Entry level jobs for the Disability sector
How's your job search on our site?
Calibre Audio is a national charity providing accessible audiobooks to people who are unable to read print due to visual impairment, dyslexia, or other conditions. Through a digital-first service and diverse library, the charity enables children and adults to experience the joy and lifelong benefits of reading, while increasingly delivering impact across literacy, education, wellbeing and social inclusion.
Fundraising at Calibre Audio is entering an exciting new phase of development. The charity has recently appointed its first Director of Fundraising & Communications, bringing fundraising, communications and brand together under a newly created leadership role. With a refreshed organisational narrative, ambitious plans for growth and a renewed focus on increasing income and profile, fundraising is becoming an increasingly important driver of Calibre Audio’s future impact.
Trusts and foundations are a key part of this growth strategy. Historically, income has been generated through a combination of loyal funders and a high volume of smaller grants. The organisation is now seeking to build a more strategic trusts programme focused on stronger stewardship, deeper funder relationships, larger grants and long-term partnerships. There is significant untapped potential, including opportunities to re-engage previous funders, develop new relationships and secure support for a range of compelling programmes spanning literacy, education, disability, wellbeing and community impact.
The Senior Trusts Fundraiser will lead this work, partnering closely with the Director to shape and deliver the next phase of trusts fundraising at Calibre Audio. This is a role with genuine scope to influence strategy, develop new opportunities and make a visible contribution to organisational growth. It would suit an ambitious trusts fundraiser who enjoys relationship building as much as writing applications and is motivated by the opportunity to help build something.
As Senior Trusts Fundraiser, you will:
- Develop and implement a strategic trusts and foundations fundraising programme aligned with organisational priorities
- Identify, research and cultivate new funding opportunities, with a focus on larger and multi-year grants
- Build and manage a strong pipeline of prospective trusts and foundations
- Develop compelling, high-quality funding applications, proposals and report
- Secure significant income from a portfolio of trusts and foundations
- Build and strengthen long-term relationships with funders through excellent stewardship and engagement
- Reactivate and develop relationships with previous funders and supporters
- Work closely with colleagues across the organisation to gather impact data and develop compelling cases for support
- Act as a key ambassador for Calibre Audio with funders and external stakeholders
Essential skills and experience:
- Proven track record of securing five-figure grants from trusts and foundations
- Strong relationship-building and stakeholder engagement skills
- Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to develop persuasive and compelling funding applications
- Strong prospect research and pipeline development skills
- Experience identifying, developing and securing new funding opportunities
- Excellent verbal communication skills and confidence engaging with external stakeholders
- A proactive and entrepreneurial approach, with the ability to spot opportunities and drive activity forward
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
Desirable, but not essential:
- Experience securing six-figure and/or multi-year grants
- Knowledge of the disability, literacy, education or wellbeing sectors
- Experience using Beacon CRM
- Experience contributing to fundraising strategy
Calibre Audio are also keen to hear from ambitious early-career fundraisers. Whilst a track record of securing trusts funding is essential, we are more interested in your potential, approach and attributes than the size of grants you have secured to date. If you bring strong relationship-building skills, initiative and an entrepreneurial mindset, this role offers an exceptional opportunity to work closely with an experienced fundraising leader, benefit from coaching and mentoring, and play a key role in shaping a growing trusts programme.
Employee benefits include
- 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays and an additional Calibre Christmas closure day
- Matched pension contributions up to 5% of salary
- Medical Cash Plan (Hive Insurance Bronze Package)
- Life Assurance cover of 2 x salary
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Reward Gateway, offering discounts and savings across hundreds of retailers
- Free on-site parking
In the first instance, application by CV-only and answers to the two screening questions.
Suitable applicants will be invited to an initial chat with Laura Macnamara at QuarterFive, where we will run through the brief and your relevant experience.
Full support will be provided with formal application.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
At Calibre Audio, our mission is to ensure that everyone can enjoy the pleasure of reading, regardless of a print disability or health condition.
Thank you!
Join Our Team as a Fundraising Administrator
Location:
Leatherhead, Surrey
Salary:
£20,399.96 per annum plus benefits
Hours:
30 hours (part time) per week
Contract:
Permanent
Driving Requirement:
A valid full UK manual driving license is essential
The Factual Bit
Join us and play a key role in delivering exceptional experiences, building strong and lasting relationships with our supporters that make a real difference. As Fundraising Administrator you’ll be at the heart of our fundraising success – providing efficient, high-quality administrative support to the team. You will be a part of helping the Fundraising Team to grow our income and fulfil our values so that SeeAbility can achieve its ambitious goals.
About You
You are someone who thrives on delivering great experiences and keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes. You bring a mix of people skills, organisation and attention to detail, alongside a genuine passion for making a difference.
Your experience:
- Delivering high-quality supporter or customer care
- Working within a fundraising or similar fast-paced team environment
- Using databases and online platforms with confidence and accuracy.
Your Strengths:
- Brilliant organisation skills – you can manage a varied workload and meet deadlines with ease
- Clear and engaging communication, both written and verbal
- A natural relationship builder, able to work effectively with others across the team.
- Strong IT skills and confidence using different systems.
- A positive, empathetic and friendly approach to all interactions
- High levels of integrity, discretion and professionalism
- The ability to adapt quickly and prioritise effectively when things change
Your mindset:
- Flexible and willing to occasionally work outside core hours when needed
- Passionate about supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss to achieve their goals
- Committed to SeeAbility’s mission and values, with a working style that reflects them every day.
Please find the attached Job Description for further details.
Ready to Apply?
If you’re looking for a role where you don’t just work — you thrive, hit that apply button and let’s make a difference together.
Why work for us?
We don’t just offer jobs — we build careers and celebrate people please check seeability website for details.
About Us
Registered as The Royal School for the Blind, SeeAbility is one of the oldest disability charities in the UK. This year we are celebrating our 226th anniversary, having pioneered specialist support across multiple generations since 1799!
We specialise in supporting people who have learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, who may also have sight loss. Our support ranges from providing person-centred support across our many supported-living and residential care provisions. Furthermore, we provide specialist eye-care services to children and adults alike and assists people to find paid employment for the very first time.
SeeAbility provides the resources and expertise that make this possible, we support people to live ambitious lives and achieve things they never thought possible.
Safer Recruitment
SeeAbility is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support. All colleagues are expected to share this commitment.
Successful applicants will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including:
- Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (where appropriate)
- Identity, current address and right-to-work verification
- Health declaration to ensure that you are medically suitable for the role you have been offered
- Employment references relating to work with children or vulnerable adults
All checks are completed at SeeAbility’s expense before a start date is confirmed.
Diversity & Inclusion
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences, including disabled and neurodivergent candidates
- Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process
- In exceptional circumstances, a genuine occupational requirement may apply under the Equality Act 2010 (Schedule 9, Part 1)
For this role, gender is considered a genuine occupational requirement in accordance with Schedule 9, Paragraph 1 of the Equality Act 2010.
Registered Charity
More than 1000
Our mission is to champion and deliver ambitious support and preventative services alongside people with learning disabilities, autism and sight loss,
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.