagement:
- Attending appropriate conferences and educational meetings across the region.
- Developing relationships with key local authorities and individuals so they advocate our services and the benefits of our programmes
- Developing relationships with MATs so that they can advocate Parentkind and the benefits of its programmes.
- Identify any opportunities for external funding to from LA’s, Companies, or other funders with the support of our fundraising team.
Organisational Effectiveness:
- Create and implement operational annual plans and schedules to support our regional targets, ensuring that time specific milestones for their delivery are met.
- Regularly report on the health of our campaigns within your region, through identified KPIs and organisational targets.
- Ensure all knowledge and information is recorded, processed and maintained according to good administration practice.
General
- To keep abreast of relevant educational policy and legislation affecting our key audiences.
- To be flexible within the broad remit of the post.
- To undertake other duties as reasonably requested by the CEO and the Executive Leadership Team.
- To be self-servicing.
- To attend and participate in our performance, development, and training programmes.
- To abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practices.
- To be responsible for the health, safety, welfare of self, and other colleagues.
- Participating in and, as necessary, assisting with our national events and conferences.
- Supporting activities in other regions where a regional colleague is unappointed or unavailable.
Diversity at our core
Parentkind is committed to an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and encouraging equality and diversity with our team.We acknowledge that some candidates may require additional support to overcome barriers experienced during the application process.If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application or interview, please reach out to us via email.
The Application Process
Please apply as soon as possible by submitting your application through Charityjob with a covering letter.Please note that we are unable to sponsor international candidates and candidates should be resident or very familiar with the region the role is applicable to and willing to move to the region before commencing the role.Candidates will require their own vehicle to support attendance at meetings, including schools.
We will be interviewing on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as possible.
Parentkind is committed to safeguarding children in the schools we work and expect all colleagues to share this commitment.Appointees are subject to a DBS check.Having a criminal record will not automatically exclude applicants.
If you have not heard from us within two weeks following the closing date of the role, please presume that your application has been unsuccessful.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Fuel Bank - Support Administrator
Location – Remote based role with occasional travel to the Midlands for team meetings & training.
Hours – Part & Full Time Positions. F/T – 37.5 hours Monday to Friday. P/T 20+ hours flexible Monday to Friday to suit the needs of the charity and individual’s work life balance.
Salary - £11.55ph (salary review’s to be conducted in April 2024).
Are you a confident communicator with strong administration skills? Are you happy to work in a busy reactive role processing queries and applications? Are you flexible, empathetic and able to deliver great customer service to our clients via email and telephone interactions?
Fuel Bank Foundation is the only UK charity to focus on the challenges of people living in fuel crisis. We provide emergency financial support through our network of partners who identify people who cannot afford to pre-pay for their energy.
As a Support Administrator, you will work closely with the team to support the communications through the email inbox, holding telephone assessments and by the processing of queries and applications. You will also work closely with other departments within the charity and ensure clear and consistent communication is delivered and additional support is given where needed.
Some of your duties and responsibilities include:
· Manage the daily queries that are received into the team’s inbox.
· Holding telephone assessments to establish the support needs of the client.
· Request additional information as required in regard to applications.
· Liaise with partners and applicants to ensure all relevant detail is given and gathered.
· Update inhouse systems and Excel spreadsheets.
· Monitor progress rates of applications and where communication may be needed.
· Ensuring all data is correct so that Internal departments can trust the integrity of the data on the company’s system.
· Escalate any queries where needed to other members of the team.
· Build relationships with key partners via calls and emails.
· To assist with all associated administration.
· Ensure the smooth running of each application.
· Liaise with internal departments regarding follow up communications.
· Produce reports where required for senior team.
· Accurate electronic filing of documentation.
The person for the role will:
· Have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to adapt the way you communicate to suit different situations.
· Have excellent written and verbal communication, with telephone customer service experience.
· Have strong empathy skills with real life skills to deal with sensitive situations with compassion and understanding.
· Have a passion for working in this area of support work.
· Have knowledge of internal IT software operating systems preferable.
· Have a good understanding of Microsoft Office particularly Excel and Outlook
· Be an effective communicator.
· Have effective problem-solving skills.
· Have the ability to manage workload effectively and prioritise.
· Be an effective decision maker.
· Have the flexibility to support customers and partner communications.
· Have great attention to detail.
· Be results focussed.
· Hold high personal values.
· Be organised.
· Have a continuous improvement mind-set.
· Be a great team player.
An understanding of the energy or this charity sector would be desirable but is not essential.
What will you receive in return:
· Support from a team of like-minded individuals who will support you to succeed in the role.
· Annual leave entitlement of 27.5 days (FTE), plus bank holidays plus the option to buy/sell extra days.
· A flexible working week to ensure work life balance.
· Enhanced pension contributions.
· Equal opportunity employers.
· Full onboarding programme with ongoing training and development opportunities.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Events and Communications Officer
Job Title: Events and Communications Officer
Responsible to: CEO
Location: Remote, with requirement for in-person attendance at some meetings and events during the year (travel expenses covered)
Hours: 14 hours per week across a minimum of 2 days per week (flexible days, to be agreed with successful candidate) with occasional out of hours working required (e.g. our annual summer residential camp and twice-yearly family weekend events, with TOIL for out of hours working)
Salary: £23,500 per year pro rata, 2 days/week (£9,400 actual)
Term: 12-month fixed term contract with potential to continue in role as funding allows
Annual leave and benefits: 33 days leave pro rata (13.2 days actual). Employer pension scheme with matched contributions of 5%
Closing Date: 15th April
ABOUT USHER KIDS UK
At Usher Kids UK, we’re devoted to empowering children, young people and their families living with Usher syndrome - a rare cause of progressive deafblindness.
From the point of diagnosis onwards we provide information, support and resources tailored to the specific and unique challenges of the condition. We create opportunities for families to connect at virtual and in-person events, helping them build friendships, skills and confidence for the journey ahead.
Our services are already changing the experiences and outcomes of the next generation: "Our daughter came back from Usher Kids UK summer camp absolutely buzzing - she was confident, proud and talked with excitement about how she is unique." Working at Usher Kids UK, you could help to ensure that every family living with Usher syndrome has access to this life-changing impact.
WORKING AT USHER KIDS UK
Our charity provides vital support to the Usher community. In recent years, demand has grown for our services so this year we are very excited to be growing our staff team. The new Events and Communications Officer will work alongside our CEO, playing a vital role in ensuring the success of our events and engaging with our families and collaborators.
The role will be varied and offers the chance to be an important part of our small and friendly team. We recognise the value that each person brings to our charity, encouraging innovation and development, and we support each other to provide the very best services for our community.
OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE
Events:
As Events and Communications Officer, a significant part of your role will be assisting in the design and delivery of our virtual and in-person events. These include:
o Regular (monthly) virtual events
o Twice-yearly family in-person events (usually a Saturday in April and in September or October)
o Annual residential camp for 11-25yr olds ( a 5-night residential held in July or August)
Some of the aspects you will lead on include:
o Communicating with our community and other stakeholders, such as venues and volunteers, pre- and post-event.
o Creating promotional and other event materials.
o Registration and organisation of the people involved in the event.
o Coordinating logistics before, during and after events.
Having worked so hard making sure that the event runs successfully, you will of course also be a vital part of the team helping to deliver the in-person events, which is an absolute joy!
Communications
You will assist in the design and delivery of our communications strategy. This will include:
o Determining how best to communicate with our families, including the children and young people, to ensure that we provide the support and services they need.
o Determining how best to communicate with our collaborators, including other organisations, funders and professionals in the sector, in order to continue and improve our offer.
o Managing the day-to-day delivery of our social media, emails, website, promotional materials and media archives.
o Keeping our CRM updated and proactively communicating with our stakeholders.
o Supporting our Governance Team with scheduling and meeting arrangements.
o Monitoring the impact of our events and engagement, using insight gained to identify unmet needs, and work as a team to create a plan to address these needs.
PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
Essential:
o Computer literate and confident using MS Office software.
o An excellent knowledge of different social media platforms and the types of content required to drive engagement.
o Experience of website/CMS systems.
o Understanding of printed promotional material.
o Good standard of written English and Maths (GCSE grade 5 or above).
o Good understanding and/or experience of implementing communication strategies appropriate for different audiences.
o Experience of design and delivery of virtual and in-person events.
o Experience of working with children, young people and families.
o Understanding of, and commitment to, the objectives of Usher Kids UK.
o Strong organisational and time-management abilities, adept at prioritisation and multitasking.
o Attention to detail with a proactive approach to achieving and maintaining high standards.
o Drive, determination and self-motivation, with a positive attitude towards work.
o Excellent interpersonal skills, comfortable in team settings and independent working.
o Ability to deliver out-of-hours work to accommodate Usher Kids UK events or travel in the UK and internationally.
Desirable:
o Experience of the charity sector.
o Knowledge of engagement and impact measurement and evaluation.
o Knowledge of safeguarding processes and systems.
Please upload the following to Charity Jobs by 15th April 2024:
o An up-to-date CV
o A covering letter (no more than 2 pages) explaining why you think you are the right candidate for this role. Please ensure you provide evidence and examples which demonstrate how your skills meet the criteria set out in the person specification.
We are actively recruiting for this role, so will be scheduling meetings and interviews as applications are submitted. Recruitment may end early should the right person be found prior to the closing date, so we encourage anyone interested not to wait before applying.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.