84 Community engagement and events fundraiser jobs

Northern Ballet is looking for an organised, proactive and detail-focused Development Executive to join our friendly and ambitious fundraising team.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is a confident communicator, with experience in administration, fundraising or customer service who is looking to develop their career in arts fundraising. You’ll play an important role in growing support for Northern Ballet, nurturing relationships with our supporters and helping the Development team run smoothly.

What you’ll do

• Support the growth and administration of our Patron and individual giving programmes

• Help deliver engaging supporter stewardship

• Support donor and corporate events in Leeds and across the UK.

• Maintain accurate supporter and donor information within our Spektrix CRM database

• Support fundraising campaigns, appeals, trust and foundation applications, research and reporting

• Coordinate meetings, donor visits, backstage experiences, rehearsals and other supporter activities
• Provide high-quality administrative support and contribute to improving systems and supporter experience
• Work collaboratively across the organisation and support performances and events, including some evening and weekend work.

Why join Northern Ballet?

You’ll be part of a small, collaborative and purpose-driven team where your contribution really matters. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn, grow and make a meaningful impact through the work of one of the UK’s leading ballet companies.

Northern Ballet is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We are a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

About the role

In this busy role, you’ll assist in the delivery of legacy marketing campaigns

channels across a range of channels, including digital, telemarketing, legacy events and direct mail, and help to promote gifts in wills to internal audiences too. You’ll be allocated your own campaigns to project manage and you’ll monitor income, expenditure and KPI’s for all activity.

You’ll provide support for the administration of gifts in wills, including managing both legacy enquiries and legacy notifications, ensuring these are handled efficiently and to agreed timescales. This is a great role within a growing legacy program that will build your legacy and direct marketing skills and give you plenty of opportunity for development.

With combined individual giving income growing strongly and expected to reach £31 million in 2026-27, this is the perfect time to join an experienced and effective individual giving team.

About you

You’ll have some experience of working in a similar environment such as fundraising, marketing, sales or customer services, or have experience of managing your own projects.

You enjoy the variety of working on campaigns across a range of channels seeing

the results of your work. As a well-organised person with great communication

skills, you’ll be at ease liaising with external suppliers and in-house stakeholders across the charity to support the delivery of legacy marketing campaigns. Your close attention to detail will ensure accuracy with campaign reports, record keeping and invoice processing. And you’ll be able to use your excellent writing skills to craft copy that inspires both internal and external audiences about gifts in wills.

Job description and benefits

The job description and our attractive benefits are available for you to download.

Primary location of role and hybrid working

This role is primarily based in our London office. Our hybrid working model allows you to work up to 3 days per week at home.

The salary range is:

£26,936 to £28,000 per annum London based

When applying

We hope you choose to apply for this role. To support your application, you’ll be asked to submit your anonymised CV and a supporting statement. Please refer to the essential criteria on the person specification and clearly provide as much information as you can with examples, to demonstrate how and where you meet the criteria. If you’ve any immediate questions please email

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We’re committed to promoting equity, valuing diversity and creating an inclusive environment – for everyone who works for us, works with us, supports us and who
we support.

We reserve the right to close this advert early. Therefore, to avoid disappointment please submit your application as soon as possible, if you’re interested in this opportunity.

Closing date  Wednesday 30 September 2026 11:59 pm

Interview date Week commencing12 October 2026

I’m keen to speak with digital fundraising and digital communications professionals who have experience delivering exceptional supporter experiences, particularly for those taking part in online fundraising challenges. This is a great opportunity to join a Mental Health Charity’s Digital and Experiential team, based in East London, in a hybrid role, for a 12 month FTC.

The Digital Fundraising Officer role focuses on creating engaging, insight-driven experiences that motivate and support fundraisers throughout their journey — helping them feel confident, connected and valued, while ultimately deepening their loyalty to the organisation.

The role will involve developing personalised engagement and communications strategies, using data and insight to enhance the supporter experience across online and digital channels, including Meta-led products and social media platforms.

You will bring:

• Experience in multi-channel marketing (digital, social, influencer, email, and offline) to drive fundraising and engagement.
• Knowledge of Meta-led products such as Social Challenges and Celebration Fundraising
• Excellent project management skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with supporters and suppliers across a range of channels including mail, e-mail, telephone, face-to-face, and online.

If you have experience delivering digital fundraising journeys or engaging supporters through online fundraising challenges, I’d be really interested in hearing from you and discussing the opportunity further.

• Hybrid working- 2 days p/w in Stratford, London, 3 days working from home.
• 12 month FTC
• Full-time hours (35 hour week).
• Salary £35,702

Closing date- ASAP- applications reviewed on a rolling basis, so please apply today to find out more! Interviews to take place online, w/c 21^st September.

As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp™, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.

An exciting opportunity!

This is a rare and genuinely exciting opportunity to lead the UK's only dedicated charity supporting children, adults and families affected by MPS, Fabry disease and related lysosomal storage disorders. Following the current Chief Executive's planned move to become Managing Director of Rare Disease Research Partners (RDRP) in January 2027, the incoming CEO will take the helm of an organisation with over forty years of history, a trusted national reputation and a growing role on the international rare disease stage. The successful candidate will shape the strategic vision for more than 1,800 families, oversee the close partnership between the Society and its research subsidiary RDRP, and champion the patient and family ethos that sits at the heart of the organisation's work. It is an opportunity to combine ambitious strategic leadership with deeply meaningful, human impact, working alongside a committed Board, Senior Leadership Team and wider community of clinicians, researchers and pharmaceutical partners.

As our next Chief Executive, you will

• Define and deliver the MPS Society’s strategic vision.
• Provide confident oversight of governance, finance, compliance and reporting.
• Effectively manage the operational alignment between the MPS Society and RDRP.
• Always keep the members and family voice at the heart of strategy, service design and decision-making.
• Build and maintain senior-level relationships with statutory bodies, government agencies, pharmaceutical partners, clinical expert centres and other key stakeholders to support the Society’s objectives, influence policy and practice, and protect its professional reputation.
• Act as a visible and credible public voice to raise awareness, improve visibility, support, treatment access and outcomes for people affected by MPS, Fabry disease and related conditions.
• Collaborate with other rare disease bodies, patient organisations and other key audiences.
• Lead and empower the senior leadership team through effective delegation, early involvement in strategic discussions, clear accountability and support for individuals to flourish.
• Encourage an open, supportive work environment allowing creativity and building staff confidence.
• Help shape the future of the MPS Society.

About you

•  Self-motivated, with the drive to lead the organisation through a period of change and transition.
• Unquestionable probity and personal integrity, given the trust placed in the CEO by families, trustees and partners.
• Exemplary written and verbal communication skills, able to convey complex scientific and clinical information to audiences ranging from clinicians to families with no prior knowledge of MPS disorders.
• Strong self-awareness, with insight into their own leadership style and impact on others.
• Emotional resilience, able to sustain performance while supporting a community facing life limiting conditions.
• A collaborative and empowering leadership style, able to build trust, delegate effectively and help individuals across the organisation flourish.
• Genuine passion for the Society's mission, with a family and member-first ethos.
• Confidence to build relationships across a wide range of stakeholders, from beneficiaries and Trustees to politicians, media and pharmaceutical partners.
• A proactive, positive approach, comfortable reacting to change and organising their own work to meet deadlines.
• Confidence speaking publicly on behalf of the organisation and the people it represents.

Why join us?

A close-knit, values-led culture. With just over thirty staff across the Society and RDRP combined, this is a place where the CEO can know the team personally, work closely with families day-to-day, and see the direct results of decisions rather than managing at a distance through layers of bureaucracy.

• Genuine autonomy to shape direction. The Board is explicitly looking to the new CEO to bring fresh thinking on technology, AI, and digital tools, and to give real freedom to modernise fundraising, services, and engagement rather than simply maintaining what already exists.
• A stable foundation to build from over forty years of track record, trusted relationships and a strong national reputation mean the incoming CEO can focus energy on vision and growth rather than firefighting or rebuilding credibility from scratch.
• Proximity to cutting-edge science: the Society's close relationship with RDRP gives the CEO regular exposure to advances in rare disease research and treatment access, while day-to-day research leadership sits with the RDRP Managing Director, allowing the CEO to focus on strategy, people and sustainability.
• A high-visibility, high-influence platform. Regular contact with government, pharmaceutical companies, clinicians and international rare disease bodies offers strong opportunities to build a public profile and personal network well beyond the charity sector.
• A team that already shares the mission. Staff are described as passionate about the Society's aims, and as having a family-first ethos, so the new CEO inherits a culture to lead and empower rather than one that needs to be built from the ground up.
• Work with a different kind of return. Beyond salary and career progression, this role offers the less tangible reward of knowing that strategic and financial decisions translate, into better support for families facing some of the rarest conditions in the country.

Benefits

Join us and you will be working for a caring charity offering:

• A competitive salary
• Generous annual leave
• Extra leave between Christmas and the New Year
• Contributory pension
• Life assurance (subject to the conditions of the scheme)
• Employee assistance programme offering support 24/7

Further information

The successful candidate must be eligible to work in the UK.

The main duties, responsibilities and requirements of this role can be viewed in the job description on our website.

Salary to be agreed depending on experience and will be pro-rata for part time hours.

This is an essential car user post. The applicant must hold a current UK driver’s licence, with no more than 6 points, have access to a car and be able and willing to drive UK wide as required.

This senior role requires flexibility in working hours and location.  It is primarily offered on a hybrid basis with a minimum of 2 days in our Amersham, Buckinghamshire, office each week. As part of the role, UK and overseas travel is necessary, which may on occasion include early morning and/or evening working and sometimes overnight stays. We have policies in place to ensure that any unsociable hours worked over the weekend are fairly compensated through TOIL.

This role will require an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring check (DBS) details of which can be found in the job description.

For an informal discussion about the role or the work of the MPS Society, please contact Dr Fiona Stewart.  Contact details can be found on the full job description. Kindly note, meetings with other relevant people will be available to shortlisted candidates at interview stage.  

The National Youth Orchestra is the UK’s leading organisation championing orchestral music as a powerful agent for teenage development.

We activate teenagers’ confidence, optimism and skills to play their part in the world today, through performing and sharing extraordinary music.

We are looking for an entrepreneurial and collaborative trusts fundraiser to play a leading role in growing the investment that supports NYO’s work with teenagers across the UK. Trusts and foundations contribute more than £600,000 annually, and this new role will help deepen existing partnerships, develop new opportunities and secure significant support for NYO’s future.

As an ambitious and growing organisation, we need to communicate new and evolving programmes with agility, articulating their potential clearly and building the support needed to make them possible. This is an opportunity to build from a position of strength, sustaining successful programmes while securing investment to create opportunities for many more teenagers.

You will manage a substantial portfolio of trust, foundation and statutory funders, leading relationships from cultivation and application through to stewardship, reporting and renewal. You will develop compelling, evidence-led proposals and reports, including significant and strategically important bids, and work closely with colleagues to bring together programme, financial and impact information. 

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced fundraiser who combines excellent writing and relationship-building skills with strategic judgement and careful delivery. You will take ownership of agreed income targets and play an active part in a collaborative Fundraising & Communications team working across Individual Giving, major donors and Trusts & Foundations to achieve shared goals. 

At the National Youth Orchestra, you'll work as part of a supportive, friendly, and adventurous staff team. Learning and personal growth are intrinsic to every role.

Our offices near Holborn in central London are a hive of activity, a space for collaboration and ideas. Hybrid working is standard for most roles, with a flexible and supportive culture. NYO offers a season ticket loan scheme, cycle-to-work scheme, health cash plan, retail and entertainment discounts, and a 24/7 counselling and support helpline.

Deadline for applications: 10am, Monday 21 September 2026

A new senior post in the Development Team, the Head of Trusts & Foundations will be responsible for cultivating and growing income from both private and statutory funding bodies, implementing and delivering a new strategy for this vital income stream for the theatre, maintaining and growing our income in exciting, innovative, and strategic ways through high-quality, persuasive applications, alongside stewarding existing relationships to ensure the highest level of care for those already supporting us.

Each year the Development Department is responsible for raising c.25% (£1.4m in 26/27) of the Young Vic’s income to enable great work on our stages and, vitally, in our communities. As Head of Trusts & Foundations, you will play a vital role in securing income towards these projects (currently over £300,000 is generated through Trust & Foundation revenue), driven by a strategic insight into this income stream and the opportunities our work presents. In this role, you will be central to ensuring revenue targets are met each year, elevating our income, in addition creating a pipeline of Capital prospects with a view to the theatre undertaking significant essential works over the next 3 years.

Led by the Development Director, we aim to be a fast-paced team of six, with desire to majorly increase income over the next 3 years led by an ambitious programme of main house and studio shows, the 30th anniversary of our Taking Part programme and further growth across the organisation in our excellent and exciting artistic endeavours.

If you are a passionate and curious fundraiser, excellent grant writer, or looking for the next step in your career and want to work in one of the most exciting London Theatres right now, this role is for you.

Please see the job description for full list of responsibilites. Please go to the Young Vic website via the link on this page for more information on how to apply.

High Value Development Officer

We are seeking a talented writer and relationship-builder to help create compelling propositions that inspire high-value donors to support vital work.

Position: High Value Development Officer
Salary: Circa £31,700 per annum, with London weighting where applicable
Location: Home-based
Hours: 36 hours – flexible 4 day week or 9 day fortnight
Contract: Fixed term until April 2027
Closing date:  CV’s reviewed on a rolling basis

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join a High Value Engagement team and play an important role in developing compelling donor communications, propositions and stewardship materials.

Working across Philanthropy, Trusts & Grants and Corporate Partnerships, you will help ensure high-value donors receive timely, accurate and engaging information that demonstrates the impact of their support and encourages long-term relationships.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing compelling cases for support, bespoke proposals and donor materials.
• Researching and gathering information, data, case studies and evidence for bids, pitches and proposals.
• Creating fundraising toolkits including budgets, case studies, digital assets and stewardship materials.
• Supporting the development of the high-value donor stewardship programme.
• Helping to organise donor stewardship activities, webinars and small events.
• Turning complex health, impact and business intelligence data into accessible and persuasive fundraising content.
• Building strong relationships across internal teams to source the information fundraisers need.
• Working alongside creative colleagues to develop visual content that helps bring the organisation’s work and impact to life.

About you

You will be an excellent writer and researcher who can take complex information and turn it into clear, concise and compelling content.

You will have strong research and analytical skills, excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines. Comfortable working collaboratively across an organisation, you will be confident building relationships with colleagues at all levels and able to work independently using your own initiative.

You will also be confident using Microsoft Office and databases and have strong administrative and communication skills.

Fundraising experience would be valuable, but the skills required could also have been developed within communications, research, bid writing, marketing, business development or another environment where persuasive written content and relationship-building are central.

About the organisation

You will be joining a leading UK charity supporting people affected by stroke. Working across the organisation, you will gain exposure to a wide range of services and impact, helping high-value fundraisers tell compelling stories that inspire supporters and strengthen long-term donor relationships.

You will be joining an organisation committed to its values, equal opportunities and diversity.

Other roles you may have experience of could include: Fundraising Officer, High Value Fundraising Officer, Development Officer, Trusts and Grants Officer, Bid Writer, Proposal Writer, Fundraising Communications Officer, Philanthropy Officer, Corporate Partnerships Officer, Donor Engagement Officer or Fundraising Content Officer.

Summary 

Please note: For full details and how to apply please view the Recruitment with the link provided.

Individual giving

• Achieve a personal income target from small to mid-level donors including through our supporter scheme, campaigns and POS donations
• Take responsibility for HOME’s low to mid-level supporter programme, ensuring strong stewardship and donor retention, and consistent delivery of supporter scheme benefits, including a year-round programme of events – supported administratively by the Development Assistant
• Deliver consistent recruitment and upgrade activity for the programme, supported administratively by the Development Assistant and making use of automation
• Be responsible for delivering donation campaigns, including planning, writing copy and training the Customer Service Team (CST) in making the ask. Collaborate with the Marketing Team to promote campaigns on social media and by email
• Take ownership of HOME’s legacy scheme, including promotion and stewardship
•  Research potential donors and work with the wider team in delivering the strategy for recruiting them
• Work closely with the Development Assistant and the Marketing Team to oversee all supporter communications, including scheduling and writing content

Benefits: 25 days plus bank holidays, option to purchase additional leave, birthday day off, employee assistnance scheme, discounted theatre tickets when available, limted home working, flexible working requests, and more.

Head of Stewardship and Supporter-led Fundraising
Salary: £52,890.00 per annum
Location: Hybrid working – Norwich or Cambridge
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent 

About East Anglian Air Ambulance 

We are East Anglian Air Ambulance. A charity providing lifesaving critical care every day of the year across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Whether by air or road, we bring hospital-level care to the most seriously ill and injured, probably on the worst day of their lives.

From blood transfusions and pain relief to anaesthesia and emergency surgery, our doctors and paramedics give patients the best chance of survival and recovery. And it doesn’t stop there. We also offer vital aftercare, train people in lifesaving skills, and carry out clinical research to keep improving care.

We’re fuelled entirely by donations, without any regular government funding, so our supporters and their fundraising powers every single mission. 

About the role 

You will be playing a pivotal role in the senior leadership of the fundraising directorate, working alongside the Head of Relationship Fundraising and Partnerships. You will help to shape the ambitious future for fundraising at East Anglian Air Ambulance, delivering the Future Proofed Giving strategy, growing income, and developing a brilliant team of fundraisers, stewardship specialists and engagement experts.

Key responsibilities include: 

Building a brand-new engagement, stewardship, retention and development function for the fundraising directorate including; building the team, embedding the function across the fundraising and wider teams; This function will be the beating heart of the fundraising team and ensure we can deliver our ambitious strategy.

You will specifically lead on the strategic direction of key income streams including; community fundraising, events, individual giving, prize led fundraising (lottery), in memory fundraising, gift aid and gifts in wills. 

You will lead and develop, a great team who are delivering exceptional stewardship activity to retain supporters for longer and targeted marketing activity, uplift and conversion campaigns and giving the supporter a great experience.

You and the team will be planning and implementing new product, activity, events testing – from development through to implementation. Stewardship journey mapping, development, implementation and monitoring for all income streams in your remit and providing stewardship support to other fundraising functions.

You’ll bring: 

Significant experience of developing successful fundraising strategies and leading and developing fundraising departments, and teams.

You will have an excellent understanding of the different fundraising disciplines you will be responsible for and one or two you might even be an expert in.

You will have been using data and insights to inform plans and activity and recent experience of using marketing techniques and channels, ideally in a fundraising setting, to engage with specific audiences. 

Giving supporters a great experience will drive you and being a fan of yellow and helicopters will probably be essential. 

Closing Date: 23rd September 2026 (9am)  
Interview Date: 30th September 2026 (to be held in person at Helimed House, Norwich) 

This role will be worked a minimum of 3 days a week from our Norwich or Cambridge office and up to 2 days a week from home. The exact days worked in the office will be agreed with the successful candidate, but you must live within a commutable distance of Norwich or Cambridge.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

No agencies please.

Join Brightside and help transform the futures of young people facing barriers by securing the funding and partnerships that make life-changing mentoring possible. This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious fundraiser to play a key role in growing our impact across the UK.

Brightside is the UK's leading online mentoring provider, connecting young people with relatable role models so they can make confident and informed decisions about the future. Since 2003, we've supported more than 178,000 young people and facilitated over three million messages between mentoring pairs on our safe and secure online mentoring platform.

We're looking for a talented Fundraising and Partnerships Manager to help deliver our growth ambitions. Working closely with the CEO and Senior Partnerships Manager, you'll play a key role in securing the funding and partnerships that enable Brightside to expand its reach and impact.

What you'll be doing

• Identifying funding opportunities from trusts and foundations
• Writing compelling grant applications, proposals and reports
• Building and managing a strong pipeline of prospective funders
• Supporting stewardship and relationship management with funders and partners
• Contributing to wider partnership and philanthropy activity, including prospect research and proposal development

What we're looking for

• A proven track record of securing grants from trusts and foundations
• Excellent bid-writing and written communication skills
• Experience managing fundraising pipelines and multiple deadlines
• Strong relationship-building and organisational skills
• A passion for creating opportunities for young people and strong alignment with Brightside's mission and values

Why join us?

• Remote working, with opportunities to connect in person
• Flexible working arrangements
• A friendly, ambitious and supportive team culture
• The opportunity to help more young people access the support, networks and confidence they need to succeed

For full details of the role, responsibilities, person specification, benefits and application process, please see the attached job description.

The role

At Cruse, our strategy, sets out our charity’s plans to grow our income and build on our expertise and unique position in the sector. We provide expert bereavement and grief information and support, and our charity has been supporting people for over 65 years. We support adults, children and young people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, through our national services, over 80 local branches and online information about grief and bereavement.

Working within the Fundraising Operations and Supporter Care Team and reporting to the Fundraising Operations and Supporter Care Manager, the Supporter Care and Data Officer will deliver excellent customer care to our supporters, responding to enquiries, and thanking supporters to help drive income and show them how valued they are to Cruse Bereavement Support. You’ll work with the fundraising CRM to ensure and maintain the quality of information available and support the Commercial Income Team (c25% of time) with administrative tasks.

How to apply

Your application must consist of a CV and covering letter, which outlines your suitability for the role with reference to the Job Description and Person Specification and should be no longer than two pages. Please note that if you application does not include both a CV and covering letter, your application may not be considered. 

The closing date for applications is 25 September 2026 with interviews taking place week commencing 5 October 2026. We reserve the right to close the advert early, as interviews will be held as suitable candidates apply.

Please be advised that if you do not hear from us by 5 October 2026, unfortunately on this occasion you have not been shortlisted.

Cruse welcomes and encourages applications from all protected groups as defined by the Equality Act 2010. Appointment will be made on merit.

Criminal Record Checks

All staff are required to complete a Criminal Record check. Staff working directly with clients will be required to complete an enhanced check. We comply with the relevant codes of practice and they can be viewed online:

Applicants in England and Wales: DBS Code of Practice

Applicants in Northern Ireland: AccessNI Code of Practice

Previous convictions will not prevent full consideration of your application to work with Cruse. Our Recruitment of Ex-offenders’ Policy & Handling Criminal Record Check Data Policy are available on request by email.

We comply with all relevant data protection legislation and process your data fairly.

ReachOut is a youth development charity and a strategic partner for schools. Through collective mentoring and engaging activities, we build socio-emotional skills that transform outcomes for young people constrained by circumstance. 

The Schools & Universities Partnerships Manager will lead the development, growth, and management of ReachOut’s partnerships with schools, multi-academy trusts, and universities.

This new role is central to delivering ReachOut’s strategy to expand our reach, increase income, and deepen our impact for young people constrained by circumstance. Reporting to the CEO and sitting within the Income & Partnerships Team, the postholder will work closely with colleagues across Programmes & Impact and Volunteering.

The role is responsible for building a strong pipeline of partners, securing sustainable funding, and managing existing relationships to ensure mutual value. Through both new and established partnerships, the postholder will support ReachOut’s mission while helping schools and universities achieve their own strategic objectives.

Who we are looking for

• An ambitious, proactive fundraiser with the ability to develop, deliver, and grow long-term partnerships with schools and universities across London, Manchester, and new locations in line with ReachOut's strategy.
• A confident communicator who thrives in a small, collaborative organisation and can build strong relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders across multiple departments and sectors.
• Someone who can work autonomously, manage competing priorities, and identify opportunities to generate income, raise our profile and increase impact.

How to Apply

• To apply please visit our website.
• We are unable to provide visa sponsorship. To apply for the role you must have the right to work in the UK.

Key Dates

• Applications close: 9am on Friday 18th September 2026
• Interviews (in person in London or Manchester): Wednesday 23rd September 2026 
• Start Date: ASAP

If the date for interviews causes any issues, please still apply and let us know in your email as we may be able to be flexible on the interview arrangements.

Please note: the successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service. ReachOut will cover the cost of the check and guide you through the process. All staff have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults. The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

ReachOut is committed to being an inclusive and diverse organisation. We therefore welcome applications from people of all ethnicities, ages, religious beliefs, gender identities, sexual orientations and any other protected characteristics, to provide a diverse range of experiences, ideas and insights into our work. ReachOut wants to increase the representation of our young people amongst our staff, so if you are from these ethnic groups, we would particularly appreciate receiving your applications.

About School of Hard Knocks

School of Hard Knocks (SOHK) is one of the UK’s leading education charities, working in 29 secondary schools across England, Scotland, and Wales. Using rugby as a key delivery tool, we support young people who are struggling to engage in early secondary education - often because of anxiety, low confidence, disrupted home lives, or behavioural challenges rooted in trauma. For many of the children we support, life has already brought more hardship than most adults experience in a lifetime. Our purpose is clear: to help young people facing complex challenges break the cycle and move towards a safer, stronger, more hopeful future.

The SOHK Schools Programme is a two-year intervention working with cohorts of around 20 pupils from Year 7 through to Year 9. Pupils are selected by the school and are typically among the hardest to reach young people. Each week, we deliver half a day of rugby training and classroom sessions built around our 3Cs framework, covering topics such as growth mindset, goal setting, and decision-making, alongside monthly one-to-one sessions with every pupil. The programme’s impact is evaluated by SOHK staff, teachers, parents, and the pupils themselves.

90% of our participants report feeling more confident and more engaged with school after taking part, with long-term effects on attendance, attainment, and life outcomes. Find out more about our Schools Programme.

Since 2023, SOHK has been proud to partner with Impetus, a charity that invests in and supports organisations helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed. This partnership combines investment with strategic and organisational development support, helping to strengthen our impact and set SOHK up for sustainable growth.

We are proud to be delivering long-term programmes that meaningfully reach hundreds of young people each year - but the societal need is vast. Our ambitious four-year strategic plan targets growth, aiming to bring our impactful programme to hundreds more young people each year.

“Despite the usual challenges that every education or sport for development charity faces, School of Hard Knocks really is unique. It is not so much what we deliver at a programme level (which is of course brilliant) but who we are as a team. If you are a values-led leader and love the idea of ‘team’, then School of Hard Knocks is the place for you.”

- Ken Cowen, Founder and outgoing CEO

The Role

The CEO is the public face and leader of SOHK, responsible for the overall strategic direction, vision, and management of the charity - ensuring SOHK meets its mission and strategic objectives while maintaining strong relationships with Trustees, staff, supporters, and the wider SOHK community. We’re looking for a mission-driven charity leader and effective fundraiser, capable of building a sustainable growth model.

Strategy and Direction

● Be the face and voice of the charity - its principal ambassador

● Lead the development and periodic review of SOHK’s strategy with the Trustees and Senior Management Team

● Translate the 2026-30 strategy into organisational priorities, plans, and goals

● Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing, and the lived experience of young people remain central to every decision and growth plan

Programme Delivery, Quality and Impact

● Hold a high bar for programme quality and outcomes for young people

● Line-manage and support the Director of Programmes, working with delivery teams and partners to build a world-class, evidence-based intervention

● Ensure SOHK can evidence the impact of its programmes, with insights feeding back into constant improvement

Income Generation, Fundraising and External Relations

● Lead income generation across trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, individual giving, and challenges and events

● Line-manage and support the Head of Fundraising in executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy

● Hold senior relationships with funders and partners, building SOHK’s brand, reputation, and profile

Leading People, Culture and Operations

● Build and lead a high-performing Senior Management Team

● Foster a positive, inclusive, high-performing culture aligned with SOHK’s values

● Line-manage and support the Director of Finance & Operations, ensuring operational excellence

Governance and the Board

● Act as the primary link between the organisation and the Trustees

● Attend all Trustee meetings (held quarterly) and provide timely, accurate reporting

● Ensure compliance with all legal, regulatory, and Charity Commission requirements

About You

Essential

● Proven senior leadership experience in the charity, education, youth, or social impact sector - whether as CEO or as part of an executive team - including working directly with a Board of Trustees

● Demonstrated success in building or significantly growing an organisation, programme, or initiative

● A collaborative and values-led leadership style, with the ability to inspire trust, hold people to account, and build high-performing teams

● Strong track record of income generation, including securing significant funding from trusts, foundations, corporates, or major donors

● Experience of financial oversight, budgeting, and organisational planning at a senior level

● Strategic thinker, able to translate vision into clear plans and delivery

● Strong relationship-builder and communicator, confident with a wide range of stakeholders

Desirable

● Previous charity CEO experience - a bonus, but not essential; we know brilliant candidates come from a wide range of backgrounds

● Direct classroom, youth work, or education leadership experience

● Knowledge of the UK education system and youth policy landscape

● Experience of scaling a multi-site delivery organisation and working with local authorities

Personal Attributes

● Deep commitment to improving outcomes for young people, especially those facing disadvantage

● Resilient and persistent, able to work under pressure and navigate setbacks

● Collaborative, open, and reflective leader who seeks feedback and learns from it

Terms of Appointment

Contract type

Full-time, permanent

Location

Greater London, with offices in Edinburgh & Cardiff

Salary

£85,000 – £90,000 per year + £5,000 PRP

Reports to

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Direct reports

Director of Programmes; Head of Fundraising; Director of Finance & Operations

Travel

Regular UK travel, primarily to Edinburgh and Cardiff. Occasional evenings for stakeholder engagement and fundraising events

Trustee meetings

Quarterly, in London, in the evening, plus ad hoc subcommittees

Would you like to join our caring and ambitious team, using your strong communication and organisational skills to provide an excellent supporter journey, underpinned by positivity and empathy?

Macular disease is the biggest cause of sight loss in the UK, with around 300 people diagnosed every day. The Macular Society is the only charity determined to beat the fear and isolation of macular disease with world class research, and the best advice and support.

To support people affected by macular disease now, the Macular Society provides a range of support, information and services. Our research programme is focused on finding new treatments and a cure to beat macular disease forever.

We are undergoing significant changes, with a transformational new strategy to multiply our income, ultimately funding research that will find a cure.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for an organised, proactive and people-focused person who enjoys getting things right, communicating with others and making a positive difference to the supporter experience.

This is an Officer-level role, ideal for someone with experience in administration, supporter care, fundraising, marketing or a similar role who is looking to develop their skills and build a career in charity fundraising and marketing. You don’t need to be an expert in legacy or In Memory fundraising - what matters most is that you’re curious, willing to learn and confident working with both people and processes.

As part of our Legacy and In Memory team, you’ll play an important role in delivering excellent supporter care. You’ll have a varied mix of responsibilities, from processing donations and correspondence and responding to enquiries from existing and future supporters, to supporting marketing campaigns, identifying and supporting the production of marketing materials and helping us build strong, lasting relationships with our supporters.

You’ll be someone who takes pride in providing a high standard of stewardship, is comfortable managing administrative tasks and can communicate with warmth, sensitivity and empathy - particularly when supporting people who are remembering someone they have lost.

Our team is ambitious and curious, and we’re always looking for new ways to grow income and supporter engagement through legacies and In Memory giving. You’ll be encouraged to bring your ideas, learn from others and contribute to a positive team culture where we support and challenge each other to do our best work.

If you’re looking for a role where you can combine organisation, communication, creativity and purpose, while developing your fundraising and marketing experience and helping the Macular Society make a lasting difference, we’d love to hear from you.

What we provide in return

In return we provide a great working culture and offer flexible working options, 27 days annual leave, the ability to buy or sell annual leave, supportive family policies, and 6% pension contribution. 

Macular Society is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where: 

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application 

• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability in the covering letter/application email 

• Where the minimum (essential) criteria have been met, we will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. 

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and welcome applications from all parts of the community, in particular people with lived experience of sight loss.

We offer a flexible approach to working in this role, including the potential opportunity to work compressed hours over fewer days, or spreading out the hours out across the working week.

It is important that you can work from our Andover office for all, or some, of your hours, in order to process and fulfil postal correspondence and donations.

To apply: Please email your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the job description and person specification 

In line with our value of “Showing we care”, we ask that the covering letter is written in your own words and not heavily reliant on AI-generated content.

Closing date: 23.59, Monday 28 September 2026

Please apply early, as we’ll be reviewing candidates throughout. We reserve the right to close the advert in advance of the published date.

Interviews: Week commencing 5 October 2026