Entry level jobs

About us

The Refugee Council is the nation’s refugee charity. Together with community groups, partners and volunteers, we help people who have escaped war and persecution to rebuild their lives, integrate into communities, and play their part in Britain. Born in the aftermath of World War II, our frontline services support over 14,000 refugees each year to find safety, get to know their neighbours, and enter education, training or work. We share our evidence and expertise with policymakers to help build integrated communities where everyone can contribute. 

Our Values

Our values underpin everything we do:

• Inclusive: We are inclusive. We work with - not for - refugees and people seeking asylum, so they have an equal voice, co-producing projects and ensuring their expertise and experiences are at the heart of what we do.
• Collaborative: We are collaborative. Working with others is a priority in order to have the collective impact that is vital to achieve policy and practice reform.
• Courageous: We speak out when we see injustice, cruelty and unfairness. We always stand up for what we believe is the right thing to do to transform the experiences of those seeking protection in our country.
• Respectful: We are respectful of all those we interact with. We treat everyone – our staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, partners and people we disagree with – with the same respect, professionalism and understanding.

About the role

The Refugee Council is seeking to recruit a 7 hours weekly face-to-face Adult Psychological Therapist to work with resettled refugees in Sheffield. This is a fixed-term post until March 2027.

Sheffield Therapeutic Services for Resettled Refugees (STSRR) is based within the Refugee Council's Resettlement Team in South Yorkshire. The Resettlement Team provides advice and support for Resettled Refugees to help them access services and mainstream provision and establish community links.

The Therapeutic Team in Sheffield provides one-to-one Psychological Therapy and Group therapy to resettled refugees presenting with mental distress. We have adopted a psychosocial perspective and use a specially tailored care model to address the needs of our clients.

We are seeking an experienced Psychological Therapist to work within this team for one day per week. The post-holder will be based within our Sheffield office, and all therapeutic work is face-to-face working alongside our Therapeutic Interpreting team.

Staff benefits

To reward our staff for the value they bring, we offer a variety of enhanced terms and conditions and a wide range of benefits, including:

• Training & Development
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension Scheme
• Work Life Balance Policies
• Employer-Sponsored Volunteering
• And more.

Let’s work together to improve the lives of refugees in the UK -  apply on our website today.

Closing date: 15 July 2025.

Ensuring that the Refugee Council is an inclusive and accessible place to work is important to us. We want to enable people from different backgrounds to apply and thrive with us. We believe our recruitment process enables that and are also happy to make adjustments on request.

Ascension Community Trust (ACT) is a much-loved community-based charity in Custom
House, Newham. We deliver Newham District Foodbank (a Trussell foodbank run by ACT
and two community partners), welfare benefits advice, immigration advice, ESOL classes,
work with adults with learning difficulties, as well as work with children, young people and
their families.

Our volunteers come from all walks of life, and their experience includes working with
corporate companies, students, school children, people with lived experience of poverty,
refugees, asylum seekers, and adults with learning difficulties. Our mission statement –
“Enabling the whole community to make the community whole” – means that we work with
all members of our community and promote integration.

We are looking for someone with good interpersonal skills, who can welcome and listen to
prospective volunteers to find out their interests, skills and goals and match them with the
right volunteering opportunity.

You will work two days a week with Newham District Foodbank strategic partners to mobilise
volunteers across our three delivery sites, and one day a week to support volunteer
involvement across the rest of ACT. You will need to be able to think outside the box to spot
opportunities – across all our projects – to invite volunteers to join in with our mission,
whether that’s regular volunteering, one-off projects or using their skills to help us with
strategy or communications.

You will also need to be methodical, making sure references are taken up and DBS-checks
are completed, as well as tracking and recording volunteers’ training. To make this easier
you will help us implement the ‘Assemble’ volunteer management software across Newham
District Foodbank’s three partners.

At Penarth Methodist Church we have a thriving range of work wth Children , Young People and Families to bring the good news of Jesus through friendship and fun . As Children and Families worker you will play an important part in developng this vision, building on our exisitng ministry by :

• Encouraging and supporting those children and families aready part of the church and those loosley connected with it
• Supporting and developing our Messy Church,Toddler Group,Boys Brigade and Junior Church 
• Engaging with parents of younger children locally to serve their needs and introduce them to the church family here.

To achieve this you will support those carers with particular needs , promote social activities for carers and families , use social media to  promote  the profile of those church groups, develop links with local primary schools, and work with other local church colleagues 

We want to hear from you if you are a committed Christian exerienced in working with Children and Families  and with a background in Children,Families, Youth or Community work .

Job Details 

Hours - between 15 to 20 hours per week .( Typically 4 or 5  x 3 hour sessions per week plus 2 Sunday mornings per month  with  up to 6 Saturdays per year . We recognise that our ideal candidate may have  other responsibilities &commitments so   some  flexibility is possible  about  total hours and when they are worked.)

Pay Currently £14.72 per hour ( £11482 - £15310 dependent on hours worked). This will be reviewed each  November as we are committed to raising pay rates in line with increases in the Real Living Wage.

Work Base Penarth Methodist Church,  CF642EX. Some home working allowed. 

Pension  Contributory pension scheme  6%

Annual  Leave  28 Days includng statutory Public Holidays 

Appointment - Subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure and references 

Closing date for applications  12 noon on Friday 4 July  .We anticipate conducting interviews  during the period 10th - 14th July 

We are looking for someone to support our weekly foodbank by collecting supermarket donations, conducting weekly shopping and supporting the foodbank manager at Dalgarno Trust community centre.

Dalgarno Trust community centre will be your main office location, but you will be required to conduct collections from other locations in a Luton van. The job involves manual handling and requires a clean driving licence.

£13.85 per hour

14 hours per week (part-time)

Two days per week – Weds 3-10pm and Thurs 9am-5pm

To apply, please read through the job description, and send us your CV along with a cover letter.

The closing date is 11 July.

They’re looking for a passionate and creative individual to join our team and help grow Link Up, their community for care-experienced young people to connect, support one another, and feel a sense of belonging. You’ll lead on designing and delivering in-person and online events shaped by young people’s interests and experiences, offering inclusive and accessible social opportunities for young people, and facilitate spaces for young people to learn from and support one another as they navigate care. 
 
With a particular focus on the West Midlands, you’ll build local partnerships, support a small group of Care Experienced Volunteers, and work alongside young people to co-create activities and shape engagement. If you’re organised, proactive, and committed to nurturing a community of care experienced young people across England, they’d love to hear from you. 
 
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 

As an organisation serving children in care and young care leavers they are keen to receive applications from people with lived experience of care. They are actively seeking to bring diversity of perspectives and experience, and especially welcome applications from those from racially-minoritised communities. They ask all applicants to fill in an Equity and Diversity Monitoring from to better understand the diversity of applicants. This is anonymous and will not be connected with your application. 
 
How to apply 

They ask interested applicants to answer several competency-based questions. Your application and answers will be reviewed anonymously to ensure fairness and help remove bias from the application process. You’ll need to send them your CV and it will be anonymised before review. 

To apply for this role, you will need to:

• Provide them with a copy of your CV;
• Answer the competency questions in no more than 400 words per question, providing relevant examples to demonstrate how you meet the skills and experience required;
• Complete the Equity and Diversity Monitoring Form (this is not compulsory but the information is very useful to them).

 
If you have any reasonable adjustments you would like them to consider for this recruitment process (either for the application or interview), please advise them on your application form. 
 
If you would like an informal chat before applying, please contact the Hiring Manager, Anne-marie Bird and they will arrange a convenient time. Please note that due to the anonymised nature of the application process, any conversations cannot be linked to your application or used to support it in any way. 

The deadline for applications to be received is Sunday 20th July @ 11.59pm. 

Interview Details 

Interviews will have two parts:

• A session with young people;
• A panel interview with their staff.

 
Interviews will be held virtually using a video calling app (Microsoft Teams or Zoom) . If access to technology/internet is difficult for you, please contact us so we can assist in making suitable arrangements.   

Become also wants to ensure fairness in all their interviews so all successful shortlisted candidates will be sent the interview questions in advance. 

Interviews will take place:

• Young people’s panel: 29th July
• Staff panel: 31st July 

 
Please Note 

All applicants must have a Right to Work in the UK. Although the role is hybrid, they are unable to offer work visas or sponsorship for any candidates. 

They’re proud to be a Living Wage Employer. They are committed to #ShowingTheSalary. Their roles are #OpenToAll
 
REF-222 311

Are you someone who thrives on making a genuine difference to people’s lives? Do you have experience working in health, social care or the voluntary sector and want to play a vital role in improving how older people access the support they need? If so, we would love to hear from you.

Age UK Bromley & Greenwich is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Care Navigator to join our expanding team in partnership with Oxleas NHS Trust. Based at Memorial Hospital in Woolwich, you will be embedded within a multi-disciplinary team working on the Proactive and Frailty pathways. Your focus will be on supporting older people with complex needs, helping them navigate health and social care systems, and connecting them to relevant services across the community.

This is a key role that sits at the heart of person-centred care. You will attend multi-disciplinary team meetings, work alongside professionals including GPs, case managers and mental health staff, and spend time speaking directly with patients and their families. Your role will be to truly listen, identify what matters most to the individual, and help them take practical steps towards better health, independence and wellbeing.

Key responsibilities include:

• Attending Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meetings and contributing to holistic care planning

• Working with patients to understand their needs, provide emotional support and signpost to local services

• Liaising with a wide range of professionals across the NHS, social care and voluntary sectors

• Inputting information into systems including RIO and Framework I, with training provided

• Keeping accurate records and contributing to service evaluation and improvement

We are looking for someone who is:

• Experienced in health, social care or voluntary sector settings

• Empathetic and a confident communicator

• Able to build strong relationships with a range of professionals and clients

• Organised, reliable and motivated by positive outcomes for others

• Comfortable working independently and as part of a team

• Passionate about supporting older people to live well and with dignity

This role offers the opportunity to be part of a well-respected local charity with a strong values-led culture. You will be joining a supportive team that values collaboration, creativity and kindness. As a Care Navigator, your work will have a direct impact on people’s lives at a time when they are most vulnerable.

For the full person spec and job description please download the job pack.

Lead the development and management of a comprehensive programme of extracurricular activities, encompassing student groups, societies, volunteering opportunities, and events. Ensure an excellent volunteering experience for student leaders and volunteers, supporting their personal and professional growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Effective development and management of student led opportunities.
• Development and delivery of high-quality training and development opportunities empowering student leaders to contribute to the success of CSU’s strategy.
• Continuous and sustainable growth in the range of student opportunities and the number of students engaged.
• Ensuring a high-quality volunteering experience.
• Operational Management of the Opportunities team.

Please note that all aplications must be made through our website. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered.

Location: RSPCA Chesterfield Animal Centre, Chesterfield, S41 0HL (with potential for hybrid working from home up to two days per week)
Salary: £30,000 – £35,000 per annum
Hours: 37.5 hours per week Monday to Friday. Other flexible working arrangements that meet the operational needs of the Branch may be considered. Occasional overtime and/or weekend and Public Holiday working may be required, and this may be outside of normal working hours.
Job type: Full Time – Permanent
Closing date: Interviews will be carried out on a rolling basis as applications are reviewed and we reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time

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We are looking for a special person to undertake an exciting new role within our passionate team of people dedicated to transforming the lives of animals in need. 

You will be responsible for the successful expansion of our existing income streams in line with our fundraising strategy and nurturing successful, long-term relationships with our supporters, donors and key stakeholders. 

Key to the success of the role will be the ability to identify development opportunities for our individual giving, legacy giving, grant funding and corporate donor programs as well as opportunities for special appeals to maximise our exposure throughout our whole catchment area. 

The role will work closely with other members of the established team to utilise the potential of our Community Fundraising Volunteers and Content Creator Volunteers identifying opportunities for them to maximise their contribution to the Branch’s activities and ensuring their efforts are recognised appropriately. 

Your existing communication skills will be put to good use acting as an ambassador for the charity, representing us at key events as well as reporting performance to the Board of Trustees. 

This role is pivotal to ensuring the successful operation of the charity into the future and provides a chance to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of animals in need. There is potential to develop the role and shape the future direction of our fundraising activities.

Based at our newly rebuilt animal centre in Chesterfield but with scope also for hybrid working, you will have the opportunity to see our animal rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming work in day-to-day action. 

So, if you have the vision and experience to help us unlock new income streams to drive growth and together with the desire to make a real difference to the lives of animals and the people who care for them then we would love to hear from you.

Further details of the role and requirements are available in the Job Description and Person Specification that form part of the application pack on our website job vacancies page.

Full-time: 32 hours per week over four or five days.

Hybrid working: remote with one in-person day per week (Wednesday) in East London office.

Annual leave: five weeks plus bank holidays and office closure between Christmas and New Year.

Employer pension contributions up to 5% of qualifying earnings.

Join our team at World Hepatitis Alliance, supporting the Director of Partnerships & Resources to build and manage a varied portfolio of partners to fund the ambitious programmes, campaigns and events we will deliver through our 2025-2030 Strategy.

The World Hepatitis Alliance is an international NGO, representing over 400 civil society and patient organisation members in over 120 countries. We are committed to eliminating viral hepatitis, a devastating disease that affects more than 300 million people and is now the second most deadly infectious disease in the world.

Our current partners are mostly global corporate funders, along with several private foundations, and most support is given through bespoke partnerships, sponsorship and grants. We have diversified the base of funding substantially, introduced new funding models, and identified new funding opportunities, including working with partners to respond to global donor or institutional funding.

We are looking for a confident relationship-building who thrives on identifying new opportunities and developing long-term partnerships to help build on this momentum.

Duties and key responsibilities:

• Together with the Director of Partnerships & Resources, you will support the implementation of the fundraising strategy, deliver activity plans and achieve income targets in line with organisational funding priorities.
• Maintain and develop relationships with some existing partners. 
• Proactively research and engage potential new partners and opportunities, which could include corporate partnerships, grant writing and sponsorship.
• Support on the delivery of sponsorship packages for campaigns and the World Hepatitis Summit – a bi-annual event hosted by the World Hepatitis Alliance.
• Support on the management of WHA’s annual corporate membership scheme
• Undertake your own projects such as the development of presentations, resources, newsletters or tools to support engagement with donors, working with programmes and communications colleagues, or support on wider organisational projects.
• Support the Director of Partnerships & Resources to deliver donor stewardship.
• Manage CRM database and provide administrative support across fundraising as needed.

General responsibilities:

• Uphold the values of the organisation and support and promote diversity and equality of opportunity in the workplace.
• Be flexible and carry out other associated duties as may arise, develop or be assigned in line with the broad remit of the post.
• Maintain and improve competencies through continuous professional development.
• Abide by organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice.
• Treat with confidentiality any personal, private or sensitive information about individual organisations and or partners or staff etc.

The World Hepatitis Alliance is a small team who work closely together to deliver a wide range of programmes, activities, campaigns and communications. There may be opportunities to support on projects led by other teams and plenty of scope to develop the fundraising and partnerships function within this role as the team grows.

About you:

We are looking for a confident fundraiser who thrives on developing new opportunities and is self-motivated and pro-active.

We would like you to have at least three years’ experience in fundraising with corporates and/or trusts and foundations, or have demonstrable transferable skills, particularly around networking/new business and writing proposals. We would also like you to demonstrate skills in delivering presentations, managing data or supporter journeys, and it would be ideal if you had experience of working in, or a personal interest in, global health or infectious diseases.

We are also looking for someone who can work under pressure to meet deadlines while also having an eye for detail and desire to maintain high standards. Someone who can work effectively both independently and as part of a team. We work quite flexibly, and sometimes with partners all over the world so there may be a call or two outside of working hours. There may also be the opportunity to travel occasionally.

Why join us?

You will be part of a small, driven and highly passionate team who are experts in what they do, and work with partners who are similarly committed to hepatitis elimination. We offer a flexible working environment, 32-hour working week, generous annual leave allowance and employer pension contributions up to 5% of qualifying earnings.

Are you a fully qualified or part-qualified accountant with excellent analytical skills, impeccable attention to detail and a high level of numeracy and intermediate Excel skills?  Looking for an exciting and highly rewarding new opportunity? If so, join Shelter as our Finance Analyst and you could soon be providing quality support to our high-performing Financial Planning and Analysis Team.

About the role

Key responsibilities and outcomes of the role are:

• Improved financial insight and analysis provided to organisational budget holders within a key funder's project, which enables effective financial decision making and management of business performance by budget holders.
• Through training, education and ad hoc support, project budget holders are empowered to engage effectively with financial planning (e.g. budgeting and forecasting).
• Supporting effective review of amendments and changes to the project. Ensuring that management receive accurate reliable and timely information to enable decision making related to restricted funded projects.

Role Specifics

The role involves reviewing and analysing monthly financial data, budgets, and forecasts to identify trends, variances, and key issues, and liaising with the wider Finance team and budget holders to ensure appropriate action is taken. You will support and educate budget holders, acting as their first point of contact for financial planning queries and contributing to training where needed. The postholder will help develop clear, insightful financial reports using Unit 4 FP&A software, incorporating user feedback and improving reporting on restricted funding. Responsibilities also include posting journals, managing financial reporting for the key funder's projects, supporting budget and forecast cycles, reviewing business cases from fundraising teams, and providing financial input on bids and project proposals. Regular engagement with budget holders is essential to drive effective management of restricted funds and support evidence-based fundraising decisions.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits 

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter helps millions of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We’re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About the team

Our Finance Department works as a team of experts to safeguard resources and support decision making across Shelter. We strive to ensure Shelter is financially sustainable in order to achieve our vision of a home for everyone. This role sits within the Financial Planning and Analysis team. We support the charity through financial reporting, analysis, and expert advice, and enable collaboration to support managers and leadership in making effective business decisions.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies. 

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

Our partner seeks a seasoned, analytical management accountant, with experience in project accounting and finance business partnering within an international charity. This is a 1 year fixed-term contract.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with project leads to monitor budgets and provide tailored financial insights, and regular reporting on project performance and expenditure tracking, ensuring effective resource management across funded initiatives.
• Prepare bespoke financial reports in line with external funding agreements, meeting all donor-specific compliance and deadline requirements.
• Serve as a primary contact for day-to-day finance-related queries from both UK and international colleagues, offering guidance on systems and processes.
• Contribute to the preparation of monthly management accounts, supporting senior finance colleagues in the analysis and review of organisational performance.
• Assist in the development of year-end statutory accounts and provide support throughout the external audit process, including documentation collation and response to auditor queries.

Requirements

• Part-qualified accountant with at least 2 years of experience working in a similar role within an international charity, and a sound knowledge of preparing management accounts, undertaking analysis and doing project and donor accounting.
• Strong IT and systems skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, a strong command of the English language and report writing ability.
• Team player, able to be supportive and manage a varied a workload with little supervision.

This role offers remote working from the UK, with the candidate expected to attend meetings in London once ever 2-3 months. This role is only open to candidates with the right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship. This a 1 year FTC with an immediate start preferred.

Financial Accountant

£45,000-£52,000 per annum (dependent on relevant skills, experience and qualification) plus generous benefits

Location – Hybrid working split between the Foundation’s office in London and home. This usually averages at two days in the office per week.

We are the Football Foundation - the Premier League, the FA and government’s charity that delivers outstanding grassroots facilities, more and better places to play, transforming lives and communities where it is needed most. 

About the role

Are you a detail-oriented finance professional looking for an opportunity to drive financial excellence in a dynamic, purpose-driven organisation? Are you looking for an opportunity to use your professional skills and experience to make a real difference to people’s lives? We’re looking for a Financial Accountant to play a key role across our organisation, working with colleagues to ensure compliance, accuracy, and efficiency across our financial operations.

As a Financial Accountant, you’ll be responsible for preparing, analysing, and maintaining financial records and reports, ensuring compliance with financial regulations and internal policies. Reporting to the Financial Controller, you’ll support the month-end and year-end close, oversee payroll and accounts payable, and act as the first point of contact for grant and bank account queries. Your role will be essential in ensuring the smooth running of the finance function, providing expert financial insights and analysis to support decision-making.

Key responsibilities

• Assist in preparing annual statutory accounts and audit documentation.
• Lead the month-end close process, ensuring accuracy in financial reporting.
• Oversee payroll processing (Sage 50), including tax and pension calculations.
• Manage accounts payable, including supplier payments and expense reconciliation.
• Maintain key financial controls, including grant payments, payroll, creditors, and bank reconciliations.
• Monitor and improve financial processes to ensure efficiency and compliance.
• Support the Finance Director with cash flow analysis and forecasting.

What are we looking for?

• Qualified or finalist (CIMA, ACCA, ACA) with 2-5 years of experience in financial accounting.
• Strong knowledge of financial reporting, tax compliance, and audit processes.
• Skilled in Excel (VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, Financial Modelling) and accounting software (preferably NetSuite).
• Experience in payroll processing, budgeting, and cash flow management.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Strong communication skills, able to present financial data clearly to non-financial stakeholders.

For full details of the role and requirements, please download our recruitment pack below.

What can we offer you?

The salary band for this role is £45,000-£52,000 per annum, dependent on relevant skills and experience.

You will start with 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (which increases after 2 years), plus additional time off to volunteer. We also offer a generous pension scheme (8% employer contribution), free health care provision, a monthly gym subsidy, death in service benefit and access to selected match tickets.

We are committed to helping our team members maintain a healthy work-life balance, so offer flexible working around core hours to help achieve that.

Equality and Diversity Commitment

The Football Foundation is committed to and values the principles of diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment where all our team feel respected and supported in fulfilling their potential. We encourage and welcome applications from all, regardless of background and are particularly interested to hear from individuals belonging to under-represented groups including diverse ethnic communities, individuals with a disability and those from the LGBTQI+ community.

Should you need any adjustments to the recruitment process, at either application or interview stage, please contact us.

The closing date for applications is: Sunday 06 July 2025 at 23:59

First interviews will be held via MS Teams 15 July 2025.

Second-stage interviews will be held in person at Wembley Stadium 21 July 2025. 

Closing Date: midday 21 July

Reports to: Chief Executive

Hours of work: 0.8 FTE (30hrs per week) (flexible for the right candidate)

Holidays: Uncapped annual leave, plus two week-long shutdowns

Main work address: Hybrid - a mix of remote working and time at our Abingdon office. The role involves regular travel across Oxfordshire to meet funders, partners, and community supporters, and occasional evening or weekend work for events and networking.

Closing date: midday 21 July

Interviews: w/c 28 July or w/c 4 August

About Quest for Learning
Quest for Learning is an education charity on a mission to close the gap for primary school children in Oxfordshire who are falling behind - often due to complex and compounding disadvantage. Many of the children we support are growing up in poverty, with limited access to books, low parental literacy, and challenging home environments. Some face health inequalities, live in areas affected by crime, or have recently arrived in the UK as refugees or asylum seekers.

We work closely with schools to provide targeted, high-impact literacy and numeracy programmes that give these children the chance to catch up, thrive, and believe in their potential. On average, our small-group tutoring helps pupils make 13 months of progress in just 10 hours - building not only essential skills, but also confidence, motivation, and a renewed sense of possibility.

The impact extends well beyond the classroom. By supporting children early, we help prevent the need for more complex and costly interventions later in life, from mental health support to exclusion and social care. Our work contributes to stronger, fairer communities by giving every child the foundation they need to participate fully in society. In doing so, we are advancing social sustainability and helping to meet global goals such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals for Quality Education, Reduced Inequalities, and Good Health and Wellbeing.

Role Purpose

This is a hands-on and outward-facing role for a confident, capable fundraiser ready to lead Quest for Learning’s income generation efforts. As our sole dedicated fundraiser, you’ll take ownership of securing income across a broad mix of streams - including trusts and foundations, community fundraising, individual giving, and corporate partnerships.

You’ll be out and about representing the charity, building relationships with local businesses, community groups, and supporters, and bringing our mission to life with energy and clarity. You'll need to be a proactive self-starter who enjoys meeting people, thrives in a varied role, and is motivated by delivering results that improve life chances for disadvantaged children.

This is a busy and varied role which often involves working on multiple fundraising activities at once. A typical day could include working on an application to a new funder, designing a supporter newsletter, gathering information for an end of grant report, and researching new prospects.

This role would suit someone with experience of securing funding, managing funder relationships, and developing new opportunities - all with a focus on practical delivery. You’ll work closely with the CEO, leadership and programme teams, and our board of trustees to help grow a diverse and sustainable income base.

Key Responsibilities

Trusts and foundations

• Research and identify prospective funders, building a robust pipeline
• Write and submit compelling, tailored funding applications
• Deliver timely, high-quality reports with evidence of impact
• Build and maintain strong relationships with funders through clear, proactive stewardship
• Monitor success rates and financial information and adapt strategy to improve performance

Community fundraising

• Initiate and grow partnerships with local community groups (e.g. WIs, Rotary clubs, schools, churches)
• Support or coordinate local fundraising events and campaigns (e.g. fun runs, quizzes, coffee mornings)
• Attend community events to represent the charity and engage new supporters
• Equip and support individuals and groups to fundraise on our behalf

Corporate partnerships and other earned income

• Build relationships with local and regional businesses to secure sponsorship, gifts-in-kind or Charity of the Year support
• Develop creative, mutually beneficial opportunities to engage corporate partners
• Work with the CEO and board to identify and cultivate prospects
• Explore other potential income streams including education consultancy or training offers

Individual Giving and supporter engagement

• Support the development of campaigns to encourage donations from individuals
• Help create a compelling case for support across our communications
• Identify opportunities to increase visibility and supporter base (e.g. speaking engagements, community fairs)
• Ensure Quest for Learning is regularly engaging with our supporters
• Champion the use of storytelling and pupil outcomes to inspire giving

Marketing and communications (fundraising-focused)

• Develop fundraising messaging and materials with the CEO and team
• Lead on all communications relating to fundraising and supporter engagement
• Ensure consistent branding and tone across all fundraising-related comms
• Share our impact with passion and clarity to motivate supporters

Planning and systems

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in our Beacon CRM
• Track income performance and contribute to budgeting and forecasting
• Create and deliver realistic workplans to manage multiple deadlines
• Liaise with programme staff to gather data and stories for funders
• Report on income and fundraising activities to CEO and trustees

Person Specification

Essential

• Proven experience in fundraising, with a track record of securing income across multiple streams
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain our mission clearly and persuasively to a wide range of audiences
• Excellent bid writing and reporting skills
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills
• Confidence in networking, public speaking, and relationship-building
• Proactive, self-motivated, and happy to work independently
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Values-led, personable and enthusiastic - able to represent the charity with warmth and professionalism

Desirable

• Experience working in a small charity or education setting
• Knowledge of the Oxfordshire funding landscape or local networks
• Experience with community fundraising, challenge events, or individual giving
• Skills in Canva, Mailchimp or similar content creation tools
• Familiarity with Beacon or similar fundraising CRMs
• Understanding of primary education and the barriers disadvantaged children face
• Experience producing fundraising workplans or reports for trustees

Why work with us?

Quest for Learning is a friendly, values-led education charity with a big mission and a supportive culture. We’re committed to flexibility, wellbeing and professional growth, and we believe in helping our team thrive while doing meaningful work.

We offer:

• Unlimited annual leave (minimum 28 days pro rata, plus bank holidays), with full charity shutdowns in August and at Christmas
• Flexible hybrid working with autonomy over your schedule
• A culture of trust, kindness, and high standards
• Opportunities to test ideas, develop skills and shape a growing organisation

London Play is seeking a part-time Partnership Fundraiser to lead on securing income to support its vital work, in particular through strengthening and developing its partnership with London Play Design. This is a flexible and autonomous role, ideal for an experienced professional with a strong background in fundraising strategy, relationship-building, and making grant applications.

About London Play (LP)

London Play is a small, influential charity with a mission to ensure that every child in London has the time, space and freedom to play outside every day, close to where they live. In a crowded city, the availability of safe, accessible places to play is under constant threat. We work with groups across the capital to help them provide more and better play opportunities for children, as well as advocating and campaigning for play as an essential part of a healthy childhood. Supporting and promoting London’s unique staffed adventure playgrounds is also a key focus for our work.  

About London Play Design (LPD)

London Play Design is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company and social enterprise established in 2017, formerly a department within London Play. We specialise in designing and improving community play spaces across London. With a deep commitment to play, we aim to create vibrant, engaging, and safe environments for children and families, underpinned by community involvement and sustainable practice.

Job Description

We seek a skilled and proactive fundraiser to support LP in submitting funding applications to support its partnership with LPD and developing long-term fundraising capacity. The first key task will be to collaborate with both organisations to create a strategic fundraising plan aligned with our programmes, with a strong emphasis on championing play and supporting adventure playgrounds in continuing their essential community work.

Key responsibilities will include developing and implementing a fundraising strategy to secure income from a diverse range of sources; and researching, identifying, developing and submitting funding applications and proposals to relevant trusts, foundations and other grant-making bodies.

The ideal applicant will have at least five years’ experience in fundraising, donor development, or grant writing – ideally including partnership arrangements – as well as a demonstrable understanding of the value of play and the outcomes it contributes to for children and for communities. They will be highly organised, with exceptional written and verbal communication skills and a proven ability to achieve income targets and meet application deadlines.

For more details download the job description and person specification below.

We believe that a diverse workforce drives innovation and better decision-making and are actively seeking to build a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and perspectives.  We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those from underrepresented groups.