The National Lottery Community Fund – Climate Action Fund Decision Panel Appointments
Climate Action Fund- Food Systems - Expert Panel Member Role Specification
Term of Appointment: Three Years
Time Commitment - 9 Days per year
The National Lottery Community Fund (The Fund) wishes to recruit an external member for the Climate Action Fund Decision Panel. The Chair of the UK Funding Committee (UKFC) accordingly invites applications for the position of external member of The National Lottery Community Fund’s Climate Action Fund Decision Panel.
Background
The Fund is the largest funder of community activity in the UK. It launched the Climate Action Fund in 2019 as a long-term commitment to support communities across the UK to act on climate change and involve more people in positive environmental action. Since its launch the Climate Action Fund has awarded over £182m to communities across the UK. This includes over 175 larger projects, predominantly delivered through partnership approaches and over 440 small grants that were delivered through Together for Our Planet, a funding programme in support of COP26. The programme has always had a test and learn ethos and each strand of funding has built on learning to date.
In January 2026 the Climate Action Fund launched a new strand of funding - Food Systems, focusing on strengthening food systems across the UK, while reducing food insecurity for people and communities, without harming the planet. It will achieve this through supporting partnerships that can deliver long term solutions and transformational systems change. Funding will enable large and long term interventions with the capacity and time to deliver progress against their intended aims and ambitions. We will support agroecological approaches which work with nature to create resilient, sustainable and equitable food systems. Projects can apply for a minimum of £2.5 million over three years, and we expect to fund up to ten projects in the first year. More information about funding aims and criteria can be found in Annex A (attached).
Through the Climate Action Fund we support projects based in all four countries of the UK and a combination of place based, cross country, regional, national and UK wide.
Role Specification
The Climate Action Fund is seeking a subject matter expert in food systems, who will complement our existing panel and support our work across the UK. They will have an understanding of the holistic aims we seek to address in supporting long term solutions that will have benefits for both climate, environment and nature, and to people and communities.
The Climate Action Fund Decision Panel has delegated authority from the UK Funding Committee (UKFC) to make funding decisions on Climate Action Fund Programmes.
The purpose of the Climate Action Fund Decision Panel is to make funding decisions, review the performance of the Climate Action Fund portfolio, and make recommendations where appropriate to UKFC. Funding decisions shall be taken in the context of the UKFC Delegation and shall undertake its duties within the framework of overall National Lottery Community Fund policy and procedures.
Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and experience
- Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the food system across the UK, with a particular focus on agroecology and long term, systemic ways to strengthen our food system and reduce food insecurity for people and communities.
- The ability and skill to contribute effectively to the development of this strand of funding and wider work of The Fund in relation to food systems, with a strong track record of achievement in this area.
- Ability to work on a Panel with excellent interpersonal, team working, communication and representational skills.
- The ability to engage and influence in relationships with stakeholders to ensure the Fund is well represented and externally impactful.
- Personal and operational integrity, the ability to work with people from different backgrounds, and a commitment to improving equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Clear understanding and commitment to building strong and connected communities, that reflect the whole of the UK.
- Ability to deliver operational transformation and culture improvement in a large organisation.
- A strong commitment to engaging communities across the UK, and factoring UK-wide perspectives into all decision making.
Interview details:
- Date: Interviews will take place in early July with appointments confirmed by the end of July.
- Format: Online
How to apply:
Upload your CV in word format and write a supporting statement with a maximum of 1000 words. Your supporting statement should explain how your skills and experience meet the essential and desirable criteria below.
Essential Criteria
- An advocate and ambassador for The Fund and a demonstrable commitment to its mission and purpose.
- Understanding and experience at a senior level of community organisations and track record in creating an environment where communities are connected and supported.
- Experience of systems change work and how that translates to community centred funding.
- Experience and understanding of food systems, particularly in alignment with our funding aims and the conditions required to influence and shape long term solutions that start with communities.
- Experience of influencing or shaping food systems policy from a community perspective.
- A demonstrable commitment to and experience in equity and equitable practices.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Desirable Criteria
- An understanding of funding, philanthropy or public sector systems.
If you are excited about the opportunity to help communities drive lasting change, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.
We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)
Non Charity Employer
501 - 1000
It starts with community.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Victim Support is seeking a committed and detail-focused Deputy Team Leader to help coordinate and maintain excellent support for witnesses within busy Court environments in Staffordshire. You will play a vital role in supporting the Team Leader, volunteers, and wider service ensuring witnesses receive timely, compassionate, and effective support throughout their justice journey.
This role is full-time working 18.75 hours per week covering North Staffordshire Justice Centre & Stoke Crown Court.
Are you an organised, proactive individual with a passion for supporting victims and witnesses as they navigate the justice system? Do you enjoy working collaboratively, ensuring high-quality service delivery, and supporting others to perform at their best?
If you thrive in fast-paced environments, have strong communication and data-handling skills, and are motivated by service excellence, we'd love to hear from you.
What We Offer
At Victim Support, we are committed to supporting and developing our colleagues. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:
- Generous Annual Leave - 28 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell leave
- Birthday Leave - an extra day off to celebrate your birthday
- Pension Plan - 5% employer contribution
- Enhanced Allowances - enhanced sick, maternity and paternity pay
- Exclusive Discounts - high street, holidays, gyms, entertainment, and more
- Financial Wellbeing Support - access to salary deducted finance and guidance
- Wellbeing Resources - employee assistance programme and wellbeing support
- EDI Networks - opportunities to engage in colleague groups promoting equity and inclusion
- Sustainable Travel Schemes - Cycle to Work and season ticket loans
- Career Development - comprehensive training and ongoing development opportunities
About the Role
As the Deputy Team Leader - Witness Service (Court-Based), you will support the delivery of a high quality, safe, and consistent service for all witnesses attending court.
You will:
- Support daily case allocations to ensure witnesses receive timely needs and risk assessments, support, and referrals.
- Conduct case management system audits, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and high-quality reporting.
- Collate and analyse performance data, contributing to KPI monitoring and quality assurance.
- Support rota planning to maintain appropriate resource coverage across the court cluster.
- Assist with volunteer accreditation, training, performance tracking, and continuous improvement.
- Input, update, and report on witness information, ensuring comprehensive assessments and referrals.
- Promote effective communication within the team, coordinating meetings and sharing learning.
- Build and maintain relationships with statutory, voluntary, and community partners.
- Deputise for the Team Leader when required, ensuring service standards and targets are met.
- Contribute to a trauma-informed, person-centred approach that prioritises dignity, safety, and inclusion.
This role requires strong attention to detail, confidence using digital systems, and the ability to manage competing demands while supporting a high-performing team.
You will have
- An understanding of the criminal justice system and the impact of crime on victims and witnesses.
- Experience working in challenging environments with a focus on customer experience and service excellence.
- Strong communication, negotiation, and advisory skills-both written and verbal.
- The ability to prioritise work with minimal supervision and manage conflicting demands.
- Experience processing, analysing, and reporting information from multiple sources.
- Competence in using IT systems including Microsoft Office and case management systems.
- A commitment to safeguarding, confidentiality, equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Additional Information
- The role may involve exposure to emotionally demanding situations and requires resilience.
- Travel across the Court cluster may be required.
- Occasional evening or weekend work may be necessary.
- An Enhanced DBS check will be required.
About the Witness Service
The Witness Service provides free, independent support to any witness giving evidence in criminal courts in England and Wales - both for the prosecution and the defence. Our trained staff and volunteers help people understand what to expect before, during and after a trial, and offer practical and emotional support every step of the way, so witnesses can give their best evidence. The Witness Service also supports bereaved family members, friends and family who are accompanying witnesses in court.
This is an exceptional opportunity to help us ensure a smooth transition and shape a high-quality, high-impact and trauma-informed service - so every witness feels informed, supported and more confident in court.
Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.
Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.
At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.
How to apply
To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.
