Self-Employed Senior Associate

The Opportunity

·        Are you ready to help drive the growth, resilience, and expanding influence of a vital Welsh charity?

·        Daring to Dream supports and promotes the emotional health and well-being of the 1.2 million adults in Wales living with chronic illness. As a values-led organisation, we pride ourselves on being patient-centred, inclusive, collaborative, and compassionate.

·        We are seeking a freelancer with mature professional judgment and a deep passion for our mission to work with us as a Senior Associate.

·       This is a hands-on, fast-paced generalist role working directly alongside our Founder/CEO. You will play a pivotal contribution in not only assisting in delivering current operations but also in the charity’s transition from its current founder-led operations into a sustainable, resilient, and expanded delivery team across Wales.

Your Core Purpose

Every aspect of this role is dedicated to three critical objectives:

• Raise Awareness: Champion the vital mission, work, and real-world impact of Daring to Dream.
• Engage Stakeholders: Build and nurture critical partnerships across community, public, and corporate sectors.
• Generate Income: Drive financial growth through community fundraising, corporate engagement, and targeted funding bids.

Essential Criteria

To be successful in this role, you must demonstrate:

• Collaborative Chemistry: Ability to work closely and effectively with the CEO.
• Versatile Expertise: A broad, proven set of professional competencies relevant to charity growth.
• Mission Alignment: Total commitment to our values, with a clear understanding of emotional health and its role in living well with illness.
• Ambassadorial Mindset: A constant awareness that you represent Daring to Dream, ensuring every interaction builds trust, engagement, and income.

What You Will Do

This dynamic role balances big-picture strategic evolution with day-to-day operational execution. While specific objectives will be co-created around your unique strengths, your responsibilities will typically include:

• Strategic Support: Work with the CEO to shape organisational development and pilot new initiatives.
• Income Generation: Research and write focused funding bids while identifying corporate and community donation opportunities.
• Partnership & Networking: Represent the charity at networking events to engage businesses and health boards.
• Project Coordination: Oversee project delivery, manage timelines, and support core initiatives (e.g., our Spaces to Talk and Spaces to Sing programmes).
• Operations & Administration: Optimise internal processes, manage databases, and handle daily administrative tasks (ranging from preparing event slides to dispatching merchandise).

What This Role Offers You

• High Impact: Directly influence the growth strategy of a meaningful Welsh charity.
• Autonomy: Enjoy the trust to take full ownership of projects and test innovative ideas.
• Diverse Exposure: Gain comprehensive experience across all facets of non-profit management.
• Long-Term Potential: Opportunity to expand the role and eventually lead a growing team of regional associates.

Application & Appointment Process

• Expression of Interest Window: Monday 20th July – Monday 10th August 2026
• Informal Conversation: Interested applicants must arrange an informal chat with the Founder/CEO before 5:00 pm on Wednesday 12th August 2026.
• Application Submission: Submit your CV (including contact details for two referees) togethering with a covering letter (outlining a) what you will bring to the role & b) why you want to be part of Daring to Dream) by Friday 14th August 2026.
• Shortlisting: The interview panel will meet by Friday 21st August 2026.
• Interviews: Provisionally scheduled for 13:00 on Monday 24th August 2026.

How to Apply

If you have the professional maturity and generalist experience to help us grow our impact across Wales, we want to hear from you. Please contact Barbara Chidgey (Founder & Chair)