The national lottery community fund jobs

We are recruiting one full time, permanent Funding Officer who will predominantly support our work across Somerset, Wiltshire and Swindon.  You’ll be part of our wider South West team, supporting across the region and working day-to-day in a team of fellow Funding Officers, supported by a Funding Manager.

Ideally you will live in or near either Somerset, Wiltshire or Swindon and have good knowledge of at least one of these areas.  This role is classed as mobile working which means you will be expected to work from and visit various locations across the area, including your home. The ability to drive and have access to a vehicle is therefore beneficial, although not essential.

• You will assess applications for funding and manage grants using local knowledge, best practice and thematic expertise and you will harness the experience of customers and stakeholders to improve our grant making and inform our decision making.
   
• Being responsible for supporting local people and communities, you will have a strong understanding of our vision, our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and our funding products.
   
• Being responsible for a pipeline of projects you will need to understand and respond to the different needs of our customers by providing advice and considered feedback, and be willing to have challenging but constructive conversations.
   
• You will also ensure that both grant management and assessment play an effective part in contributing to the Fund’s knowledge and learning as a grant maker. You will manage your own caseload, liaise with grant recipients, undertake project visits, identify and manage risk, support organisations to deliver their projects and measure their impact.

The role will be part of our delivery of our new strategy, 'It starts with Community', and you will need to work within the Fund’s policies and procedures and the necessary legislation, in a way that is in line with our vision and principles.

You will represent the Fund, including at funding fairs and external meetings, creating opportunities for people to come together. You will share learning from your role with other colleagues so that we can maximise our impact.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.) 

The National Lottery Community Fund is recruiting for two External Affairs Officers, key roles in our External Affairs Team within our newly restructured communications function.

The External Affairs Officer role is part of our ambitious transformation as we implement a significant pivot in our communications approach – building on our support for grant-making to demonstrate the powerful impact communities have in strengthening society and improving lives.

You will help position the Fund as a convening force in civil society, supporting our sectoral and political engagement during a time of exciting change.

Working across the External Affairs team, you will research and analyse policy, political and sectoral developments that affect our work, helping create clear briefings for meetings and events and arranging visits as appropriate. By horizon scanning and monitoring the external landscape, you will help the Fund respond proactively and effectively to emerging issues.

You will build and maintain relationships with parliamentary staff, officials and sector peers. By gathering intelligence, managing and supporting internal and external events, you will contribute to the Fund's engagement with decision-makers and opinion leaders. Your research and analysis will strengthen our policy positions and advocacy work.

Our External Affairs Officers play an important role in supporting the External Affairs team to deliver an effective, insight-driven strategy that articulates the Fund's missions (nationally and regionally) to critical stakeholders across the UK.

Key responsibilities :

• Responsible for providing public affairs, policy and stakeholder engagement support across the External Affairs team, working on the development and delivery of our External Affairs plan, including management and delivery of events.
• Lead the development of briefings and other assets to support the delivery of external affairs work through high quality research and analysis
• Monitor the external political and policy landscape for developments that are relevant to the Fund and advise colleagues on these as appropriate
• Represent the Fund at networking and stakeholder events
• Develop a network of key internal and external contacts in the public affairs and policy space to further the Fund's aims
• Work collaboratively with the other External Affairs Officers to share skills and intelligence
• Cross-collaboration with the Communications Strategy and External Affairs teams to ensure our engagement strategy across the full communications function (media, corporate communications, brand, campaigns and public affairs) is impactful and cohesive
• Support the effective use of the Stakeholder Relationship Management (SRM) system

Location: Hybrid working

We have a hybrid approach to working, work pattern and location will be agreed with the successful candidate. The role can be based at any of our UK offices, these are Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Newcastle and Newtown.

Interview date: Week commencing 11th August

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below

Essential criteria

• Excellent persuasive communication skills, oral and written
• Confident in writing briefings, positioning papers and other materials to support political and non-political stakeholder engagement
• Strong skills in political analysis and advising senior stakeholders
• Strong project management skills; the ability to produce high-quality work against competing priorities in a complex environment
• Experience in managing events and other stakeholder engagement activities

Desirable criteria

• An understanding of, or background in the VSCE sector
• Understanding of public affairs at a national and regional level and/or in civil society
• Experience in using and developing customer relationship management (CRM) systems

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.) 

The National Lottery Community Fund is recruiting for a Communications Manager to play a vital role in the newly restructured communications and engagement function to deliver on our strategy, It Starts With Community. 

The role is part of our ambitious transformation as we implement a significant pivot in our communications approach – building on our support for grant-making to demonstrate the powerful impact communities have in strengthening society and improving lives.

In this role, you’ll deliver integrated communications that bring our missions and the story of National Lottery funding to life. You’ll be the strategic voice behind the campaigns that highlight how communities are creating lasting social change.

You will focus on two key areas - your country, Scotland, and one of the four core missions - creating powerful alignment between them and helping to showcase the impact of community-led projects across the UK.

You’ll work closely with Strategic Communications Leads and other colleagues across the organisation to deliver communications plans that align with our corporate strategy and customer journey. Your work will help shape public understanding of the Fund, build trust with stakeholders, and inspire communities to engage with our funding.

We are looking for a creative and strategic communicator with a passion for storytelling. You’ll be experienced in developing integrated campaigns and working across teams to deliver high-impact communications.

Key responsibilities:

• Develop deep insight into at least one portfolio and mission, to enable you to implement effective communications plans for your mission and portfolio, aligned to the corporate plan, and the Fund’s customer journey, including supporting the Strategic Communications Lead to build and manage matrix teams.
• Provide communications support to portfolio and mission leads, including creating messaging, narrative and content, social and brand assets, working closely with colleagues in the wider team to deliver effective and impactful communications activities.
• Build relationships with journalists and lead on devolved media relations activities in your country, working closely with colleagues in the media team to deliver integrated activities, monitoring media and advising on opportunities and risks. Ensure rapid response to emerging issues with processes and protocol on lines to take and spokespeople, including participating in the out of hours on call rota.
• Liaise with colleagues in funding teams to identify opportunities for storytelling, working with the content manager to bring these to life
• Liaise with internal communications colleagues to ensure external communications generate engagement within the Fund
• Project manage and deliver corporate communications assets, including the annual report and corporate strategy updates.

Interview Date: Wednesday 6th or Thursday 7th August - virtual

Location: Scotland, Hybrid

Our teams are based across the UK, so there will be occasional travel to attend meetings and spend time with Fund colleagues.

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below

Essential criteria

• Track record in planning and delivering integrated communications campaigns, with experience managing matrix teams
• Excellent content and copywriting skills, used to producing assets to tight deadlines. Able to adapt tone and style for different audiences and channels
• Experience in complex institutions, involving colleagues and stakeholders up to leadership level
• A sound understanding of devolution and the impact that has on communications and public affairs requirements.
• Project management skills; confident working in a matrixed organisation with competing deadlines
• Experience of strategic communications counsel and advising senior leaders and stakeholders, particularly in times of reputational risk and crisis management

Desirable criteria

• Relevant qualification
• Experience in the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.)

At The National Lottery Community Fund we are passionate about strengthening communities and improving lives.  We are driven by our strategy, ‘It starts with community’ and its four community-led missions, as well as our equity-based approach to tackling poverty, discrimination and disadvantage. As part of our commitment to being more than a funder, we are serious about enabling collaboration, sharing best practice, amplifying the impact of our grant holders and influencing future policy making.

We are now seeking to appoint a Head of Policy Engagement to lead our engagement in Scotland with policymakers and senior sectoral stakeholders under those four community-led missions. Using your deep understanding of the political, social and policy environment in which our grant holders operate, you will ensure our funding is aligned with policy and has the greatest impact possible as well as using learning from our grant holders to influence future policy development.

You will already have well established relationships with Scottish Government, other funders and the third sector. You will use this to share learning and insight from our funding, lead consultations and identify opportunities for future collaboration.

You will be part of a policy and practice network across the Fund, working collaboratively with colleagues across the UK to develop One-Fund approaches to our missions.

We’re looking for someone who is values-driven, passionate about the Fund’s purpose and deeply committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. You will have a strong track record of influencing at a senior level and be able to articulate strategic ambitions clearly and effectively.  You will also have a nuanced understanding of the role of a non-Departmental Public Body in the policy landscape and experience of working collaboratively across organisational boundaries.  As a member of the Scotland Directorate Senior Management team, you will provide inspiring leadership and strategic direction to the wider team.

The role is likely to involve some travel across Scotland, as well as to other parts of the UK to connect with colleagues.  We offer a flexible and supportive working environment and an excellent all-round benefits package.

Interview Date: 1-2 September – In person interviews

Location: Scotland. Our office is in Glasgow and we have a flexible, hybrid approach to working.

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below

Essential Criteria

1. Deep understanding of Scotland’s communities. Knowledge of the context for the third sector, the funding landscape, public policy and the people and organisations who are influential in these areas.
    
2. Demonstrable experience in high-level engagement, influencing and senior relationship management, internally and externally.
    
3. Excellent communication skills and the ability to articulate strategic ambitions, positioning the organisation in the funding landscape and social policy debates.
    
4. Passionate about the Fund’s purpose evidencing understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion and related best practice.
    
5. Proven leadership skills, including the ability to inspire colleagues and work collaboratively in matrix structures.
    
6. Strong planning and analytical skills, with expertise in research and consultation.
    
7. Proven commitment to continuous improvement, self-reflection and personal development.
   
    

 Desirable Criteria

1. Clear understanding of the role of a UK-wide non-Departmental Public Body and the implications for policy and influencing.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.) 

Are you a confident communicator with a knack for storytelling?

Can you craft content that captures attention across social media, press and digital platforms?

Are you passionate about the power of communities to improve lives?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity in our newly formed Communications Directorate, where you'll play a key role in delivering impactful communications—primarily focused on our dormant assets funding.

Our current dormant assets programme, Young Start distributes money from dormant accounts on behalf of the Scottish Government to projects that are run for and by young people aged eight to 25.  Since 2012, it has distributed £75 million to thousands of projects across Scotland.

Working to the Strategic Communications Lead for Scotland you will be responsible for telling the story of our dormant assets funding across social media, press and digital platforms to a variety of audiences.

Responsibilities include:

• leading on all regular announcements of dormant assets funding to the media and stakeholders
• interviewing young people behind the projects to produce engaging content for media features, case studies and online social media channels
• managing the yearly production of the Young Start Annual Report, at the request of the Scottish Government.
• Support proactive communications campaigns from story identification to coverage
• Build and maintain relationships with Scotland’s national, regional and specialist media.
• Respond to dormant assets related media enquiries and contribute to rapid response communications during reputational issues.
   

About you

You will be comfortable speaking to a wide range of stakeholders including children and young people about the impact that the funding is making in their lives and telling their stories with duty of care and a creative and engaging approach.

You will be collaborative in nature and enjoy working proactively and in partnership with colleagues across the Fund. An open, supportive and flexible team working approach is necessary.

You will be adept at managing a busy and varied workload.

There can be occasional weekend and evening working to suit the needs of young people, but most of our work takes place on weekdays in normal working hours.

Interview Date: 18th and 19th August - virtual

Location: Scotland, Hybrid

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below

Essential

• Strong communications skills, both written and oral
• Background in integrated communications activity, using a variety of channels
• Ability to work with a wide range of stakeholders and to develop strong relationships
• Project management skills; confident working in a matrixed organisation with competing deadlines
• A good understanding of the Scottish policy context the Fund operates in”

Desirable

• Evidence of interest and experience in the Fund’s ‘helping children and young people to thrive’ mission.
• An understanding of Scotland’s media landscape
• Experience of producing and repurposing content for a variety of platforms such as press releases and social media channels

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.) 

We are looking for an Executive Assistant to work within the Northern Ireland Directorate, Business Support Team. Your primary role will be to provide excellent administrative support to the Northern Ireland Director and to provide a business support service to the Northern Ireland Funding team and wider Directorate.

As part of the small Business Support Team, you will provide a flexible and responsive executive support service to the Northern Ireland Director that will include daily diary management.

Day to day responsibilities:

• You will have exceptional organisational and diary management skills. You will be able to deal with ad hoc requests in a timely manner ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks.
• You will provide a range of business and administrative support as required by the wider Funding team in relation to the delivery of our programmes that will require excellent IT skills and proficiency.
• You will have excellent communication skills both written and verbal and have the ability to take minutes in a clear and concise manner.
• You will be required to support with venue sourcing, travel and accommodation arrangements, event logistics including catering and hospitality, and ensure we achieve the best environment for effective and efficient meetings.
• You will display a customer centric approach in your handling of internal and external queries and be ready to take the initiative and problem solve, with a calm and professional approach and attention to detail.
• You’ll be flexible in how you work, proactively engaging with and developing effective and collaborative working relationships at all levels across teams and wider organisation.
• You will maintain a high level of quality communication keeping both internal and external stakeholders adequately informed and updated, whilst recognising the need for discretion and confidentiality.
• Your experience will show you are able to quickly familiarise yourself with a complex environment and are able to hit the ground running.

Fundamentally, you will have a passion for making a difference and playing your part in making the Fund a great place to work.

Interview Dates: Tuesday 29 July and Wednesday 30 July 2025

Location: This is a permanent, hybrid role, contracted to the Northern Ireland office in Belfast. You will be expected to be in the office for one to two days a week, as well as attending key meetings in person.

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below

Essential Criteria 

• Experience of working as an executive assistant to senior positions, with good knowledge of key administrative processes
• Good understanding of excellent customer service and relationship management skills
• Ability to capture information in a clear and concise manner
• Excellent organisational and planning skills
• Ability to analyse complex documentation
• Experience of working collaboratively, and an understanding of the skills required to work productively within a team
• Excellent IT skills and proficiency in Microsoft 365
• Flexibility to understand and implement change and continuous improvement

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.) 

At The National Lottery Community Fund we are passionate about strengthening communities and improving lives.  We are driven by our strategy, ‘It starts with community’ and its four community-led missions, as well as our equity-based approach to tackling poverty, discrimination and disadvantage.   As part of our commitment to being more than a funder, we are serious about enabling collaboration, sharing best practice, amplifying the impact of our grantholders and influencing future policy making.   

We are now seeking to appoint a Head of Policy Engagement to lead our engagement with policymakers and senior sectoral stakeholders under our four community-led missions and lead our customer support offer. Using your deep understanding of the political and social environment in which our grantholders operate, you will explore the context for new funding initiatives, including potential partnerships, ensuring that we are making the greatest impact possible.   

You will already have well established relationships with Welsh Government Departments, other funders and the voluntary and community sector and you will use this to share learning and insight from our funding, lead consultations and identify opportunities for future collaboration. You will convene both grantholder and stakeholder networks to inform our analysis and ensure that community voice is at the heart of our decision-making. 

Working with our Funding Team you will ensure we provide first class customer support leading our advice service and working closely in support of our outreach work, ensuring an appropriate level of general and targeting applicant and customer support. 

You will be part of a policy and practice network across the Fund, working collaboratively with colleagues across the UK to develop One-Fund approaches to our missions. 

We’re looking for someone who is values-driven, passionate about the Fund’s purpose and deeply committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and environmental responsibility. You will have a strong track record of influencing at a senior level and be able to articulate strategic ambitions clearly and effectively.  You will also have a nuanced understanding of the role of a non-Departmental Public Body in the policy landscape and experience of working collaboratively across organisational boundaries.  As a member of the Wales Leadership Team, you will provide inspiring leadership and strategic direction to the wider team. 

Regular travel around Wales is expected, as well as some travel to other parts of the UK to connect with colleagues.  We offer a flexible and supportive working environment and an excellent all-round benefits package. 

Interview Date: Week commencing 4th August

Location: Wales. Our offices are in Cardiff and Newtown. We have a flexible, hybrid approach to working.

On application, please align your supporting statement to the criteria below

Essential Criteria 

• Deep understanding of Welsh communities. Knowledge of the context for the third sector, the funding landscape, public policy and the people and organisations who are influential in these areas. 
• Demonstrable experience in high-level engagement, influencing and senior relationship management, internally and externally. 
• Experience of managing customer facing support services. 
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to articulate strategic ambitions, positioning the organisation in the funding landscape and social policy debates.
• Passionate about the Fund’s purpose, evidencing a deep understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion and related best practice.
• Proven leadership skills, including the ability to inspire colleagues and work collaboratively in matrix structures. 
• Strong planning and analytical skills, with expertise in research and consultation. 
• Proven commitment to continuous improvement, self-reflection and personal development.

Desirable Criteria

• ​Clear understanding of the role of a UK-wide non-Departmental Public Body and the implications for policy and influencing.
• ​The ability to speak and write in Welsh.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Communities in the UK come in all shapes and sizes. National Lottery funding is for everyone – therefore, we are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and we work hard to ensure our funding reaches where it is needed.  

We also believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. That’s why The National Lottery Community Fund is committed to being an inclusive employer and a great place to work. We recognise and celebrate the fact that our people come from diverse backgrounds. We positively welcome applications from people from ethnic minority backgrounds, people with disabilities or longstanding health conditions, people who are LGBTQ+, and people from different socio-economic and educational backgrounds, as well as people of all ages. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we take a proactive approach in making reasonable adjustments, if needed, throughout the recruitment process and during employment. (This can be related to a physical and mental health condition.) 

Job Title:  Paediatric Occupational Therapist 

Location:  Watford and Hemel Hempstead 

Salary: Banding depending on experience, with pension option. 

DBS checks are required.

Job Type: Permanent - 15 hours a week on Monday and Fridays, 11 weeks per Hertfordshire term

About us: 

Playskill is an award-winning specialist early intervention charity supporting pre-school children with physical disabilities and delays, and their families, in Hertfordshire. We are the only charity providing this type of support, free of charge, in the county.

Since 2006, our highly qualified and experienced team has supported over 440 physically disabled children and their families to access specialist therapy, advice and support, with the end goal of supporting the children to reach personal development milestones and to achieve better life outcomes. 

About the role: 

We have an exciting opportunity for a Paediatric Occupational Therapist to join and work in a multidisciplinary team alongside a Physiotherapist and Speech and Language Therapist, family support and specialist workers, and the families/carers of the children. 

Skills and Experience Required: 

• Qualified Occupational Therapist

• Relevant experience in the assessment and treatment of children with a physical disability 

• Clear understanding of current legislation regarding safeguarding of children 

• Knowledge of GDPR legislation to ensure clear understanding of confidentiality and the need for data protection 

• IT literate 

• Good communication, empathy, numeracy, and administrative skills 

Diversity statement:  

Playskill is an equal opportunities employer and has a high number of team with caring responsibilities and is keen to encourage applicants from a diverse number of backgrounds. 

Safeguarding statement: 

Playskill is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment. Playskill has a full safeguarding policy and expects all staff to undergo safeguarding training.

Deadline for applications: 5pm, 30th July 2025 

Interview date: TBC

Interview location: Hemel Hempstead

Reg Charity no 1198233 (formerly 1122745). Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund. 

The post-holder will be responsible for providing support and advocacy to LGBTQ+ refugees and people seeking asylum, ensuring they have access to essential services, resources, and community networks to enhance their wellbeing and integration.

This post is proudly funded by The National Lottery Community Fund.

We seek someone with experience working with diverse communities. Knowledge/understanding of some of the common experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ people, and people living with HIV.

The ideal candidate will possess a relevant qualification (such as an NVQ Level 3 or above in social work, health, education) or equivalent experience, and demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

We are looking for someone with strong interpersonal skills (working with staff, volunteers, and service users), excellent organisational skills, and enthusiasm.

This is an exciting new role to head up DanceSyndrome’s Community work across Lancashire developing, nurturing, growing, and managing our community workshops. At the heart of our organisation are our weekly bespoke Community Inclusive Dance Workshops; ‘Everybody Dance’. These workshops are co-delivered by a qualified Dance Leader with a learning disability, working side-by-side with a non-disabled Dance Artist. As part of our ambitious strategy, we will be establishing several new workshops across Lancashire over the next five years and co-delivering inclusive dance provision for all ages from early years through to adulthood by 2030.

As Head of Community, you will oversee several vibrant and active communities; build community engagement and cohesion; and to collect, collate and analyse key data to demonstrate impact and to drive forward strategic planning and decision making. This is alongside developing and managing both strategic and operational long-term partnerships & collaborations across communities in the North-West and building and executing an engaging and effective Volunteer Programme to support all Community workshops.

This role supports strand one of DanceSyndrome’s ambitious strategy; Vision 2023; ‘To deliver an outstanding, collaborative, and high-quality programme of co-produced and co-delivered inclusive dance across the North-West’.

We are looking for an exceptional, experienced, self-motivated, and enthusiastic individual to represent DanceSyndrome at the heart of our communities taking our inclusive person-centred offering to the next level.

You will pro-actively support our timetable of weekly Community inclusive dance workshops ensuring they operate to the highest standards of Quality & Excellence and making sure that all systems and processes are in place in relation to security, registers and payments.

You will line manage the Programmes & Operations Manager and Data & impact Manager and collectively drive forward all aspects of our Community work to the highest standards.  

You will manage key partnerships with Community Centres and be instrumental in engaging and onboarding new participants supporting DanceSyndrome’s ambitious Vision 2030 strategy to increase participation, and reach under-served and diverse communities, as well as executing our Children & Young People strategy working across all ages.

You will identify, understand and engage with key partners and Stakeholders who can support DanceSyndrome’s ambitions to be the ‘go to’ and ‘organisation of choice’ for people with learning disabilities, leadership opportunities and an inclusive unique co-led delivery model which doesn’t exist anywhere else. Through effective partnership working, you will work across sectors and reach under-served and diverse communities. You will also be able to identify key barriers to access, gaps in current provision across the region and seek valuable evidence to inform strategy and to feed back to funders.

You will be an extremely personable and approachable individual with a strategic mind, and persuasive manner who is able to reach and attract new participants, increase engagement in our Community workshops, and secure local community engagement to ensure the long-term sustainability of DanceSyndrome’s community offering.

You will turn leads in sales in a variety of ways from initiating unusual and impactful partnerships, growing the number of beneficiaries, increasing sales of our products and services, securing in-kind support and vital funding.

You will also develop and manage an engaging and rewarding Volunteer Programme across key communities including recruiting, training, onboarding and retaining volunteers.

We particularly welcome applicants from Global Majority, who identify as LGBTQIA+, People with Disabilities and Older People to apply for this role.

Overview of role

As Community Development Manager at the Pavilion on the Park, you’ll play a vital leadership role in supporting this dynamic and diverse charity in providing activities that will enrich community life for all in the Eastleigh area. You’ll be a strong leader with excellent communication skills and a passion for improving community life through collaborative community engagement

You will be responsible for development and delivery of Trust-led community programmes, monitoring and evaluating grant-funded activity in line with key funder requirements and securing ongoing funding for activities and services.

You will manage the relationship with the National Lottery Community Fund to ensure that the Together We Flourish 5-year £445k funded project is delivered effectively. The aim of this project is to enhance community life in Eastleigh by utilising the assets and resources of the charity and the strengths of local people to develop community-led initiatives at the Pavilion on the Park and in other community spaces. 

You will make a difference by ensuring that the charity adopts a collaborative approach to developing beneficiary-led activity, in accordance with principles of asset-based community development.

Working in partnership with other local stakeholders (individuals and organisations) within the framework of a ‘whole systems’ approach, you will help the Trust to realise its mission of promoting active, flourishing and connected lives in Eastleigh.

The role will require key holder responsibility for the venue, which is shared with other senior staff members. There will also be some occasional evening or weekend attendance at community events, by prior agreement as the needs of the business require.

Main duties and responsibilities

Management of charitable programmes

· Manage the development and delivery of the Eastleigh Youth and Community Trust programmes, predominately based at our purpose-built facility at the Pavilion on the Park. This includes an inclusive cycling service, a sensory suite, and a range of activities for people with additional needs and for the wider local community.

· Work closely with the General Manager to set and monitor delivery outcomes in line with charitable objectives, grant requirements, budgets and contractual terms and conditions.

· Manage the projects team and support project coordinators to lead the daily operations of their designated activities.

· Carry out risk assessments and good governance of activities and events.

· Use evaluation tools to measure outcomes and define impact.

· Set up systems to support the projects team  record qualitative and quantitative data on a regular basis. 

· Establish a cycle of continuous improvement, incorporating learning from previous projects to develop new projects and initiatives.

· Act as the lead officer to the General Manager in safeguarding children and adults at risk.

Marketing

· Work closely with EYCT’s management team to develop a strategic approach to communications across all print and digital channels, ensuring maximum exposure and brand consistency.

· Support the Marketing and Fundraising Officer to promote EYCT using a range of media channels, including the Pavilion on the Park website and social media channels.

· Support the projects team to tell the stories of our beneficiaries through case studies, blogs and storytelling forms.

Finance administration of charitable programmes

· Work closely with the General Manager and other staff to set the annual budget for the community programmes and other centre hire activities.  

· Manage and monitor income and expenditure on a regular basis and provide monthly reports to track progress.

· Work closely with the General Manager and accountant to ensure all grants, fundraising and beneficiary income is collected in advance, recorded and reconciled correctly  

· Work closely with the General Manager and accountant to ensure that invoices from suppliers of goods and services to support the charitable programmes are set-up, paid and reconciled correctly.

· Act as a dual signatory on the company bank account in line with the Finance Controls procedures.

· Act as approver for budgetary expenditure which falls within the scope of the role, up to the agreed authority levels and in line with the approved budget.

Grants and fundraising

· Proactively source, apply for, administer and manage grants which meet the charitable aims of the Trust. This will involve extensive and creative search within a  range of potential funding sources, to fund existing charitable programmes and new initiatives. 

· Manage the relationship with the National Lottery and other main grant funders, communicating regularly and ensuring that requirements are understood and met

· Work in partnership with the Marketing and Fundraising Officer to develop fundraising campaigns, activities and events that support the ongoing operational costs of project activities

· Support the General Manager in developing and maintaining a programme of other hire activities that maximise the venue capacity and generate income to support the sustainability of the charity

Community engagement and partnerships

· Engage with a wide range of locality-based system partners, including local residents and organisations, to develop a ‘whole systems’ approach to community initiatives and opportunities with a balance between grant funded projects and private hires.

· Attend networking and partnership meetings to share information and develop collaborative approaches to community development.

· Set up a community forum at the Pavilion on the Park, consisting of beneficiaries, community members, hirers and other users, to steer the delivery of the lottery funded activities.

· Foster positive relationships with communities of interest and place to develop community-led initiatives in line with the outcomes of the Theory of Change document for the Together We Flourish project.

Leadership and Management

· Support the General Manager in the strategic development of the charity

· Lead, mentor and support the projects team to carry out their roles effectively and to develop professionally.

· Identify team training needs and implement and monitor individual training plans.

· Support the General Manager in the recruitment and induction of  new staff and volunteers as necessary.

· Manage and coordinate the volunteer pool, ensuring they are trained appropriately, motivated, and feel appreciated.

· Contribute to the smooth running of the Trust’s activities through active participation in management and team meetings.

Additional duties

· Manage the following business functions during core operational hours

o Delivery of Trust-led activities, including the welcome to the building, taking payments, facilitating and coordinating activities.

o Confidential support to community members, including signposting to other partners.

· Share responsibility on a pre-agreed basis with other members of the management team for remote and on-site duty cover of the venue during evening and weekends.

· Act as First Aid First Responder and Fire Marshal for the building on a rota system in line with the Emergency Response Plan.  

· Cover the out-of-hours (evening and weekend) phone line on an occasional basis and respond to calls from centre hirers and the general public as they arise.

· Support operational weekend staff by trouble-shooting urgent issues as they arise. This may involve giving advice to them on the phone or attending the centre to provide back-up support as required.

· Act as a key holder for the venue and open and lock up the building occasionally as required.

· Undertake such additional duties as might reasonably be requested.

The Communities Lead will lead the development and delivery of the Communities of Hope strand of the project. You’ll ensure that the Hope and Healing network, practitioners and activists have support and guidance to deliver an approach to community work that is trauma-informed and community-led.

You will manage the Hope and Healing Practitioners (likely from Year 2) and support partners in local communities. You'll work together to build capacity within local community pilots and projects, whilst also building wider connections at different levels of local systems to bring about meaningful and sustainable change.

You will play a key role in supporting project partners as well as local partners and activists, enhancing their knowledge of trauma-informed, strengths-based and asset-based community development approaches. You will help ensure that learning is gathered and disseminated, including examples of theory into practice. 

You will be a person who can connect with communities in a meaningful way and who understands the pressures and realities for practitioners on the ground. You’ll be able to take the lead from what is strong, and bring local resources, assets and different people together to create hope and conditions for community-led healing.  You’ll share your experience and expertise to help develop our wider work at Platfform.

We work with people experiencing challenges with their mental health, and with communities who want to create a greater sense of wellbeing in the places that they live. Through our projects, we work with thousands of people each year.

We believe that long-lasting wellbeing comes about by understanding how lives can be shaped by traumatic experiences, identifying people’s strengths and focussing on healing. We know we can’t ‘fix’ people, but we can walk alongside people and help where we can on their journey.

We try hard to make Platfform a great place to work, we live our values and mission in everything that we do.

Platfform is the charity for mental health and social change. We’re a supportive team where you can be your whole selves, and know that you’re playing a genuine part in building a happier future for people across the UK.

As the Practitioner Psychologist, you will lead on supporting the development of the project using a community psychology, social justice and relational practice approach. You will work to ensure the team is psychosocially minded and in line with best practice from a clinical, research and evaluation perspective. You’ll share your experience and expertise to help develop our wider social justice and relational practice work at Platfform.

We work with people experiencing challenges with their mental health, and with communities who want to create a greater sense of wellbeing in the places that they live. Through our projects, we work with thousands of people each year.

We believe that long-lasting wellbeing comes about by understanding how lives can be shaped by traumatic experiences, identifying people’s strengths and focussing on healing. We know we can’t ‘fix’ people, but we can walk alongside people and help where we can on their journey.

We try hard to make Platfform a great place to work, we live our values and mission in everything that we do.

Platfform is the charity for mental health and social change. We’re a supportive team where you can be your whole selves, and know that you’re playing a genuine part in building a happier future for people across the UK.

The Campaigns and Communications Lead will play a key role in the Campaign for Hope strand of the project, as well as supporting other project strands. You’ll be central in helping us work out how we tell the story of this project to different audiences, and how we bring different voices into the project to help us engage deeply with what that story really is as the project evolves. You’ll be comfortable sitting in community spaces, working alongside local people, and talking to system influencers.

You’ll ensure we have effective and impactful communication across the project, working closely with our expert Communications and Influencing teams. This will include supporting communications across our partnership, as well as external-facing communications. You’ll bring experience of creating impactful communication in different formats for different audiences, and of developing campaigns.

You’ll manage staff (from Year 2) and work with them to build campaigning capacity within local community pilots, and across the professional networks, including making sure that learning is gathered, disseminated and activated across the project. You’ll build connections with influencers, including making sure the project engages with evolving policy in Wales, Scotland and England. You’ll also share your experience and expertise to help develop our wider work at Platfform.

We work with people experiencing challenges with their mental health, and with communities who want to create a greater sense of wellbeing in the places that they live. Through our projects, we work with thousands of people each year.

We believe that long-lasting wellbeing comes about by understanding how lives can be shaped by traumatic experiences, identifying people’s strengths and focussing on healing. We know we can’t ‘fix’ people, but we can walk alongside people and help where we can on their journey.

We try hard to make Platfform a great place to work, we live our values and mission in everything that we do.

Platfform is the charity for mental health and social change. We’re a supportive team where you can be your whole selves, and know that you’re playing a genuine part in building a happier future for people across the UK.