Office management jobs

It's an exciting time to join Victim Support, as we prepare to begin delivery of the Witness Service from April 2026. We look forward to welcoming current Witness Service staff and volunteers to Victim Support  -  and we're also now beginning recruitment for several new roles and to fill vacant positions. 

Victim Support is seeking a committed and detail-focused Team Leader to help coordinate and maintain excellent support for witnesses within the busy Court environment at Medway Magistrates Court. You will play a vital role in supporting the Team Leader, volunteers, and wider service ensuring witnesses receive timely, compassionate, and effective support throughout their justice journey.

This role to provide maternity cover for up to 1 year working 30 hours per week covering Medway Magistrates Court .

Are you an organised, proactive individual with a passion for supporting victims and witnesses as they navigate the justice system? Do you enjoy working collaboratively, ensuring high-quality service delivery, and supporting others to perform at their best?

If you thrive in fast-paced environments, have strong communication and data-handling skills, and are motivated by service excellence, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role

Advice Giving

• Deliver a multi-channel advice service, including home visits, to clients regarding their energy needs and income maximisation support, ensuring advice provided meets the requirements of Citizens Advice quality standards.

• Ensure all case recording and other record keeping is completed within agreed timescales and conforms to the Office Manual and the Advice Quality Standards

• Use sensitive listening and questioning skills in order to allow clients to explain their problem(s) and to identify the next course of action.

• Use a range of information sources to find relevant information, then interpret and communicate this to clients, enabling them to tackle fuel poverty and financial hardship for the long-term.

• Assist clients with other related problems where they are an integral part of their case and refer internally or to other specialist agencies as appropriate.

• Meet the individual performance targets set as part of this project.

Research & Campaigning

• Take an active role in the research and campaigns process by identifying trends and social policy issues and communicating these to the Project Supervisor and Research & Campaigns Co-ordinator.

• Keep up to date with current research and campaigns priorities, initiatives and plans.

Administration

• Collect and record all relevant information given during interviews on to Casebook to meet the monitoring and evaluation requirements of the project.

• Be self-administering and undertake general administration tasks e.g. taking messages; photocopying, collating, filing; processing post etc.

Professional development

• Pass the City and Guilds NEA Level Energy Awareness exam within 2 months of starting the role.

• Keep up to date with relevant energy advice issues and maintain an up to date working knowledge of all new relevant legislation through:

o Attending training opportunities.

o Reading monthly subscriptions, relevant publications and Citizens Advice Updates.

• Prepare for and attend supervision sessions/team meetings/staff meetings/forums, as appropriate.

• Identify and implement your own learning and development needs.

Other duties and responsibilities

• If required, work from a variety of Citizens Advice Liverpool outlets across the city as required over the course of the week.

• Promote the aims, policies, and membership requirements of the Citizens Advice service.

• Ensure all processes and procedures that relate to the responsibilities of the role are delivered with a high level of awareness of the organisation’s equality and diversity ethos and policies.

• Be a positive ambassador for Citizens Advice Liverpool.

• Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for own safety and that of colleagues.

Requirements

Desirable

1. One year’s experience of delivering generalist advice within Citizens Advice or another quality assured environment such as AQS.

Essential

2. Experience of using interpersonal skills, including sensitive listening and questioning skills to understand the needs of others, especially in the context of telephony.

3. Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively.

4. Effective oral and written communication skills, with good IT knowledge to support delivery of service

5. Ability and willingness to work both on own initiative and as part of a team.

6. Willingness to learn and develop skills and be flexible with service delivery.

7. A good understanding of fuel poverty issues and the issues affecting society and their implications for clients and service provision.

8. Ability to assist with research and campaigns works by providing information about clients’ circumstances

9. Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service and its equal opportunities policies.

10. Ability to pass City and Guilds NEA Level 3 Energy Awareness exam within the first 2 months of starting the role.

About us

Citizens Advice Liverpool is a charity that provides free, confidential and impartial advice to people who live and work in the city. We depend on a workforce of paid staff and over 120 trained volunteers. We give people the knowledge and the confidence they need to find their way forward – whoever they are, and whatever their problem. We are the leading provider of advice and advocacy services in Liverpool and have helped clients with over 106,000 issues in 2022/2023.

CAL have achieved accreditation with the Workplace Wellbeing Charter, showing we are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our workforce. We've also gained an award for outstanding contribution by an employer to workplace health and wellbeing 2022 by Merseycare NHS Foundation Trust.

We've gained awards from Citizens Advice National recognising our Advising Margainalised Communities Team for championing equity, diversity and inclusion in both 2021 and 2021. We were also named volunteer team of the year in 2022.

Policy and Advocacy Officer (Accountability)

Contract Type: Employee (100%) The contract will be managed by a third party (the EOR: Remote) that will act as the legal employer, handling payroll and compliance, while specifying the applicable British employment conditions 

Contract Duration:  Fixed term, 3 years.

Team: Policy, Advocacy and Accountability 

Reporting to:  Policy and Advocacy Manager 

Start Date: May 2026 

Location: London, UK (n.b. applicants must have the existing right to work in the UK) 

About the NCD Alliance 

The NCD Alliance (NCDA) is a registered non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Geneva, Switzerland, dedicated to supporting a world free from preventable suffering, disability and death caused by noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Founded in 2009, NCDA brings together a unique network of over 400 members in more than 60 countries into a respected, united and credible global civil society movement. The movement is unified by the cross-cutting nature of common risk factors including unhealthy diets, tobacco and alcohol use, air pollution and physical inactivity, and the system solutions for chronic NCDs such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, mental health and neurological disorders. 

NCDA is at the forefront of elevating NCDs onto the global health and development agenda through strategic relations with the World Health Organization, United Nations (UN), and governments, with staff around the world, including Geneva, London, and New York City. Our network includes global and national NGOs, scientific and professional associations, academic and research institutions, private sector entities and dedicated individuals. 

NCDA’s activities aim to influence policy, raise awareness of NCDs, broker knowledge and good practice to prevent and treat NCDs. NCDA supports capacity development of NCD civil society organizations and alliances, mobilizing a network of 75 national and regional NCD alliances around the world. Our achievements to date include supporting the adoption of landmark political commitments on NCDs – including from the UN High Level Meetings (HLMs) on NCDs in 2011, 2014 and 2018, the global 2025 NCD targets, NCD-related targets in the Sustainable Development Goals and the declaration of the UN HLM on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in 2019 and 2023. Please find more information about NCDA on our website.

About the role 

NCDA is seeking a motivated Policy and Advocacy Officer to support the delivery of a multi-year project focused on advancing national and regional implementation of global noncommunicable disease (NCD) commitments, and to coordinate PAA’s input into global accountability processes, and regional advocacy programs and global campaigns, with a particular focus on government relations and accountability. 

The Policy Advocacy and Accountability team (PAA) is looking for a Policy and Advocacy Officer to play a key role in delivering integrated planning across these programs, and key elements of these plans, as outlined: 

1. Tracking NCD Accountability processes and coordinating PAA’s policy development and engagement 

• Support PAA’s tracking and engagement with the WHO process for the extension of the NCD Global Monitoring Framework (GMF). 

• Assist in drafting materials, including consultation submissions, policy briefs, and advocacy tool content, to provide information to policymakers and partners. 

• Support global accountability policy development, coordinating network feedback, and liaising across the PAA unit for detailed advocacy content and inputs in specific impact areas. 

1. Regional advocacy and implementation support 

• Coordinate PAA priorities and input into the Advocacy Institute’s Regional Programme to help Regional Alliances hold governments accountable for UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) commitments. 

• Support Advocacy Institute (AI) regional alliance engagement in global advocacy campaigns with a specific focus on global accountability policy development and advocacy, the 3rd NCD Financing Dialogue (Manila, September 2026), and UHC accountability processes (e.g. UHC-ACT), and the build-up to the UN HLM on UHC. 

• Support regional strategy development, including the utilization of existing PAA content and the creation and delivery of advocacy and accountability tools for priority topics. 

• Coordinate policy inputs from PAA for Capacity Development-led activities, primarily the regional alliance convenings and NCDA’s Global Forum in 2028. 

• Coordinate PAA contributions to Advocacy Institute Alliances’ engagement with WHO Regional Committee Meetings (RCMs). 

1. Government Relations and Systems Coordination 

• Liaise with the Capacity Development (CD) team to improve systems and coordination for government contacts and intel sharing, particularly in countries with AI national and regional alliances. 

• Identify opportunities to showcase national and regional NCD policy successes on the global stage. 

• Support cross-unit improvements in planning and managing government relations between the PAA unit as well as capitals and regional intergovernmental bodies corresponding with AI grantees. 

• Maintain and update systems for tracking interactions with partners, policymakers, and other stakeholders. 

1. Support the planning and delivery of key events in the run-up to the Global Week for Action Campaign (GW4A). 

• Support planning, development, and delivery of a strong campaign during the GW4A. 

• Work closely with the Comms and GW4A team on campaign deliverables in the lead up to the GW4A, to be held mid-September (date TBC) on the theme of Leadership and policy implementation. 

• Support the transition of campaign focus from HLM4 toward UHC HLM-related calls in 2027. 
   

1. Operational and logistical support 

• Support unit and organizational operations, as requested 

• Contribute to team processes, including note-taking, planning, and reporting 

• Collaborating with relevant Operations and PAA team members to deliver in-person and virtual events. 

Experience and skills: 

Essential 

• University degree in public policy, international affairs, or health-related subject with a minimum of 2 years of relevant job or internship experience. 

• Experience supporting advocacy campaigns for non-profit organizations. 

• Knowledge of global health and the WHO. 

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines. 

• Excellent writing and oral communication skills in English, with the ability to draft reports, briefs, and presentations. 

• Strong interest in global public health. 

• Capacity to work independently and collaboratively across time zones in an international and multicultural environment

• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills. 

• Sound knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook). 

• Availability for some international travel.  

Desirable 

• Additional work experience directly related to engaging in national or regional advocacy 

• Policy research skills and experience. 

• Knowledge of UN processes and regional health governance. 

• Ability to work in additional UN languages. 

Terms of Employment 

• Start date: May 2026 

• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. We regret that we cannot support visa applications. 

• Diversity and inclusion are central to the way we work at NCDA. We are committed to cultivating a fair and healthy environment where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We are happy to discuss flexible working options for all roles.

• We work to ensure that our recruitment processes are as inclusive as possible to everyone. If accommodation is needed to make the application process more accessible to you, please let us know. 

NCD Alliance values 

Our work is underpinned by values which align with well-established principles of global health and sustainable development: 

• People-centered 

• Collaboration 

• Equity, diversity and inclusion 

• Accountability 

• Independence 

• Excellence and results driven 

Your application should include, in one PDF: 

• A cover letter (one page maximum) outlining how you meet the required experience and competencies, confirmation of your right to work in the UK, and when you would be available for employment. 

• Your resume/curriculum vitae (two pages maximum). 

• One relevant writing sample (five pages maximum). 

Please note that we will not consider incomplete applications. 

Fostering Recruitment Officer / Family Support Worker

When registering to this job board you will be redirected to the online application form. Please ensure that this is completed in full in order that your application can be reviewed.

Salary: £26,854 per annum + £750 Homeworking Allowance per annum 

Hours: 35 Hours per week

Contract: Fixed Term Maternity Cover 12 Months

Location: We are seeking someone located in Southampton/Eastleigh/Portsmouth/Fareham and immediate surrounding area. Travel required across the South Coast, focusing primarily on Hampshire and Dorset, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) and surroundings. 

As a ‘not for profit’ organisation, TACT puts the needs of our children and carers first and looks to appoint individuals who are as passionate about fostering as we are. We are a homeworking organisation, and we pride ourselves on our flexible working opportunities, available from day one, an extensive wellbeing programme and our benefits package, all curated to nurture a healthy worklife balance for all our employees so they can give an excellent service to our carers and the young people and children we care for.

As a foster care charity, TACT invests all surplus income into services, staff, carers, and child development. This means that we have been able to invest in unique projects like TACT Connect, our groundbreaking scheme for TACT care-experienced young people and adults, as well as our expanding Education and Health services. All our activities are built on our commitment to becoming a fully trauma informed organisation, in line with our key values and ethos.

In 2024 TACT became one of the top 5 charities to work for in the UK, placing 5th in the UK Best Companies Work For survey results , and a top 25 midsized company to work with across the whole of the UK. 97% of our people feel proud to work with TACT and think that TACT cares about their wellbeing, while 92% of our people would say they “ love working for TACT”.

The Role:

The Fostering Recruitment Officer/Family Support Worker role focuses on working with prospective and approved foster carers, children and families. You will be available to respond to and visit prospective foster carers as well as plan and participate in recruitment events across the region, contribute to facetoface and online activities and opportunities to support those interested in fostering.

This role requires the candidate to support children and young people in person and attend recruitment activities across the South Coast, focusing primarily on Hampshire and Dorset, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) and surroundings. Therefore, the use of a car suitable for transporting children is an essential requirement of the post, along with the ability to travel extensively, working flexibly around hours and days, including occasional weekends and occasional evenings, as key support to children and their carers and to respond to prospective carers' availability. Flexibility is required in the role to manage and support at short notice, meeting the needs of the children/service.

All employees are homebased but are required to travel regularly to the above locations and attend monthly face to face meetings, wellbeing events, and training events.

TACT offer an excellent employee benefits package, including:

• 31 days paid holiday plus 8 annual bank holidays.
• Progression to salary target rate upon completion of 18 months of service.
• 45p per mile for business travel.
• Flexible working arrangements (including compressed hours, flexibility around core hours, volunteer days policy).
• Family friendly policies.
• Homeworking ‘bundle’ including annual allowance, IT equipment and a loan for home office set up.
• HelpatHand Employee Assistance Programme (including CBT counselling, 24/7 remote GP appointments, physiotherapy, mental health support and second opinions on serious diagnosis).
• An hour a week of live, expert led activities through the Annual Employee Wellbeing Programme.
• Menopause Policy and free Menopause Clinician Appointments.
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme (salary sacrifice).
• Fantastic learning and development opportunities for all roles.

An Enhanced DBS clearance is required for this role and will be processed by TACT on your behalf.

Closing Date: Monday, 23rd March 2025

Interview Date: Tuesday, 31st March 2026

Safeguarding is everyone’s business, and TACT believes that only the people with the right skills and values should work in social work. As part of TACT’s commitment to safeguarding, we properly examine the skills, experience, qualifications, and values of potential staff in relation to our work with vulnerable young children. We use rigorous and consistent recruitment approaches to help safeguard TACT’s young people. All our staff are expected to work in line with TACT’s safeguarding policies.

We reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than advertised if the volume of applications is excessive. You are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

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

The MCF has an exciting opportunity for a Grants Officer to join our fantastic Charity Grants team on a 12-month contract to cover for one of our Grants Officers going on maternity leave. 

This is an opportunity for the right candidate to gain strong experience working with charities, develop knowledge of the key themes and challenges facing the sector, develop their assessment skills including reading charity accounts, expand their network in the grant making sector, and contribute strategically to the Charity Grants team’s programmes looking into the future.

The role is responsible for delivering all aspects of MCF’s core and Provincial charity grant programmes.  You will deal with enquiries, conduct initial meetings with charities online, assess written applications, and prepare and present recommendations to decision‑making panels. The role will also include reviewing monitoring reports and may also involve undertaking charity visits across England and Wales, and to undertake additional duties as required.

Post: Charity Grants Officer

Location: Covent Garden, London. Work from home two days per week.

Hours: 34 hours per week (early finish on Fridays)

Contract: Full-time, 12-month maternity cover

Salary: Circa £31,525 - £34,306 (dependent upon experience)

Holiday: 25 days, plus additional 3 days to be taken between Christmas and New Year and bank holidays

Benefits: Excellent package including contributory pension, medical and dental plans (upon completion of probationary period), access to various health, wellness and retail benefits and continual professional development.

Reports to: Charity Grants Team Leader

Team: 2x Charity Grants Team Leader, 2x Charity Grants Officer

Closing Date: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and the MCF may close applications early if a suitable candidate is found.

Main responsibilities

· Assess expressions of interest and applications received under the MCF’s core and Provincial programmes against charity grants criteria, MCF strategy and funding priorities and the societal need.

· Conduct financial assessments to identify any potential risk of financial or reputational damage to MCF.

· Present assessments and peer review other applications at grant panels.

· Prepare application summaries for committee meetings.

· Review grant monitoring reports, ensuring their progression is on track and in line with the applications.

· Deal with telephone, email and face-to face general enquiries from charities and freemasons.

· Build relationships between MCF and grant holders.

· Ensure all key information, correspondence and documentation are appropriately recorded in the Salesforce database.

The role

The MCF’s current funding priorities includes Early Years, children and young people with SEND, and children affected by domestic abuse. Ideally the successful candidate will have knowledge and experience of at least one of these areas.

The ideal applicant will already have experience within the third sector and have some knowledge and experience of grant-making either through a grant-making organisation or as a fundraiser applying for grants. They will have the ability to build and maintain positive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.

To be successful in this role it is essential to have strong report writing skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to complete analytical assessment. It is also desirable to have research skills, presentation skills and an understanding of charity finances and accounts.

Person specification

Essential

• A Levels (or equivalent) or qualified by experience

• Relevant experience within the third sector.

• Good knowledge of grant making

• Experience of one or more of the Charity Grants funding priorities

• Working knowledge of databases

• IT literate – Microsoft Office

• Analytical Skills

• Organisational Skills

• Report writing

• Accuracy and attention to detail

• Good communications skills

• Numerate

Desirable

• Degree level - or equivalent qualifications.

• Experience of grant-making within the third sector.

• Understanding of Freemasonry

• Experience of using Salesforce

• Presentation Skills

• Research Skills

• Familiarity with charity accounts

About the Masonic Charitable Foundation 

The Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) is one of the UK’s leading charities, providing a range of benevolent support to individuals and awarding grants to local and national charities. The MCF was founded in 2016 following the merger of four charities that had operated separately since the eighteenth century.

Our work helps to encourage opportunity, promote independence and improve wellbeing for thousands of people each year.  Last year, the MCF awarded support totalling around £20 million.  Our support is funded from the donations of freemasons, their families and friends

How to apply

Please provide a copy of your CV together with a covering letter explaining how you meet the person specification.

To navigate the collaboration between BDEF and Adult Social Care (Bristol City Council), making sure that people with lived expertise lead decisions about the services they rely on, guided by the Co‑Production Policy and Disability Equality principles. Please see the attachments for full Job Description and Person Specification, including links to definitions and relevant policies.

Co‑Design and Co‑Production Worker

Hours: 28 hours per week.  Must be flexible and be available for occasional work outside of usual work hours.

Salary: £30,229.28 pro rata (depending on successful completion of the Probationary Period). For the hours, this would work out at £24,183.43 annually. Point 7 on BDEF Pay Policy.

Purpose: To navigate the collaboration between BDEF and Adult Social Care (Bristol City Council), making sure that people with lived expertise lead decisions about the services they rely on, guided by the Co‑Production Policy and Disability Equality principles.

Reports to: Director of BDEF.

Based at: Chelsea Room, Easton Community Centre, Kilburn Street, Easton, Bristol, BS5 6AW. However, we support flexible working arrangements and hybrid working as we are committed to supporting our workers to meet their needs. If this is relevant for you, this can be discussed.

Contract: This is a fixed term contract until March 2029.

Access: We are a Disabled people led organisation. This role is for Disabled people to apply for. As such, support to make reasonable adjustments and/or support to apply for Access to Work will be embedded from the start of working with us.

 As an organisation, we also use Social Model Identity First language such as ‘Disabled people’ and ‘impairments’ or ‘health conditions’.

We know there are Disabled applicants who will have faced many barriers in developing their careers. When you read the job description and person specification, think about your potential to meet the requirements.

If there are items on the person specification where you feel you don't strictly meet the skills or experience listed but you already have strategies, support, or technology to meet these skills in a way that works for you (or you feel with the right support you could excel at) then please apply.

Co-Design and Co-Production

BDEF’s Director previously supported Bristol City Council Adult Social Care to create a Co‑production Policy. This policy was developed because there was no clear, fair, or consistent way for the Council to involve people with lived experience of using Adult Social Care services.

The policy:

• Is designed through co-production between Disabled people, Carers, Community and Voluntary Sector workers and council officers.
• Clearly defines consultation, engagement, co‑design and co‑production.
• Sets expectations for inclusive, equitable involvement.
• Has been fully adopted and approved by Adult Social Care.
• Is intended to guide all future Adult Social Care work.

Following feedback, Bristol City Council has now contracted BDEF, a Disabled‑people‑led organisation, to take this work forward. This, as part of this contract, role will focus on supporting, embedding and putting the policy into practice, ensuring that people with lived expertise are meaningfully involved in shaping Adult Social Care services.

The role will work closely with people with lived expertise of Adult Social Care services (Disabled people and carers among others), Bristol City Council Adult Social Care officers, community and voluntary organisations and BDEF colleagues. The role holder will work directly with BDEF Director who will offer advice and support.

The main duties can be found in the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

We particularly encourage people with intersectional experiences to get in touch, including but not limited to:

● Disabled people who are Black, Brown or racially minoritised communities.

● Disabled non-binary, trans or gender fluid people.

● Disabled people with lived understanding of refugee or asylum experiences and/or systems (although must now have right to work in UK).

● LGBTQIA+ Disabled people.

● Any other Disabled individuals with lived experience of multiple marginalisations.

Deadline:

Please return the application (in whatever form you choose) by 5pm on Tuesday 24th March 2026.

Job Title: Independent Gender Violence Advocate (IGVA)

Location: The Gaia Centre, Lambeth
Salary: £14,428.56 per annum, inlcuding London weighting if applicable
Contract type: Part Time, Permanent

Hours: 18.75 hours per week (working days to be discussed)

We want kind and empathic people to work at Refuge, who believe in equality, diversity, and inclusion, are experts in their area of knowledge, want to make a positive difference and improve the lives of the women and children we support.

The independent gender violence advocate will work closely with victims of gender-based violence from the point of crisis, to provide high quality independent advocacy and support to survivors of gender-based violence at the highest risk and their children.

The role will be part of increasing the ability of partner agencies to recognise, reject and respond appropriately and safely to all forms of gender-based violence (including domestic violence, sexual, financial and emotional abuse, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and honour-based violence). The post holder will empower survivors by providing them with emotional, practical and personal welfare support. The job involves ensuring that women are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming environment, enabling them to access their rights, make decisions and increase their life options. 

The job involves working within a multi-agency framework consisting of the MARAC and local partnership protocols and procedures that prioritise the safety of survivors. The job involves informing survivors of the full range of civil, criminal, and practical options that might increase their safety. 

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies. 

Closing Date: 09:00am 1 April 2026

Interview Date: 9 and 10 April 2026

We’re recruiting an experienced, creative and hands-on communications specialist to work with Platform Places and Footwork over the next 10 months – to develop our bold narratives and inspiring content that help drive locally-led neighbourhood transformation.

• Target start date: 11th May 2026 
• Time input: 3 days per week (0.6 full-time equivalent), with flexibility for up to 4 days per week in certain busy periods, by mutual agreement
• Remuneration: £55,000-£61,500 per year (pro rata) depending on experience
• Flexible working: Work hours can be flexible as long as role objectives are met
• Location: Hybrid, remote or in-person (option to work from our London office). Monthly in-person team days in London, plus occasional trips to partners in Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool, Bristol and London and learning gatherings (expenses covered). 
• Contract type: PAYE employment contract. 10 months fixed term.
• Eligibility: Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

About us

In 2025, Platform Places integrated with Footwork Trust, becoming what we call ‘civic partners’. Together we facilitate locally-led neighbourhood transformation – so people have the power to live affordably, sustainably and together. 

About Platform Places

Platform Places is a national cross-sector collaboration and not-for-profit social enterprise with a mission to unlock town centre buildings for amazing ideas that help us live affordably, sustainably and together. We convene councils, community leaders and asset owners around the country to build powerful partnerships, to unlock buildings for local benefit. We support these Partnerships with access to funding, technical expertise and networks.

Our deeper intention is to localise and democratise who owns, controls and transforms town centre and neighbourhood buildings, so that communities can:

• design spaces to meet local needs – whether affordable space for arts, music, healthcare, local food, housing, nature connection, reuse & repair, childcare etc
• retain and reinvest the wealth generated by these buildings.

We’re inspired by pioneers like Hastings Commons, Stour Trust, SAFE Regen, Civic Square, Nudge Community Builders, Makespace Oxford and other members of the Mycelial Network.

About Footwork Trust 

Footwork (UK charity Footwork Trust) supports local people to transform their neighbourhoods for the better and builds alliances to make this possible.

Since 2022, Footwork’s ‘People and Place’ programme has supported over 50 community innovators to turn their bold ideas into lasting positive change, in response to a local social or environmental challenge. Often reviving land and buildings for community use, they are part of a growing force for fairer, locally-led regeneration, making the places they call home more resilient and equitable. 

Through national and local events, Footwork creates spaces for peer support and shared learning, showcases inspiring examples, and convenes built environment practitioners to enable true collaboration with community partners. 

Together, Footwork and Platform Places co-facilitate the Mycelial Network for Community Asset Developers.

About the Local Property Partnerships pilot, 2024-2027

Thanks to National Lottery players, Platform Places and partners have received almost £2.5 million over three years from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK. The funding is being used to enable communities to come together and secure long-term spaces for the activities and services that they need the most.

This fund and programme resources local leaders in neighbourhoods in Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool City Region, Bristol and London – working towards shifting multiple buildings into long-term local ownership. We’re also supported by our national partner organisations Architectural Heritage Fund, Power to Change and Social Investment Business. Our intention is that this work will lay the groundwork for a larger follow-on funding programme, which catalyses England-wide adoption of this approach.

The role

We’re looking for an experienced, creative and hands-on communications specialist to join our small team and network of local and national partners.

The Communications Lead will focus on our key programmes, with the below time distribution. The challenge and opportunity is to hit the ground running and drive communications across our key channels – to help attract allies, funding and support, and inspire replication of these approaches in neighbourhoods around England.

2 days per week, ‘Local Property Partnerships’: 

• You’ll lead on promoting, and sharing learnings from, Platform Places’ exciting pilot programme (funded by National Lottery Community Fund) – which is localising and democratising who owns, controls and transforms town centre buildings in five neighbourhoods across England. 

0.75 days per week, ‘People and Place’: 

• You’ll promote, and share learnings from, Footwork Trust’s ‘People and Place’ programme – which supports community innovators to turn their bold ideas into lasting positive change for their place. 

0.25 days per week, Wider movement building: 

• You’ll work on ad hoc broader communications opportunities that support our mission and the programmes – for example, creating a content piece with local or national partners from our wider network, or pitching a media story that cuts across all our programmes.

This involves the following areas of responsibility: 

1. Build on our working communications strategy
2. Work with co-directors to develop our bold, inspiring core messaging, and update our boilerplate narratives
3. Manage digital channels for Platform Places and Footwork: a) plan and create regular social media content; b) write newsletters (approx. quarterly); c) upload and edit website content, on Squarespace (drag-and-drop editor) and occasionally Wix (guidance available).
4. Strategic media relations: build journalist relationships and pitch stories (local or national), op-eds and comments
5. Work with local and national partners to share inspiring and compelling stories
6. Develop practical how-tos and templates, together with partners (you'll have support initiating partner relationships)
7. Provide comms guidance to local programme partners
8. Support co-directors and partners with speaking engagements and event opportunities

You’ll start from a strong foundation of communications activities, along with our established tone, visual identity and branded templates – with lots of freedom for new ideas. 

About you

• You’re as comfortable with creative storytelling as you are with practical resources
• You’re a campaigner for systems change – experienced in attracting allies and creating communications for diverse audiences
• You make it sing – you turn dense or complicated materials into clear and effective narratives to shift opinion and action
• You’re a collaborator – you can effectively hold relationships with local and national partners to plan and deliver coordinated communications 
• You can ‘wear all the hats’: you get stuck in on strategy and roll up your sleeves on delivery; you know when to pitch to media and when the tactic is digital; you can knock up great copy or quick Canva graphics without aiming for perfection
• You’re efficient and resourceful, comfortable leading on comms in a small (and collaborative) team, and know how to make things happen on a small budget (and when to seek external specialists)
• You’re passionate about community-led places and social and environmental justice – and you’re knowledgeable about at least one of: high streets, property, retrofit, community business, heritage buildings, cultural venues, town planning, neighbourhood governance

We know you likely have a particular comms specialism, with more strengths and experience in some areas than others. We’d love to hear about this, and about your approach to getting stuck into the rest. 

Our team & culture 

You’ll be joining our small, agile team of six people across Platform Places and Footwork. We meet in-person on a monthly basis to have lunch together and plan ahead, and have weekly online huddles to check-in and discuss priorities.

We work flexibly around our needs, whether a caring responsibility or otherwise.

Our culture is driven by our values: generous sharing, diverse perspectives, active listening and curiosity, staying networked and joy.

Can you help us develop an outstanding service for parent/carers in Surrey?

Do you have a passion to support young people's emotional health and wellbeing?

Barnardo's Parenting Wellbeing Service (PWS) are seeking to recruit two reliable and motivated individuals to join our team who share our commitment and vision to develop an outstanding service and embed Barnardo's basis and values in all we do. Barnardo's PWS offers advice, guidance and support to parents and carers across the county of Surrey.

The contracted hours for these two positions are 26.75 hours per week. Flexibility can be discussed about how these hours are completed within the working week. It is essential that Tuesdays are a working day and there will other occasions where early evening working (up to 6pm) will be required however this would be planned in advance to cater for our parent/carer schedules.

As a Parenting Wellbeing Practitioner, you will hold a rolling caseload and provide support to parents/carers whose children/young people are experiencing difficulties with their emotional health and wellbeing. PWS aims to upskill parents/carers and empower them to explore new strategies to make effective change. PWS encourages parents/carers to use a solution focussed, goal-based strength approach, building on their existing knowledge to support their child(ren) to thrive.

Parents/Carers are offered a hybrid model of support over a number of sessions which are continuously assessed to measure progress. This is usually provided through one 60-minute session per week which can be received either online, over the phone, at home or out in the community.

The Parenting Wellbeing Service operates within a Thrive Framework where choice and shared decision making is fundamental. It is a relational model, and we hold a non-judgmental and trusting relationship between the staff member and parents. You will receive training on the Thrive model at the start of your employment. 

To be successful in this role you will:

• Have experience working with and supporting parents/carers whose children and young people are experiencing difficulties with their emotional health and wellbeing.
• Have the ability to plan, deliver and evaluate 1:1 and groupwork wellbeing interventions with a solution focussed, goal-based strength approach.
• Be able to engage and communicate online and in person with parent/carers, schools, and other professionals or stakeholders representing Barnardo's.
• Have an understanding of how to work within a trauma-informed framework.
• Have knowledge of safeguarding issues, working within multi-agency frameworks and conducting risk assessments.  
• Have good time-management, organisational, numeracy and literacy skills including competency on IT software.
• Have a full UK driving licence and access to a roadworthy and taxed car.

Although the role is hybrid with the ability to work from home, it is essential to meet the needs of the service to travel around Surrey when necessary. Due to this, access to a vehicle and a valid driving licence will be essential. Car insurance must include business use and be in place before starting with the service. The office base (Surrey Wellbeing Hub) for this role is currently in Leatherhead, Surrey and there is a requirement to regularly attend meetings and collect resources from this location. This base determines your normal deductible commute.

Barnardo's offer their staff regular supervision, external clinical supervision and give all colleagues access to at least three learning days a year (pro-rata). Barnardo's University (BU) facilitate a range of opportunities which will be available through B-learning online and the BU prospectus. However, staff can use this time in a way that works for them – for instance to spend a day shadowing another team.

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification and Job Description. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

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

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our Buy Your Leave scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Our basis and values