Activity volunteer volunteer jobs in Bargoed, caerphilly county borough

Together for Short Lives is looking for a driven and creative Business Development Manager to develop and secure high‑value corporate partnerships that will help transform the lives of seriously ill children and their families. You’ll lead our business development strategy, build a strong pipeline of opportunities, and develop lasting relationships with prospective and existing supporters.

If you’re collaborative, tenacious and passionate about making a real impact in children’s palliative care, we’d love to hear from you.

Full‑time 1 year FTC | Hybrid (UK‑wide with travel to our Bristol Office) | £42,000

Purpose of role

The Business Development Manager will lead our efforts to secure high-profile, high-value partnerships with corporate organisations  that will generate vital income for children's palliative care. Securing new partnerships and growing our income requires exceptional collaboration skills; a driven, tenacious and resourceful nature; innovation and creativity; and a passionate determination to make a difference to the lives of children and families across the UK.

The main objectives are as follows:

1. Secure new corporate partnerships raising funds to support Together for Short Lives’ direct work, and our National Fundraising Scheme (raising funds on behalf of the UK’s children’s hospices).
2. Develop and deliver a business development strategy, including  prospect research, managing  a robust pipeline of opportunities, and developing a diverse range of business development products. 
3. Manage and develop relationships with a portfolio of individual contacts and organisations, including prospective and existing supporters.

Join our Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH) and make a meaningful difference in everyday life for adoptive, kinship and care-experienced families. We’re recruiting an Occupational Therapist with specialist expertise in sensory processing/sensory integration and attachment-informed practice to deliver practical, trauma-informed assessment and intervention that strengthens regulation, participation and connection. 

• Make a difference that families feel every day: co-produce practical strategies that support calmer routines, better sleep, smoother transitions and greater participation at home, school and in the community. 

• Bring specialist sensory expertise: assess sensory processing and regulation needs and translate findings into clear, realistic plans for parents/carers and partner professionals. 

• Work at the sensory–attachment interface: use a trauma- and attachment-informed lens to understand behaviour and build felt safety and co-regulation alongside sensory strategies. 

• Thrive in an MDT: contribute an OT perspective to formulation-led work within PATH, collaborating with psychology and therapy colleagues to create joined-up support. 

• Flexible, UK-wide reach: deliver support primarily online with occasional travel for team days, training or commissioned work (as required and agreed). 

You’ll need: 

• HCPC registration as an Occupational Therapist. 

• Strong experience supporting children/young people and their parents/carers (including complex presentations). 

• Proven skills in sensory processing assessment and intervention, including regulation strategies, activity adaptation and environmental modification. 

• Confidence working in an attachment- and trauma-informed way with adoptive/kinship/care-experienced families (or closely related work). 

• Excellent communication and report-writing skills, able to translate specialist thinking into practical, non-judgemental guidance that families can use. 

ROLE PROFILE

JOB TITLE:

Occupational Therapist

ACCOUNTABLE TO:

Clinical Lead

RESPONSIBLE TO:

Clinical Director

HOURS OF WORK:

Full time / Part time

LOCATION:

Remote working with travel flexibility

DURATION:

Permanent

SALARY / GRADE:

Grade 8 - £43.471

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

•      Clinical Director and PATH Clinical Lead
•      PATH team
•      AUK staff
•      Children and adults accessing our services
•      Referrers and external agencies as appropriate

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

The Occupational Therapist (Sensory & Attachment) will deliver high-quality, trauma-informed occupational therapy assessment and intervention to families with a history of adoption, kinship care and long-term fostering. The postholder will bring advanced expertise in sensory processing/sensory integration and the impact of early adversity, attachment disruption and developmental trauma on regulation, participation and family life. The role will work as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) within PATH, contributing to formulation-led support, practical strategies and therapeutic approaches that strengthen safety, connection, and everyday functioning at home, school and in the community.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

·Provide specialist assessment and intervention where sensory processing differences interact with attachment needs, developmental trauma, neurodiversity and emotional/behavioural presentations.

·Co-produce practical, strengths-based support plans with parents/carers and, where appropriate, the child/young person; provide clear strategies that are realistic for family life.

·Deliver evidence-informed interventions (1:1 and group-based as appropriate) including sensory-based regulation strategies, activity adaptation, routine design, environmental modification and caregiver coaching.

·Integrate attachment- and trauma-informed principles (e.g., PACE/connection-based approaches) into OT recommendations, ensuring strategies support safety, relational connection and felt security.

·Contribute to MDT formulation and case discussions, offering an occupational therapy perspective on function, participation, sensory-motor development and regulation

·Prepare high-quality written outputs including assessment summaries, recommendations, letters and reports suitable for families and professionals; contribute to documentation required for commissioning/regulated service evidence as needed.

·Support families to understand the sensory, neurodevelopmental and trauma/attachment factors that may underpin behaviour and distress, and to implement strategies safely.

·Maintain accurate, timely records in line with organisational policies, data protection and confidentiality requirements.

·Contribute to the development of resources (e.g., guides, webinars, workshops) that translate specialist OT knowledge into accessible tools for families and professionals.

·Contribute to delivery of training in your specialist area (sensory processing, regulation, sensory-attachment interface) internally and externally.

·Actively manage a caseload, prioritising risk and complexity, and working within agreed service pathways, timescales and outcome measures.

CRITERIA

Knowledge and Experience

•  Significant experience working with children and young people and their parents/carers.

•  Experience delivering assessment and intervention for sensory processing differences and regulation needs.

•  Experience delivering remote/online OT interventions and caregiver coaching.

•  Experience of group work (parents/carers and/or young people).

•  Experience of working with adopted children, previously looked-after children, kinship or long-term foster families (or closely related settings).

•  Strong understanding of attachment, developmental trauma and the impact of early adversity on regulation, behaviour and participation.

•  Ability to integrate sensory strategies with relational/attachment-informed approaches.

•  Training/experience in DDP, PACE, NVR, therapeutic parenting or other attachment-informed models.

•  Expert knowledge of sensory processing and sensory-based regulation strategies.

•   Ability to differentiate sensory needs from (and understand overlap with) trauma responses, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental differences.

•  Sensory Integration training (e.g., postgraduate modules) and/or recognised competency frameworks.

•  Knowledge of neurodevelopmental profiles (e.g., autism, ADHD, DLD, FASD) and how these can interact with trauma/attachment and sensory processing.

•  Ability to provide accessible psychoeducation to families and partner professionals.

Qualifications and Education

   •Degree/diploma in Occupational Therapy.

   •     Current HCPC registration as an Occupational Therapist. Postgraduate       training/qualification relevant to sensory integration, sensory processing or advanced   paediatric OT practice.

•  Evidence of continuing professional development (Essential)

•  Training in a range of therapeutic modalities e.g. DDP, Theraplay, BUSS model, Sensory Attachment Intervention (Essential)

Skills and Abilities

   •         Experience of working within an MDT and contributing an OT perspective to shared          formulations and plans.

•Leadership and support skills

•Group work skills

•A reflective and empowering approach

•Strong application of theory

•Creativity and innovative approach to service delivery

•A commitment to the voice of children and families

Accountability

•Consultant Clinical Psychologist

•Responsible for maintaining own professional standards

•Responsible for delivering practice within the policies and standards of the charity

Behaviours

•Demonstrates commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of role at      all times.

•Contributes to an open and honest culture

•Supports, encourages, and motivates colleagues.

•Encourages challenge, creativity and innovation.

•Leads by example.

•Values transparency and consistency.

•Understands the role of individual and collective accountability.

•Actively contributes to Adoption UK’s mission.

•Has a clear understanding of other colleagues’ roles and responsibilities

•Shares skills and knowledge.

•Promotes Cross Functional team working.

•Offers outstanding service to members.

•Takes pride in Adoption UK and promotes its values in all interactions with external stakeholders.

•Identifies and uses the most appropriate form of communication.

•Communicates clearly, seeking clarity when unclear and valuing the opinion of others.

•Treats colleagues and other stakeholders with respect, honesty, fairness and courtesy

•Is responsive to colleagues, third party professionals and service users.

•Takes pride in own development.

•Enthusiastic and committed to achieving high standards and meeting agreed objectives.

•Takes an active interest in recognising professional and personal development needs and priorities within Adoption UK.

This role profile is a guide to the nature of the work required and may involve other such duties as deemed necessary by the Organisation. It is not wholly comprehensive or restrictive. The role profile will be reviewed with the post-holder at significant points for the Organisation.

Postholder is expected to abide by all organisational policies, codes of conduct and practice, and to work within a framework of equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practice.

About The Role
Every day, people affected by dementia face questions about what’s next. For many, taking part in clinical research offers hope, purpose, and a chance to shape the future of dementia care. But finding the right trial, understanding what it involves, and knowing how to take part can be confusing.
At Alzheimer’s Society, we are committed to breaking down these barriers. The Alzheimer’s Society UK Dementia Trials Network (UKDTN) Trial Finder is an open-access platform that connects people living with mild cognitive impairment or dementia, their families, and healthcare professionals, with research opportunities across the UK. It empowers people to make informed decisions about taking part in clinical trials, wherever they live.
We are looking for a Clinical Trial Finder Officer who can ensure this platform is accurate, accessible, and meaningful. By raising awareness of, and widening access to, clinical trial opportunities, your work will help more people to take part in clinical trials and feel more in control of their journey.
You will work closely with colleagues across the Alzheimer’s Society UKDTN Research Nurse Programme, Research Communications team, Data and Digital teams, Participation team, and with a range of external partners to maintain the Trial Finder, respond to enquiries, and ensure that the platform is reliable, culturally informed and inclusive. Your attention to detail, organisational skills, and passion for supporting people affected by dementia will help make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
About the role

- Oversee the day-to-day operation of the Trial Finder, keeping it reliable, user-friendly, and up-to-date.
- Maintain accurate, accessible, and approved study listings, ensuring clarity for all users.
- Implement and manage quality control processes, including version control, audit trails, and regular review of trial entries.
- Monitor user feedback and enquiries, resolving gaps and escalating technical issues while driving continuous improvement based on insights.
- Liaise with clinicians, NHS teams, study sponsors, and external stakeholders to verify trial details and maintain accurate contact and site information.
- Work collaboratively across Alzheimer’s Society teams, UKDTN patient workstream and wider dementia research stakeholders to coordinate updates, maintain consistency, and respond to queries.
- Track, report, and analyse key metrics on Trial Finder usage, reach, and impact, and support wider communications activity.
- Ensure compliance with ethical, governance, and accessibility standards, embedding inclusion by design.

About you

- You have experience managing public-facing research databases, platforms, or similar systems, and are committed to making information clear, accurate, and accessible for everyone.
- You are organised and confident in balancing multiple priorities, while ensuring your work is thorough, reliable, and inclusive.
- You build positive, collaborative relationships with colleagues and partners, actively listening to, and valuing, different perspectives and experiences.
- You communicate with empathy and sensitivity, supporting people affected by dementia, their families, and carers in ways that are respectful and inclusive.
- You are driven by purpose, embrace inclusion in all aspects of your work, and are passionate about helping more people access and engage with dementia research.

This role is more than coordination; it’s about creating meaningful access to research opportunities. You will make information approachable, break down barriers, and help people engage with clinical trials that could change lives.
You’ll join a collaborative, supportive environment that values inclusion, continuous learning, and making a tangible difference. Your skills will directly support people living with dementia and their families, and you’ll play a key role in advancing research that matters.
Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  
We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. 
Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people. 
Our hiring process
During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply.  Please also contact Alzheimer's Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.
To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.
We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.
We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a Criminal Record Check at the relevant level. You can read more information via our Website.

About The Role
At Alzheimer’s Society, we are many things. Advisors, supporters, fundraisers, researchers, communicators and technical specialists. Above all, we are people who care deeply about improving the lives of those affected by dementia.
We are looking for someone who shares that purpose. Someone determined to make a difference where it matters most. Someone who brings compassion to their work, builds trust through expertise and believes that we achieve more when we work better together.
This is a job share role, working alongside a colleague based in Northern Ireland to deliver a seamless, high-impact media presence across the region. You will take the lead on strategic media relationships and activity in the North West and North East England, while contributing to projects and campaigns and media requests across all areas.
Hours: 21 hours per week (Monday to Wednesday)
Location: Homebased in North West or North East England, with travel across the North West, North East, and Northern Ireland
About the role
In this role, you will help shape how Alzheimer’s Society shows up in the media, telling powerful stories that inform, influence and inspire action.

- Lead and deliver regional media projects from planning through to evaluation, ensuring they align with wider organisational priorities
- Identify and secure proactive media opportunities to promote our services, fundraising, research and campaigns
- Develop and deliver media strategies that engage key audiences and strengthen our position as the leading voice on dementia
- Build strong relationships with journalists, spokespeople and partners to increase our reach and impact
- Create compelling, accessible content including press releases, articles, blogs and campaign materials
- Support and coach spokespeople and people affected by dementia to share their stories with confidence and authenticity
- Respond to media enquiries and manage reputational issues with professionalism, care and sound judgement

You will also contribute to a collaborative, 24/7 media function, working closely with colleagues across research, fundraising, influencing and services. Travel across the region and occasional evening or overnight work will be part of the role.
About you
You are a confident communicator with a passion for making a difference and a strong understanding of how regional media can drive change.

- Experience in a communications or PR role, with a track record of delivering effective media coverage
- Excellent writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to translate complex information into clear, engaging content
- Strong knowledge of regional and local media landscapes and how to work effectively within them
- A collaborative approach, with the ability to build relationships, influence others and work across teams
- A genuine commitment to inclusion, and to amplifying the voices of people affected by dementia

You are organised, proactive and resilient, able to manage competing priorities while maintaining attention to detail. You bring positivity, integrity and a willingness to learn, and you are motivated by the opportunity to be part of meaningful, lasting change.
You will be part of a supportive, purpose-driven organisation where your work has real impact. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and able to thrive.
Together, we are working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.
Interviews are scheduled to take place week commencing 29th April via MS Teams
Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  
We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. 
Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people. 
Our hiring process
During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply.  Please also contact Alzheimer's Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.
To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.
We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.
We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a Criminal Record Check at the relevant level. You can read more information via our Website.

Communications Assistant

• 15 hours per week at £15.00 an hour (Actual salary £11,700 - FTE £27,300)
• Hours may be worked flexibly over a minimum of 3 days a week
• Home based with occasional prearranged in person meetings

The Communications Assistant will provide hands-on support to the Communications Manager in the ideation, creation and delivery of our regular external communications. This includes helping to grow our social media following, creating and scheduling content, sourcing and designing images, providing copywriting support, and responding to comments across our channels. The role will also involve drafting and scheduling newsletters and providing administrative support with our databases.

This is a 15‑hour‑per‑week role, with the potential to grow in the future. Ideally, we are looking for someone who can spread their hours across the week to support consistent content delivery, but we are open to discussing alternative working patterns for the right candidate.

The successful candidate will have experience in a communications, marketing or social media role. They will be proficient in Adobe Illustrator and have basic video editing and/or animation skills. Strong copywriting skills and the ability to adapt tone of voice for different channels are essential, as is confidence using Mailchimp or similar email marketing platforms.

We are a busy remote team, and this role offers plenty of scope to work autonomously and flexibly. You’ll gain experience across a wide range of areas and develop your skills in a supportive, hands‑on environment, with opportunities to contribute to the creative direction of our communications.

Closing date: 19th April 2026

Interviews: 29th April 2026

We seek to appoint a community pioneer for ‘Earthed’, a relatively new initiative that seeks to work across the Almondsbury and Severnside area (South Gloucestershire)

The successful applicant will be supported fully so they are free to wander and seek to respond to where God is calling. Applicants will be creative visionaries, who are resilient and able to respond to the challenges such a unique role will uncover.

This isn’t about running polished events or having everything figured out. It’s about bringing people together in simple ways - walks, time around a fire, moments of reflection - and seeing what grows.

The Community Pioneer for Earthed will cultivate spaces where people can connect - with one another, with nature, and with God. These spaces will be open, authentic, and welcoming, especially to those who are curious, questioning, or exploring faith.