Jobs for the Disability sector
Join an amazing charity that makes a difference for the 110,000 adults and children in the UK with a muscle-wasting condition. This is a role where you can really make a difference.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups including people from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lived experience of conditions we represent. We believe that diversity strengthens our work and helps us better support our beneficiaries.
This is an exciting new opportunity to lead Muscular Dystrophy UK’s major public-facing campaigns and help drive meaningful change for people living with muscle wasting conditions.
You’ll be at the forefront of our campaigning work—building our infrastructure, shaping bold strategies, building a vibrant campaigning network, and empowering our community to influence policy and legislation. Working collaboratively across the organisation, especially with colleagues in Policy and Campaigns, Marketing and Communications, Fundraising, Volunteering, and Data, and our devolved nations leads in Services and Support, you’ll help create powerful supporter journeys and engagement activities that reflect the passion and urgency of our cause.
Reporting to the Director of Policy and Campaigns, you’ll play a key role in delivering Muscular Dystrophy UK’s policy and campaigning objectives as part of our new organisational strategy—making a tangible impact on the lives of thousands across the UK.
About us:
Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity bringing individuals, families and professionals together to fight muscle-wasting conditions. We bring together more than 60 rare and very rare progressive muscle-weakening and wasting conditions, affecting around 110,000 children and adults in the UK.
We share expert advice and support to live well now; fund groundbreaking research to understand the different conditions better and lead us to new treatments; work with the NHS towards universal access to specialist health; and together, campaign for people’s rights, better understanding, accessibility, and access to treatments.
Benefits:
We appreciate the range of skills and experience our staff have to offer. In return for your enthusiasm and commitment we commit to actively developing and supporting you. We also offer a range of benefits including pension, life assurance, cycle scheme, health cash plan, financial wellbeing and an employee assistance programme.
Location: Head Office, London, SE1 (with flexibility for homeworking)
Closing date: Sunday 16th November
Interview date: Tuesday 25th November
Please download the job description to see full role responsibilities
We connect a community of more than 110,000 people living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions and people around them.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Join an amazing charity that makes a difference for the 110,000 adults and children in the UK with a muscle-wasting condition. This is a role where you can really make a difference.
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups including people from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lived experience of conditions we represent. We believe that diversity strengthens our work and helps us better support our beneficiaries.
This is a terrific opportunity to lead Muscular Dystrophy UK’s public affairs strategy, driving meaningful change for people living with muscle wasting conditions across the UK. You will be responsible for shaping and delivering our political engagement work, ensuring our voice is heard by all four governments.
In parallel, you will lead our social inclusion policy agenda, initially focusing on improving financial security for people with muscle wasting conditions, with scope to expand into broader inclusion-related policy areas over time.
You’ll build strong relationships with politicians, civil servants, voluntary sector organisations, and other key stakeholders to grow our influence and impact.
Working collaboratively across departments – including Policy and Campaigns, Research, Services and Support, Communications, Fundraising, and our devolved nations leads - you’ll help deliver key strategic objectives. Reporting to the Director of Policy and Campaigns, and line managing the Policy and Public Affairs Officer, you’ll play a vital role in driving change and improving lives.
About us:
Muscular Dystrophy UK is the charity bringing individuals, families and professionals together to fight muscle-wasting conditions. We bring together more than 60 rare and very rare progressive muscle-weakening and wasting conditions, affecting around 110,000 children and adults in the UK.
We recently launched our new 10 year strategy to transform the lives of people living with muscle wasting conditions. Our vision is clear, a world without limits for people with muscle wasting conditions, and we won’t stop until we achieve it.
Benefits:
We appreciate the range of skills and experience our staff have to offer. In return for your enthusiasm and commitment we commit to actively developing and supporting you. We also offer a range of benefits including pension, life assurance, cycle scheme, health cash plan, financial wellbeing and an employee assistance programme.
Location: Head Office, London, SE1 (with flexibility for homeworking with regular travel to Westminster)
Closing date: Sunday 2nd November October
Interview dates Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th November
Please download the job description to see full role responsibilities
We connect a community of more than 110,000 people living with one of over 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions and people around them.



The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Policy Specialist (Children and Young People)
Are you interested in improving the lives of children and young people with a learning disability? Can you turn complex ideas into evidence-based policy? Are you a skilled communicator able to influence decision-makers? If so, we would love to hear from you!
We are currently looking for a Policy Specialist to join Mencap. This position sits within the Policy and Public Affairs teams of Mencap’s Campaigns, Advocacy and Activism Directorate (CAA). You will work closely with our influencing, information and advice, campaigning, and research work, as well as sector partners like the Disabled Children's Partnership.
This is an exciting new role to deliver policy change and enhance the rights of children and young people with a learning disability. At a key time to influence Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) education reform, we are seeking a policy specialist to shape policy work that reflects the needs and experiences of children, young people, and their families. Working within the policy team, you will be responsible for developing evidence-based policy work and influencing decision-makers.
This is a full time position (37.5 hours per week). We are flexible with your work location, but there may be some occasional travel needed to our London office or Westminster.
You will:
- Translate complex work into clear and persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses and reports.
- Work within wider coalitions of charities, building collaborative relationships and ensuring that the needs and priorities of our community are addressed.
- Develop and expand Mencap’s ‘Policy Shapers’ work, ensuring our work reflects the experiences of children and young people with a learning disability and their families.
- Support our information and advice team, briefing them on important developments, inputting into casework discussions relevant to your areas of work, and supporting the creation of public information resources.
- Represent Mencap at meetings and events, with MPs, civil servants, and sector partners.
- Identify and analyse relevant research to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.
You will bring to this role:
- Experience of working on public policy issues.
- Strong communication skills: experience tailoring your messaging to a variety of different audiences and representing an organisation.
- Experience building positive relationships and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes; able to positively challenge, negotiate and compromise.
- The ability to work on your own initiative while contributing to team priorities and sustain enthusiasm under pressure.
- Experience analysing evidence to develop recommendations.
- Knowledge the issues facing children and young people with a learning disability and/or the SEND system, as well as the wider parliamentary system.
- Passion about making the world a better place for people with a learning disability.
If you're passionate about driving meaningful change for children and young people with a learning disability and you're ready to use your policy expertise to make a real impact, please apply now with an up-to-date CV. This role will close on Monday 27th October. Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 3rd November.
Benefits
Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.
Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.
For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!
About Mencap
Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.
We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.
At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.
Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.
- Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.
- Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes
- Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.
We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.
We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.
Empower individuals with learning disabilities and autism to reach their full potential and lead the lives they choose.