An exciting opportunity to be involved in the development of a growing adult literacy charity as it expands across North England
One in 20 adults in the UK has never learnt to read at all. This can have a serious impact on their confidence and wellbeing, limiting access to training, employment, and everyday opportunities that many take for granted. Being unable to read as an adult can be isolating and dangerous, reinforces social inequality, restricts economic growth, and worsens intergenerational disadvantage - but it is never too late to learn.
Read Easy helps adults transform their lives by learning to read. It does this by supporting its growing network of locally run, volunteer-led affiliated groups that offer free, confidential, one-to-one reading coaching—both in person and online to adults - aged from 18-88.
With its free, flexible, confidential approach, Read Easy encourages people who are too embarrassed to join a class to come forward for one-to-one support. Each new reader is provided with their own personal Reading Coach, so that they can learn in private and at their own pace. Learning to read transforms their lives in many other ways as well, including enabling them to support their children’s and grandchildren’s reading, and so transfers the benefits to the next generation.
There are currently 80 affiliated Read Easy groups across England, together involving more than a thousand volunteers. Read Easy UK is the registered charity and umbrella organisation which supports this network of affiliated volunteer groups and provides the structure, training and support to enable volunteers to establish groups in new areas.
As our North Regional Adviser, your role would be to provide strategic leadership, guidance, and oversight to ensure that all volunteer groups in your region consistently deliver high-quality services aligned with Read Easy UK’s strategy.
You will support local volunteer leaders to strengthen group performance, and foster collaboration across affiliated groups, so that that they deliver coaching to Readers with consistent quality, and a positive and worthwhile experience is had by all.
You will also find volunteers to ‘pioneer’ four new groups in the counties where there is no Read Easy presence and provide them and our 17 existing groups and pioneers in the region, with high-quality support. Your quality support will ensure that they provide the same for their volunteers and new Readers. From meeting (mostly online) with Team Leaders to provide one to one support, and hosting online and annual in-person volunteer forums, to delivering presentations and occasional training for small groups of volunteers, this is a dynamic and rewarding role.
This is a home-based post requiring flexibility, some early evening working and occasional travel to visit groups. The role is available on a part time basis (22.5 hours p/w, 60% of 37.5 hours p/w FTE).
The successful candidate will be expected to:
- Live within one of the following areas: York, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire or Greater Manchester (Due to the location of our groups in the region, and to ensure efficient travel);
- have been employed to work with volunteers for at least two years;
- have strong people management and interpersonal skills; excellent communication skills; and the confidence to run meetings and deliver presentations.
Salary & Benefits
- Annual Salary £17,770 (60% of -£29,500 FTE)
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and Christmas closing and 2 days volunteering leave (upon completion of probationary period) – pro-rata for part time roles
- Company sick pay to financially support you when you are unwell (above statutory upon completion of probationary period)
- Support when extending your family – company parental and adoption pay (above statutory after 12 months service)
- Access to RewardHub – which gives retail discounts and has a ‘Wellbeing Centre’ with tools, tips, recipes, workout videos and guides which will help you to reach your own wellbeing goals
- Training and Development opportunities and resources – we are developing personal plans in this area to enhance employee experience and opportunity
- A collaborative, creative and inspiring working environment full of committed and passionate employees and inspirational volunteers
We strive to ensure our recruitment practices are fair, open, easy to access and as inclusive as possible. We aim to recruit a team which broadly reflect the local communities which we serve; to work with and learn from each other to continually improve the service we deliver to our Readers. Our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group is actively promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion, ensuring a culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We welcome you to apply and be your authentic self.
When applying for a job with us, if an applicant has a disability covered by the definition outlined within the Equality Act 2010 and can show that they meet the ‘essential criteria’ described in the person specification for the role being applied for, they are guaranteed an interview for the job for which they are applying through our Disability Confident scheme.
If you need any support with your application, please contact us,
The closing date for this post is 10:00 Tuesday 3rd February 2026. Should you be shortlisted, the first round of interviews will take place online on Tuesday 10th February, with in-person interviews, being held in Birmingham , on Tuesday 24th February 2026.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Do you want to support people with mental health issues in a moment of crisis? Are you calm, non-judgemental and able to work effectively with people experiencing distress?
If you can embody our values of Hope, Courage, Togetherness, and Responsiveness, and want to help others build resilience and manage their wellbeing, we’d love to hear from you.
Mental Health Support Worker – Crisis House
Reference: 325
Responsible to: Crisis House Coordinator
Salary: £24,366 per annum, pro rata for part time (Salary review after successful probation completion)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time 37.5 hours
Working days: Shifts available covering 7-day rota, Early: 7am-3pm, Late: 2pm-10pm Nights: 9pm-8am
Based: Crisis House – Hemel Hempstead
About the Service
Our Nightlight Crisis House offers a safe, homely, and welcoming space for anyone feeling distressed and experiencing a crisis.
The Crisis Centre and rest of Nightlight Services (Café’s, Helpline, Daylight provision) is proud to provide urgent support, crisis intervention and emotional support to people experiencing a mental health crisis in Hertfordshire as an alternative to statutory pathways.
We provide support to adults across Hertfordshire 7 days a week, 365 days a year through our helpline, crisis cafes and 24/7 Crisis Centre. We aim to provide a safe space for people in crisis to talk and feel supported, be listened to without judgement, access relevant support with problem solving and facilitate access to external services when necessary.
As a member of our diverse team, you will work closely with service users in crisis by using a person-centred approach to ensure that each individual is supported with dignity and respect. By honouring the individual experience of each service user, we are able to respect their autonomy as well as encourage and facilitate positive steps towards management of crisis and recovery.
Service Objectives
The objectives of Hertfordshire Mind Network’s (HMN) Nightlight Mental health Crisis House are:
- To endeavour to improve the mental and emotional wellbeing of people experiencing a mental health crisis across Hertfordshire.
- To provide 24/7 support for individuals experiencing mental health crisis in a safe and non-judgemental environment.
- To increase early access to help for people experiencing mental health crisis in Hertfordshire, by providing clear and effective pathways to other services provided by HMN and other third party and/or statutory providers.
- To remain a source of independent support for all Service Users.
- To provide an alternative pathway to people in distress and crisis, employing a person-centred approach in order to enable better outcomes for those in need as to reduce the demand on statutory Crisis and Emergency services.
About the Role
As a Crisis House Support Worker you will be a key member of staff supporting the delivery of the Nightlight mental health Crisis Service. You will take part in a rota which covers a 24/7 hour service, 365 days a year. Drawing upon your own lived and/or professional experience (where applicable,) in order to provide a mix of face-to-face, therapeutic and holistic support for those accessing overnight provision. You will work closely with other staff as part of a team in supporting the development of quality Crisis Support and instilling Hertfordshire Mind Network’s values throughout the provision.
We offer:
- Annual leave entitlement of 25 days per year pro rata, rising in increments to a max. of 29 days after 5 years employment (plus 8 days Bank Holidays)
- An additional day of leave each year for your birthday following completion of probation period.
- Ongoing training relevant to your role.
- An Employee Assistance Programme.
- Health cover (after 6 months employment) – compensation payment for Optical, Dental, Chiropody and Therapy Treatments.
Being able to drive and having access to your own vehicle (or equivalent) is essential for this role.
Closing date for applications is 23rd January 2026.
Interviews to be held week commencing 2nd February 2026.
N.B. Please quote reference number 325 when completing your application for this role.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
Equal Opportunities
We welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates, irrespective of gender, disability, marital or parental status, racial, ethnic or social origin, colour, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.
In addition, during the various stages of recruitment, specific measures can be taken to ensure equal opportunities for candidates with disabilities or special needs.
Hertfordshire Mind Network is committed to the Disability Confident and Mindful Employer charters. We actively recruit staff who have a lived experience of mental ill health. Our inclusive approach recognises the unique skills, knowledge, and perspectives that lived experience brings to our team.
No agencies please.