Jobs for the Youth and Children sector

Job Title:
Head of Retail

Reporting To:
Director of Operations & People

Salary:
£50,000 per annum (pro rata)

Hours:
37.5 hours per week
Part-time / flexible working arrangements will be considered

Duration:
Fixed Term – 6 months

Location:
Alder Hey Children’s Charity (Old Swan & Huyton shops), Liverpool

Job Purpose

The Head of Retail will provide strategic leadership and expert insight to review, strengthen and evolve Alder Hey Children’s Charity’s retail operation during a six-month period of strategic development.

Working closely with the Director of Operations & People, the postholder will undertake a comprehensive review of the charity’s retail portfolio, identifying opportunities to maximise income, improve operational effectiveness and enhance supporter engagement.

The role will assess the current retail model, including shop performance, operational structures, processes and growth opportunities, and develop clear recommendations and a practical roadmap for the future development of retail income at Alder Hey Children’s Charity.

This is a highly collaborative role requiring strong commercial insight, charity retail expertise and the ability to translate analysis into actionable plans that will support the charity’s long-term income growth and sustainability.

Main Duties / Tasks

Strategic Review and Development

• Lead a comprehensive strategic review of Alder Hey Children’s Charity’s retail operations, including shop performance, operational structure, systems and processes

• Assess the current retail model to identify opportunities for income growth, efficiency improvements and enhanced supporter engagement

• Benchmark retail performance against charity sector best practice and comparable retail operations

• Develop strategic recommendations and a clear roadmap to strengthen long-term sustainability and growth

Retail Performance and Commercial Insight

• Analyse financial performance, sales data, stock flow and operational costs across the retail portfolio

• Identify opportunities to improve profitability, operational efficiency and customer experience

• Review pricing, merchandising, stock management and donation processes to optimise retail income

• Provide clear insights and reporting to inform strategic decision-making by the senior leadership team

Operational Improvement

• Review existing retail processes, structures and ways of working to identify improvements

• Introduce practical operational improvements during the contract period where appropriate

• Ensure compliance with best practice in Gift Aid, health and safety and charity retail standards

Future Growth Opportunities

• Identify opportunities for growth, innovation or diversification, including new retail formats or channels

• Assess opportunities to strengthen community engagement and donation generation

• Support development of a longer-term retail strategy aligned to wider income generation ambitions

Leadership and Collaboration

• Provide leadership and support to the retail team, fostering a positive and collaborative culture

• Work closely with fundraising, marketing and operations teams to integrate retail into wider strategy

• Build strong relationships with volunteers, supporters and key stakeholders

Reporting and Strategic Recommendations

• Provide regular updates to senior leadership on findings, opportunities and progress

• Deliver a final strategic report with key findings, recommendations and a clear action plan

Other Duties

• Act as an ambassador for Alder Hey Children’s Charity in line with organisational values

• Contribute positively as part of the wider team, including supporting fundraising events where required

• Undertake any other reasonable duties as requested by your line manager

Person Specification

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Essential:

• Significant experience in retail leadership, ideally within a multi-site or charity retail environment

• Proven experience delivering retail strategies that drive income growth

• Experience managing budgets and financial performance

• Experience leading and developing teams, including volunteers

• Strong understanding of retail operations (stock, merchandising, customer experience)

• Experience analysing performance data to inform decision-making

• Experience working within charity retail

Desirable:

• Experience reviewing or transforming retail operations

• Experience developing ecommerce or digital retail channels

Skills and Attributes

Essential:

• Commitment to equality, diversity and collaborative working

• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)

• Strong relationship-building skills

• Ability to analyse data and inform strategic decisions

• Self-motivated with a positive attitude in a fast-paced environment

• Strong organisational skills with ability to adapt to changing priorities

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team

• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection requirements

• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft packages

Additional Requirements

Essential:

• Strong interest in working for a children’s health charity

• Commitment to the values of Alder Hey Children’s Charity

• Willingness to support wider charity activities

Desirable:

• Willingness to occasionally work outside normal office hours

Our Values

At Alder Hey Children’s Charity, our values guide how we work. Being courageous, working together, showing passion and embracing creativity enables us to support the hospital in delivering the very best care for young patients and their families.

Courage
We try new things, take risks and innovate. We speak up, take accountability and act with responsibility. We are unstoppable.

Together
We work as one team, sharing knowledge and learning. We partner with patients, families, supporters and colleagues. We respect, celebrate diversity and empower each other.

Passion
We are passionate about what we do and why we do it. We inspire others and grow together.

Magic
We are creative, fun and child-led. We create special moments and go the extra mile for our patients.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature of the role and is not exhaustive. It may be subject to change in line with organisational needs.

Alder Hey Children’s Charity will make reasonable adjustments for applicants where required. We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

The post holder will be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.

Open to applicants looking for full time (37.5 hours per week); or part time, working morning or afternoon, with number of hours tbc by mutual agreement and business need.

Our Facilities team works hard to ensure that every guest visiting Woodrow has a safe and memorable visit. You will be working alongside the wider team to maintain all buildings, including our Grade II listed Manor House and Leisure Centre, and the outside grounds and activity areas, to ensure the site is welcoming, tidy and safe for all. You will assist the Facilities Manager in ensuring we remain compliant with relevant Health & Safety legislation; and will be involved in various duties that contribute to the wider success of the Centre and London Youth. 

What you will be doing 

The Facilities Assistant provides logistical and maintenance support for the Woodrow estate and holds the following core responsibilities. This is not intended as an exhaustive list, and the job may change over time to reflect the changing needs of our centre, as well as the personal development needs of the post holder. 

Grounds upkeep: 

• General upkeep of the 26-acre estate grounds e.g. pruning, mowing, planting, tidying gardens. 
• Keeping grounds, paths and hard surfaces safe and free of ice, snow, leaves, weeds, etc. 
• Maintaining the 3G astro pitch, cycle circuit and outdoor activity areas.

Building maintenance: 

• Undertake day-to-day minor repairs, e.g. patching, painting, leaky taps, hinges, caulking, etc. 
• Undertake cyclical / seasonal jobs e.g. clearing gutters, drains, drain gratings, etc. 
• Support with biomass boiler maintenance and receive woodchip deliveries. 
• Support with basic utilities issues as they arise, e.g. heating, plumbing, electrical, etc. 

Health and safety: 

• Undertake routine safety/compliance checks of all facilities including, among other things, legionella temperature aduits, emergency equipment inspections and tests, etc. 
• Support the FM with risk assessments and work procedures relevant to the role. 
• Maintain accurate records of all work carried out using systems in place for auditing. 

General duties: 

• Basic joinery, carpentry and build projects done in house, under direction of the FM. 
• Supervise outside contractors to ensure all jobs are carried out to agreed standards. 
• Supervise corporate volunteer groups who support us with gardening or build projects. 
• Support with setup and occasional on-the-day attendance at various events. 
• Undertake other duties as reasonably requested by London Youth's management that ensure the ongoing success of the charity and delivery of excellent customer experiences. 

What you bring to the role 

Experience, Knowledge & Skills 

We do not expect candidates to have expertise in all areas, but at a minimum experience of minor buildings repairs and maintenance and groundskeeping work is essential to this role. Training will be provided to address some gaps where necessary and relevant. 

• Experience with grounds maintenance including tree and lawn care, gardening, etc. 
• Experience of maintenance in heating, plumbing, electrical systems. 
• Demonstrable good practical DIY skills, including decorating, joinery, carpentry, repairs, etc. 
• Experience using power and maintenance tools, including small tractor with mower, jigsaws, strimmers, etc. 
• Demonstrable understanding of Health & Safety regulations relevant to this type of role; the importance of compliance, evidencing and contributing to this. 
• Hold a good level of fitness and able to work outside in variable weather conditions. 
• Experience of conducting regular compliance checks, recording and reporting on them. 
• Able to use digital systems for record keeping, including Microsoft Office and various apps. 
• A current driving licence (tractor experience is also desirable).

Qualifications in the use of a chainsaw, power tools, tractor driving, pool plant are desirable. 

Attributes and Behaviours

• Someone who takes pride in their work and enjoys getting things done. 
• Customer centric mindset and a firm commitment to customer excellence and safety. 
• Able to quickly establish a rapport and build effective relationships with a wide range of people. 
• Composed demeanor and calm under pressure, able to dynamically prioritse and problem solve. 
• Keen attention to detail, following procedures and recording actions reliably and consistently. 
• Able to work independently, demonstrating proactivity and initiative. 
• Collaborative team player with a willingness to work effectively with others. 
• Self-motivated with a positive attitude, growth mindset and keen willingness to develop. 
• Willing to both give and receive direction from others. 
• Impeccable work ethic with a practical, flexible, and dynamic approach to work. 
• Absolute commitment ot London Youth's principles of equality, diversity and inclusion. 

You will be able to demonstrate our values of being: 

• Ambitious 
• Collaborative 
• Inclusive 
• Accountable 

Why work at Woodrow High House

• Health Care Cash Plan to help cover your healthcare essentials. 
• Free access for you and your family to the Employee Assistance Programme. 
• Free onsite parking. 
• Branded quality uniform provided. 
• Free access to the 'Headspace' app for you and your family. 
• Free access to the Charity Mentoring Network, as a mentee or mentor. 
• Free tea and coffee available in the 'Tea & Coffee Bar'. 
• Free meals provided whilst on duty when the kitchen is serving young people in residence. 
• Magnificent location on a historic estate, surrounded by nature. 
• Cycle to Work scheme. 
• You'll be working with a fantastic team of passionate colleagues across London Youth. 
• An outstanding culture and ethos where staff and visitors enjoy, challenge, and achieve. 
• Occasional supply of sweet - sometimes savoury - always yummy - treats are guaranteed. 
• You will be making a difference to the lives of young people! 

Senior Policy and Research Officer 

Job Description

Role Overview

Role title: Senior Policy and Research Officer
Team: Policy and Research
Reports to: Policy and Research Director
Salary: £32,000 – £34,000
Location: Kettering (flexible working considered)

Purpose of the role

The Senior Policy and Research Officer supports the organisation’s work to influence policy and practice by delivering high-quality research and analysis.

The role contributes to building a strong evidence base that informs decision-making by government, employers and partners, and supports Youth Employment UK’s position as a trusted source of insight.

What the role is accountable for

Outputs (what is delivered)

The role is responsible for designing, delivering and reporting research projects, including quantitative and qualitative analysis.

This includes analysing data, developing research tools, producing reports and briefings, and supporting the communication of findings to a range of audiences.

Outcomes (what success looks like)

Success in this role is demonstrated through the production of high-quality, reliable research that informs policy, supports organisational strategy, and is used by stakeholders.

The role contributes to strengthening the organisation’s evidence base, supporting policy development and influencing work, and enabling colleagues to use research effectively.

Behaviours (how the work is done)

The role requires a structured and analytical approach to work, with clear and accurate communication of complex information.

It involves working collaboratively with colleagues, maintaining high standards of quality and professionalism, and ensuring that research outputs are accessible and useful to different audiences.

Attitudes (ownership and judgement)

The role requires a strong sense of responsibility for the quality and accuracy of work.

This includes taking ownership of research tasks, managing competing priorities, identifying risks or issues early, and applying sound judgement when interpreting data and presenting findings.

Key priorities

The main focus of the role is on delivering research projects to a high standard, supporting policy development, ensuring research is accessible and usable, and contributing to the wider work of the team.

Skills and experience

The role requires experience in research within a policy or related environment.

Candidates should demonstrate strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, the ability to analyse and interpret complex data, experience using relevant tools, and the ability to communicate findings clearly.

An understanding of youth employment or related policy areas is desirable.

How success will be measured

Performance will be assessed through the quality and reliability of research outputs, ability to meet deadlines, contribution to policy work, effectiveness in communication, and alignment with organisational values.

Working arrangements and benefits

This role is based in Kettering, with flexibility considered depending on the needs of the role and team.

Youth Employment UK offers a supportive working environment and is committed to flexible working where possible. Benefits include annual leave, pension contribution, and opportunities for development.

Values

Youth Employment UK is committed to being a professional, collaborative and purpose-driven organisation.

All colleagues are expected to:

• work in a way that reflects our commitment to young people and employers

• demonstrate professionalism and integrity in their work

• collaborate effectively with colleagues and partners

• contribute to a positive and supportive working environment

Recruitment process

We aim to provide a clear and consistent recruitment experience.

The process for this role is expected to include an initial online interview (approximately 30 minutes), followed by a second-stage interview, usually held in person, including a structured interview and a role-related task.

Candidates who attend the interview will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible.

We are committed to fair and accessible recruitment. Please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process.

Do you love bringing stories to life and crafting compelling communications that inspire people to take action?

This brilliant Communications and Marketing Manager role at The Hive Youth Zone is ideal for someone passionate about impactful comms and who thrives on getting stuck in. In return, you'll get to play a central role in a vibrant, lively and ambitious youth organisation where no two days are ever the same.

Salary: £35k FTE (four days per week, approx. £28k pro rata)
Location: Hybrid with 3 days on site and option to work 1 day from home
Contract: Permanent, reduced hours, four days per week
Benefits: 3% employer contribution to pension, 33 days of annual leave (including bank holidays), free access to the Hive gym, subsidised meals and staff uniform.

About The Hive

The Hive is a vibrant, purpose-built Youth Zone supporting young people aged 8 to 19, and up to 25 for those with additional needs. From sports and music to media, wellbeing and mentoring, it's a space where young people can explore who they are and feel proud of what they can achieve.

With excellent outcomes for young people, a thriving delivery team, strong leadership and a pipeline of exciting fundraising and events, The Hive is in a stellar position - making now the perfect time to join.

About the Role

Sitting within the fundraising team, you'll bring clarity and consistency to communications across The Hive. They're currently working with a marketing agency who are refreshing the brand and creating a comprehensive strategy, so you can hit the ground running with a ready-made suite of tools at your disposal.

The main focus of this role is to take the new strategy and turn it into an outstanding communications plan that truly connects with its audiences. This is a hands-on comms role, with operational responsibility for delivery, managing a designer and PR agency - plus the chance to contribute to strategic decisions about how things are done.

We're looking for a strong copywriter and confident communicator who is imaginative, practical, and action-oriented. You'll enjoy developing compelling campaigns across multiple channels and be savvy when it comes to social media.

About you

We would love to hear from folk who bring:

• Strong experience delivering creative and consistent communications
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to produce clear, compelling copy for varied audiences
• Confidence managing multiple priorities and working independently
• Experience planning and delivering social media activity
• Curiosity and creativity, with the ability to bring ideas and shape opportunities

You don't need to be the finished article in every area - we can provide mentoring and support from senior comms peers through the charity's network. What matters most is your core skill set, attitude and commitment to creating communications that grab attention and inspire people to get involved.

How to Apply

Please send a copy of your profile or CV to Amelia Lee at Charity People, as the first step.

If your experience matches what we're looking for, we'll be in touch with further information on how to make your formal application.

Deadline: 9am on Monday 13^th April

Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.a

Terms and Conditions

· Job Title: Military Families Support Worker

· Reports To: Head of Operations  

· Location: Hybrid role based in Didcot, with travel to schools, homes, and community venues as required.

· Hours: 10 hours a week on a freelance contract.

· Rate of pay: £25 per hour.

· 12 month contract, possibility of extention with funding. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

· Liaise with schools, local authorities, and military welfare services to advocate for the needs of military young carers.

· Develop and deliver workshops, information sessions, and support groups tailored to the circumstances of military families.

· Signpost young carers and their families to relevant support services within Be Free Young Carers.

· Maintain accurate, confidential records and contribute to monitoring and evaluation of support provided.

· Raise awareness of the specific needs of military young carers within the organisation and the wider community.

· Ensure all safeguarding procedures are followed and concerns are reported in line with Be Free Young Carers’ policies.

· Attendance at monthly team meetings to update on the progress.

Person Specification

· Experience working with children, young people, or families, ideally with knowledge of military family life.

· Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust quickly.

· Empathy, resilience, and the ability to handle sensitive situations with discretion.

· Ability to work independently and as part of a team, managing a caseload and prioritising demands.

· Understanding of safeguarding and confidentiality practices.

· Flexibility to occasionally work outside standard office hours to meet the needs of families.

· DBS check required.

· Full driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Can you help us develop an outstanding service for young people in Surrey?

Do you have a passion to support young people's emotional health and wellbeing?

Barnardo's are seeking to recruit a full-time (37 hours a week) Community Wellbeing Mentor who shares our commitment and vision to develop an outstanding service and embed Barnardo's basis and values in all we do. This position sits within the Surrey Community Wellbeing Team (CWT) covering Waverley, Woking, Surrey Heath and Spelthorne.

As a Wellbeing Mentor, you will hold a rolling caseload of up to 15 children and young people (6-18 years old) and will provide early intervention/support to them who are experiencing low emotional health and wellbeing. This may present itself in many different ways such as feeling lonely, isolated, unhappy, or anxious, having low mood or experiencing stress and can come from multiple causes. Wellbeing Mentors will provide a hybrid model of support involving direct face to face and virtual sessions, working collaboratively with a solution focussed strength-based approach to support children and young people to improve their emotional wellbeing and resilience.

Part of this role will involve supporting the school-based community wellbeing mentor to co-facilitate one of our B-Connected 6-week courses that take place within local schools. This course covers: Anxiety, Emotional literacy & regulation, Confidence and self-esteem, Friendships/relationships, Low mood, Anxieties around school attendance or transition and Resilience.

The Community Wellbeing Team operates within a Thrive Framework where choice and shared decision making is fundamental. It is a relational model, and we hold a non-judgmental and trusting relationship between the staff member, children, young people, and parents, which is crucial to their ongoing wellbeing. You will receive training on the Thrive model at the start of your employment.

To be successful in this role you will:

• Have experience in working with and supporting children and young people to implement strategies to manage their emotional health and wellbeing.
• Have experience in planning, delivering and evaluating 1:1 and groupwork wellbeing interventions, assessments, including risk assessments.
• Have experience of advising and developing pathways necessary to support. sustainable long-term improvements of the young person after CWT support has ended.
• Deliver solution focussed, goal based strength interventions for children and young people with emotional health and wellbeing needs.
• Have an understanding of how to work within a trauma-informed framework;
• Have experience of safeguarding issues and working within multi-agency frameworks.
• Demonstrate the ability to engage and communicate with both children, young people, their families, schools, and other professionals during the working day or at various meetings/networking events representing Barnardo's.
• Have good time-management, organisational, numeracy and literacy skills including competency on IT software.
• Have a full UK driving licence and access to a roadworthy and taxed car.

The office base (Surrey Wellbeing Hub) for this role is in Leatherhead in Surrey. Although the role is office-based with the ability to work from home, it is essential to meet the needs of the service to travel around Surrey (Waverley, Woking, Surrey Heath and Spelthorne) when necessary. Due to this, access to a vehicle and a valid driving licence will be essential. Car insurance must include business use and be in place before starting with the service. The office base (Surrey Wellbeing Hub) for this role is currently in Leatherhead, Surrey and there is a requirement to regularly attend meetings and collect resources from this location. This base determines your normal deductible commute.

Barnardo's offer their staff regular supervision, external clinical supervision and give all colleagues access to at least three learning days a year. Barnardo's University (BU) facilitate a range of opportunities which will be available through B-learning online and the BU prospectus. However, staff can use this time in a way that works for them – for instance to spend a day shadowing another team.

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification and Job Description. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described. Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Learning and Insights Manager

Location: Hybrid, minimum 2 days per week in our office in London

Salary: £37,000 - £39,000 per annum

Vacancy Type: Permanent, full-time
Please note that Blagrave is currently trialling a four-day working week. At present, full-time hours total 32 per week. This arrangement may change following the outcome of the trial and could increase to a maximum of 37.5 hours per week.

Closing date: 30th April 2026

The Blagrave Trust is a charity that funds and collaborates with partners to bring lasting change to the lives of young people. We invest in young people as powerful forces for change and act upon their right to be heard in pursuit of a fair and just society.

We are committed to centring the voices of young people and those affected by the issues we work on. Our board and staff team bring lived and learnt experience that supports our mission. We listen closely to young people, partners and communities to better understand the realities they face and the systems that shape them.

Blagrave will launch a new organisational strategy in June 2026 that will guide our approach over the coming years.

About the role

As Blagrave prepares to launch our new strategy in 2026, this role will help ensure that learning informs our decisions and strengthens our work. The Learning and Insights Manager will support the development and implementation of our emerging impact framework, evaluating evidence, stories and reflections from young people, partners and colleagues to help us understand what is working, what is not, and what this means for our future.

The role is primarily internal (around 70% of your time). You will lead our learning processes, create meaningful spaces for reflection, and develop practical tools that help colleagues learn, adapt and act. You will ensure that insights are captured, synthesised, shared and used across the organisation, from day-to-day practice through to strategic decisions.

You will also help us communicate what we are learning to the wider sector (around 30% of your time). Through reflection pieces, identification of sector-relevant events, and collaboration with partners and funders, you will support Blagrave to be part of meaningful sector wide conversations.

If you are curious, collaborative and motivated by the belief that good learning leads to better outcomes for young people, this role offers a real opportunity to shape change within Blagrave and beyond.

We recognise this is a broad role. Final responsibilities and priorities will be shaped together with the postholder based on their strengths, experience and workload capacity.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience

• Experience working with qualitative and quantitative information to support insight generation (through research or equivalent practical experience).
• Experience designing and facilitating organisational learning processes and reflective spaces.
• Able to present data clearly and in a compelling manner for different audiences (written and verbal).
• Ability to synthesise complex information into clear, actionable insight.
• Ability to identify themes, patterns and connections across programmes and learning sources.
• Strong communication and writing skills, able to summarise learning clearly for different audiences.
• Experience supporting teams to learn, adapt and embed reflective practice in day-to-day work.
• A proactive, thoughtful problem solver able to balance reflection with practical action.
• Comfort with ambiguity and an iterative, learning-oriented approach.
• Digital literacy skills, including the ability to use simple tools for organising information, creating basic dashboards or summaries, and supporting light-touch knowledge management (e.g., shared drives, spreadsheets, survey tools).
• Experience communicating learning or insight externally (e.g., blogs, reflection pieces, sector discussions).
• Comfort organising information using simple knowledge-management tools (e.g., shared drive structures, basic templates, or light-touch digital tools).

Why Blagrave

At Blagrave, you will be part of a dedicated team focussed on work that matters. You’ll also get a package that includes:

• competitive salary
• coaching, training and support to help you develop
• 25 days annual leave + company closure between Christmas and New Year’s + bank holidays
• Flexible working and the option for extended remote working

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Blagrave, please click apply to be redirected to our website to complete your application.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Blagrave is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We expect all staff to actively engage in anti-oppressive and anti-racist practices and contribute to creating an inclusive environment for all, including young people and partners.

Safeguarding Statement

We are committed to creating safe environments for young people and partners. All staff share responsibility for promoting safety, noticing concerns, and acting in line with our safeguarding policy. All job offers are made subject to appropriate background checks.

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK.

This role is subject to a Basic DBS check and 2 references.

Location: Hybrid, Old Street, London
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £38,570 - £40,600 per annum
Hours: 34.5 hours per week
 
Plan International UK is a global children’s charity striving for an equal world. One where every child can reach their full potential and every girl can choose her own future.   
 
We bring people together to protect children’s rights and keep girls safe, in school and in control of their bodies – even when disaster strikes. And we won’t stop until we are all equal. 
 
We’re looking for a passionate and skilled Youth Engagement Officer to lead our work with youth advocates, including our Youth Advisory Panel (YAP), the voice of young people at Plan International UK. This role is all about championing youth voice. You’ll be supporting YAP members and other young people to grow their skills, share their views and influence change for girls’ rights and gender equality in the UK and globally. You’ll create opportunities for young people to get involved across the organisation, making sure their voices are heard at every level, from campaigns, to communications, to our board of trustees. 
 
This is an exciting time to take on the role as we have just recruited a YAP. In collaboration with the Youth Engagement Lead, you will play a key role in supporting them over the next two years. 
 
We’re looking for someone who has experience working directly with diverse young people in a meaningful, inclusive and participatory way. You will be enthusiastic, collaborative and adaptable, with strong safeguarding knowledge and the ability to create engaging, safe and inspiring spaces for young people to grow their knowledge, confidence and skills.
 
If you’re enthusiastic, adaptable and excited about helping young people shape decision-making on children's rights and gender equality, we’d love to hear from you.
 
Please note, this role is not eligible for sponsorship and therefore we are unable to provide sponsorship for this role.
 
For further detail of this role, please see the job profile. 
 
The deadline for applications is 23.59 on Tuesday 7 April 2026 
 
Interviews will take place on Monday 20 April 2026 and Wednesday 22 April 2026 
 
We are committed to the safeguarding and protection of children, young people and adults in our work. We, therefore, apply rigorous recruitment and selection processes to ensure that only those who are suitable are recruited to work for us. Accordingly, appointment to all our roles is subject to a range of vetting checks and for this role this will include an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check and a check of the Children’s Barred List. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working for us; this will depend on the circumstances of any offences.
 
Plan International UK is committed to being an inclusive employer and we welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds.
 
REF-227 603

If you share our vision that ‘every young person should be empowered to gain the confidence, independence and skills they need for a better and brighter future’ we might have the perfect role for you!

ThinkForward is recruiting a Progression Coach in New Romney, Kent, to join our team delivering our unique programme supporting young people into further education and employment. If you are….

· Passionate about, and experienced in, supporting young people to make amazing decisions about their futures

· Committed to equity, diversity, anti-racist and anti-discriminatory practice

· Persistent, empathic and agile in your style of work and able to apply a coaching approach to the delivery of our programme

· Able to tell the stories of our work through data

· Confident in running one-to-one and group work sessions 

· Knowledgeable of employability practices and the importance of tailored progression planning for young people

…then please click on the job pack for our role description and information pack for more details about ThinkForward and the role you could play, then apply with your CV and cover letter.

Applicants should note that this role will require access to a vehicle. 

We look forward to hearing from you.

This role is a key part of the team at Peer Power Youth. Responsible for leading, co-ordinating and delivering and evaluating young people’s involvement in our creative ‘voice and influence’ projects, you will co-create and work alongside young people in secure settings and in the community. You will also be able to lead on a specialist area of work within the team. 

A crucial part of our model is to develop strong, trusted and caring relationships with the team, with funders and commissioners, and with a cohort of young people. You will ensure that young people are recruited, engaged and supported to attend, and that activities are co-created, creative, safe and inclusive, developing the skills and expertise of the young people involved. Much of the role is outreach, from our Victoria head office, to going to where young people are for engagement, delivering sessions with young people in community or secure settings, or for recruitment of new young people, with one day a fortnight work from home. 

Projects span youth voice and influence work across:

• Secure Children’s Homes
• Young Offenders Institutes
• Liaison and Diversion Schemes
• Violence Reduction Partnerships
• Youth Justice Services
• Pupil Referral Units 
• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
• Child and Youth Social Care Services
• Youth Charities
• Training and Delivery of our Empathy Led Model

As a Lead co-ordination role, we’re looking for someone who can develop high quality relationships and liaise with funders and commissioners and has a qualification in youth work or significant relevant experience. Experience with youth justice and/or secure settings is desirable, but not essential.

An average week might look like: 

• Co-ordinating and delivering youth voice or wellbeing sessions, liaising with commissioners, funders, and young people
• Delivery and co-ordination of accredited skills development sessions for young people 
• Providing one‑to‑one relational support to young people
• Preparing young people for meetings/events with partners
• Working alongside contractors to ensure consistent delivery quality
• Completing safeguarding, risk assessments and session planning
• Recording outcomes and monitoring impact using CRM systems
• Supporting young people’s involvement in decision making internally
• Supporting young people’s involvement in training and coaching

About the Role

The primary focus of the Grants Officer is to support schools and youth organisations to operate the Jack Petchey Achievement Award scheme effectively and to promote, grow and deliver this and other Jack Petchey Foundation (JPF) grant programmes across London and Essex. This role will be responsible for Districts across Essex and act as the lead for specific uniform groups who deliver their activities in Essex.

This is a new role created following a recent restructure of the Grants team. It is offered initially as a 12- month contract (0.6 FTE / 22.5 hours per week) to support the growth of our Achievement Award scheme across Essex, with the potential of an extension, following review and subject to available funding. The working days and working pattern will be discussed with the successful candidate, however, it is worth noting the role will require evening and weekend work, so we are seeking someone who can be work flexibly.

The Achievement Award Scheme is the Jack Petchey Foundation’s flagship programme, with more than 2,000 schemes being operated in more than 1,400 schools, colleges and youth organisations across London and Essex. Through the programme, we invest millions of pounds each year to support young people and youth work. This is an amazing chance for you to have a big impact across a large number of organisations.

The Achievement Award Scheme enables schools, colleges and youth organisations to recognise, reward and celebrate young people’s achievements. At the Jack Petchey Foundation, we are passionate about encouraging young people to raise their aspirations, believe in themselves and make a positive contribution to society. Our Achievement Awards are designed to recognise a wide range of achievement, not just those achieving academically but are also aimed at young people who are ‘doing their best’ or demonstrating leadership skills, resilience and determination.

The post holder will manage delivery of the scheme and associated small grants in an assigned area of Essex. They will be responsible for maintaining and developing positive relationships with schools and youth organisations. The role will involve regular travel to visit schools and youth organisations, as well as outreach and community engagement work to identify and support new groups to apply to join our scheme. This work will also require evenings and occasional weekend work, especially to carry out assessment and review visits with youth organisations and to participate in our Achievement Award celebration events.

The successful candidate would therefore be someone who has flexibility to travel, work out-of-office hours, enjoys building relationships and public speaking, as well as navigating a busy grants and assessment caseload (desk-based processing, telephone calls/emails, and daily use of a database). You will need to be happy to travel regularly around Essex and one day per week to our office in Canary Wharf.

The Jack Petchey Foundation is an Equal Opportunities Employer, and we seek to build a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic candidates as they are currently under-represented in our team.

Key Priorities of the Role:

• To promote and strengthen the Jack Petchey Achievement Award scheme and associated programmes (Leader Award Grants, Educational Visits and Learning Experiences, Environmental Awards and Partnership Programmes) in schools and youth organisations.

• To support schools and youth organisations to administer the Jack Petchey Achievement Award scheme to a high standard and maximise the positive impact it has on young people.

• To ensure that schools and youth organisations make maximum use of the small programmes and partnership programmes associated with the Jack Petchey Achievement Award scheme.

• To ensure that accurate data is recorded on all Jack Petchey Foundation systems. • To support programme growth, impact and reach by building stakeholder relationships in your assigned local area.

• To assess new applications and monitor the impact of the Achievement Award scheme and small grants awarded.

• To work with your colleagues in the Grants Team to deliver excellent grant making, review and improve processes, and strengthen relationships with all Jack Petchey Foundation stakeholders.

About You

This is an exciting time to join us as we grow our work as a charitable Foundation. You will have an opportunity to use and develop a wide range of skills in a friendly, dynamic and supportive team that is committed to growing our positive impact on young people.

The Grants Officer role demands a wide range of skills and a high degree of autonomy, reliability and flexibility. You will need to be an efficient, highly organised team member with excellent communication skills and a passion for our work. You will need to be able to manage your own workload within agreed targets and maintain a programme of planned visits, while creating new development opportunities.

You will possess an eye for detail, good administration skills and the ability to communicate confidently and present a positive external profile for the charity. Evening and weekend work is a requirement to meet the demands of this role. This is a busy and satisfying role, with each Grants Officer leading relationships with between 350-400 organisations. You will have strong planning skills and the ability to deal efficiently with regular grant applications, and with busy grant reporting periods twice a year.

Evening and weekend work is a requirement of this role, which on occasion can require up to two to three out-of-hours events in one week, depending on the event schedule. These are seasonal events, primarily during term-time and time off in lieu will be granted for additional hours worked. This role could offer flexibility around school holidays.

This is a perfect time to join the Foundation to support us to deliver our strategic plan – while we also streamline our processes, improve our support to our grantees, and review our grant-making criteria and guidance. This is your chance to make your mark within a motivated and ambitious team and help us to reach even more young people with our funding.

Main Areas of Responsibility

1 Develop, manage and promote the Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme and other JPF opportunities

1.1. Identify schools and youth organisations not currently running the scheme and proactively promote the Achievement Award (AA) scheme to them, following up as required

1.2 Receive, assess and process all grant applications to join the AA scheme, in accordance with Jack Petchey Foundation policies and procedures

1.3 Attend, participate and assist with delivery of Achievement Award celebration events (usually evenings with some weekend events), including making a speech to congratulate the young people

2 Quality Assurance for the Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme

2.1 Develop relationships with and support schools, alternative provision, and youth organisations on the Jack Petchey Achievement Award (AA) scheme to operate the scheme to the highest possible standard

2.2 Provide timely support to such organisations to enable them to run the AA scheme effectively

2.3 Implement a strategic approach to conducting face-to-face and digital assessment and monitoring visits to schools and youth organisations in your area on the Jack Petchey Achievement Award scheme, to ensure our funding is well spent and to identify opportunities to improve delivery

3 Administer the Jack Petchey Foundation grant making process

3.1 Ensure accurate records are kept on the Foundation’s database (Salesforce), including up-to-date contact details and records of communication with groups in receipt of or applying for grants

3.2 Approve/authorise payment of AA grants and related programmes in accordance with our policies

3.3 Ensure appropriate grant reporting by schools and youth organisations and negotiate return of funds where a grant has not been used in accordance with conditions

3.4 Proactively manage risk, being alert to potential fraud 3.5 Ensure that clubs and groups receive all necessary materials to operate the Achievement Award scheme effectively

3.6 Assess and approve Leader Awards and Environmental Awards in accordance with our policy

3.7 Assess applications for Leader Award Grants, Educational Visits and Learning Experiences Grants and Environmental Award Grants in accordance with our policy, with recommendations put forward to senior staff

3.8 Provide regular updates on your work and Grants Officer patch during monthly one-to-ones

4 Promote the wider work of the Jack Petchey Foundation to schools and youth groups

4.1 Identify case studies and other stories and material that can be used for our communications, supporting communications team colleagues to raise awareness of our opportunities and impact

4.2 Represent the Foundation at digital and physical events, local networks, funders’ fairs, and community or young people’s forums to help promote our Grant Programmes and other opportunities

4.3 Assist with digital and face-to-face monitoring and reporting in relation to groups that have received a Jack Petchey Foundation Project Grant or other funding Promote the wider work of the Jack Petchey Foundation to schools and youth groups

Other Responsibilities

5.1 Actively contribute to Grants team and Jack Petchey Foundation team meetings

5.2 Take a lead on specific projects and undertake other tasks as agreed with Grants Manager

5.3 Provide telephone/email support and advice about our funding streams to existing grantees or potential applicants

Please note these are the normal duties which the charity requires from the position. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible, and all employees will be required from time to time to perform other duties as may be required by JPF.

The postholder will be required to work at all times within the policies, procedures and values of the Jack Petchey Foundation, in particular safeguarding, health and safety, and data protection and consent policies.

The Youth Endowment Fund

Head of Digital Communications

Reports to: Director of External Affairs and Youth Understanding

Salary: £67,800

Location:  Central London or Hybrid*(see below)

Contract: 2-year fixed term contract

Closing date for applications: 12pm, Tuesday 7th April 2026

Interview dates: Week commencing 20th April 2026

 

About the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF)

All of us will experience violence at some point in our lives. For many children, it is a daily reality. Each year, tens of children are killed, hundreds are hospitalised, 1 in 5 teenage children are victims and the majority admit to feeling afraid of violence. It scares them when they travel home from school, prevents them from going out and makes the most vulnerable feel like they don’t matter. It is taking lives, traumatising families and dividing communities. It robs potential, progress and hope. 

But it doesn’t have to be this way. 

The Youth Endowment Fund believes that no child should be affected by violence. We research violence to understand it; we find, fund and test what works to prevent it; and we are building a movement to end it.

Communications at YEF

The Communications team, within the External Affairs and Youth Understanding directorate, is a critical arm of the organisation. We can only reduce violence if people hear about what works and put it into practice. Change is hard and it only happens if people trust where it comes from and want to engage with what we are communicating. We can only make change at scale if we’re smart about using digital tools to reach a growing, diverse audience across society.

We need professionals working across our sectors — youth-workers, police officers, social workers, policymakers, headteachers, and more — to find out about and be part of our movement. To do this, we must communicate with humility, authenticity and clarity.

We need politicians, commissioners and funders to follow our guidance and use our products. To do this, we must secure a seat at the table, communicate with intellectual rigour and persuade using the evidence.

We also need to connect with wider society, helping anyone who cares about making Britain safer for the next generation to understand what we do, what works and how they can support our cause. To do this, our brand must be accessible and inspiring, leveraging robust research alongside human storytelling.

As the Head of Digital Communications, you will be essential to achieving our mission. You will join the YEF at an exciting time. We are entering a crucial phase of increasing our policy influence at the top of government, changing things for the better across our sectors — education, youth justice, youth sector, children’s services, policing, health — and mobilising a movement to keep children and young people safe.

Your job is to make sure that the right people are drawn to our website and our digital communications, that they discover and engage with our content — from quoting our data, to using our Toolkit and evidence, to following practical recommendations in our guidance, to watching videos about the latest trends and conversations in violence prevention  — and trust what we have to say.

You will support the Director of External Affairs and Youth Understanding to plan, build and execute a digital campaign to make all of this happen. You will help to lead the Communications team to hold the attention of our priority audiences and making them act.

Key Responsibilities

• The core of your job is to ensure that YEF's audience grows rapidly and strategically in size, that people working in our sectors gain awareness and confidence in our brand and that decision-makers engage with our work via our digital channels: our website, social media, newsletters, search, long- and short-form videos and the Safe podcast.
   
• You will further develop YEF’s existing digital marketing strategy into a national campaign across 2026-2029 for mobilising the evidence to prevent violence affecting children and young people.
   
• You will provide leadership to YEF generally and the Communications team specifically - managing the Senior Digital Marketing Manager and Digital Marketing and Communications Officer – to develop internal collaboration for boosting organisation-wide digital activity, such as call-to-actions via social media and video content.
   
• You will execute a strategy for moving to a more segmented, sector-specific communication strategy that engages each audience (whether teachers, youth workers, police officers etc.) to use of YEF’s products whether our Toolkit, our Guidance on what works and self-assessment tools for each sector.
   
• To commission and develop compelling, eye-catching video content that authentically showcases case studies of our work, drives our audiences towards our channels and products and significantly boosts widespread engagement — views, likes, comments and shares — online.
   
• To help secure and convert high-profile digital communications opportunities for the team in representing YEF’s work, including podcast and video placements.
   
• To develop and leverage relevant agency relationships, and use data analytics, to optimise our SEO positioning for online searches related to youth violence, advise on investment in paid advertising to drive traffic to our website and products, and generally boost our digital engagement.

About You

You are this sort of person:

 

• You communicate complex ideas clearly. Whether speaking or writing, you break down complicated concepts in ways that make sense to different audiences – without oversimplifying. You bring clarity where others bring jargon.
   
• You get things done. You’re organised, delivery-focused, and produce high-quality work, even under pressure. You work independently and to a high standard.
   
• You are skilled at designing and delivering digital comms and audience journeys for different segments of an organisation’s audience. You know how to build up a clear picture of audience members, develop their customer journey and turn them from unaware to aware, to a user and then an advocate.
   
• You think big and adapt fast. You’re a strategic thinker who can see the big picture without losing sight of the detail. You’re logical, creative, and open to challenge – always testing and refining your ideas.
   
• You care about the detail. You like getting a system working well, planning a campaign and getting the detail right, organizing who is doing what and seeing it all happen.
   
• You pay attention to what is happening in the world. You’re plugged into current affairs, technological trends and media conversations, particularly when it comes to British society.
   
• You are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. You believe and act in a way that celebrates and encourages a range of experiences, backgrounds and values.

 

You have:

• A track record of driving digital communications to hundreds of thousands of people at a regional or national scale. You have led, planned and executed campaigns that bring about measurable outcomes online and practical change in the real world.
   
• Experience working with a mission-driven charity, organisation or business. You care about using your extensive digital skills to drive the work of an organisation striving to achieve social change.
   
• Experience within a leadership or management position. You have led people to drive bold, transformative communications for an organisation, company or business.
   
• Expertise in using technical tools and data analytics to target audiences online. You know how to segment and target digital audiences, transform SEO performance, develop high quality websites, increase newsletter engagement and bring new technical tools to solve problems.
   
• You have experience of commissioning creative partners - like consultants, videographers and designers - to produce compelling digital outputs and developing narrative-led content about urgent social issues that draws people in.
   
• A track record of producing video – such as case studies, explainers or podcasts - to increase positive regard, brand awareness and audience engagement on LinkedIn, Instagram Reels, YouTube, TikTok and X.

You may have the following, but they are not necessary:

• A qualification in digital marketing.
• Past experience of using Salesforce for marketing campaigns.
• Experience of working in or close to one or more of our priority sectors: education, youth justice, youth sector, children’s services, policing and health.
• Knowledge of using Artificial Intelligence to ethically and effectively boost digital performance at an organisation

While it’s not a criteria, we are especially interested to hear from applicants who have lived experience of youth violence.

It’s important to us that the people we hire do not discriminate. We believe in being inclusive and giving everyone an equal chance to succeed. Applications are welcome from all regardless of age, sex, gender identity, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, religion or belief, race, sexual orientation, transgender status or social economic background.

All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

This position will require a DBS check to be performed, but a record is not a block to performing this role.

Hybrid Working Details 

The office is based in Central London, but you don’t have to be. Those living in London and within the 32 London Boroughs are expected to be in the office a minimum of 2 days per week. If you live outside of London and work remotely, you’ll be expected to work from the London office 2 days per month. As part of our commitment to flexible working, we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at the interview stage. 

To Apply 

To apply, please send a CV and a cover letter answering the specific questions below, along with the completed monitoring form, by clicking the "Apply for this" button by 12pm, Tuesday 7th April 2026.

Application Questions  

• Why are you drawn to work at the Youth Endowment Fund and why do you care about our mission? (400 words max)
• Tell us about your experience of leading a digital communications team? (400 words max)
• Tell us about your experience of creating and implementing a digital strategy within an organisation to engage a large audience. Please be clear about how you measured your success? (400 words max)

Interview Process

Shortlisted candidates will be sent a technical task to complete before the interview. Interviews will take place from the week commencing 20th April 2026

PLEASE NOTE: We do not sponsor work permits and you will be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. 

Benefits Include

• £1,000 professional development budget annually
• 28 days holiday plus Bank Holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme – 24hr phone line for free confidential support
• Volunteering days - 4 half days per year
• Death in service - 4 times annual salary
• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm
• Financial support including travel and hardship loans
• Employer contributed pension of 5%.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful, and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.

Reporting to: Head of Major Giving   

Location of Work: Home based. The post holder will be expected to travel to meet donors, travel to away days and team meetings in London. The role may involve some irregular travel throughout England and Scotland. Expenses will be paid in line with our Travel and Expenses policy. Candidate will need to live commutable distance to London.   

Contract Type: Ideally full-time, 35 hours per week, although 28 hours/compressed hours may be considered. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work    

Contract Length: Permanent    

Salary: £43,500 

BACKGROUND    

Magic Breakfast’s mission is to end child morning hunger in the UK now and for good. The latest research suggests that 2.7 million children are at risk of hunger, meaning one in five children don’t have enough to eat. When a child is too hungry to learn, they struggle to concentrate, absorb information, and manage their emotions, causing them to fall behind in their studies. 

Magic Breakfast provides a nutritious breakfast to over 350,000 children and young people every school day. We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target children most in need without barrier or stigma.

We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target the children most in need without barrier or stigma. We are now at an exciting point in our journey as we launch Nourishing Futures, our long-term strategy, which capitalises on market changes and government commitments to scale our work, while redefining breakfast spaces not just as places to eat, but as places to thrive. 

In response to a challenging funding landscape, and to seize on the opportunities ahead, we have recently brought together our Philanthropy and Trusts teams into a unified Major Giving function, enabling us to build deep, values-driven relationships with high-value supporters.  

The Major Giving Lead – Individual Donors will play a pivotal role in this new function, leading all relationships with high-net-worth individuals (HNWI) and ensuring exceptional donor care and engagement. Reporting to the Head of Major Giving, this role is a senior, strategic position crucial to driving the organisation’s fundraising growth and deliver against our mission. 

JOB PURPOSE   

The Major Giving Lead – Individual Donors is a senior, strategic role within Magic Breakfast’s unified Major Giving function, acting as the organisation’s expert on philanthropy. This role will lead and manage relationships with high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), ensuring exceptional donor care, long-term engagement, and the growth of transformational gifts.  

Working closely with the Head of Major Giving, the Major Giving Lead will help develop and embed a cohesive Major Giving strategy, fostering strong synergies across the Major Giving team. In partnership with the other Major Giving Lead (Trust & Foundations) this role will create unified stewardship programmes, prospect development strategies, and engagement opportunities, ensuring a seamless and compelling experience for donors across all major giving streams. It will also work closely with the Business Development Manager (Scotland) to ensure effective ways of working across devolved nations and to unlock opportunities for HNWI in Scotland.  

This is a high-impact, leadership-focused role for a proactive, strategic, and relationship-driven individual, capable of influencing key stakeholders, shaping organisational approaches to major giving, and driving the growth of Magic Breakfast’s mission to end child morning hunger across the UK.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:    

Leadership and team collaboration  

• Act as the senior lead and subject matter expert for HNWI relationships across the organisation.  

• Work closely with the Head of Major Giving and Major Giving Lead – Trust & Foundations to develop and embed a cohesive Major Giving strategy, fostering strong synergies between Major Individual Donors and Trusts, with a clear link to synergies in other teams.   

• Support the Head of Major Giving and Trust & other Major Giving Lead in mentoring and guiding other members of the Major Giving Team.  

• Provide leadership, insights and expertise across the wider organisation to support the delivery of our new organisational goals, including through contributions to the sub-goal working groups and other enabling strategies.   

• Collaborate within the fundraising, and across other, departments to deliver cross-organisational initiatives, events and campaigns, championing opportunities to unlock HNWI giving.    

• Scan the external environment for trends, insights, ideas and best practice that could benefit the Major Giving team and Magic Breakfast’s work, making recommendations for improvements and leading on opportunities as they arise.  

• Work in close partnership with the Business Development Manager (Scotland) to ensure joined-up approaches to HNWI opportunities in Scotland, sharing expertise, aligning stewardship, and enabling effective cross-team working.  

• Flex to provide support across the Major Giving team where necessary, responding and supporting shared team-wide objectives and any trust and foundations work if required. 

Income generation, donor stewardship and prospect development   

• With support from the Head of Major Giving, deliver the 25/26 individual giving income target of c£800k by personally managing a portfolio of new and existing major donors and family foundations, with a focus on securing, renewing and uplifting gifts above £50k+ .   

• In partnership with other teams and departments, develop, test and roll out new data-driven approaches to target and reach new HNWI and other major giving audiences.  

• Work with our Prospect Researcher Manager to identify and execute opportunities to grow our prospect pool, including from across other teams, and to facilitate personal introductions and meetings with yourself or other Magic Breakfast employees/ volunteers – providing relevant briefings where appropriate.  

• Support and collaborate with the Business Development Manager (Scotland) where shared funder relationships or new opportunities arise.  

• Develop and implement tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies for new and existing HNWIs, leveraging and building relationships within and across Magic Breakfast networks’ to support our fundraising objectives.  

• Support, and where required lead, on the delivery of cross-organisational projects including any major giving campaigns, collaborating closely with colleagues across the organisation, including Brand & Marketing, and other relevant teams, to project manage effectively and ensure activity is informed by insights and organisational expertise, and delivers against its KPIs with a strong return on investment.  

• Maintain a strong knowledge of the organisation strategy, business plan and opportunities for innovation and ‘value-add’, to identify and build accurate and inspiring giving propositions, wish lists and a persuasive case for support  

• Ensure exceptional relationship management and donor reporting, with high-quality donor care and stewardship techniques that speak to the motivations and interests of our donors, exploring ways to build our donor community – such as through giving circles.  

• Work with colleagues across the Major Giving and other income generation teams to design and deliver a calendar of bespoke engagement opportunities, events and experiences for donors and prospects, ensuring high-quality execution and timely reviews.  

• Champion innovation in donor journeys, engagement campaigns, and communications to maximize supporter impact and retention, ensuring everyone is aligned behind clear, measurable goals and delivers with purpose and consistency.

• Work with the Head of Individual Giving and Engagement to establish a clear mid-level giving programme and to ensure opportunities and leads are recognised and developed where possible and that there is a high-level of stewardship.

Financial Processes, Reporting, and Due Diligence  

• Support the Head of Major Giving to conduct effective annual planning and budgeting, setting, measuring and reporting against agreed KPIs and utilising data and insights to inform decisions and future planning.   

• Support the Head of Major Giving to prepare phased budgets and reforecasts, identifying and recognising opportunities and risks to income in line with activity plans and progress.  

• Ensure all HNWI income and activity is reconciled and recorded on Magic Breakfast database systems (Salesforce) with relevant supporting documents, including gift aid and gift instruments in place.  

• Work with finance and performance and relevant business leads to manage programme budgets and restrictions.  

• As requested, provide regular reports and updates to the Head of Major Giving, Director of Fundraising & Development and other stakeholders as required.    

General   

• Maintain strong communication and alignment with the Business Development Manager (Scotland), ensuring funder and donor activity is coordinated and opportunities are maximised across nations.  

• Ensure all donor due diligence is completed and compliant with ethical fundraising standards, GDPR and organisational policy.  

• Contribute to team meetings, sharing best practice and supporting team members where necessary  

• Help to maintain a positive working environment; keeping the vision of Magic Breakfast at the heart of everything we do  

• Uphold a culture that keeps children and young people at the heart and encourages openness, collaboration, bravery, compassion and a solutions-focussed approach  

• Work collaboratively across the organisation more widely to build good working relations across the organisation and provide ad-hoc support to other teams and members of staff  

• Adhere to all Magic Breakfast policies and procedures  

• Ensure that all activity is compliant with current legislation, GDPR and child safeguarding requirements (training provided)  

• Participate in occasional work-related events at external venues and perform support related activities, as required. Be willing to undertake occasional work outside of regular office hours and UK travel  

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role  

PERSON SPECIFICATION   

Knowledge and Experience    

• Experience generating income and developing a sustainable pipeline of revenue from high-net-worth individuals.  

• Experience of working with high level volunteers and/or committees to deliver major fundraising targets.   

• Excellent and proven knowledge of major gift fundraising methodology including prospect research, managing databases for major account portfolio management, proposal preparation and the cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of major donors.   

• Proven track record of successfully identifying, securing and cultivating six and seven figure commitments from HNWI.  

• Experience of building, leading and contributing to effective teams and relationships to achieve a high level of performance.  

• Understanding of Magic Breakfast’s cause and the challenges faced by families and children with respect to morning hunger.  

• A good understanding of the fundraising and philanthropy landscape in which Magic Breakfast operates and the relevant fundraising and data legislation and best practice.  

• Experience of effectively and authentically incorporating the voices and views of people with lived experience in fundraising activities.  

Skills and Abilities    

• Skilled and confident in soliciting major gifts, with a natural ability to ‘make the ask’.  

• High emotional intelligence and creativity to develop compelling campaigns, cases for support, and donor relationships.  

• Strong analytical and constructive thinking, with the ability to problem-solve, adapt, and develop innovative solutions to complex challenges.  

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with confidence presenting to a variety of audiences.  

• Ability to build and maintain strong, positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, both internal and external.  

• Excellent time management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.  

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality outputs.  

• A collaborative team player with the ability to work both independently and across teams, proactively engaging colleagues.  

• Skilled in identifying, escalating, and managing risk effectively.  

• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (advanced level) and other Microsoft Office products; ease with IT packages such as Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.  

• Experience using fundraising databases (ideally Salesforce) as well as other systems, such as asana, to support performance management and reporting.   

• Ability to keep accurate and up-to-date records, adapting processes where needed to meet organisational requirements.  

• Understanding of Health and Safety and other regulations as they apply to events.  

WHAT WE OFFER

At Magic Breakfast we value our employees and work hard to develop offer a supportive, respectful culture which enables everyone to thrive. For more information, please visit our recruitment pack via our webiste. 

APPLICATION PROCCESS

Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team, HR @ magicbreakfast. com

Shortlisting - w/c 6th April

Interview 1 - w/c 20th and 22nd April

Interview 2 - 27th April

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

Financial Controller sought for thriving youth charity

28 hrs per week, flexible

Salary £33k-£36k (£47k-£51k FTE) dependant on experience  

London W10

 

Job Description

This is a responsible position managing the accounts and payroll of a medium-sized West London youth charity. The role is central to maintaining the charity’s financial wellbeing and thereby enhancing opportunities for young people.

It is a part-time role, with plenty of flexibility. Working from home and coming into our office at least once a week, you can spread the weekly hours across 3, 4 or 5 days – whatever works for you. You’ll be working closely with the Treasurer, Chief Executive, Fundraiser and Programme Director as well as our HR Manager and Operations Manager, with whom you will share some admin support.

About us

As a leading London youth club, our work is challenging but very rewarding.

For over 40 years The Avenues Youth Project has provided a safe space for young people aged 8 to 18 to play, socialise, acquire and develop skills and receive advice and motivation.

In an area of north Westminster with plenty of social challenges, The Avenues is seen as a beacon organisation, hugely valued by our community and widely respected in the youth sector.

Our standards are high; we are recognised by Westminster City Council as one of three key youth hubs in the borough and, in 2024, were re-awarded London Youth’s prestigious three-year Gold Level Quality Mark, one of only nine youth organisations to hold this badge of excellence.

Our team is professional, hard-working and great fun to work with.

Each one of us is passionate about giving every child and young person the opportunity and support to make the most of their future, regardless of their background, and we apply the same principle to those who work at Avenues.

 

Role Requirements

· Manage day-to-day financial operations including accounts payable, accounts receivable/grants claims, bank reconciliations, general accounting functions.

· Perform monthly journals and reconciliation of balance sheet/control accounts, including accruals, prepayments, deferred income and fixed assets.

· Claim monthly the Gift Aid that has not already been collected through donation platforms.

· Produce timely and accurate monthly reports for budget holders to help them effectively manage their budgets, ensuring that spend is being properly tracked and allocated against programmes and grants/donations.

· Hold regular meetings with budget holders following the production of the monthly reports.

· Work with the CEO, Treasurer, Fundraiser and programme/operational budget holders where necessary to:

o Provide the Finance Committee with a monthly dashboard

o Co-ordinate the annual budget process, and produce quarterly financial forecasts.

o Manage cashflow projection

· Support the Monitoring and Evaluation manager with donor reports

· Liaise with the auditors throughout the audit process, providing supporting schedules and  grant documentation in support of the TB figures provided.

· Prepare the statutory annual accounts for review by the auditors.

· Manage payroll (30+staff), pensions and the allocation of project personnel costs. This includes liaison with the HR and programme managers to ensure the Employment Hero payroll system is processing HR information and timesheets correctly.

· Process improvement – work with key stakeholders to ensure that finance processes are fit for purpose and implementing change where improvements can/should be made.

· Ensure the Avenues has appropriate internal controls in place and is meeting all tax and audit obligations.

· Preparation and maintenance of a finance manual.

· Deal with general finance queries, both externally and from members of the team

· Co-supervise the finance and operations administrator

 

Person Requirements

· Accountancy qualification eg- ACA/CIMA/ACCA/AAT Professional Level or QBE

· Demonstrable experience of working in a similar role.

· Previous experience in the charity sector would be highly desirable although not essential.

· Good knowledge of QuickBooks system and proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel.

· Experience of process improvement and system implementation an advantage.

· Strong communication skills well versed in speaking finance with non-finance colleagues.

· Ability to adhere to deadlines

· Confident in holding self and others to account

· Ability to work to high standards, without needing detailed supervision

Avenues is an Equal Opportunities employer welcoming people from all backgrounds.

Avenues puts the safety of our members first. Candidates are subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check.