Children and families jobs in Ebbw vale, blaenau gwent
Northern Dog Volunteer Recruitment Officer
Location: Home based, supporting northern region’s (Including Scotland, Northern England and parts of the Midlands, with travel outside these areas occasionally)
Salary Band: £26,000 to £27,000 FTE (pro rata for part-time hours)
Job Type: Part-time (3 to 4 days per week), with flexibility required for regular evening / overnight stays and weekend work
Reports To: Head of Dog Supply & Canine Support Services
Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives.
We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving alert assistance dogs to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease.
We have an exciting new opportunity to join this small but fast-growing charity that is a world leader in its specialist, innovative field.
We are looking for someone with the skills, experience and passion to join our Canine Services Department, and to be responsible for the recruitment, training and development of dog supply volunteers.
Responsibilities of the Role:
Recruitment of Volunteers (puppy socialisers, holiday cover, and fosterers)
- To liaise with volunteering team regarding current recruitment areas and support on the ground recruitment activities in the relevant regions, involving volunteers and dogs where appropriate
- To manage the process of dog volunteer recruitment
- To oversee that necessary checks have been completed to assess prospective new dog volunteers, including home, workplace, pet dog and children assessments, when required
- Inform stakeholders when a dog volunteer is signed off and ready to have an MDD living with them
- Achieve monthly targets as set by the Head of Dog Supply and Canine Services
Training of Volunteers:
- Deliver effective training by organising dog handling classes before volunteers receive their Medical Detection Dog
- Oversee the online training pathway for all dog volunteers
- Ensure all dog volunteers have received and read the training manual, addressing any questions they may have
- Be the first point of contact for all dog volunteers during the application and training process
- Link volunteers with appropriate buddies prior to placement of a puppy/dog
Other:
- To manage the Puppy Socialisers Facebook page, delivering key training messages via this platform.
- Update the Harlequin CRM and Assemble database promptly to maintain accurate and up to date records of all dog volunteers, e.g. what training they have received etc.
- Support the Dog Training and Partnership Instructor in matching and allocating dog volunteers with MDD puppies
- Support the charity’s fundraising, communications and volunteering teams as required, specifically in relation to your area
- Share best practice with colleagues across the charity
- Other tasks or ad hoc duties agreed with your line manager to ensure the successful running of the charity
Person Specification
Essential
- Experience in planning and coordinating volunteer recruitment events and recruiting volunteers
- Previous experience delivering training sessions
- Strong ability to communicate clearly and confidently with a range of audiences
- Confidence in using social media to promote volunteer recruitment
- Basic knowledge of GDPR
- Ability to deliver volunteer training, including assessing individual learning styles and adapting approaches while following structured programmes
- Strong teaching and instructional skills
- Ability to plan, prioritise and organise workload effectively for self and others
- Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with a wide range of stakeholders, including clients and their families, volunteers, professional partners, members of the public, media, managers and colleagues
- High level of IT literacy and report writing skills, including Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Desirable
- Understanding of training assistance dogs
- Minimum 1-2 years’ experience in dog training
- Basic understanding of practical dog training theories
- Knowledge of laws related to dogs
- Understanding of dog and human psychology
- Awareness of health and safety implications in dog and volunteer handling
- Understanding of ADUK and ADI regulations
Finally, the successful candidate will also be expected to:
- Hold a full UK Driving Licence
- Provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK
- Undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- Work some evenings and weekends with the possibility of spending nights away
To Apply
If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Medical Detection Dogs, please do not hesitate to apply.
We are a welcoming, diverse and inclusive charity. Medical Detection Dogs thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Registered Charity 
51 - 100
Thank you!
This is an exciting opportunity to lead Field Studies Council's Digital Learning & Publishing unit.
You'll develop strategy, build partnerships, grow income streams and lead a talented team delivering biodiversity training, digital learning and natural history publishing across the UK.
Success in this position will come from strong commercial leadership, strategic thinking and the ability to deliver sustainable growth while supporting our charitable mission.
- Permanent full-time contract
- Starting salary circa £36,973 - £44,091 per annum DOE + excellent benefits
- Flexible base location with remote / home working welcomed
- Make a visible, lasting contribution to environmental education across the UK
Work with purpose
At the Field Studies Council, our mission is to create outstanding opportunities that inspire everyone to engage with and care for the environment.
As our Digital Learning & Publishing Manager, you will lead a commercially focused business unit responsible for a diverse portfolio of biodiversity training, digital learning and publishing products. Working closely with the Commercial Director, you'll help form the future direction of the unit, ensuring sustainable growth, strong customer experience and meaningful impact.
In this key senior leadership role, you will:
- Lead the Digital Learning & Publishing unit, with accountability for its commercial and operational performance, budgeting, forecasting and P&L delivery.
- Develop and deliver commercial strategies that drive sustainable revenue growth across digital learning, publishing, partnerships and e-commerce.
- Identify new commercial opportunities and build relationships that expand our reach and impact.
- Use data, insights and customer feedback to improve performance, conversion, retention and customer value.
- Lead and develop a high-performing team.
- Oversee the successful delivery of biodiversity training courses, digital learning products and natural history publications.
Further detail regarding the full responsibilities can be found in the vacancy pack attached to the advert on our careers website.
Where you’ll be based
The base location for this position is negotiable, with remote working / home working welcomed. If you prefer working in an office environment, you can work from one of our Field Studies Centres across the UK. Hybrid working options can also be considered.
This role will include occasional travel to our Field Studies Council locations and other venues throughout the UK and will involve occasional overnight stays.
Who we're looking for
We're looking for someone with a commercial mindset who has owned budgets, delivered revenue growth and led business performance before. We're particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:
- Significant experience in a commercial leadership or business unit management role.
- Experience leading and developing high-performing teams in a commercial environment
- P&L accountability and revenue growth delivery, with a track record of developing and scaling commercially viable products or services
- Experience leading delivery project teams and managing vendors/freelancers.
- Effective management and influencing of partnerships and networks
- Budget management expertise, including a proven ability to ensure value for money
- An interest in learning, publishing, environmental education or the natural history sector.
Your benefits whilst working with us will include:
- 28 days annual leave + bank holidays
- 2 extra loyalty days dependent on length of service
- Life assurance 5 x your annual basic salary
- Health and Wellbeing Support App for you and eligible family members to access remote GP appointments, mental health consultations, physiotherapy sessions and financial & legal support
- 24-hour Counselling Helpline Service
- Cycle to work and EV schemes
- Discounts and cashback opportunities
- Flexible working options where roles permit
- Quality learning and development opportunities
If you are looking for a role where your leadership can make a genuine difference to environmental learning, we would be delighted to receive your application.
The closing date for receipt of your completed application is 8th July 2026.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we’re in receipt of sufficient applications. Please apply early to avoid disappointment.
Interviews are scheduled to take place at Field Studies Council online in the week commencing 20th July 2026.
Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by email.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and we expect all team members to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will only be confirmed following the successful completion of rigorous pre-employment checks, including appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks / PVG Scheme check with Disclosure Scotland.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Company Description
Marie Curie is the UK’s leading end-of-life charity. We are the largest non-NHS provider of end-of-life care in the UK, the only provider across all 4 nations, delivering community nursing and hospice care across the country, while providing information and support on all aspects of dying, death, and bereavement. Our leading research pushes the boundaries of what we know about good end-of-life, and our campaigns fight for a world where everyone gets to have the best possible quality of life while living with an illness, they’re likely to die from.
Team and role overview
At Marie Curie, our Case for Support team plays a vital role in the delivery of our strategy and supporting fundraising growth, by creating compelling cases for support and innovative propositions for our highest-value campaigns. Working alongside passionate, purpose-driven professionals, you’ll help us maximize impact and create meaningful connections with our supporters.
As a Case for Support Lead, you will be instrumental in developing impactful narratives that resonate with our supporters and drive our mission forward. Your work will provide essential, up-to-date information about our clinical services, research and policy work. This will support all fundraising teams to build accurate and inspiring fundraising campaigns. By identifying funding opportunities and crafting tailored cases for support, you’ll ensure that our high-value fundraising teams continue to achieve transformational impact.
What you will be doing:
- Create compelling case for support narratives about all aspects of Marie Curie’s work, articulating the need, solution, and impact for various audiences.
- Collaborate with service, policy, and research teams to gain a deep understanding of their work and goals, gathering insights to support funding applications and campaigns.
- Work closely with high-value income streams, supporting Trusts & Foundations, Philanthropy and Corporate teams by coordinating with internal stakeholders to develop compelling propositions.
- Provide all fundraising teams with accurate, self-service information, including writing narratives and interpreting data.
- Delivery of online Discovery Sessions with fundraising teams to improve their understanding of our cause.
What we are looking for:
- Proven experience in fundraising, service delivery, cause-led communications, or evaluation work.
- Creative thinker with an independent, autonomous approach to work.
- Strong communication skills to inspire others and positively influence opinions, with the ability to gain respect at all levels and drive practical, meaningful change.
- Skilled at understanding and interpreting complex information and data and articulating it in a compelling way, both in writing and verbally.
- Excellent people skills with a proven ability to integrate quickly into complex organizations.
- Financial literacy with experience in interpreting budget information.
Please see the full job description
Additional Information
Application & Interview Process
- As part of your online application, you will be asked for a CV and supplementary details. Please review both the advert and job description and outline your most relevant skills, experience and knowledge for the role.
- Close date for applications but may close early: 2nd July 2026
- Interviews due to take place 9th and 13th July2026
** Important we encourage you to apply early as we may close the job advert sooner after receiving a sufficient number of suitable applications**.
Salary: £36,900 to £39,900
Contract:Permanent Full-Time 35 hours per week
Based: Remote based within the United Kingdom, occasional travel may be required travel costs covered
Benefits you’ll LOVE:
- Flexible working. We’re happy to discuss flexible working at the interview stage.
- 25 days annual leave (exclusive of Bank Holidays)
- Marie Curie Group Personal Pension Scheme (we will match your contribution up to 7.5%)
- Loan schemes for bikes; computers and season tickets
- Continuous professional development opportunities.
- Industry-leading training programmes
- Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programmes
- Enhanced bereavement, family friendly and sickness benefits
- Access to Blue Light Card membership
- Subsidised Eye Care
At Marie Curie, our values are central to everything we do. They guide how we care for people, how we work together, and how we make decisions every day. We are committed to creating a workplace that is safe for everyone — staff and volunteers alike — supportive, inclusive and rewarding. We take stringent steps to ensure that anyone who joins our organisation are suitable for their roles and are committed to safeguarding all our people from harm. We actively consider our impact on the planet, embedding sustainability into everyday decisions to create a lasting, positive difference for the individuals we care for and the world we share.
We believe everyone should have the opportunity to thrive and fulfil their potential. Marie Curie is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, recognising both the social justice imperative and the strength a diverse workforce brings. We actively encourage applications from people of all cultures, perspectives and lived experiences.
We are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process. If you require any support, please contact us at .
Every application we receive is personally reviewed by a member of our Talent Acquisition team, and in return, we ask that your application authentically reflects you — your experience, perspective and voice.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.