Entry level jobs for the Disability sector

Shaftesbury is a national disability charity that supports more than 4,000 children, young people and adults with a disability every year to live a life that truly adds up for them. That is at the heart of everything they do.

Their vision ‘all together better for disability’, is about working alongside the people they support so they can participate, contribute and be valued for who they are.

Their work is spearheaded by 1,500+ dedicated staff and volunteers who deliver a wide range of disability care, special education and rehabilitation services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, around the clock. 

To achieve their vision, they are looking for an Individual Giving Manager with a focus on acquisition to work alongside the Head of Individual Giving across regular gifts, appeals, lottery, raffle and other new products.

The Individual Giving Manager drives the recruitment of new supporters and supports the stewardship of warm audience, generating sustainable income for Shaftesbury. The proportion of acquisition focus v retention focus is likely around 70/30. 

This role focuses on maximising long-term value through innovative and impactful multichannel campaigns including reactivating lapsed supporters, optimising supporter conversion and delivering engaging onboarding experiences. The Individual Giving Manager will work on growing regular giving, cash and gaming pipelines and manage exciting projects which could include digital, DRTV, face-to- face, telemarketing, direct mail and radio. The role will provide assistance to the Head of Individual Giving with all retention activity, including cash appeals and newsletters. 

Shaftesbury is happy to consider fundraisers or officer level candidates looking to step up into their first manager level role. At present this role doesn’t line manage, so management experience is not necessary. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm for fundraising, supporter journeys and creative thinking and may have experience within a UK based charity in either IG and legacies, community fundraising, corporate or philanthropy.

This role is hybrid, with 4 days per month on average at either the Gateshead office or London office. The one role is being advertised twice to ensure candidates from both geographic locations see the role within their search remit and feel able to apply. 

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please contact THINK Recruitment using the information in the Candidate Pack to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot progress candidates through to longlist without speaking with them, so please ensure you leave enough time to organise a screening call before the role closes. 

If you need assistance with downloading the pack, please send an email to THINK and our team will support you.

Closing date for applications: Midnight Sunday 12th July 

Stage 1 interviews are likely to be held on Tuesday 21st July and Stage 2 on Tuesday 28th or Friday 31st July.

Shaftesbury is a national disability charity that supports more than 4,000 children, young people and adults with a disability every year to live a life that truly adds up for them. That is at the heart of everything they do.

Their vision ‘all together better for disability’, is about working alongside the people they support so they can participate, contribute and be valued for who they are.

Their work is spearheaded by 1,500+ dedicated staff and volunteers who deliver a wide range of disability care, special education and rehabilitation services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, around the clock. 

To achieve their vision, they are looking for an Individual Giving Manager with a focus on acquisition to work alongside the Head of Individual Giving across regular gifts, appeals, lottery, raffle and other new products.

The Individual Giving Manager drives the recruitment of new supporters and supports the stewardship of warm audience, generating sustainable income for Shaftesbury. The proportion of acquisition focus v retention focus is likely around 70/30. 

This role focuses on maximising long-term value through innovative and impactful multichannel campaigns including reactivating lapsed supporters, optimising supporter conversion and delivering engaging onboarding experiences. The Individual Giving Manager will work on growing regular giving, cash and gaming pipelines and manage exciting projects which could include digital, DRTV, face-to- face, telemarketing, direct mail and radio. The role will provide assistance to the Head of Individual Giving with all retention activity, including cash appeals and newsletters. 

Shaftesbury is happy to consider fundraisers or officer level candidates looking to step up into their first manager level role. At present this role doesn’t line manage, so management experience is not necessary. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate an enthusiasm for fundraising, supporter journeys and creative thinking and may have experience within a UK based charity in either IG and legacies, community fundraising, corporate or philanthropy.

This role is hybrid, with 4 days per month on average at either the Gateshead office or London office. The one role is being advertised twice to ensure candidates from both geographic locations see the role within their search remit and feel able to apply. 

Application notes 

Please download the Candidate Info Pack provided for further information about the role, timelines and next steps.

To progress your application, please contact THINK Recruitment using the information in the Candidate Pack to organise an informal screening call. Please note, we cannot progress candidates through to longlist without speaking with them, so please ensure you leave enough time to organise a screening call before the role closes. 

If you need assistance with downloading the pack, please send an email to THINK and our team will support you.

Closing date for applications: Midnight Sunday 12th July 

Stage 1 interviews are likely to be held on Tuesday 21st July and Stage 2 on Tuesday 28th or Friday 31st July.

As one of the UK's leading charities providing essential specialist equipment to children with disabilities, Newlife is dedicated to making life better - for the families we serve, and for the people who help us to make that happen.

Through grants and emergency equipment loans, we ensure children get the vital equipment they need, when they need it, while our free nurse helpline offers crucial support and information. Our campaigns help to give children with disabilities and their families a voice, advocating for change to benefit the families we serve.

What You'll Be Doing

Trusts and Foundations Fundraising:

• Research and identify prospective trusts, foundations and grant-making organisations
• Develop and submit compelling funding applications and supporting documentation
• Maintain a robust pipeline of funding opportunities up to 6 figures, supporting on 7 figure opportunities
• Work with internal teams to gather information, budgets and impact data for applications
• Achieve agreed income targets and key performance indicators
• Monitor application deadlines and funding renewal opportunities

Relationship Management:

• Build and maintain positive relationships with trust and foundation funders
• Prepare funding reports and stewardship communications for existing funders
• Support funder visits, meetings and engagement opportunities
• Maintain accurate records within CRM systems

What We're Looking For

Essential Experience:

• Experience of researching and applying to charitable trusts, foundations or grant-making organisations
• Experience of writing compelling funding applications, reports or proposals
• Experience of applying to statutory sources
• Experience of managing multiple projects, deadlines and competing priorities
• Experience of CRM systems - Raisers Edge and Beacon
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to fundraising

Essential Skills:

• Excellent written communication and proposal writing skills
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to interpret and present complex information clearly and persuasively
• Strong research and analytical skills
• Self-motivated with ability to work independently and as part of a team

Desirable:

• Experience of securing five-figure and six-figure grants
• Experience of working within the charity sector
• Knowledge of trust and foundation fundraising best practice

Working Arrangements

37.5 hours per week. Hybrid working with attendance in Midlands office as required and occasional travel to meetings and events.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checking may be necessary for this role.

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're passionate about securing funding that transforms children's lives and want to advance your career with a leading charity, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now to join our mission of changing lives every day.

This role is a fantastic opportunity to join an innovative charity at a time when income is growing and our profile is rising. The Public Fundraising team deliver a wide range of fundraising activities including our special events programme, regular donor programme, community fundraising and 3rd party fundraising.

The new assistant will primarily be supporting our Events Manager to deliver our special events programme. Horatio’s Garden is known for its high quality events which include an annual presence at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show and our annual Tulip Lunch. In December 2026 we will deliver our largest fundraising event to date - a carol concert for 2,000 supporters at St Paul’s Cathedral. The assistant will be critical in supporting the team to deliver these events effectively and efficiently and working with the communications team to produce related event assets, promotional material and newsletter content.

It is a great opportunity to gain experience working on high profile events in a supportive and experienced team.