Communications jobs in Reading, west berkshire

Join us at a pivotal moment for the education sector.

ISBL has launched an exciting new initiative – the Centre for Education Operational Excellence – to strengthen how schools and trusts operate and deliver impact. We are seeking a highly organised, proactive and relationship-focused Events and Partnerships Coordinator to support the delivery and growth of our national conference, regional events, and online programmes.

About ISBL

ISBL is the professional body for school business leaders, supporting the sector through membership, professional development, research, and events. With a strong national reach, we play a key role in improving operational practice across education.

The Centre for Education Operational Excellence

The Centre builds on our expertise, bringing together practical solutions, research, and collaboration to support operational excellence across schools and trusts.

About the Role

We are looking for a highly organised, proactive and relationship-focused Events and Partnerships Coordinator to support the delivery and growth of ISBL’s national conference, specialist regional events, and online event programmes.

This is a varied and fast-paced role combining event delivery, stakeholder engagement, and partnership coordination. You will play a key role in ensuring our events run seamlessly while also supporting the development of meaningful partnerships that enhance the experience for our members and stakeholders.

You will be at the heart of our events programme, supporting everything from logistics and speaker coordination to exhibitor management and sponsor delivery, helping us create impactful, high-quality professional development experiences for school business leaders.

To be successful in the role, you will be an experienced coordinator with excellent customer service and telephone manner; you must have strong organisational and planning skills with the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines, as well as the ability to think outside the box and demonstrate creative flair and work well as part of a team.

Full role details are available in the attached job description.

Volunteering Assistant

Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. We support and fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.

We currently have employees working across four nations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’re in a privileged position to be able to deliver our ambitious new strategy, On a Mission. There are huge challenges facing bowel cancer patients across the UK and our community needs us now more than ever. We’re building a strong and united team to bring us closer to a world where nobody dies of bowel cancer.

Job Summary for Volunteering Assistant

The Volunteering Assistant supports the Head of Volunteering in delivering the organisation’s strategy by strengthening volunteer management, engagement, and development. Working across departments, the role ensures smooth day-to-day volunteering operations, supports both volunteers and role managers, and contributes to projects that enhance the overall volunteer experience.

Key responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to the volunteering function, including managing the volunteering inbox and maintaining accurate data
• Support volunteer recruitment, onboarding, and engagement activities across programmes 
• Assist role managers and volunteers, ensuring compliance with organisational standards and processes 
• Coordinate volunteer events, communications, and recognition initiatives 
• Maintain systems and resources (e.g., intranet/SharePoint) to ensure up-to-date information 
• Monitor engagement metrics and contribute to improvements in volunteer experience 
• Contribute to wider projects, guidance, and best practice across volunteering

For more information on responsibilities and person specification, please refer to the job description attached.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and at Bowel Cancer UK we are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates may be subject to either a satisfactory, basic or enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS - UK), (PVG – Scotland) or Access (NI) dependent upon the role. There is no cost to you and will be processed on your behalf.

At Viva, we want children everywhere to have life in all its fullness. Viva inspires, supports and connects networks of churches and community-based organisations to work together to make a bigger, better and longer-lasting impact in the lives of children.

We do this by providing coaching, supporting programme implementation, helping them access funding, creating tools to measure impact, and facilitating a global community of learning.

As Viva’s Marketing & Creative Executive, you will play a key role in our Fundraising & Engagement team as you develop and deliver high-impact content across a wide range of media. Whether online or in person, your work will inspire new and existing supporters, build new community and enable Viva’s mission to be more widely known.  

You’ll need to be creative, curious and adaptable to digital trends so that you can deliver authentic, impactful stories. You’ll be quick and eager to learn, and keen to start or develop your career in digital media and marketing. And while you enjoy working closely with a global team, you will also be self-motivated and proactive.

Through your role, you will play a vital part in making it possible for Viva to achieve its goal of enabling more children to live life in all its fullness.

Your responsibilities will include:

· Social Media: leading and managing Viva’s social media channels by maintaining and developing current platforms while building a strong and growing community.

· Event and Campaign Marketing: planning and monitoring Viva’s marketing for campaigns and events, as well as representing Viva at events.

· Graphic Design and Creative Content: designing and creating engaging digital content.

· Supporter Communications: enabling Viva’s supporters to experience great communications.  

Location: this role can be remote, hybrid or office-based in Viva’s Oxford office with occasional travel in the UK

Hours: 37.5 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Part-time hours would be considered for the right candidate

Salary: £27,500 per annum (full-time salary)

How to apply: Take a look at the full job description and person spec in the Job Information Pack and then click the button below. You’ll need to submit a CV and cover letter including three specific pieces of content you have created.

Please note that you will need the right to live and work in the UK to apply for this role.

Key dates: the closing date will be midnight on Sunday 14th June 2026. Interviews will be held online on Thursday 25th June 2026.

Senior Stories Officer

Bowel Cancer UK is the UK’s leading bowel cancer charity. We’re determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. We support and fund targeted research, provide expert information and support to patients and their families, educate the public and professionals about the disease and campaign for early diagnosis and access to best treatment and care.

We currently have employees working across four nations in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Thanks to the generosity of our community, we’re in a privileged position to be able to deliver our ambitious new strategy, On a Mission. There are huge challenges facing bowel cancer patients across the UK and our community needs us now more than ever. We’re building a strong and united team to bring us closer to a world where nobody dies of bowel cancer.

Job Summary for Senior Stories Officer

The Senior Stories Officer is responsible for sourcing, developing and sharing powerful lived‑experience stories that bring Bowel Cancer UK’s mission and impact to life. The role leads the ethical gathering, crafting and distribution of case studies across channels including media, digital, social media, fundraising materials, campaigns, partnerships, and internal communications.

The postholder will work closely with people affected by bowel cancer, ensuring their experiences are represented sensitively, accurately and in an informed way. They will also support colleagues across the charity to use stories effectively, maintaining a central story and assets bank, and safeguarding processes.

Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and at Bowel Cancer UK we are committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Successful candidates may be subject to either a satisfactory basic, standard or enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) dependent upon the role.

Location: Hybrid, attached to either The Grange in Buckinghamshire or Beatrice Wright Centre in Yorkshire. Regular UK travel required.
Salary: £60,000 per annum
Contract: Full-time, permanent

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is seeking an experienced and inspiring fundraising leader to grow community fundraising and events income, helping more people who are deaf or have hearing loss reconnect with the world around them.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People transforms lives through the unique partnership between a person and a highly trained hearing dog, while also providing practical and emotional support that builds connection, companionship and confidence. As the charity continues to expand its reach and impact, community fundraising, events and volunteering will play a vital role in helping more people access this life-changing support.

Reporting to the Director of Income Generation, you will lead the development and delivery of an ambitious community fundraising and events strategy, driving sustainable income growth and deepening supporter engagement across the UK. You will oversee a diverse portfolio of community activity and events, building strong relationships with supporters, volunteers, local groups and organisations that share our commitment to improving the lives of people with hearing loss.

Leading a passionate and motivated team, you will create opportunities for supporters to fundraise, volunteer and advocate for Hearing Dogs in their communities. You will also work closely with colleagues across fundraising, communications and service delivery to maximise engagement, strengthen supporter journeys and embed legacy giving within community activity.

The successful candidate will bring significant experience of community and/or events fundraising, with a strong track record of delivering income growth and supporter engagement. They will be a confident and collaborative leader, capable of developing strategy, inspiring teams and empowering volunteers, while using insight and data to drive performance and innovation.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of community fundraising at a much-loved charity, helping more people live well with hearing loss through connection, companionship and confidence.

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

Role closes for applications Wednesday, 24th June
 

The Training Trainer supports the Training Manager in the design and delivery of specialist, evidence-informed trainings programmes for professionals supporting bereaved children, young people and parents across health, social care, community, voluntary and private sectors.

Using trauma-informed, evidence-based content delivered through both digital platforms and in-person, the role ensures professionals have practical tools to identify, respond to, support and/or refer bereaved children, young people and parents.

Main Responsibilities

• Working collaboratively with the Training Manager, external facilitators and the team’s administrator to co-ordinate training requests responses.
• Working with the Training Manager and colleagues, support the design of training programmes tailored to the needs of the training delegates.
• Deliver the organisation’s professional training packages online and/or face-to-face as required.
• Work with the team to ensure efficient flow of processes and procedures.
• Research key areas in need of bereavement training packages.
• Be an ambassador for the need for bereavement continued professional development and training across all health, social care, community, voluntary and private sector professions.
• To form key relationships with individuals and organisations to promote off-the-shelf training as well as bespoke trainings.
• To work with the team to develop new training programmes and content.
• Work with the Marketing and Communications Team to promote training programmes.
• Collaborate with the team to develop and review feedback framework to evaluate the training.
• Use feedback to improve the current training offer and identify gaps.

 Communication and Relationships

• Build and maintain effective relationships with health, social care, community, voluntary and private sector professionals across the UK.
• Act as an ambassador for key training programmes, promoting values of empathy, inclusion and best practice in bereavement support.
• Collaborate closely with the Training Manager, colleagues and the Training Administrator to co-ordinate training requests and ensure a seamless client experience.
• Engage with internal teams, including Marketing and Communications, to publicise training offers and strengthen audience reach.
• Work proactively to establish and nurture key relationships with external networks, commissioners, and organisations to increase awareness and uptake of training programmes.
• Communicate sensitively and confidently when delivery content that may evoke emotional responses, ensuring a safe and supportive training environment.
• Demonstrate and promote the organisation’s values and culture through all forms of communication, behaviours and professional relationships.

Knowledge, Training and Experience

• Strong presentation, facilitation and communication skills, adaptable to a variety of audiences.
• Contribute to the creation of bespoke training programmes or training sessions as well as to the development of new training packages.
• Develop and adapt training content for both in-person and digital delivery using a variety of digital platforms.
• Demonstrate a robust understanding of grief, loss, trauma, child development, and the psychological and social impact of bereavement on children, young people, and adults, including families.
• Demonstrate a high level of understanding of the organisation’s evidence-based tiered service model.
• Participate, and where appropriate, lead on training consultations to formulate an assessment of training needs.
• Use outcome measures and/or feedback tools to monitor progress, evaluate the impact of delivery, and reflect on own practice.
• Adhere to legislation and statutory guidance related to Safeguarding Children and Young People and Safeguarding Adults at all times.
• Participate actively in clinical supervision and reflective practice to ensure safe, ethical, and effective delivery.
• Contribute to the development and sharing of knowledge within the team by supporting training, mentoring, and peer learning opportunities.

Analytical and Judgement Skills

• Assess training needs through consultation, feedback and sector research to inform targeted content development with the support of the Training Manager.
• Evaluate participants’ feedback systematically to review the quality, relevance and impact of training’ identify areas for improvement and gaps in provision.
• Exercise sound judgement when responding to sensitive disclosures or emotionally charged discussions during training, ensuring appropriate support and signposting.
• Apply analytical thinking to review emerging issues in bereavement, end of life, palliative care, mental health and wellbeing, to guide future training design.
• Recognise and manage situations that involve ambiguity, uncertainty, or emotional intensity, drawing on supervision and established frameworks for professional support.
• Apply a trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate lens to training development and delivery, ensuring sensitivity to cultural, social, and contextual factors influencing grief.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and meaningful data recording and reporting to inform service evaluation, and organisational performance monitoring.

Planning and organisational skills

• Prepare thoroughly for assigned training sessions, ensuring all materials, technology and resources are ready in advance.
• Deliver training sessions to time and quality standards, managing transitions between content, activities and Q&A smoothly.
• Deliver a suite of training packages online and/or face-to-face as required, adapting content to meet specific delegate needs as needed.
• Contribute to the design and maintenance of robust systems and workflows that support the smooth flow of processes from enquiry to evaluation.
• Research new areas of bereavement training need and contribute ideas for the development of new programmes and resources.
• Collaborate with colleagues to maintain and refine the evaluation and feedback framework, drawing on insights to drive continuous improvement and suggesting improvements to the training offer.
• Manage time effectively across multiple projects and priorities, working flexibly to delivery high quality outcomes within deadlines.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation in accordance with confidentiality, data protection, and statutory requirements.
• Demonstrate self-awareness and reflective capacity, using supervision and peer support to sustain personal wellbeing and professional effectiveness.
• Provide cover and support for team members when needed.

Qualifications & Training

Essential

· Relevant professional qualification in working in education, training or learning

· Evidence of ongoing professional development and commitment to continuous learning

· Training in bereavement, grief and trauma informed practice

Experience

Essential

· At least three years’ recent experience (in the past six years) of delivering training to professionals

· Experience of facilitating group work

· Experience of planning and designing training programmes

· Experience of liaising with and working alongside organisations that support children, young people and/or adults

· Experience of working with vulnerable communities

· Experience of delivering training using a digital platform

· Demonstrable experience of safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and an ability to practise in a way that promotes this

· Experience of working collaboratively with multi-agency professionals

Desirable

· Experience of working within a bereavement, palliative care of mental health setting

· Experienced in using outcome measures to evaluate practice

Person Specification

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of bereavement, grief, loss, trauma, and their psychological and developmental impact on children, young people, parents and families
• Knowledge of current research, theories, national frameworks, and NICE guidance related to bereavement and children’s mental health
• Empathetic, compassionate approach
• Proven ability to design, deliver and adapt bereavement training effectively through digital platforms, maintaining engagement, safety and impact
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage sensitively with stakeholders while maintaining professional boundaries at all times
• Consulting mindset with the ability to quickly assimilate information and to translate this into potential solutions and ways of working
• Awareness of safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures
• Understanding of information governance, confidentiality, and data protection requirements
• Understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion within practice
• Emotional maturity, stability and resilience with a strong commitment to self-care and the ability to seek support and guidance when difficulties arise in the course of work

Benefits

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata if applicable) with increase for long service.
• TOIL for our hours work.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Company sick pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Life assurance.
• Training loans.
• Enhanced family friendly policies.

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: 16th June 2026 at midnight

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.

For further details on the interview process, please refer to our recruitment pack.

Ready to define what “good” looks like and make it real across our services?

Hft has turned a corner. After navigating a period of significant financial and operational challenge, we have delivered a major turnaround, reducing a £17 million deficit, stabilising our workforce, and restoring confidence across every level of the organisation.

Now, with a new and focused Executive Team working closely with our Senior Leadership Teams, clear governance, and a collective understanding of the need to embed sustainable improvement across all areas of the organisation, we are moving from recovery to transformation.

The Opportunity

You will lead the development and delivery of an integrated, organisation-wide approach to quality, safety, safeguarding and great practice. Your focus will be on ensuring people are supported to live safe, meaningful and aspirational lives. This role brings together quality assurance, safeguarding, safety and practice into a clear and consistent approach across a complex, national organisation.

You will drive and oversee quality, safety and governance systems that support them. You will maintain clear oversight of performance, risk and compliance, and provide assurance, insight and challenge to the Executive Team and the Board. You will ensure regulatory compliance, safeguarding, and health and safety systems are robust, responsive, and consistently upheld, but, importantly, rooted in the understanding that all of this is to make sure that the people supported have great lives.

Working closely with operational leaders, you will identify underperformance and support improvement. You will use data, audits, incidents, and feedback to generate insights and drive continuous improvement. You will also help shape a shared understanding of what great practice looks like across services.

If you have senior leadership experience across quality, safety, safeguarding and practice within a learning disability charity or social care provider, we would love to hear from you. Please refer to the candidate brief attachment for full details of the role.

Please note: This role is a Home-based position (travel 3 times per month to Bristol/other locations)

What you will bring to succeed in this role

Essential

• Senior leadership experience across quality, safety, safeguarding and practice within a large learning disability charity or social care provider
• Accountable experience of leading operational health and safety within a multi-site, CQC regulated care environment
• Ability to lead and develop high-performing teams
• Experience of providing clear assurance and reporting on health and safety performance, risks and compliance to senior leadership and/or Board
• Communication and influencing skills, with the ability to work across organisational boundaries
• Experience embedding co-production and lived experience into organisational approaches
• Highly developed analytical skills and ability to use data to drive decisions
• Confident in leading change, improvement and cultural development

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 stakeholders to get to know the team and Hft.

As part of our recruitment process, we are proud to include the voices of people with learning disabilities. You will meet them throughout the process, and they will play a key role in the final stages of selection. Their perspective shapes how we lead, listen and make decisions at Hft.

We anticipate the following timelines:

• Closing date: 9 June 2026
• Pre-screening interviews: 12, 15 or 16 June 2026
• Final assessment: 30 June 2026

We may close this role early if we receive a high volume of applications, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

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 our recruitment team at Hft.

Thrive’s vision is that gardening is actively encouraged as part of personal health and wellbeing management and Social & Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) services are available wherever people live.

Working across multiple income streams, the postholder will support the development and delivery of high-impact fundraising campaigns, compelling cases for support, and meaningful donor communications. With a strong focus on Regular Giving growth and supporter stewardship, the role plays an important part in strengthening long-term financial sustainability.

This is a proactive role requiring strong content development skills, attention to insight and performance, and the ability to contribute to continuous improvement in fundraising systems and processes.

For more information, please download the Information Pack. For an informal conversation about the role, please email recruitment in the first instance.

For further information and full JD please refer to the attachment below. 

#Fundraising #Fundraising Planning # Fundraising officer #Funding  #Fundraising oppurtunities 

About the role

This exciting role will supercharge Peat-free Partnership’s public facing campaign and advocacy to ban the sales of peat in the UK. You will lead the public campaigning element of the Peat-free Partnership (PfP) - a major cross sector effort - to secure a legal end to peat sales in UK horticulture, hosted and coordinated by Plantlife. By working with partners and industry leaders, engaging with celebrities and the public across the UK, you’ll create a powerful, insight led campaign that builds momentum and influences decision-makers to ban peat sales in the UK

Focussed on building stronger public support for a legislated ban you will deliver the mass communication and advocacy campaigning to help drive policy change. As well as working alongside PfP’s policy advocate and other Plantlife colleagues you will help forge a unified voice across all PfP members and create increased support from industry and other partners.

About you

Are you a strategic thinker with the grit to turn ambition into action? Plantlife is seeking a Campaigning Lead to drive the campaigning heart of the Peat-free Partnership - an influential, cross-sector coalition working to secure a legal end to peat sales in UK horticulture. You’ll shape and deliver the public-facing and coalition-wide campaigning activity that mobilises support, builds momentum and strengthens political commitment.

This role is also central to Plantlife’s long-term ambitions. You’ll help build our future campaigning capability, developing approaches, strategies and engagement that put plants and fungi at the centre of nature recovery for years to come. If you bring clarity, determination, and creative energy to complex challenges, we want to hear from you.

To apply for the role or view the full recruitment pack, please visit our website. We look forward to hearing from you!

Please note we do not accept CV's.

Purpose of the role 

We are seeking a project coordinator to contribute research, project management and stakeholder management skills to support key projects advancing the consumer voice in the sustainability transition. This is a critical role in our team, and it comes with significant development opportunities. 

An initial focus will be supporting delivery of key workstreams in our Clean Energy Futures Programme, where our vision is for an affordable and accessible energy system in which all people can enjoy the benefits of increasingly clean, decentralised and interconnected energy. You can explore our past achievements in promoting consumer interest in clean energy on our website, here: Clean Energy Futures - Consumers International. 

The Research and Events Coordinator will work alongside the Strategy and Projects Leads for Clean Energy Futures to manage engagement with the communities of practice that feed into our Clean Energy Futures work. This includes the Member Taskforce on Energy and the Multi-stakeholder Expert Group, comprised of cross-sector experts from business, academia and government.

The Coordinator will also contribute to project delivery through research into energy policy and practice and report writing, as well as joining programme strategy discussions in a strongly collaborative and non-hierarchical environment. We also anticipate the Coordinator working closely with our Insights Lead to conduct desk research and stakeholder interviews to deliver insights components of Sustainability Programme workstreams. 

After an initial 6-month period focused on Clean Energy Futures, there will be opportunities for the Coordinator to broaden their remit to other projects and topics within the Sustainability Programme.

Reflecting this breadth and the opportunities to grow, the Coordinator will initially report into the Director of Sustainability, who will provide guidance and mentoring support.

The ideal candidate is a highly organised, proactive and energetic individual who can demonstrate their knowledge and professional interest in sustainability and an understanding of the importance of consumers in the transition. They should be comfortable working remotely in a busy and varied global environment and able to communicate clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing.Prior knowledge of the energy sector is useful but not a pre-requisite.

This role can be shaped to focus on variety of potential topics, capabilities and opportunities as we grow the team, depending on the needs of the organisation and skills and interests of the individual.

The role is open to candidates globally. 

Key Responsibilities 

Key responsibilities of the role include the following:  

• Project Coordination: Support the implementation of Sustainability Programme projects, with an initial focus on Clean Energy Futures. This will include managing project plans and tracking timelines for project deliverables, as well as engaging project partners to keep them updated on project progress. 

• Research support: Support the Clean Energy Futures Strategy and Project Leads in conducting research and gathering examples and insights from our global network of stakeholders to inform the development of our analysis, reports and proposals. Support the Insights Lead with consumer insights research and stakeholder interviews. 

• Community coordination and meeting organisation: Support organisation of in-person and online stakeholder workshops or meetings including supporting the development of agendas, invite lists and online and in-person logistical arrangements where needed. This may include project related meetings and representation at other events and high-level global moments such as COP31. 

• Communications support: Draft, provide input to, and disseminate communications (e.g. meeting minutes, research reports, topic briefings) to project stakeholders, ensuring accurate, timely and appropriate communications. 

• Strategic inputs: Contribute your thoughts and ideas to development and delivery of the clean energy futures and wider sustainability work programmes and strategy as needed. 

The overall work of Consumers International: 

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to support the implementation of the Strategic and Business Plans.

• Contribute as needed to team meetings and other Consumers International-wide communication and outreach. 

• Embody the culture and values of Consumers International and help us deliver on those. 

For over 60 years the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) has been building a better childhood for all.

Senior CPD and Learning Officer (Adults)
Contract: Permanent
Work Pattern: Part Time, 28 hours per week (0.8 FTE) (We are open to flexible hours and working patterns, including accommodating part-time and compressed hours where possible).
Salary: £32,684 per annum
Location: Belfast BT15 + Northern Ireland / Newton Abbot TQ12 + Devon/Sheffield S1 or Remote UK homebased.

The Vacancy

Research in Practice has supported evidence-informed practice in adult social care for 21 years. We now have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Continuing Professional Development and Learning Officer to join our adult’s team.

This senior role is ideal for an experienced facilitator who has substantial experience in adult social care or related sectors. While the position requires engagement with, and understanding of, research it is not a primary research role.

The successful candidate will have experience designing and delivering programmes, whole day workshops, webinars, and other events for a range of audiences, including senior leaders. The role requires a strong understanding of research, policy, ethical and legal frameworks relevant to practice and the ability to translate complex evidence into accessible learning. Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills are essential.

We are keen to hear from potential candidates who have detailed expert knowledge of adult social care and related adult services; knowledge of learning theory and its application to the development of learning activities; experience of developing and facilitating all-day workshops and other learning programmes and events with social care professionals; experience of leading quality assurance of learning activities and ensuring the quality of the work of others; a commitment to developing the work of others and sharing learning; a personal commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice, and in involving people with lived experience in effective, ethical and evidence-based ways; and experience of writing successful bids and tenders.

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

Research in Practice

Research in Practice is part of the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) family. For over 60 years, the NCB has been building a better childhood for all.

Research in Practice works with organisations across the adults and children’s social care, health and criminal justice sectors, supporting them to develop an evidence-informed approach to their work. This role is focused on our work with Adults. Our focus is on using evidence from research, practice and lived experience, to provide resources that improve policy and services, in order to achieve positive outcomes for people of all ages.

About NCB

For more than 60 years, the National Children’s Bureau has championed the rights and amplified the voice of children and young people in the UK. We interrogate policy and uncover evidence, blending in lived and learnt experience to shape future legislation and develop more effective ways of supporting children and families.

Bringing people and organisations together is fundamental to how we improve the systems that babies, children, young people and their families rely on to thrive. We push boundaries, even looking beyond childhood itself to consider transitions into adulthood and the impact of childhood issues on an entire lifespan. We are united for better childhoods and brighter futures.

The Benefits

• 30 Days Annual Leave
• Generous Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Flexible Working
• Winter Holiday Closure & Break
• Employee Assistance Programme

Closing date: 8am, Tuesday 30th June 2026
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage interested candidates to submit their applications as soon as possible

Interested?

If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website.

We are actively seeking to broaden the diversity of our staff group and warmly welcome applications from candidates underrepresented in the charity sector, including those from Black and Global Majority communities, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with lived experience of the issues NCB works on.

No agencies please.

The overall purpose of the role is to lead and coordinate meaningful participation and engagement opportunities for children, young people and adults to shape services, influence decision-making and ensure the voices of lived experience are central to organisational development. The postholder will support in designing, delivering and evaluating initiatives that build trust, inclusion and empowerment.

Main Responsibilities

• To co-ordinate and provide safe spaces for children, young people and adults to participate in user- led activities and projects.
• To be a key link between children, young people and adults within our participation service and staff, making sure their voices and experiences are heard.
• To recruit and engage children, young people, and adults, to enable them to feel comfortable to join our Participation service.
• To support the Head of Voice, Participation & Engagement to develop opportunities for children, young people, and adults to be actively involved throughout the organisation.
• Lead and facilitate small scale participation projects.
• To maintain records of all interactions with stakeholders, using Salesforce.
• To be able to work flexibly, including regular evening and occasional weekend work in response to participants availability.
• Support the Head of Voice, Participation & Engagement in planning and facilitating forums.
• Work with people with lived experience of bereavement to create meaningful content and service recommendations.
• Work across the organisation sharing, promoting and training in best practice in participation.
• To assist in planning, organising and delivering participation events (virtually and in-person).
• Ensure that a range of voices are heard, with particular focus on EDI.
• Ensure the safety and wellbeing of members of the participation service through adherence to the organisation’s safeguarding policy and practice.
• Maintain accurate records throughout all services, complying with the organisation’s recording and reporting requirements.

Communication and Relationships

• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with children, young people, families, adults, and stakeholders to create safe and inclusive spaces for participation.
• Facilitate group and one-to-one engagement sessions using creative and accessible methods to ensure diverse voices are heard and valued.
• Collaborate with internal teams, including service delivery, communication, marketing and fundraising to embed participation principles across all areas of work.
• Represent the organsiation externally at meetings, events and networks, sharing insight from lived experience to inform sector-wide learning.
• Translate feedback and participation outputs into clear reports, presentations or creative formats that inform decision-making.
• Demonstrate empathy, confidentiality and active listening when engaging with individuals or groups who may have experience loss and trauma.
• Establish excellent internal working relationships with peers and colleagues.
• Model the values and culture of the organisation in interactions and relationships at work.
• Adapt communication style and approach to suit the needs, preferences, and emotional states of children, young people and adults, including those with neurodiverse profiles or communication difficulties.
• Provide clear, compassionate explanations of support options, safeguarding procedures, and next steps to children, young people, adults and families.
• Maintain professional boundaries while fostering a safe and supportive environment for children, young people and adults.
• Respond to challenging or emotionally charged situations with sensitivity, professionalism, and a focus on empathy and support.
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of communications and decisions in line with organisational policies and data protection regulations.

 Knowledge, training and experience

• Proven experience in youth participation, community engagement, co-production, or related areas, ideally within charity, education or health and social care sector.
• Understanding of participation frameworks, rights-based approached and trauma-informed practice.
• Demonstrate a good understanding of grief, loss, trauma, child development, and the psychological and social impact of bereavement on children, young people, families and adults.
• Experience in facilitating groups, workshops, and creative engagement activities both in-person and online.
• Ability to translate engagement insight into practical feedback and recommendations
• Adhere to legislation and statutory guidance related to Safeguarding Children and Young People, Safeguarding Adults, and the Mental Capacity Act.
• Participate actively in clinical supervision and reflective practice to ensure safe, ethical, and effective service delivery.
• Contribute to the development and sharing of knowledge within the team by supporting training, mentoring, and peer learning opportunities.

Analytical and judgment skills

• Ability to gather qualitative and quantitative feedback and identify key themes, trends, and areas for improvement.
• Exercise sound judgement in managing sensitive information, ethical boundaries and participant confidentiality.
• Assess engagement risks and implement appropriate boundaries and referrals in line with safeguarding policies.
• Critically evaluate participation initiatives and contribute to evidence-based practice through reflection, evaluation tools and reporting.
• Balance organisation priorities with participant needs, ensuring representation remains authentic rather than tokenistic.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and meaningful data recording and reporting to inform practice, service evaluation, and organisational performance monitoring.

Planning and organisational skills

• Plan, coordinate and deliver participation activities, forums and events with clear objectives, timelines and outcomes.
• Support the development of annual participation calendars or frameworks as needed.
• Manage competing priorities across multiple projects, ensuring timely communication with internal teams and external partners.
• Maintain accurate records, consent forms and participation data using appropriate digital systems.
• Support logistical arrangements including venue booking, accessibility adjustments, transport and safeguarding measures.
• Contribute to strategic planning by identifying emerging themes, opportunities for partnerships and areas for innovation.
• Provide cover and support for participation and engagement team members during periods of absence or high demand.
• Demonstrate self-awareness and reflective capacity, using supervision and peer support to sustain personal wellbeing and professional effectiveness.
• Contribute to the development of efficient, evidence-based practices by supporting team planning, service evaluation, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Person Specification

Essential

• Minimum 3 years’ experience of working with children and young people or adults in health, social care, youth, community or education setting
• Experience of advocating for the interests of children, young people or vulnerable adults or individuals from ethnically diverse communities
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with experience of tailoring these to a wide range of audience
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage sensitively with children, families, and professionals while maintaining professional boundaries at all times
• Experience of facilitating participation groups both in person and online
• Knowledge of different facilitation approaches and methods
• Demonstratable experience of safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults and an ability to practice in a way that promotes this
• Experience of building trusting relationships with children, young people, and adults creating safe space
• Passion for the power of Voice and Lived Experience
• Understanding of the challenges that participation work can present, and experience of how to overcome this
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team and with external organisations
• Emotional maturity, stability and resilience with a strong commitment to self-care and the ability to seek support and guidance when difficulties arise in the course of work
• Strong IT skills, including confidence in using multiple IT systems

Desirable

• Experience of working in bereavement sector

Benefits

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays (pro rata if applicable) with increase for long service.
• TOIL for our hours work.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Company sick pay.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Life assurance.
• Training loans.
• Enhanced family friendly policies.

Recruitment Timetable

Application deadline: 16th June 2026 at midnight

Winston’s Wish reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications for the role before the closing date.

Please refer to our recruitment pack for further details on the interview process.

Fundraising Manager 

Location: Home-based, with regular travel across the Thames Valley region 

Salary: c.£38,000 per annum (pro rata if part-time) 

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer 

This role is offered on a full-time basis (37 hours per week), although flexible and part-time working arrangements will be considered for the right candidate.

Purpose: 

Ways Into Work is seeking a proactive and relationship-focused fundraiser to lead and develop income generation across the charity. 

As the charity’s sole fundraising professional, you will play a key role in shaping and delivering a sustainable fundraising strategy, with a particular focus on developing and growing corporate partnerships and business support across the Thames Valley region. 

Alongside corporate fundraising, you will identify and secure support from trusts and foundations, community organisations and individual supporters where appropriate. 

Key Responsibilities:

Corporate Partnerships & Business Development 

- Lead on developing and growing corporate partnerships and sponsorship opportunities. 

- Identify, research and approach prospective corporate supporters. 

- Build and steward long-term relationships with corporate partners. 

- Develop relationships with community groups to encourage fundraising support. 

Trusts & Foundations:

- Research and identify funding opportunities. 

- Write compelling funding applications and reports. 

- Work with colleagues to gather project information to support applications. 

Fundraising Strategy & Income Development:

- Develop and implement a fundraising plan. 

- Diversify income streams. 

- Monitor performance and report to leadership. 

Communications & Supporter Engagement: 

- Support fundraising campaigns and communications. 

- Share impact stories and case studies. 

- Represent the charity at events. 

Fundraising Operations:

- Maintain accurate donor records. 

- Ensure timely acknowledgement of supporters. 

- Support fundraising systems and processes. 

Governance and Compliance:

- Ensure all fundraising activity is ethical and compliant. 

Person Specification:

Essential Skills & Experience 

- Experience in fundraising or partnerships. 

- Strong relationship-building ability. 

- Excellent communication skills. 

- Strong organisational skills. 

- Experience working to targets. 

- Confidence networking externally. 

- Good IT skills and record keeping. 

- Commitment to the mission of Ways Into Work. 

- Full UK driving licence. 

Desirable 

- Experience in corporate partnerships. 

- Experience writing trust applications. 

- Knowledge of CRM systems. 

- Experience in a small charity environment. 

(We reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications)

Ways into Work are committed to safeguarding all clients and staff. We adhere to all local and national policies aimed at promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Offer of employment is subject to a successful Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS).

Are you passionate about ensuring people with lived experience are at the heart of creating change? Join Shelter as a Senior Lived Experience Coordinator and help shape and influence our campaigns, policy and communications work through meaningful involvement and co-production.

About the role

This is an exciting role within the Lived Experience Insight team, focusing on development and co-ordination of an engaging and impactful involvement and coproduction programme that delivers meaningful opportunities for people with lived experience of the housing emergency to shape and influence Shelter’s work. You will lead on planning and delivery of Lived Experience Insight across your directorate through front line delivery in the CPC Directorate and supportive line management.

Role specifics

We’re looking for someone who can lead and develop meaningful lived experience insight work that helps shape services, influence change and strengthen co-production across Shelter. You’ll work closely with teams across your directorate and nationally to coordinate insight projects, share learning and embed lived experience into decision-making and ways of working. The role requires you to support wellbeing, safeguarding and personal development for people involved in our work and helping create pathways into volunteering and employment. You’ll also design and deliver training and resources for colleagues, while ensuring activity is well monitored, evaluated and continuously improved.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits 

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About the team

The Lived Experience Insight team deliver involvement and co-production activities across the organisation, which shape the ongoing design, delivery and governance of Shelter’s work. People with lived experience are involved in a range of ways, including lived experience groups, codesigning Shelter's services and campaigns, sharing decision making on staff recruitment and supporting external influencing and systemic change via consultation and coproduction with key stakeholders.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies. 

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.