Jobs for the Community Development sector

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Projects and Partnerships Manager to lead Afrocats’ projects, programmes and partnership work. This role offers an exciting opportunity to oversee complex projects, manage diverse teams, and drive organisational growth through effective partnership development. The successful applicant will be responsible for motivating and coordinating cross-functional teams, ensuring project delivery aligns with organisational objectives, and cultivating important partnerships.

Afrocats exist to empower communities through creativity, cultural engagement, and wellbeing. Our mission is rooted in creating inclusive spaces where individuals feel safe to rediscover joy, build confidence, and connect with others. We believe in meeting people where they are, offering opportunities for growth, and challenging inequitable systems through arts and advocacy.

This is a great time to join our charity at a time of significant growth and change. No two days are the same at Afrocats and the work is fun, creative and rewarding.

Interviews will be held at the end of September. 

IT Service Desk Analyst

Salary: £30,255
Location: Remote with regular travel to Head Office in Downton, Wiltshire (minimum 1 day a week). Applicants should ideally live within approximately one hour’s travel of the office. Additional travel to UK locations within a working day is to be expected where required for the performance of duties. Absence from home overnight may be required on occasion.
Hours: Full Time, 35hrs per week 
Contract: Permanent

This is a varied and rewarding role for someone who enjoys solving problems, supporting people and contributing to practical service improvements in a charity with a clear purpose.

About the Role

As an IT Service Desk Analyst, you will be at the heart of the colleague technology experience, providing responsive 1st and 2nd line support and helping people get the best from the systems, devices and tools they rely on every day. You will take ownership of incidents and service requests from initial logging through to resolution or appropriate escalation, balancing technical troubleshooting with clear communication and excellent customer service.

You will support a broad range of activity including hardware, software, Microsoft 365, user access, asset management, operational projects and service improvement. The role offers the chance to build strong knowledge of our organisation, contribute to better ways of working and play an important part in keeping our people connected, productive and supported.

• Provide high-quality 1st and 2nd line support, responding to colleague incidents and service requests in line with agreed procedures and service expectations.
• Take ownership of tickets from initial logging through to resolution or appropriate escalation, ensuring priorities are managed effectively and stakeholders are kept informed.
• Support joiners, movers and leavers processes, including user accounts, access permissions, hardware, software and accurate operational records.
• Maintain and update IT documentation, knowledge articles, asset records and support information to improve consistency and first-time resolution.
• Contribute to service improvement by identifying trends, recurring issues and opportunities to strengthen workflows, reporting and user guidance.
• Promote secure ways of working by following information security, data protection and approval processes, and escalating potential risks or incidents promptly.

About You

Are you someone who enjoys solving technical problems, supporting colleagues and taking ownership of work through to a clear outcome? Do you communicate confidently with people at different levels of technical understanding, stay calm under pressure and take pride in providing a professional, helpful service?

If you have experience in an IT service desk or technical support environment, good working knowledge of Windows 11 and Microsoft 365, and the ability to prioritise, troubleshoot and escalate appropriately, we would love to hear from you. Experience with service desk tools, Active Directory or Entra ID, hardware troubleshooting, remote support, ITIL-aligned processes or supporting geographically dispersed colleagues would be especially valuable.

About the Team

You will join a friendly, knowledgeable and collaborative IT team that is focused on delivering reliable, practical and people-centred support. We work closely with colleagues across Help for Heroes, helping them use technology confidently so they can focus on supporting the Armed Forces community.

The team values clear communication, shared knowledge, continuous improvement and a supportive approach to problem solving. This is a great opportunity to develop your technical skills, contribute ideas and make a visible difference to the way IT services are delivered across the charity.

In return we can offer you:

• Belonging to a team who make a difference to our community and value equality, diversity and inclusion.
• 29 days’ annual leave plus 8 bank holidays, regardless of service — plus your birthday off to celebrate!
• Opportunity to buy and sell up to 5 days annual leave per year.
• Added to our free health scheme from day one, including discounts on dental, opticians, massages, and more - with the option to upgrade.
• 3 volunteer days per year to support the Help for Heroes community.
• A generous salary sacrifice pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution and a minimum 3% employee contribution, plus life insurance up to 4× salary as an active member.

Closing date: Sunday 16th Aug 2026 (applications may be closed early if we receive a high number of strong applications).

Interview Process: Competency-based interview, which will be held in person, on Tuesday 25th Aug 2026.

We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

JOB TITLE:                  Welfare Benefits Support and Information Officer / Advisor

ORGANISATION: Big Local Works – Charity No: 1182561

LOCATION:                       Big Local Works 4 Market Place, London SE16 3UQ

CONTRACT TYPE:           6-month / Fixed Term contract  (Sickness Cover)

REPORTING TO:             Charity Manager

General Information

Big Local Works (BLW) is a community-focused economic support and regeneration charity based in Bermondsey, South East London. We want to help create a thriving, inclusive local economy and community in which everyone can participate.

To make this happen, we maximise local people’s financial and economic wellbeing to reduce poverty and hardship, and give them support to find sustainable, active routes out of poverty, including through employment and enterprise.

We deliver our support in the community through three main services:

· Expert welfare and benefits advice and advocacy for local people experiencing poverty and hardship

· Employability Skills training and coaching to help people access ways of increasing their earned income

· Start-up and enterprise support for clients who wish to start trading on the local ‘Blue Market’

Our current Welfare Benefits Advisor is on leave of absence, so this role is temporary cover until the end of the year. We are looking for someone for an immediate start.

The role of the Welfare Benefits Support and Information officer is the relief of financial need by the provision of free advice, information, support and advocacy for Southwark Residents

Key Tasks include:

· To provide a generalist welfare benefits advice, information and casework service to clients using the services at BLW

· To provide a review of possible benefit entitlements and support clients to make claims, submit forms and applications as appropriate.

· Ensure advice service provided by BLW is effective and efficient, meets best practice and is of a consistently high quality, delivering a high level of customer care and client satisfaction.

· To provide welfare benefits support in a variety of settings i.e. drop-ins and community spaces, to provide advice and information, and welfare benefit checks to ensure individuals have accessible support.

· Help clients understand benefit decisions, represent clients who have been turned down for benefits, deal with reviews, and, where appropriate, prepare for and attend appeals tribunals.

· Maintain detailed case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, statistical monitoring and report preparation.

What you need to bring:

· A good understanding of the Welfare Benefits system to deliver an advice casework service

· Good administration skills and ability to develop own caseload and prioritising work.

· Ability to use IT, Word and Excel in the provision of advice

· Ability to research, analyse and interpret complex information

· Numeracy skills required to understand statistics and check calculations

· Use IT for statistical recording, record keeping and document production.

· Able to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders

· Keep up to date with legislation, policies and procedures and undertake appropriate training.

· Demonstrate commitment to the aims and policies of the BLW’s service.

· Abide by health and safety and safeguarding guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.

· A good understanding of- and commitment to the aims and principles of the charity and its equal opportunities policies.

· Willingness to learn and develop skills in advice topics

You will benefit from

· Holiday -  FTE 25 days plus Bank Holidays so for 6 month contract at (0.4 FTE)  it would be 5 days holiday plus Bank Holidays

· A great working environment and culture within a small, but growing, charity dedicated to improving lives in our community

If you are passionate about supporting individuals and communities facing poverty and improving their lives, and have the skills and experience required for this role, please apply.

MAIN TERMS AND CONDITIONS

2 days per week (0.4 FTE)

Hours normally 9-5 pm but flexible to accommodate outreach, research and training needs

Annual salary: £12,000 for 2 days / week (£30K FTE)

DBS check essential

Learning Support Worker (1244)

At St. John's, we have a proud history of making a positive difference to the lives of young people. We are now looking for amazing Learning Support Workers to support us in continuing that impact. Could that be you?

Why join our inclusive team?

St. John's is one of the largest employers in Brighton and Hove.

What can we offer you?

• £27,976.00 FTE for 52 weeks (Your actual salary will be £25,286.00 as your contract will be term time only). 
• 32-days paid holiday (plus bank holidays) - 32-days are taken outside of term time
• Fulfilling and meaningful work – make a difference!
• Career development plans that are tailored to you
• Discounts across businesses in the local community.

Who are we?

St. John's is a non-maintained specialist provision, working with autistic people, the majority of whom also have learning disabilities. Some of our learners have co-occurring conditions such as epilepsy, hearing or visual impairments, or mental health needs. We also support autistic learners who have an additional profile of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) syndrome. We have a team built up of support workers, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, nurses, PBS practitioners, assistant psychologists, and more, to support us in our holistic approach to development.

Each learner's curriculum is shaped by their individual strengths, interests, and challenges. St. John's is awarded with Autism Accreditation by the National Autistic Society (NAS). We support our learners to develop their skills in the NAS's four focus areas of:

• Difference in social communication and interaction
• Self-reliance and problem-solving
• Sensory
• Emotional Well-being

What are we looking for?

We've been doing this long enough to know that, whilst desirable, experience is not everything! Our amazing learning and development team and our passionate managers have coached people new to this field into support working roles. We know that if you have, the passion and desire to learn, and the want to empower others, you already have the foundations of an outstanding support worker. We are looking for drivers to support our young people to access the community, but having a licence isn't essential.

Sound like you? Then keep on reading!

What will you be doing?

• Supporting the young people in a classroom setting and during breaktimes
• Implementing the learner's behaviour support plan and risk assessment
• Working within a team of multidisciplinary professionals across the charity
• Tracking the progress of individuals and reporting to the teacher, care manager, and/or parents at review meetings.

Exciting opportunity? We think so! Click apply to start your journey as part of the St. John's College family as a Learning Support Worker

Please note that interviews will be arranged progressively as suitable applications are received. Early application is therefore advisable.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship, renewals or transfers. Candidates must have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.

This vacancy is recruiting for September 2026 start dates.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

We are seeking a warm, creative leader for our vibrant creative wellbeing hub in Templars Square. In this hands-on, community-facing role, you will co-design inclusive arts activities that boost mental health, support our wonderful volunteers, and foster deep community connection. No two days are the same! Experience in community arts coordination and safeguarding essential. We warmly welcome applications from underrepresented communities. 

Job Description

Reports to: CEO and Board of Trustees

Line management:        none

Checks: Enhanced DBS and two references

Purpose

The Project Manager & Systems Implementation Lead will lead a programme of organisational and systemic change across DATUS, supporting the organisation to move from largely paper-based, informal and inconsistent working practices towards a more structured, reliable and digitally enabled system of operations.

The postholder will work with the CEO, senior managers and the Organisation and Governance Consultant to implement agreed organisational systems, processes and priorities across DATUS. This will include supporting the practical development and day-to-day use of systems such as SharePoint, client records, finance processes, reporting tools, action trackers, governance documents and operational workflows.

The role is focused on turning agreed organisational systems into everyday practice. The postholder will support managers and staff to use systems consistently, identify barriers to implementation, ensure agreed actions are followed through, and escalate risks where systems are not being used or delivery is drifting.

This is a senior implementation role. The postholder will have delegated authority to monitor implementation, challenge drift, request updates, support problem-solving and escalate risks. They will need to work with managers constructively and confidently, without relying on formal line-management authority.

The role does not set the strategic direction of services, replace the authority of service managers, or redefine DATUS’s peer-led model of delivery. Responsibility for service delivery remains with service managers and programme leads. The purpose of this role is to strengthen organisational reliability so that DATUS can grow, evidence its work, meet funder and governance requirements, and protect the integrity of its peer-led approach.

Key Responsibilities

Systems Implementation

• Coordinate the design, testing, implementation, embedding and ongoing improvement of agreed organisational systems, operational frameworks and processes across DATUS.
• Work with the CEO, Organisation and Governance Consultant, senior managers and relevant staff to ensure new systems are practical, usable and aligned with organisational priorities.
• Support the implementation of key systems, including client records, finance processes, SharePoint, reporting tools, action trackers, governance documents and other operational workflows.
• Ensure new systems and applications are properly documented, maintained and managed once implemented.
• Develop practical guidance, templates, processes and tools to support consistent use across the organisation.
• Identify practical barriers to implementation and work with teams to resolve them.

Embedding & Adoption

• Work with Heads of Service, managers and staff to embed agreed systems into everyday practice.
• Ensure staff are trained, supported and confident in using organisational systems.
• Reinforce consistent ways of working across programmes and teams, while recognising the different practical needs of each service.
• Gather feedback from staff and managers to identify what is working, what is not working, and what needs to be improved.
• Support a culture where systems are used to strengthen delivery, accountability and learning, not simply to create paperwork.

Delivery Assurance

• Maintain oversight of agreed organisational priorities, implementation plans, actions and milestones.
• Track progress against agreed deliverables and ensure actions are completed, followed up or escalated where necessary.
• Hold short, structured check-ins with managers and staff responsible for delivery to confirm priorities, review progress, identify barriers and agree next steps.
• Challenge drift constructively where agreed systems are not being used or actions are not progressing.
• Maintain clear action logs, risk logs and implementation trackers so that commitments are visible and followed through.

Organisational Coordination

• Maintain visibility of operational activity across DATUS and support clear communication between leadership and operational teams.
• Help managers and teams understand how their work connects to wider organisational priorities, funder requirements and governance expectations.
• Support coordination across programmes so that systems, reporting and operational processes are aligned rather than fragmented.

Reporting & Escalation

• Provide regular updates to senior leadership on implementation progress, risks, barriers, adoption issues and system effectiveness.
• Escalate issues where delivery is not on track, where risks are not being managed, or where agreed systems are not being used.
• Support clear evidence of progress for internal governance, funders, commissioners and organisational learning.

Performance & Systems Integration

• Work closely with the Performance & Finance Lead to align finance systems, client data systems, KPI reporting and organisational dashboards.
• Ensure systems support accurate, timely and useful data capture, including outcome tracking, pathway reporting and recovery intelligence.
• Support the development of dashboards, reports and practical management information that helps DATUS understand performance and improve delivery.

Policies, Procedures & Governance

• Support the development, implementation and review of organisational policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
• Translate policies into practical processes that staff can understand and use.
• Monitor compliance with agreed processes, identify gaps and support managers to address them.
• Ensure governance documents, templates and procedures are kept organised, accessible and up to date.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify where systems are not working effectively and support practical improvements.
• Work with leadership, managers and staff to refine systems and processes based on evidence and feedback.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, follow-through and shared organisational learning.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

• Relevant management, operations, systems implementation, project management or change management qualification, or significant equivalent experience.
• Evidence of using structured project management approaches in practice, including planning, risk management, action tracking, implementation monitoring and review.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft 365, including SharePoint or equivalent document management / collaboration systems.

Desirable

• Formal project management qualification or training, such as PRINCE2, APM, Agile, Lean, Scrum or equivalent.
• Training or qualification in change management, business improvement, systems implementation, governance, data management or operational management.
• Training in data protection, information governance, safeguarding systems or quality assurance.

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience leading or coordinating the implementation of organisational systems, processes or operational frameworks across multiple teams.

· Experience leading or significantly supporting the move from paper-based, spreadsheet-based, informal or inconsistent working practices into structured digital systems and agreed organisational workflows.

• Experience implementing or improving systems such as SharePoint, client record systems, CRM systems, finance systems, reporting tools, action trackers or workflow processes.
• Experience tracking organisational priorities, actions, risks, issues and milestones, and ensuring agreed work is completed.
• Experience working across teams where delivery depends on influence, coordination and constructive challenge rather than direct line-management authority.

Desirable

• Experience working in the third sector, health and social care, addiction/recovery, homelessness, mental health, criminal justice, community development or other relational services.
• Experience supporting services with funder, commissioner, quality, audit or compliance reporting.
• Experience working with peer-led, lived-experience-led or community-based models of delivery.

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to create order, track detail and keep multiple workstreams moving.
• Ability to translate organisational priorities into practical systems, workflows, templates and day-to-day routines.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office, Microsoft 365, operational tracking systems, case management systems, CRM systems and finance systems.
• Ability to identify where systems are failing, where staff are struggling, and where risks are emerging.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain systems clearly to staff with different levels of confidence and technical ability.
• Ability to produce clear written reports, action logs, process notes, implementation plans and senior leadership updates.
• Good understanding of confidentiality, data protection and the importance of accurate records in services working with vulnerable adults.

• Ability to support dashboard development, management information and real-time reporting.
• Understanding of governance, compliance, quality assurance and continuous improvement in a third-sector or public-service environment.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Organised, structured and methodical, without being rigid or bureaucratic.
• Practical, calm and solution-focused.
• Confident enough to challenge drift, but mature enough to do it constructively.
• Able to work collaboratively without needing formal authority over others.
• Able to simplify complexity rather than create unnecessary process.
• Respectful of peer-led, lived-experience-led and community-based ways of working.
• Non-judgemental, reflective and open to personal change.
• Willing to learn about addiction, recovery, social exclusion and the DATUS peer model

New Christian Communities Development Officer
Canterbury and home-based
£32,023 pa plus excellent benefits
Full-time, fixed-term contract for three years

Are you passionate about helping the Church reach new people? Are you energised by building relationships, supporting others to lead and turning vision into reality?

We are looking for a New Christian Communities Development Officer to help grow new Christian communities across the Diocese. This is an exciting opportunity with an enormous amount of variety and autonomy as you will work alongside parishes, clergy, lay leaders and diocesan colleagues to encourage fresh approaches to mission, connecting with new worshipping communities, church planting, revitalisation and leading or supporting project boards to help shape the future of mission across the Diocese.

You’ll spend time listening to local communities, building trusted relationships and connecting people, ideas and resources to help new initiatives flourish. You’ll also play a key role in coordinating strategic projects, sharing learning and ensuring new communities are supported in ways that strengthen parish life and contribute to our diocesan vision.

We’re looking for someone who is collaborative, organised and able to inspire others. You’ll be comfortable working with people from a wide range of church traditions, managing multiple priorities and bringing together partners around a shared purpose. It is essential that you bring a working knowledge of the structure of the Church of England, including how dioceses, parishes, clergy, lay leaders and wider church structures work together in mission and ministry. With an understanding of the importance of safeguarding within church and community settings, you will be able to ensure safeguarding considerations are embedded into planning, development and governance arrangements for new Christian communities and strategic projects.

As this role represents and supports the mission of the Church, it is also essential for you to be a practising Christian. (GoR applies under section 9 of the Equality Act 2010.)

Canterbury Diocese is the oldest in England and spans a diverse region from Maidstone to Thanet and the Isle of Sheppey to Romney Marsh. With coastal towns, rural communities and urban areas side by side, it offers a rich and challenging mission context.

Our vision is Changed Lives, Changing Lives: a community transformed by encountering Christ and committed to transforming and blessing the families and communities we serve.

All appointments are subject to acceptable pre-appointment checks inclusive of Right to Work in the United Kingdom, references and relevant background checks applicable to the role.

Closing date: 11 August, 11:59pm
Interview date: 20th August, Canterbury.

Programme Manager (Strategic Delivery)
Canterbury
£45,012 - £51,764 pa plus excellent benefits
Full-time, fixed-term contract for three years

Would you like to create meaningful change and lasting impact by helping to shape the future of mission and ministry across the Diocese of Canterbury? We’re looking for an experienced Programme Manager to lead, coordinate and deliver our strategic change portfolio.

Working closely with the Director of Strategic Development, you’ll bring people together, keep projects moving and turn vision into action - supporting flourishing parishes, sustainable ministry and church growth across the Diocese.

As Programme Manager, you’ll work with colleagues, clergy, parish leaders and partners across the Diocese to coordinate programmes, manage priorities and make sure great ideas become real outcomes.

We’re looking for someone who enjoys leading complex programmes and making things happen, is adept at building strong relationships and capable of bringing people together whilst being confident of managing priorities, risks, governance and budgets.

You’ll be a collaborative and organised programme professional with experience of working with multiple stakeholders, supporting senior leaders and delivering strategic change. You’ll also be a practising Christian (GoR applies under section 9 of the Equality Act 2010) with a good understanding of the Church of England and a passion for supporting its mission and ministry.

Canterbury Diocese is the oldest in England and spans a diverse region from Maidstone to Thanet and the Isle of Sheppey to Romney Marsh. With coastal towns, rural communities and urban areas side by side, it offers a rich and challenging mission context.

Our vision is Changed Lives, Changing Lives: a community transformed by encountering Christ and committed to transforming and blessing the families and communities we serve.

All appointments are subject to acceptable pre-appointment checks inclusive of Right to Work in the United Kingdom, references and relevant background checks applicable to the role.

Closing date: 11:59pm, Tuesday 11 August.
Interview: Wednesday 19 August, Canterbury.