Charity jobs in Manchester

Senior Service Designer  

 
Location: remote. This role can be based at any of Barnardo's national offices. Regular local and national travel will be required. 
 

Help us design services that transform childhoods  

At Barnardo's, we believe every child deserves a safe, happy and hopeful future. For over 150 years, we've been innovating to improve the lives of children, young people and families across the UK. Today, we run more than 800 services and are committed to making them excellent, inclusive and designed with the children, young people and families who use them. 

As a senior member of the Service Design team, you will play a vital role in applying service design methods to deliver measurable improvements in service quality, efficiency, value and outcomes for children, young people and families. 

We are continuing to strengthen how we design and improve services across Barnardo's, working across a complex and evolving portfolio that spans children's services, digital delivery and business development. 

This role offers the opportunity to shape not only individual services, but how service design is used to support decision-making, prioritisation and innovation across the organisation. 

This is a hands-on role as well as a strategic one – you'll be actively designing, prototyping and iterating services as well as shaping direction and decision-making. 

As a Senior Service Designer, you will: 

• Work across a portfolio of projects, balancing priorities and adapting to changing organisational needs 

• Contribute to service development and proposals, working with business development colleagues to shape service models 

• Influence decision-making and prioritisation, using evidence and insight to guide direction 

• Identify opportunities to improve services in ways that deliver better outcomes, greater efficiency and value for money 

• Lead the end-to-end design of services in complex environments, shaping user-centred, evidence-based solutions that respond to organisational priorities, and creating service maps, blueprints, prototypes and other design artefacts to bring ideas to life 

• Test and iterate service concepts in response to feedback and learning, refining solutions to improve outcomes 

• Ensure services are coherent and integrated across online and offline channels 

• Work across functions including business development, digital, finance, operations, research and policy to engage stakeholders and support organisational change 

• Mentor and support colleagues – developing confidence and skills, with the potential to provide line management support to junior designers where appropriate 

• Develop practice and contribute to standards, frameworks and reusable design patterns 

• Share learning internally and externally, contributing to professional communities of practice and helping raise the profile of service design at Barnardo's 

This is a varied, hands-on and project-focused role that allows for autonomy, creativity and real impact. You'll be part of a warm, committed team that shares learning, supports wellbeing, and is united in a clear mission: designing for better outcomes for children and families. 

You'll work with a high degree of autonomy, navigating complexity and ambiguity, delivering tangible improvements to services and contributing to a growing and evolving design practice. 

What We're Looking For 

We're looking for a Senior Service Designer who can: 

• Work autonomously to lead the design of complex services 

• Manage competing priorities effectively across projects, balancing time, focus and trade-offs 

• Influence stakeholders and support organisational change beyond immediate project teams, communicating design decisions and complex ideas clearly to a range of audiences 

• Understand how services operate within wider organisational systems, and use this to inform decision-making and support effective change 

• Confidently use a range of evidence, including user research, service data and performance insights, to inform decisions and guide direction 

• Conduct in-depth user research to generate actionable insights and guide decision-making 

• Create and iterate prototypes and other design artefacts 

• Integrate offline and online service delivery into coherent end-to-end services 

• Design and facilitate collaborative workshops with a range of stakeholders and partners 

• Evaluate and evidence the impact of service design work

Previous experience in children's services, health, education or related public/third sector contexts is desirable – but if you bring transferable skills, we want to hear from you. 

What You'll Get in Return 

• 26 days annual leave (rising with service) plus bank holidays 

• Access to the Barnardo's pension scheme 

• Flexible working and hybrid/remote options 

• Wellbeing initiatives and Employee Assistance Programme 

• Regular supervision and career development opportunities 

• The opportunity to shape how service design is used across a national organisation 

• The chance to work on services that support children, young people and families across the UK.

Inclusion and Belonging 

We are committed to building a diverse workforce. We particularly welcome applications from disabled candidates, LGBTQ+ people, people from racially minoritised communities, and those with care experience. If there's anything we can do to support you through the application process, please let us know. 

 Ready to Apply?

Together, we can change childhoods and change lives.

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification and Job Description.

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

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and inspiring Community Fundraising Manager to lead our community fundraising activity and supporter experience strategy at an exciting time of growth and ambition.

As Community Fundraising Manager, you will lead and develop a high performing team to grow income through community fundraising, events, partnerships and supporter engagement. You’ll champion a supporter first culture, ensuring every interaction with Hft is positive, engaging and inspiring.

You’ll also play a key role in developing innovative fundraising initiatives and community partnerships with local organisations, universities, volunteers, supporters and Hft services, helping to create long-term advocacy and loyalty for our mission.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading and inspiring a Community Fundraising Officer and Supporter Experience Officer to deliver ambitious income and engagement targets

• Developing and delivering community fundraising strategies and events that are inclusive, impactful and supporter-focused

• Building strong partnerships with local groups, universities, businesses and community organisations

• Embedding co-production approaches into fundraising activity by working collaboratively with learning disabled people, families, volunteers and supporters

• Championing excellent supporter and volunteer experiences across all fundraising touchpoints

• Using insight, feedback and data to continuously improve supporter journeys and retention

• Managing budgets, KPIs and forecasting to ensure financial sustainability and growth

• Working collaboratively across Fundraising and Communications to shape engaging campaigns and fundraising opportunities

About you

We’re looking for someone who is:

• An experienced community fundraising leader with a proven track record of delivering income growth

• Passionate about supporter engagement and creating exceptional supporter experiences

• Experienced in planning and delivering successful fundraising or community events

• Skilled in developing partnerships and building long term relationships

• A confident and supportive people manager who can motivate and develop teams

• Comfortable using CRM systems, data and insight to drive performance and improve engagement

• Knowledgeable about fundraising regulation and best practice

• Committed to equity, diversity and inclusion

Experience working with volunteers, universities or co-produced community initiatives would be highly beneficial.

Selection Process

We will be shortlisting applications on an ongoing basis. If your application is shortlisted, we will invite you to a pre-screening interview with a member of the senior hiring team. If you are successful at this stage, the final assessment process will include a competency-based interview, a presentation, and the opportunity to meet with key Managers to get to know the team and Hft.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We are committed to recruiting people from diverse backgrounds and believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce helps us better support the people we work with to live their best lives. If there is anything we can do to support you to do your best during the application and selection process, please contact Hft recruitment team.

Do you have a passion for gardening, the outdoors and creativity and enjoy sharing these interests with children and young people?

If so, we would love to hear from you.

Manchester Young Lives are recruiting a Garden Play Worker to enrich our Ofsted registered afterschool play provision for 6–13-year-olds. This is an exciting opportunity to help children connect with nature develop environmental awareness and take pride in creating and caring for a flourishing garden within our Adventure Playground.

We are looking for someone who can facilitate environmental and outdoor play supporting children to build self-confidence, self-esteem, and wellbeing while learning through the hands-on gardening and exploration.

The successful Candidate will:

Develop and support an engaging garden project within our outdoor play space.

Facilitate creative nature-based play and learning activities.

Build positive trusting relationships with Children.

Encourage Team work, responsibility, and enjoyment of the outdoors.

Manchester Young Lives supports children and young people, often from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to learn, develop and connect with their communities. Our work provides safe supportive relationships with committed staff and space to play, explore and let off steam in our outdoor space.

If you enjoy being outside, love gardening, and have a natural ability to engage and inspire children through play, this role could be perfect for you.

This role is at Manchester Young Lives Adventure Playground in Wythenshawe, and includes Monday – Friday play sessions, 3.45-6.15pm, and daytime holiday playschemes.

Join Our Team: Principal Property Litigation Lawyer

We’re excited to welcome a new Principal Property Litigation Lawyer to join our Legal team.

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Working Hours & Location

This role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. The vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required. 

Role Overview

The Principal Property Litigation Lawyer leads the provision of legal advice and management of property-related disputes arising from the Trust’s operational and investment property portfolio.

Key Accountabilities:

• Main conduct of property law disputes across the Trust’s operational estate (e.g. title, trespass, boundary disputes, rights and easements, restrictive covenants, rights of support and claims for nuisance) with adjoining landowners, tenants and other stakeholders.
• Contributing to the management of legal risk on property law disputes arising in the context of the Trust’s engineering, estates, utilities and business boating activity.
• Assisting Senior Lawyers in providing strategic advice to Senior Managers and the Executive regarding litigation risk to the Trust’s  estate and assets in the context of the wider estate and asset management strategy and programme.
• Taking forward high value disputes (both as claimant and defendant) in relation to Trust asset and infrastructure responsibility, with other public and third sector infrastructure owners, in the context of retaining wall and embankments, bridges, harbour, flood defence, water resources, highways and reservoir responsibility.
• Supervision of Property Litigation Lawyer and Paralegal, close working with Trust Claims Manager and coordination of external legal support, including Counsel.
• Working with the Senior Litigation Lawyer on property litigation matters involving boating and mooring disputes.

About you

You are a qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with property litigation experience, able to lead complex, high-value disputes independently. Strong track record in managing legal risk, advising senior stakeholders, and collaborating with internal teams and external advisers, with a pragmatic approach and commitment to health and safety.

Skills & Qualifications

• Qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with a minimum of 10 years‘ property litigation law experience gained in private practice or in-house.
• Proven ability to take a lead on conducting a heavy caseload of major property litigation with minimal oversight.
• Experience of leading strategic discussions on legal risk at a senior level.
• Experience of supervision and coordination of legal and expert teams, including Counsel.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across all levels and disciplines within the Trust and with external legal advisers and to participate effectively in meetings.
• Comply with Canal & River Trust Health & Safety policy and defined standards, report incidents, accidents and near misses. Assess the risks and make adjustments to work methods where appropriate. Ensure all equipment (PPE, plant, materials etc.) is appropriate for the task. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient suitable applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible. 

What We Offer

We offer an annual salary of £55,000. 

Shape the Narrative. Build the Network. Amplify Change.

We are looking for a Communications Lead to drive engagement across a growing national and regional movement.

You will tell the story of equality impact investing while ensuring stakeholders are connected, informed and empowered to contribute.

EIIP believes that tackling inequality requires transforming how capital flows through society. We are now entering a critical phase of growth, with a focus on delivering systemic change at scale

That means changing not only where money goes, but also who shapes decisions, whose voices are heard and what outcomes are prioritised.

You will ensure EIIP’s work is visible, accessible and influential - and that diverse voices are actively included and amplified.

The Equality Impact Investing Project is a collaborative, not-for-profit initiative working to ensure that social impact investment and philanthropy harnesses their full potential to tackle inequality and advance social justice

Location: Remote, with Monthly in Person Team Meetings (London) 

• Salary: £36-38k (FTE) + 10% pension
• Contract:2 Year Fixed Term Contract 
• Hours: 0.4 (16 hours per week) 
• Location: Remote with Monthly In Person Team Meetings (London)

• Application deadline: 21st June 2026

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Platinum Investors in People HR Team as a HR Legal Administrator. The role will be to support the Head of People with managing the pre-litigation process from any employee tribunal claims and support with employment dispute resolution. With major UK employment changes under the Employment Rights Act 2025 to take effect from 1st January 2027 and an increase to the qualification period the HR Team must ensure they are compliant with all legal requirements. 

The successful candidate will assist the Head of People working closely with our solicitors, you will play an important part in preparing and checking legal documentation, working under pressure to meet tight legal deadlines, gathering and checking large amounts of data, preparing reports and ensuring all cases are progressing efficiently. The role will also incorporate overseeing all Subject Access Requests ensuring information is provided in a timely manner, meeting GDPR guidelines.

The candidate must be quick to learn, have strong computer skills (Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word and Outlook), be highly organised, able to pay attention to detail and be confident in speaking and corresponding with employees and management in person, over the phone and via email as this forms a major part of the job role.

This is a great opportunity for a recent graduate seeking a varied, busy, and rewarding position that offers constant opportunities for development within an HR setting. Some HR experience would be beneficial but we are happy to train the right candidate.

Vacancy Reference Number: 84370

Applications for this role must be submitted via the Creative Support website using the above vacancy reference number

Benefits of working with Creative Support include a probationary bonus, pension contributions, 33 days Leave and company paid enhanced DBS.

We are a passionate, inclusive, and anti-racist organization - Stonewall Diversity Champion, Disability Confident Employer who have recently received Investors in People Gold awarded.

Applications are reviewed as they are received, we do not provide feedback for unsuccessful applications. We can only accept applications from candidates who are located in and eligible to work within the UK.

Service Manager – Community Services

Please note, this is an on-site role only. Due to the nature of our Refuges and Outreach services, it is essential that our teams are present and accessible, enabling us to provide safe, responsive and high-quality support to those who need us most.

About Safenet

Safenet delivers domestic abuse services across the North West, including refuges for women and children, safe houses for men, and community-based support.

We provide trauma-informed, survivor-led services and work with partners to help people stay safe and rebuild their lives.

About the Role 

As Service Manager – Community Services, you will lead the operational delivery of community-based domestic abuse services, including IDVA, triage and outreach support for adults, children and young people. Working closely with the Area Operational Lead and as part of the Senior Leadership Team, you will provide strong, values-led leadership to frontline teams, drive service performance, and ensure delivery is safe, responsive, trauma-informed and survivor-led. You will also play a key role in strengthening partnerships, supporting service development and ensuring services remain compliant, effective and sustainable.

Women only occupational requirement: This post is open to women only under Schedule 9, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010. Due to the nature of the role and the needs of the survivors we support, Safenet considers being a woman to be a genuine occupational requirement for this position.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the day-to-day operational delivery of community domestic abuse services, ensuring support is safe, timely, trauma-informed and survivor-led.

• Provide effective leadership, supervision, reflective practice and case management oversight to staff, supporting wellbeing, accountability and professional development.

• Oversee referrals, allocations and case progression to ensure survivors receive an appropriate, equitable and responsive service, with risk managed effectively.

• Monitor service quality, performance and outcomes through audits, data, survivor feedback and reporting, and use this insight to drive continuous improvement.

• Ensure compliance with safeguarding, legal, contractual and organisational requirements, maintaining accurate oversight of governance and risk.

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with statutory, voluntary and community organisations to strengthen referral pathways and improve outcomes for survivors.

• Support service planning, workforce coordination and cover arrangements to ensure safe staffing and consistent service delivery across periods of leave and absence.

• Contribute to strategic development, identifying emerging needs, supporting service growth and helping to shape high-quality, inclusive responses for diverse communities.

What you’ll need 

Essential: 

• Experience of managing or leading teams within domestic abuse, social care, housing, community safety or a related support environment.
• Strong knowledge of domestic abuse, trauma-informed practice, safeguarding for adults and children, and risk management in complex cases.
• Ability to provide effective supervision, case oversight and reflective support that promotes staff wellbeing, professional curiosity and high-quality practice.
• Experience of performance monitoring, report writing and using data, feedback and outcomes information to support service improvement.
• Ability to build positive working relationships with statutory, voluntary and community partners and represent the organisation confidently in multi-agency settings.
• Excellent communication, organisational and IT skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accurate records and reporting.
• Commitment to equality, inclusion and survivor-led practice, with the ability to model Safenet and Calico values in day-to-day leadership.

Desirable 

• ILM, CMI or another relevant management qualification, or evidence of continued professional development in leadership.
• Experience of service development, project delivery, change management or supporting new initiatives within a support service setting.
• Knowledge of Women’s Aid National Quality Standards and relevant legislation and frameworks relating to domestic abuse and safeguarding.
• Understanding of budget monitoring, contract requirements or income maximisation within a commissioned or grant-funded service.

Salary: £ 36’500
Hours: 37 per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Bury
Closing date: 19th June 2026

Telephone screening: 25th June 2026
Interview date: 29th June 2026

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of adults, children and young people. Appointment will be subject to appropriate safer recruitment checks. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to inclusive, anti-discriminatory and anti-racist practice.