Mental health advocate volunteer jobs in Birmingham

• Title: Digital Communications Officer
• Salary: £25,000 per annum
• Hours: 35 hours per week (permanent)
• Location: Home (Remote) or Hybrid/Office Based (Nottingham)
• Annual leave: 25 days per annum excluding bank holidays

Headway UK – the brain injury association, supports thousands of people every year. Every 90 seconds, someone is admitted to a UK hospital with a brain injury. Brain injury can happen to anyone, of any age, at any time. The Communications Team raises vital awareness so that everyone affected by brain injury has the support they need to live well.

Make a real difference to life after brain injury. Join us as Headway UK and be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking, creative Digital Communications Team that raises vital awareness for brain injury survivors.

This exciting role will allow you to use your excellent communication and technical skills to create high-quality, optimised content, taking a data-led approach to maximise reach and engagement. You will work with colleagues across the organisation to promote our mission of improving life after brain injury.

What you will do

• Use innovative techniques to grow the charity’s social media, email marketing and web presence, through the creation and optimisation of engaging content in a variety of formats. 
• Continuously monitor emerging social media trends and platforms and assess their suitability to reach key audience members in the brain injury community. 
• Use your expertise to schedule engaging content to promote Headway UK and raise awareness of brain injury 
• Monitor and reply to comments and messages on Headway UK’s social media networks, including its online discussion forum. 
• Analyse social media engagement data to extract actionable insights and create detailed reports that inform strategy and improve engagement. 
• Be a passionate advocate for social media and digital communications across the Headway network. 
• Use your passion for communicating with people to raise awareness by developing and telling the stories of brain injury survivors and their loved ones. 
• Use your digital communication skills to facilitate internal communications, organising CEO online briefings and quarterly staff bulletins. 
• Manage the day-to-day stewardship of Headway UK’s ambassadors and influencers, building strong relationships, coordinating content opportunities, and ensuring consistent, values-led representation across digital channels. 

About you

We’re seeking a creative, enthusiastic and effective website and social media professional to join our communications team. Reporting to the Digital Communications Manager, you will be responsible for maintaining and developing the charity’s online presence.

You might already have some experience of using website and social media platforms in a professional capacity in your current role, or you’ll be able to demonstrate extensive knowledge and innovative use of social media and CMS platforms.

Download a job description and personal specification. 

Benefits

As a staff member at Headway UK you’ll have access the following range of benefits:

Financial Security

• Competitive Salaries
• Pension - You will be automatically enrolled into the People’s Pension, with Headway contributing between 3–6% dependant on your contributions
• Occupational Sick Pay Scheme – Increasing with length of service.
• Death in Service Benefit - You’ll have the security of knowing if anything happens to you your loved ones will be provided for

Flexible Working

• Remote working – For the majority of our roles we can facilitate hybrid working.
• We understand that a healthy work-life balance is essential for our team to thrive. Headway UK offers flexible working arrangements, promoting well-being and ensuring you can take care of yourself while you care for others.

Wellbeing

• You’ll benefit from a fully comprehensive 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme including access to counselling services.
• Eye Test Vouchers
• Mental Health First Aiders

Holidays and leave

• You’ll get 25 days leave incrementally increasing to 30 days based on service plus Bank Holidays.

Benefits

• You’ll have access to a range of shopping and lifestyle benefits and discounts through our IMHR Plus Privilege membership.

About us

Headway UK plays a pivotal role in supporting individuals and families affected by brain injuries. Our comprehensive services encompass rehabilitation, counselling, and practical assistance to help survivors regain independence and improve their quality of life. Headway UK is at the forefront of raising awareness about the challenges faced by those with brain injuries and advocates for their rights, ensuring they receive the care and understanding they deserve. Through a combination of educational initiatives, community outreach, and personalised support, Headway UK strives to rebuild lives, offering a lifeline to those navigating the complexities of brain injury recovery.

Embark on a fulfilling career with Headway UK, join our compassionate team and contribute to our mission of rebuilding lives after brain injury. Make a meaningful impact with Headway UK, where every role plays a crucial part in empowering those on the path to recovery.

Safeguarding

At Headway UK we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow best practice as set out within the Care Act 2014. All successful applicants will be subject to safer recruiting procedures and will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment checks including a DBS check and two satisfactory references.

Equality diversity & inclusion

We recognise, value and champion diversity and inclusion. We want to ensure are staff population reflect the diverse service users that we support. For us diversity and inclusion is about building happy teams, full of people that want to learn and be inspired by each other, by our different experiences and backgrounds. Inclusion means providing the people we recruit with opportunities and valuing everyone’s contributions and perspectives.

We are also committed to removing barriers for applicants with a disability during our recruitment process, upon appointment and as an employee.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need support with the application or you would like a chat about what it’s like to work with us.

Thank you for your interest in Headway UK and we look forward to getting to know you!

How to apply

Use the following links to apply online:

• Job application form
• Equal opportunities monitoring form

Closing date: Monday 22 June 2026

Description:

Job Title: Physical Health Connector 

Responsible to: Senior PHC

Location: Community based across Birmingham and Solihull with flexible outreach and hybrid working (work from home 3 to 4 days a week expected)

Contract: Fixed term to 31st March 2027

Working Hours: Fulltime 37.5 (9 day fortnight every other Monday-non working)

Salary: £26,227.50 

The Active Wellbeing Society

The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is a community benefit society and cooperative working with communities to identify, mitigate and remove barriers that prevent them from living active and connected lives. 

 As part of our approach, we are excited to be working in partnership to develop a health connector service which will focus on improving health outcomes for people with severe mental illness.

We are working in collaboration with Primary Care Networks (PCN) and The Primary Care Mental Health Teams who are delivered as part of a partnership between Forward-Thinking Birmingham (FTB) and the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust (BSMHFT).

Job Purpose:

The Physical Health Connector will work within TAWS to support people experiencing mental health challenges, severe mental illness (SMI), and health inequalities to improve their physical health and wellbeing.

The role focuses on relationship based support, community engagement, and system navigation, helping people overcome barriers to accessing physical healthcare and wider support. The post holder will act as a trusted, nonclinical bridge between individuals, communities, and statutory services, particularly primary care. 

Requirements:

• Build trusting relationships with individuals through outreach, community presence and one-to-one telephone support (predominantly phone support from home), with people who are underserved or disengaged from statutory services.
• Educate through practical, emotional and motivational support using strengths-based, trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches to support engagement with physical health.
• Engage and encourage individuals to access physical health checks and screenings, helping them understand what to expect and how to prepare for appointments. Driving individuals towards attending their appointments is key to success.
• Identify and address barriers to engagement such as stigma, access issues or past negative experiences of healthcare. Over the phone, coordinate appointments, send reminders, follow up disengagement and advocate for reasonable adjustments and person-centred care.
• Drive stakeholder and partner organisation engagement as a link between TAWS, primary care, mental health services and community partners to support joined-up working. Build effective relationships with GP practices, PCNs, mental health teams and VCFSE organisations, representing the VCFSE perspective when required.
• Work collaboratively with partners to avoid duplication and champion community-led solutions. Map, promote and refer into local community assets and VCFSE services that support physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to monitoring and reporting requirements for funders and partners. Share learning, insight and community feedback to support service improvement and evaluation.

Experience, Knowledge and Values:

1. Experience of working in a voluntary, community, faith, social enterprise (VCFSE), community or outreach setting is essential.
2. Experience of supporting people with mental health needs, including Serious Mental Illness (SMI), health inequalities or social exclusion is required, with experience of psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or addiction being desirable.
3. A sound understanding of trauma-informed and strengths-based practice, with the ability to apply these approaches in day-to-day work.
4. Experience of working in connector, navigator, link worker, peer support or advocacy roles would be an advantage.
5. Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with experience of engaging individuals through a range of methods including telephone (primarily), digital and face-to-face contact.
6. Ability to build trust with service users and develop effective professional relationships across health and community networks.
7. Good organisational and data management skills, with experience of maintaining accurate records and working towards agreed targets and KPIs.
8. Experience of using health or case management systems (such as Rio, SystmOne, EMIS or bespoke systems), alongside strong verbal, written and IT skills.
9. Demonstrable experience of working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, including primary care, mental health services and community partners.
10. Resilient, flexible and able to remain calm in challenging situations, including when working with individuals affected by substance misuse, offending behaviour or homelessness.
11. A proactive, adaptable approach to managing competing demands and complex needs.

Additional Requirements

1. A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle would be desirable.

Benefits:

We offer our team members a comprehensive staff benefits offering to include:

• 9 Day working week - every other Monday is Non-working!
• Annual Leave – 38 days! 25 days AL (increasing to 29 days with service) plus 5 wellbeing days and 8 bank holidays.
• Nest Pension – 8% employer contribution - 3% employee contribution.
• Heath Cash Plan – giving you discounts on everyday healthcare such as dental, optical, physio, prescriptions & more.
• Employee Assistance Programme (counselling and DRs on call 24hrs a day).
• Fantastic volunteering opportunities within The Active Wellbeing Society every month.

Help Change the Future of Polycystic Kidney Disease Research

Patient & Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Manager

PKD Charity
Remote (UK-based) | Part-time (22.5 hours / 3 days per week)
Salary: £33,000–£35,000 FTE pro rata (£19,800–£21,000 actual)

The PKD Charity is looking for an exceptional communicator and relationship-builder to lead patient involvement in groundbreaking PKD research.

This is not a standard engagement role.

You will help ensure that the voices, experiences and priorities of people living with polycystic kidney disease directly influence research, clinical studies and future healthcare decisions across the UK.

PKD affects around 70,000 people in the UK. It causes kidney failure, lifelong health complications and reduced life expectancy. There is currently no cure.

We believe research is stronger when patients are genuinely heard — not consulted as an afterthought.

That’s where you come in.

The Opportunity

As our Patient & Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Manager, you’ll lead and shape involvement activity through the PKD Research Hub, working alongside patients, researchers, clinicians and partners to make research more inclusive, meaningful and impactful.

You’ll:

• Lead and support our Patient Involvement Panel
• Facilitate high-quality patient engagement and focus groups
• Work directly with researchers and industry partners
• Champion authentic lived experience in research decision-making
• Support awareness of clinical studies and research opportunities
• Create compelling patient stories and engagement content
• Help influence the future direction of PKD research in the UK

We’re Looking For Someone Who:

• Understands the power of meaningful patient involvement
• Can confidently manage relationships with patients, researchers and stakeholders
• Has experience in PPIE, health research, healthcare or the charity sector
• Is an excellent facilitator and communicator
• Brings empathy, professionalism and initiative
• Wants to make a tangible difference every single day

Experience in rare disease, kidney health or long-term conditions is welcomed but not essential.

Why Join Us?

At the PKD Charity, you’ll join a passionate national charity working to improve lives through:

• Research
• Advocacy
• Support
• Education
• Patient voice

This is a rare opportunity to shape a growing area of work with real national impact — while working flexibly as part of a supportive, mission-driven team.

What We Offer

✔ Fully remote working
✔ Flexible part-time hours (3 days / 22.5 hrs)
✔ 25 days annual leave pro rata + bank holidays
✔ Pension scheme
✔ Meaningful, purpose-driven work
✔ Opportunity to influence national research activity

Apply Now

For details on how to apply, please see the application pack.

Deadline 9am Monday 1st June. Interviews will provisionally be held online on Wednesday 10th June. However we will monitor applications on a rolling basis and may approach for interview at an earlier date. If we find the right candidate we may close the recruitment campaign at an earlier time, so we encourage you to get your applications in at the earliest opportunity.

The Senior Evidence & Evaluation Manager will sit within the Impact & Evidence directorate at the heart of Youth Futures Foundation.

Working with three Heads of Evaluation, the Deputy Director and the Director, you will help ensure our evaluations are designed to generate credible evidence of what works.

You will:

• lead the design, commissioning and management of impact evaluations, including RCTs and QEDs. This will include feasibility or developmental work where interventions are not yet ready for full impact evaluation.

• work closely with independent evaluators and delivery partners and colleagues in our Programmes & Grants and Policy & Communications directorates to assess the evaluability of interventions, and lead the design and delivery of large-scale, complex impact evaluations.

• contribute to strengthening our ‘evaluation architecture’, leading projects that enhance data infrastructure and access to administrative datasets, and set standards for methodological rigour in the sector.

In addition, you will lead other aspects of the team’s commissioning. This may include developing policies and processes, supporting the Heads of Evaluation to strengthen commissioning practice.

This role can be based at our Birmingham, Leeds or London hub. We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

For more information on this role, please download our job recruitment pack.

Due to receiving high volumes of interest in our opportunities, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline. To ensure your application is considered, please submit it as soon as possible.