Jobs for the Youth and Children sector

Do you share our vision to end youth unemployment?

The King’s Trust is seeking an exceptional individual to become Director of Delivery for Wales.You should share our passion for supporting young people to realise their potential and increasing our reach and impact. 

You will lead a team of colleagues, delivery partners and volunteers to turn our strategy into action, ensuring that our programmes reach those who need our help the most, by building partnerships, upholding our commitment to inclusion and safeguarding and growing our income. You will also develop and implement plans to achieve our four strategy goals of Tackling Inequality, Building the Nation’s Workforce, Being a Bold Voice for Change and Making Every Pound Count.To do this, you’ll need to able to engage and motivate a dispersed team and collaborate effectively across the whole organisation. You’ll also need to have an understanding of the challenges facing young people.

You will be a member of the Trust’s Senior Leadership Team, working with colleagues across the UK and will lead on a number of cross organisational projects.You’ll need to be visible across Wales and the wider organisation, working in our centre in Cardiff at least three days a week, as well as travelling to other centres and partner meetings in Wales and the UK as required. 

BookTrust – Fundraising Lead (Individual Giving)
Location: Hybrid with a minimum of eight office days per month in either London (Farringdon) or Leeds office.
Salary: £55,000 per annum.
Contract: Permanent, full-time.

BookTrust, the charity that champions the power of reading, is seeking an individual expert to strengthen and expand its individual giving fundraising to secure the financial support needed to get even more children reading and fulfilling their potential.

BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity, reaching over 1.3 million children and families across England, Wales and Northern Ireland each year and delivering evidence-informed programmes that make a measurable difference to children’s reading behaviours. Their work is rooted in the belief that every child deserves the chance to enjoy reading and all the lifelong benefits it brings. In recent years, the charity’s work has focused on helping children from low-income and vulnerable family backgrounds to become regular readers.

This role will lead and manage the Individual Giving team to design and deliver an innovative, supporter-centric programme with a strong focus on loyalty, and plans to expand fundraising channels including digital, community fundraising and legacies, and to develop new fundraising products and increase engagement with new and existing supporters.

Working closely with the Head of Fundraising, High Value Giving Lead and colleagues throughout the organisation, the post-holder will maximise opportunities to increase income and lifetime value and deliver compelling fundraising campaigns with excellent stewardship activities across multiple channels.

The ideal candidate will be a creative and confident individual giving specialist with a track record across traditional and digital channels and covering all parts of the supporter journey from acquisition to long-term retention. Proven success growing individual giving income and a passion for public engagement will be a must, alongside the ability to work in a complex, multi-channel environment. An excellent communicator, you will be able to share the impact of BookTrust’s work in clear, compelling ways and use your collaborative and hands on leadership skills to motivate your team to achieve excellent outcomes for children and families.

This is an exciting time to join a friendly and supportive fundraising team, with individual giving identified as a key income stream for the charity’s ambitious plans to grow income significantly over the next five years.

Please download our Candidate Pack for further information [PDF], which includes details on how to apply.

Closing date: Monday 2nd March, 9.00 am. 

Grants and Trusts Manager. 

Stormbreak are on a mission to challenge the rising crisis in children’s mental, physical and emotional wellbeing and we’re looking to grow the stormbreak Trust and Income team to achieve this.

Are you passionate about fundraising and about children’s mental and physical health? Do you want to positively shape and impact children’s lives, helping give them the tools and strategies to sustainably manage their mental health and wellbeing?

We need a talented, successful grants and trusts manager with an impressive track record of securing funding (including six figure) and driving charitable income growth. We need someone with experience of working within small-medium sized charities, someone who understands the challenges charities face and is resilient, self-sufficient, tenacious, ambitious, honest, full of integrity, brimming with enthusiasm and an all-round brilliant fundraiser (and human!) who loves what they do and is excited about making a real difference to stormbreak and the children and adults we work with.

You will lead on:

1. achieving the fundraising budget and increasing stormbreak’s total income over future years,
2. stewarding and cultivating our existing portfolio of trust / foundation supporters to maximise future income from the trusts / grants income stream through carefully crafted new approaches and applications, 
3. diversifying stormbreak’s income through the new development of major donor / corporate fundraising income streams.

Main responsibilities:

• To achieve the fundraising budget
• To increase stormbreak’s income in future years
• To manage the existing portfolio of grants, and, as part of the team, ensuring effective reporting / stewardship and maximising opportunities for future support / income. 
• Liaising with the stormbreak delivery team about grant deliverables / outcomes
• Maintaining a system to record all reporting / stewardship activity
• Writing reports for restricted and unrestricted grants
• Keeping in touch with funders – identifying and implementing appropriate opportunities to cultivate relationships
• To undertake an ongoing programme of research and to manage / support volunteers to identify the best new prospects.
• To maintain and continually develop stormbreak’s pipeline – ensuring effective planning and applications throughout the year.
• To liaise with the stormbreak team regularly about funding needs and priorities and to use this knowledge to inform research and applications.
• To develop / update cases for support, making effective use of stormbreak’s impact / evaluation data, case studies and other assets.
• To keep informed of, and adhere to, fundraising regulations / best practice and to keep abreast of fundraising developments.

Most of the time, you’ll be working from home. Once a week, we all meet at our office in Poole – so being able to travel to Poole in Dorset for meaningful connection and discussions with the team once a week is important.

Stormbreak is a national, dynamic and ambitious charity, established in 2019 and led by a dedicated and expert team, all highly experienced and proficient in their respective areas and all very supportive of fundraising efforts.

Help us to create healthy, happy humans forever!

Looking for a career in children’s social work with purpose and a clear path for development? 

Applications to Approach Social Work have re-opened for a limited number of locations. This is the final opportunity to start the programme in summer 2026. 

As a children and families social worker, you’ll work directly with children to make sure they are safe, supported and able to thrive. Social work is a career that offers stability, progression and the chance to make a lasting difference.

On this fully funded social work training programme, you’ll be supported from day one and gain the skills, experience and master’s degree to succeed, wherever your career takes you. 

About the programme 

Approach Social Work is a fully funded social work training programme that helps you become a children’s social worker through hands-on experience, academic study and expert support. 

On the programme, you’ll develop a deep understanding of child-focused social work practice and how to build relationships that create real change. You’ll explore anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive and anti-racist approaches, while working towards a postgraduate diploma and master’s degree in social work. 

What to expect 

Year one: 

• Begin study for your postgraduate diploma in social work

• Learn alongside children and families within a local authority social work team, supported by experienced tutors and practice educators 

• Receive a tax-free bursary of £18,000 or £20,000 (depending on location) to help with living and travel costs 

Year two and three:

• Move into a paid role as a newly qualified children’s social worker (up to £34,000, or more in some London boroughs) 

• Keep working towards your social work master’s degree 

• Join the Frontline Fellowship, a national community offering career-long support and development 

The role:

As a children’s social worker, you’ll learn how to build relationships, make difficult decisions and advocate for children’s safety and wellbeing. That means: 

• Visiting a child at home or school 

• Supporting a parent through difficult circumstances 

• Working with teachers, health professionals or police 

• Writing reports and helping decide what’s safest for a child 

It’s a challenging and rewarding public sector career, rooted in empathy, resilience and strong judgement. 

Who we’re looking for  
You may have studied a humanities, social sciences, education, law or healthcare degree, but we welcome applicants from all degree backgrounds. We particularly encourage people underrepresented in the sector, including men and those from racialised minority backgrounds. 

You don’t need experience in social work. We are looking for the right values, resilience and commitment to making a difference. This role is open to graduates in their final year, or you may already have an existing undergraduate degree and be working in a related role such as a youth worker, support worker, family support worker, teacher, learning support assistant, teaching assistant, counsellor, care worker, key worker, charity worker or social work assistant. 

Eligibility requirements 

• Have at least a 2.2 (predicted or obtained) in an undergraduate honours degree (or international equivalent)

• Have obtained GCSE English Language at Grade C/4 or above (or approved equivalent qualification)

• Possess the right to work and study in the UK (including access to public funds) for the duration of the programme (until September 2029)

• Be resident in England by the time the programme commences

• Not be a qualified social worker 

Places are only available in select locations and will close as they reach capacity. If you are eligible and ready to apply, this is your last chance to join the 2026 cohort. 

Real support. Real skills. A career that matters. 

Apply now 

Delivered by children’s charity Frontline. Formerly known as the Frontline programme. 

Looking for a career in children’s social work with purpose and a clear path for development? 

Applications to Approach Social Work have re-opened for a limited number of locations. This is the final opportunity to start the programme in summer 2026. 

As a children and families social worker, you’ll work directly with children to make sure they are safe, supported and able to thrive. Social work is a career that offers stability, progression and the chance to make a lasting difference.

On this fully funded social work training programme, you’ll be supported from day one and gain the skills, experience and master’s degree to succeed, wherever your career takes you. 

About the programme 

Approach Social Work is a fully funded social work training programme that helps you become a children’s social worker through hands-on experience, academic study and expert support. 

On the programme, you’ll develop a deep understanding of child-focused social work practice and how to build relationships that create real change. You’ll explore anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive and anti-racist approaches, while working towards a postgraduate diploma and master’s degree in social work. 

What to expect 

Year one: 

• Begin study for your postgraduate diploma in social work

• Learn alongside children and families within a local authority social work team, supported by experienced tutors and practice educators 

• Receive a tax-free bursary of £18,000 or £20,000 (depending on location) to help with living and travel costs 

Year two and three:

• Move into a paid role as a newly qualified children’s social worker (up to £34,000, or more in some London boroughs) 

• Keep working towards your social work master’s degree 

• Join the Frontline Fellowship, a national community offering career-long support and development 

The role:

As a children’s social worker, you’ll learn how to build relationships, make difficult decisions and advocate for children’s safety and wellbeing. That means: 

• Visiting a child at home or school 

• Supporting a parent through difficult circumstances 

• Working with teachers, health professionals or police 

• Writing reports and helping decide what’s safest for a child 

It’s a challenging and rewarding public sector career, rooted in empathy, resilience and strong judgement. 

Who we’re looking for  
You may have studied a humanities, social sciences, education, law or healthcare degree, but we welcome applicants from all degree backgrounds. We particularly encourage people underrepresented in the sector, including men and those from racialised minority backgrounds. 

You don’t need experience in social work. We are looking for the right values, resilience and commitment to making a difference. This role is open to graduates in their final year, or you may already have an existing undergraduate degree and be working in a related role such as a youth worker, support worker, family support worker, teacher, learning support assistant, teaching assistant, counsellor, care worker, key worker, charity worker or social work assistant. 

Eligibility requirements 

• Have at least a 2.2 (predicted or obtained) in an undergraduate honours degree (or international equivalent)

• Have obtained GCSE English Language at Grade C/4 or above (or approved equivalent qualification)

• Possess the right to work and study in the UK (including access to public funds) for the duration of the programme (until September 2029)

• Be resident in England by the time the programme commences

• Not be a qualified social worker 

Places are only available in select locations and will close as they reach capacity. If you are eligible and ready to apply, this is your last chance to join the 2026 cohort. 

Real support. Real skills. A career that matters. 

Apply now 

Delivered by children’s charity Frontline. Formerly known as the Frontline programme. 

Location: Vauxhall, London (Hybrid – 3 days in the office, based in our modern workspace in Kennington Park)

Hours: 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday (some flexibility available)

This role offers a rare chance to work across teams - grants development, fundraising and marketing along with the finance and operations team to support the delivery of our work, and gives you broad organisational exposure and multiple career pathways.                                                               

You will enjoy:

ü  Real variety

No two days look the same – you could be supporting finance processes, coordinating interviews, preparing documents, greeting visitors, or helping with office logistics.

ü  Genuine development

You will gain hands-on experience in:

· Charity finance

· HR Administration

· Operational systems and processes

· Office and organisational support

ü  Friendly team environment

You’ll be joining a supportive team who care about the mission and about each other. We work collaboratively, share ideas, and help one another succeed.

ü  A meaningful purpose

You work will directly support programmes that improve the lives of children and young people experiencing significant hardship.

About Buttle UK

Buttle UK exists to make a real difference to the lives of children and young people who are facing crisis, hardship and lack of opportunity. We provided targeted grants and practical support through our Chances for Children grants and a network of partners.

We are a value-led organisation, and we’re building a culture where colleagues feel listened to, trusted and supported.

About the Role:

This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys being at the heart of an organisation and likes supporting a busy, friendly team, working across teams – grants development, fundraising and marketing alongside the finance and operations team. We are looking for someone with good experience of working in a growing organisation who is able to build good working relationships with colleagues and manage multiple priorities.

Knowledge of basic financial principles and previous experience of working within finance and administrative roles is essential. As well as good communication skills both verbal and written, the candidate will be flexible in the way they work and take the initiative when needed. They will also demonstrate a willingness to learn and an interest in the UK voluntary sector.

This role will be a key part of the finance and operations team and contribute to the team’s objectives.

What will you be doing?

1.  Grants and Finance Support:

· To support the Finance and Grants teams by liaising with suppliers of items for grants, checking invoices and records, issuing purchase orders and placing orders

·  Providing first level support with the grants database system.

· Support with invoice entry and payment reconciliation on the grants system.

· Manage the organisation’s petty cash and reconciliation

· Support with processing invoices for payment

· Scanning, filing and logging account documents

·  Checking and updating ledger balances using the computerised accounting systems

2. HR Support:

· Support the HR Manager with recruitment and onboarding processes, and other key HR activities, including:

·  Assist the teams with recruitment administrative tasks including posting job adverts on relevant job boards; arranging interviews; responding to job applicants; issuing reference requests; filing of recruitment records.

· Provide support with induction process and induction schedules for new joiners.

·  Perform data entry and update records and databases for personnel in the HR Information system.

· Update organisation charts and other key documents and handle confidential information professionally.

3. Reception and Enquiries:

· Welcome visitors at Buttle UK and be the first point of contact for phone calls and visitors, signposting callers and enquiries when Buttle UK cannot assist

·  Take responsibility for the out-of-hours voicemail facility and respond to all messages on a timely basis.

· Manage company correspondence including phone calls, emails, letters and packages in accordance with Buttle UK procedures, and distribute to relevant staff.

4. General Administration for the Buttle Office

· Organise set up of meeting rooms ahead of key meetings

· Make travel arrangements and hotel bookings for staff where necessary

· Ad-hoc admin tasks as directed by the Senior Management Team

· Track office stationery levels, including printer requirements and equipment for home-based staff, re-ordering, when required, and maintain relationships with stationery suppliers.

·  Oversee day-to-day office functions to ensure the office runs smoothly and efficiently.

· Maintain and organise office files, both physical and digital.

·  Support the organisation during office events including staff meetings, team building activities and corporate functions.

This role is perfect if you enjoy a mixture of people-focused and systems-focused tasks. Every day is different – you will receive training and support to succeed in your role.

What We’re Looking For:

We’re looking for someone who is:

· Organised and reliable

· Friendly and people-oriented

· Comfortable with numbers and systems

· Happy working with multiple teams

· Proactive and keen to learn

· Calm under pressure and able to prioritise

Person Specification

Essential

· At least one year working in an administrative and/or finance role

· General book-keeping and accounting experience - AAT entry level certification desired

· Experience of using databases and spreadsheets

· Experience of providing support to several teams, ability to multi-task and prioritise.

· Experience of dealing with people from a wide range of backgrounds, both on the phone and in person

· Good organisational skills and attention to detail

· Proven IT skills, including Google Suite and Microsoft office

· Strong communication skills

· Willingness to learn new systems (finance, HR, grants)

· A positive, proactive and helpful approach

· Ability to maintain confidentiality

Desirable

· Experience in an admin, finance, HR or customer-facing role

· Experience of using databases

· An interest in learning and development and interest in working within the charity sector

Attitude

· A self-starter with energy and drive, who is willing to respond to what needs doing and to take responsibility for their work

·  Efficient, adaptable and proactive approach to working.

· A commitment to promote the best interests of children and young people. Empathetic and non-judgmental towards the needs of children and families living in poverty.

What We Offer

· Hybrid working (c.3 days in the office)

· Strong commitment to staff development

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Generous 25 days annual leave + Christmas closure + bank holidays

· Employer pension contribution

· Employee assistance programme for staff wellbeing and support

· Life assurance scheme

· Free eye tests and payment of up to £100 for glasses if required

· Enhanced maternity/paternity and sick pay

· Opportunities for career progression in Finance, HR or Operations

Interviews: Monday 9th & Thursday 12th March 2026

Please note that we may close the advert for this role early if we receive applications from suitable candidates. We hope you will apply as early as possible if you are interested in the role.

At the heart of Starlight’s fundraising and marketing strategy is a focus on building lasting, meaningful and relevant relationships with our supporters. We are committed to demonstrating the importance and value of every contribution and ensuring that every interaction with Starlight is positive, personal and professional.

The Supporter Care Administrator plays an important role in supporting the delivery of excellent supporter care across all areas of fundraising and marketing. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with people, is highly organised with excellent attention to detail, and wants to develop their experience within fundraising and the charity sector.

You’ll enjoy communicating with supporters, taking time to understand their needs and helping them feel valued and appreciated. You’ll also take pride in supporting Starlight’s reputation for warm, responsive and efficient supporter care, while following clear processes to ensure donations and supporter data are handled accurately and securely.

Working closely with the Supporter Care Coordinator you will gain hands-on experience of supporter care, income processing and general fundraising administration, across a range of fundraising activities, including individual giving, community and challenge events, corporate partnerships, legacies and in-memory giving, and trusts and foundations.

Help unlock life-changing employment opportunities for underrepresented young people across London.
Join 20/20 Levels as our Business Development Manager and build the employer partnerships that power social mobility.

At 20/20 Levels, we believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. This role is a unique chance to work at the intersection of business development, recruitment, and social impact, securing paid roles, internships, apprenticeships and career pathways for our alumni.

You’ll engage employers in high-growth sectors, develop long-term partnerships, and position 20/20 Levels as a trusted talent partner for diverse early-career candidates. If you’re commercially driven, relationship-focused, and motivated by creating real change through employment, we’d love to hear from you.

Looking for a career in children’s social work with purpose and a clear path for development? 

Applications to Approach Social Work have re-opened for a limited number of locations. This is the final opportunity to start the programme in summer 2026. 

As a children and families social worker, you’ll work directly with children to make sure they are safe, supported and able to thrive. Social work is a career that offers stability, progression and the chance to make a lasting difference.

On this fully funded social work training programme, you’ll be supported from day one and gain the skills, experience and master’s degree to succeed, wherever your career takes you. 

About the programme 

Approach Social Work is a fully funded social work training programme that helps you become a children’s social worker through hands-on experience, academic study and expert support. 

On the programme, you’ll develop a deep understanding of child-focused social work practice and how to build relationships that create real change. You’ll explore anti-discriminatory, anti-oppressive and anti-racist approaches, while working towards a postgraduate diploma and master’s degree in social work. 

What to expect 

Year one: 

• Begin study for your postgraduate diploma in social work

• Learn alongside children and families within a local authority social work team, supported by experienced tutors and practice educators 

• Receive a tax-free bursary of £18,000 or £20,000 (depending on location) to help with living and travel costs 

Year two and three:

• Move into a paid role as a newly qualified children’s social worker (up to £34,000, or more in some London boroughs) 

• Keep working towards your social work master’s degree 

• Join the Frontline Fellowship, a national community offering career-long support and development 

The role:

As a children’s social worker, you’ll learn how to build relationships, make difficult decisions and advocate for children’s safety and wellbeing. That means: 

• Visiting a child at home or school 

• Supporting a parent through difficult circumstances 

• Working with teachers, health professionals or police 

• Writing reports and helping decide what’s safest for a child 

It’s a challenging and rewarding public sector career, rooted in empathy, resilience and strong judgement. 

Who we’re looking for  
You may have studied a humanities, social sciences, education, law or healthcare degree, but we welcome applicants from all degree backgrounds. We particularly encourage people underrepresented in the sector, including men and those from racialised minority backgrounds. 

You don’t need experience in social work. We are looking for the right values, resilience and commitment to making a difference. This role is open to graduates in their final year, or you may already have an existing undergraduate degree and be working in a related role such as a youth worker, support worker, family support worker, teacher, learning support assistant, teaching assistant, counsellor, care worker, key worker, charity worker or social work assistant. 

Eligibility requirements 

• Have at least a 2.2 (predicted or obtained) in an undergraduate honours degree (or international equivalent)

• Have obtained GCSE English Language at Grade C/4 or above (or approved equivalent qualification)

• Possess the right to work and study in the UK (including access to public funds) for the duration of the programme (until September 2029)

• Be resident in England by the time the programme commences

• Not be a qualified social worker 

Places are only available in select locations and will close as they reach capacity. If you are eligible and ready to apply, this is your last chance to join the 2026 cohort. 

Real support. Real skills. A career that matters. 

Apply now.

Delivered by children’s charity Frontline. Formerly known as the Frontline programme.

Job Title: Marketing Manage

About BookTrust

BookTrust is the UK’s largest children’s reading charity. Each year we reach over 1.3 million children and families across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, delivering evidence-informed programmes that make a measurable difference to children’s reading behaviours.  

Our work is rooted in the belief that every child deserves the chance to enjoy reading and all the lifelong benefits it brings. Children who read regularly are happier and healthier, they form stronger bonds, they are more creative and enjoy more success in life.

BookTrust’s most recent strategy, "Reading for a brighter future", sets out our mission - to get children from low-income households and vulnerable family backgrounds reading regularly and by choice. What we do has never mattered more; or been more needed.  

We deliver our mission through evidence-based interventions, with a strong focus on children in the early years and their families. Our carefully selected books and well-researched programmes are delivered by a network of over 30,000 local partners, bringing the magic of reading to children in every community in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We work with every local authority across England and Wales, as well as health visitors, schools, libraries, social workers and early years workers. We also have an excellent and increasingly diverse community of children’s authors and illustrators and committed and expert support from publishers.  

Everyone at BookTrust is committed to our mission, and are passionate about the real difference that shared reading from the earliest days can make. We are a genuinely family/life-friendly organisation, offering a caring workplace with supportive and expert colleagues.

Job summary

We’re looking for a Marketing Manager to join our team to create, deliver and analyse integrated marketing plans that utilise the full marketing mix to extend the reach and maximize the sales of BookTrust’s traded reading programmes to schools.

In this role, you’ll be responsible for using data and insight to develop and deliver marketing activity to support a wide range of BookTrust campaigns, events and initiatives to meet our ambitious targets. You’ll establish an ongoing evaluation process and utilise sector and customer insight to continually improve our marketing. 

Experience of working across multiple campaigns in an agile way and prioritising your workload effectively is essential. 

The ideal candidate will have a breadth of marketing skills and experience and a proactive and collaborative approach to working with colleagues across the charity to deliver marketing campaigns and activity to a consistently high standard. 

The successful candidate must have at least three years of marketing experience, have previously worked in a B2B, traded and/or commercial marketing role at a similar level including people management experience.

Full details about the role and candidate requirements can be found in the attached Job Description. 

Application deadline: 23:59 on Friday 20 February 2026.

We may choose to close applications early if we have received sufficient numbers of quality applications, so please don’t wait until the closing date to apply.

How to apply: Please apply via our vacancies website along with your CV and covering letter explaining why you think you are the right candidate for this role and highlighting any experience that may support your application. Your covering letter should not be longer than 700 words.

Shortlisting and interview schedule: 

• Shortlisting will take place w/c 24 February.

• First interviews will take place on Wednesday 4 March and Monday 9 March.

Please note: As part of the selection process, shortlisted candidates may be invited to attend a second interview to further assess suitability for the role.

£45,000 per annum

Permanent

Part home/Part office (London) based

UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else. We get things done. And we’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.

This is a great opportunity to join the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) as Proposition Development Manager and be part of a high-performing, fast paced team that produces bespoke communications to engage and steward existing and potential supporters in UNICEF’s work for children.

The Proposition Development Manager collaborates with in-house programme specialists and fundraising colleagues to develop bespoke, high-level written funding propositions and impact reports which both meet the needs of the supporter and are aligned with UNICEF UK’s global priorities and strategic goals.

Successful candidates will need to demonstrate experience of building winning propositions to engage a specific audience, managing key stakeholders, and an ability to produce visually compelling and factually accurate content.

Act now and visit the website via the apply button to apply online.

Closing date: 5pm, Sunday 15 February 2026.

Interview date: First round: Tuesday 3 March 2026.

UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of 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 are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances of your offences.

We only accept online applications as this saves us money, making more funds available for us to help ensure children’s rights.

If you require support in completing the online form or an application form in an alternative format, please contact the Supporter Care line during office hours.

If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note that we only provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.

Registered Charity Nos. 1072612 (England and Wales) SC043677 (Scotland)

Camwch i mewn i daith drawsnewidiol gyda Cyfleodd Dysgu mewn addysg

Step into a transformative journey with Working Options. We're on a mission to empower young people aged 11-19 across the UK, and you can help make a real difference. As our Project Coordinator, based in Wales, you'll play a crucial role in connecting volunteers with schools and fostering impactful relationships, all while working within a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

We believe in inclusivity, trying new things, setting high expectations, and creating real opportunities for young people. With the support of our experienced team and dedicated trustees, you'll have the chance to shape young people's career ambitions.

If you're self-motivated and eager to contribute to a great mission, this is your chance to join a team that's helping young people to transform their career and life chances.

Don't just take our word for it, here's what one of our young people had to say:

"My personal experience has been exceptional. There is a collaborative atmosphere, and it is truly empowering to be part of a charity that values student input and involves us in decisions that directly affect our lives." – Working Options Alumnae.

Find out more about the role and hear from our Chief Executive about our charity's ambitions in our Applicant Information Pack.

Person specification 

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO:

• Has a passion for our cause.
• Is fully committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Is self-motivated.
• Has excellent attention to detail.
• Can juggle multiple priorities, sticking to deadlines and flagging when priorities need reviewing.
• Has a flair for developing great relationships, particularly with schools and colleges.
• Is proactive and tenacious, able to seek out new opportunities and remain resilient.
• Is creative and likes coming up with new ideas.
• Is ambitious for themselves and for the charity.
• Has high computer literacy.

DESIRABLE:

• Experience within educational settings or working with young people in Wales.
• The ability to communicate in the medium of Welsh.

We carry out social media checks on shortlisted candidates as part of our recruitment process, using only publicly available information and in line with our data protection responsibilities.

While we don’t specify this in our person specification, we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who have experienced some of the challenges that young people across Wales face today.

Harris Hill is delighted to be partnering with a well-established children’s charity in London in their search for a Deputy Play Manager.

Full-time | £34,000 per annum

The charity has been supporting children, young people and families for over 25 years through a range of play, family support and youth programmes. Their Ofsted-registered after-school and holiday play schemes provide children aged 4–11 with safe, engaging and nurturing environments to explore, grow and thrive.

As Deputy Play Manager, you’ll play a key leadership role within the play service, helping to design, deliver and evaluate a high-quality programme of activities. You’ll support the Play Manager in day-to-day operations (including managing enquiries/collection of fees), team management and ensuring compliance with all safeguarding, health and safety, and Ofsted standards.

This is a hands-on role combining leadership, planning, and active delivery — you’ll work directly with children and families to create safe, inclusive, and stimulating play environments.

About You

Essential skills and experience:

• Level 3 qualification (or above) in Playwork, Early Years, or a related field.
• Minimum of three years’ experience working directly with children aged 4–11.
• Strong understanding of EYFS and Ofsted requirements.
• Experience planning and delivering engaging, age-appropriate play activities.
• Confident leading active, outdoor or adventure-based play.
• Sound understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
• Excellent communication and team leadership skills.
• Strong organisational and IT skills.

Desirable:

• Experience supporting children with additional needs or from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience supervising others or managing volunteers.
• Knowledge of current issues affecting children and families.
• Relevant training such as paediatric first aid or food hygiene.

Play is at the heart of what they do — the organisation believes that every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy a happy, fulfilling childhood through both free and guided play experiences.

If you’re passionate about play, child development and helping young people thrive, we’d love to hear from you.

For more information, please submit your CV to

 Please note, CVs are being reviewed on a rolling basis, and only successful applicants will be contacted with more information.

 As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

About The Baby Bank Alliance

The Baby Bank Alliance (BBA) supports and advocates for a community of over 400 UK baby banks, working to ensure babies and children have the essentials they need to thrive.

Founded by Save the Children, Purposeful Ventures, Little Village and Bristol Baby Bank Network. BBA is currently co-incubated  by Save the Children UK and Purposeful Ventures, who provide expertise, capacity and resource. This role will be employed through Purposeful Ventures, and home working options are available.

It is an exciting moment in BBA’s development as we grow our profile, strengthen the UK’s baby bank network and build towards independence as a charity.

The Baby Bank Alliance exists to:

• Increase access to funds and goods through national partnerships and economies of scale, unlocking donations otherwise unavailable to baby banks.
• Grow a strong baby bank community, providing connection, tailored training and peer support.
• Boost the national profile of baby banks, increasing public awareness and understanding in order to drive support and change.
• Amplify the voices of baby banks to become a trusted collective voice on baby banks and child poverty.
• Build a resilient, well-governed organisation capable of long-term positive impact.

About the Senior Communications Lead

The Senior Communications Lead is a senior, hands-on leadership role, reporting to the Executive Lead, and responsible for shaping and delivering BBA’s cross-channel communications strategy. Working closely with the Executive Lead and team, you will drive increased awareness and understanding of baby banks, ensuring communications actively enable BBA’s wider goals around funding, partnerships and sector influence. 

Average UK awareness of baby banks currently sits at around 33%. Building on successful national partnerships (including IKEA and ITV’s Lorraine), this role will take BBA’s profile to the next level, embedding baby bank experiences and voices at the heart of everything we do. 

As a co-incubated organisation, developed with and for baby banks, strong experience of effective collaboration and understanding of the issues that baby banks are addressing, and facing themselves, is fundamental. 

You will oversee all communications activity across BBA, line manage the Communications Manager and task manage the Communications and Projects Officer, and build a small but high-impact communications function from the ground up within a resource-constrained, fast-moving organisation. Collaborating with teams at BBA’s incubating partners, Save the Children and Purposeful Ventures, will be key.

Please download the full job description on the Purposeful Ventures website.

Key Performance Outcomes

Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and deliver a clear, ambitious communications strategy aligned to BBA’s organisational OKRs, and with the experiences of baby banks at its heart
• Lead a focused awareness strategy utilising earned and owned media to significantly increase understanding of baby banks among priority audiences (including ABC1 women aged 35–55).
• Set, track and report against communications OKRs, providing clear insight to the Executive Lead and Venture Board.
• Support the Executive Lead to set the communications budget, making recommendations on limited resource allocation to effectively to maximise impact.
• Work closely with the Senior Community Lead and Partnerships & Fundraising Manager to integrate plans and maximise impact. 

Messaging and Storytelling

• Ensure the voices and experiences of baby banks and the families they support are central to all communications, utilising data and case studies to define compelling messages.
• Use insight and evidence to test, refine and strengthen communications activity over time.

 Partnerships and Influence

• Build and manage strategic, influential relationships with pro-bono and paid agencies and partners, in order to increase awareness.
• Leverage your networks to maximise earned and owned media opportunities.
• Support the BBA Partnerships & Fundraising Manager to develop effective strategic partnerships that will raise the profile of UK baby banks.
• Maintain strong working relationships with communications teams at Save the Children UK and Purposeful Ventures, collaborating on projects with shared outcomes for baby banks.

Press, Media and Digital

• Oversee proactive and reactive media activity in line with the communications strategy.
• Collaborate with Save the Children UK to explore and deliver brand ambassador opportunities.
• Support the development and delivery of an effective and engaging social media strategy.
• Ensure messaging is consistent, compelling and aligned across channels.

Brand Stewardship

• Champion and strengthen the BBA brand, ensuring clarity and consistency, and keeping baby banks at the heart of everything we do.
• Equip staff and partners with clear guidance on tone of voice, messaging and visual identity to communicate the brand effectively and accurately.
• Oversee the maintenance and development of brand assets, including the BBA website.
• Ensure all communications are developed through a strong DEI and accessibility lens.

Evaluation and Governance

• Lead on measuring communications impact and translating learning into action.
• Support the Executive Lead and Venture Board reporting with clear, timely and actionable updates.

Line Management and Leadership

• Line-manage the Communications Manager and support task management of the Projects & Communications Officer.
• Build a positive, motivating team culture with clear expectations and autonomy.
• Manage third-party contractors (e.g. creative, design, film, PR) with strong briefs and oversight.

About You

You are a senior communications leader who combines strategic clarity with a willingness to roll up your sleeves. You thrive in early-stage or start-up environments, are confident working with limited budgets, and know how to prioritise for impact.

You are collaborative, persuasive and credible, with a strong instinct for storytelling that centres lived experience. You are equally comfortable shaping strategy, managing stakeholders, and delivering hands-on communications work.

Above all, you are motivated by the impact that baby banks deliver to their communities, making sure that children have the essentials to thrive.

Benefits 

• The opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme, where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to.
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 29 days after two years’ service, then to 30 days after three years’ service (pro rata for part-time employees).
• A flexible working culture that champions both impact and balance, combined with real flexibility to support your wellbeing, personal commitments and life outside work.
• A strong commitment to your growth, with support to help you excel professionally and advance your career.
• Access to discount schemes with leading retailers, leisure and travel brands, as well as companies local to our office.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme for information, support and counselling.

How to apply

Please follow the Apply link on our careers page to submit your CV and expression of interest. 

The CV should be no longer than 2-sides of A4 and the expression of interest no longer than 400 words. In your expression of interest, please include an example of a communications initiative, campaign or partnership you have led that demonstrates your ability to deliver meaningful impact with constrained resources, in an early stage or start-up environment. 

This is a UK-based post and applicants must be living in and have the right to work the UK; if applicable please detail your visa status in your covering email.

Equality and diversity matter to us. If you think you’d be suited to one of our roles we’d love to hear from you regardless of age, disability status, ethnicity, gender, religion or sexuality.

Purposeful Ventures is an equal opportunities employer and will not discriminate against any candidate on the basis of any characteristic protected by the Equality Act 2010.