Refuge manager jobs

Contract length: Permanent

Location: North West London

Hours per week: 35, working Sunday - Thursday, 9am-5pm

Salary:  £28k-£34k pa depending on experience and knowledge

Closing date for applications: Saturday 31st January 2026. First round interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams; interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible

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Every dog and cat in need deserves expert, personalised care and support, and to be loved. When you work for Mayhew, you understand that better than ever.

We’re a passionate, committed and diverse team of c80 staff and c150 volunteers, here for dogs, cats and communities in the UK, in Afghanistan and in Georgia. We offer expert veterinary care, rescue and rehoming services, programmes in the community and guidance and support to improve the lives of dogs and cats in need.

We do our best for dogs and cats in need every day, working with colleague across the sector to improve their lives and to give them the care, support and love they deserve. But it’s our warmth, creativity and care that touch lives. Here, we take the time to really get to know the dogs and cats we care for and those who love them.

At our North West London Home, we are recruiting a Head of Kennels who will share our compassion and commitment for animal welfare to provide front line leadership to our team of Kennel and Animal Care staff and volunteers. We care for up to fifteen dogs on site, in addition to dogs placed into foster homes. Our Head of Kennels is responsible for managing the day-to-day smooth running of our kennels and maintaining the wellbeing of all dogs in our care, so that their individual physical and psychological needs are catered for adequately, and in line with our standards and ethics.

This is a high profile and hugely important role for Mayhew as our Head of Kennels oversees each dog's journey through Mayhew from in-take to assessment and then to rehoming. Working with staff and volunteers across the Home, foster carers, adopters, other charities and rescues and members of the public, our Head of Kennels is instrumental in ensuring that our dogs have all they need - from feeding, exercising, cleaning, and socialising to finding their perfect forever home. This role can be physically and emotionally demanding but is also hugely rewarding; you can view some of our amazing rescue stories here.

Leading a small team, our Head of Kennels is responsible for managing all aspects of our dog in-takes, adoptions, fostering and Pet Refuge (read more here), managing our capacity to ensure we help as many dogs as we can and ensuring our dogs are rehomed to a home suited to their individual needs as soon as possible.

We offer a caring and supportive team and the chance to make a lasting difference to the lives of dogs who rely on us.

Generally, you will:

• Lead and manage our kennels and ensure the very best care and support is given to each of our dogs
• Proactively, collaboratively and resourcefully maintain relationships with volunteers, foster carers, adopters, other rescue managers and other colleagues in the wider Mayhew community
• Manage your team in an inclusive and collaborative way, enabling and empowering them
• Engage and collaborate with senior staff to ensure effective delivery of our strategic and operational goals

To be successful in this role, you need relevant experience in:

• Experience working with dogs, preferably in a shelter environment
• Knowledge of dog behaviour, training and welfare
• Experience of successfully motivating, managing, and developing a high performing team and managing performance
• Experience of effectively managing competing and changeable priorities, a high workload and multiple complex issues and tasks

Please note that successful candidate(s) will be asked to evidence of their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor licence therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.

For nearly 50 years, nia has provided high quality, women-led services across North and East London. nia has three main aims: to provide services for women, children and young people who have experienced male violence, working to end men’s violence against women and girls, and to inform and influence policy and public awareness.

nia’s values, and our commitment to upholding them, set us apart. We put women first – always and without hesitation: we believe women, we are run by women, for women. We leave no woman behind: we challenge inequality and discrimination and believe that uniting women of all backgrounds is essential to ending the sex-based oppression of women.

The Emma Project, Daria House and Jan’s Place are specialist services providing refuge and support services to women who have been subjected to domestic and/or sexual violence and abuse, including women who have been sexually exploited, including through prostitution and who also use substances problematically.

This post is currently funded until 31st March 2027 with a possibility of further extension.

Hours: 35hrs/week working across Camden, Haringey and Islington

You will work closely alongside the refuges Team Leader and Service Manager to implement and deliver a trauma informed approach to refuge services. We’re looking for a highly organised and self-motivated woman who is passionate about ending violence against women, girls and children. You’ll have a ‘can-do’ approach and demonstrable commitment to nia’s approach to Prioritising women, upholding and promoting feminist, trauma-informed and anti-racist practice.

CV’s will not be accepted. 

Closing date: 10am, 19 January 2026

Interview period 26  & 28 January 2026

 The post is subject to an enhanced vetting and barring check and open to women only. Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR), Schedule 9 (Work; Exceptions), Part 1 (Occupational Requirements), of the Equality Act (2010) applies

BACKGROUND

Ashiana started operating in 1989 and specialises in helping young women, aged 16 - 35 years, from South Asian, Middle Eastern & Iranian communities who are at risk of domestic violence and sexual violence.

OUR SERVICES

Ashiana runs three refuges with a total of 29 bed-spaces; specifically for women aged 16-35 fleeing forced marriage. This multi award winning project is the only service of its kind in the UK and is highly innovative in terms of addressing an area of significant need not met in other refuge provision. Within these refuges we designate a number of bedspaces for women with no recourse to public funds. We offer an advice and support service to women and girls who are experiencing VAWG (Violence against Women & Girls), enabling them to make informed decisions and exit abusive relationships. We provide counselling for women and girls affected by domestic violence and sexual violence. We also deliver an immigration service to women who have insecure immigration status with the aim to support them with access to specialist legal advice in order to resolve their immigration status. .. We deliver harmful practices training to professionals from the statutory and voluntary sector in addition to awareness raising workshops for women and girls in the community.

PRIMARY TASK

To be responsible, alongside the Management Committee, the Senior Management Team and other workers for the effective running of the Project, in accordance with Management Policy. Ensuring that it meets the needs of South Asian, Middle Eastern and Turkish women and girls who have been made homeless as a result of VAWG (Violence against Women & Girls). 

Please see the attached the full job description

As we embark on our new three-year funding strategy, we are looking for an innovative and talented fundraiser with a least five years experience, to join the team and help us generate new creative partnerships and opportunities. We are a small, growing team with ambitious fundraising targets and a global reach. There is potential for a number of income streams to grow, particularly philanthropists and creative partnerships with corporations, wealth collaboratives and special events.

Given the current challenging economic and philanthropic environment, we are looking for some one that can generate new fundraising opportunities through creative out of the box thinking to identify and solidify relationships with philanthropists, corporations, global foundations and beyond. You will be able to conceptualise and deliver high quality fundraising events, appeals and utilise your experience and imagination to develop new ways of raising large scale funds. You will be able to drive change and create successful outcomes.

Existing funders include a mix of philanthropists, corporate partners and leading foundations. There is significant potential for the development of corporate and high value individual partnerships with sectors such as the music industry and female entrepreneurs.

We are a collaborative and dynamic team and are looking for a colleague with valuable experience, an innovative and creative mind and the ability to charismatically build meaningful and profitable relationships with our partners and supporters to enable us to reach our ambitious fundraising plans.

This role will play a big part in helping the organisation to deliver over £650,000 in funding by the end of 2026.

About you

• You will be an experienced fundraiser
• You will be an innovative and creative thinker that can create fundraising opportunities and ideas from all situations
• You will have demonstrable expertise in securing five-figure plus donations from a range of donors
• You will have demonstrable expertise in designing and delivering high quality fundraising events and appeals
• You will be a charismatic relationships manager with experience generating and cultivating relationships with various high-profile supporters and key donors and negotiating these relationships seamlessly
• You will have excellent grant and proposal writing skills
• You will have a tenacious and creative approach to difficult tasks and be able to take initiative to drive activity
• You are resilient, can work with agility and comfortable working towards ambitious targets
• You are familiar with CRM systems and planning and organisation tools
• You will have the ability to form strong relationships remotely, which is crucial as The Circle is a small organisation, and the team all work remotely
• You will have a background/passion in international development and/or women’s rights
• You will have strong attention to detail

Desirable

• You will have experience of the music industry and other creative industries

The Angelou Centre has spent over 30 years standing with Black and racially minoritised women and children affected by domestic abuse and other forms of VAWG (Violence Against Women & Girls). We are a Black-led, trauma-informed organisation providing refuge, advocacy, wellbeing, and specialist community support.

We are now looking for a highly organised and committed VAWG Administrator to become the backbone of our frontline services. This is a pivotal role that ensures every woman who reaches out to us whether in crisis or seeking guidance receives a timely, safe, and professional response, and is never left without support.

Working closely with our VAWG Manager, On-Duty team, and specialist advocates, you will coordinate referrals, manage triage processes, maintain confidential case records, and liaise with external partners such as police, social care and health agencies. You will help keep the service running smoothly, collect data for monitoring purposes, and support our ability to respond quickly to women at risk.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, has great attention to detail, and wants to contribute directly to the safety and recovery of women and children. You will play a vital role in maintaining our high-quality standards and ensuring the smooth functioning of a life-changing service.

If you are committed to anti-racist, feminist values and want to make a meaningful impact through professional excellence, we would love to hear from you.

We're looking for a kind, empathetic and resilient Female Refugee Support Worker to join our Homelessness and Complex needs Service in Tower Hamlets.

£11,200.00 per annum, working 16 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Are you looking for a rewarding role working with families who have fled domestic and sexual abuse? We are looking for friendly and diligent individuals to join our refuge team.

We work with a trauma-informed, survivor led framework with intersectional feminism at the core.
The Tower Hamlets Domestic Abuse Service provides emergency accommodation to women and children fleeing domestic and sexual violence. As a refuge support worker you will provide emotional and practical support, such as legal options, housing, benefits and signposting.
You will risk assess and develop safety and support plans with survivors at the centre.
The role is 16 hours per week

Due to the Client and the nature of this role, this position is for Women only.

This is a fixed term contract until May 2026 with possibility of extension

What you'll do:
* Manage customer referrals, completing Dash Risk Assessments and obtaining and maintaining all relevant paperwork
* Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers and creating a positive atmosphere.
* Oversee On Track implementation from an operational perspective during the initial upload of cases to ensure that any issues are highlighted to management.
* Conducting regular Keyword sessions with each survivor.
* Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
* Knowledge of the impact of domestic and sexual abuse on women and children
* Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
* Experience conducting risk assessments and safety plans
* Ability to keep on top of casework admin and prioritise tasks.
* Works within an anti-discriminatory and intersectional feminist framework

What you'll bring:
Essential:
* Experience working with survivors of domestic abuse
* Understanding of the impact of domestic abuse on survivors and their children
* A trauma-informed approach to support
* Experience conducting risk assessments and producing person-centred safety and support plans

Desirable:
* Experience of working in a residential setting
* Experience of delivering domestic abuse recovery programmes
* Experience of coproducing delivery outcomes and gathering evidence in accordance with them
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full Job description