Social group volunteer volunteer jobs in Houghton le spring, county durham

The Woodland Trust is looking for an Engaging Communities Officer to join our exciting Sherwood’s Living Legends project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. A development grant has been awarded by Heritage Fund to help the Woodland Trust progress the project over 18-months to apply for a 5-year delivery stage grant. If this application is successful, the project will safeguard the future of ancient and veteran trees in Sherwood Forest and reconnect communities with this iconic landscape. This is a fixed term contract for 18-months, with the potential for an extension. 

The Role: 

• Lead the community-focused development of Sherwood’s Living Legends, shaping how people connect with the cultural, historical and ecological significance of ancient and veteran trees. 
• Co-create imaginative engagement approaches with consultants, using storytelling, heritage and local myth to inspire urban and rural communities. 
• Define target audiences and craft compelling key messages that will underpin the project’s delivery-stage communications. 
• Promote the project across the Sherwood NCA through social media, local press, PR events and creative outreach activity. 
• Ensure engagement plans are inclusive, accessible and responsive to the needs of diverse communities and participants. 
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners, community groups, landowners and Woodland Trust teams to support joined-up project development. 
• Monitor and evaluate engagement activity, gathering insight and data to inform project design and future delivery. 
• Represent the project internally and externally, sharing successes and supporting alignment with wider Woodland Trust communications. 

The Candidate: 

• Experienced in coordinating and delivering varied community events, including consultations tailored to different audiences and locations. 
• Confident leading groups outdoors, with experience engaging children, schools and community participants in nature-based activities. 
• Skilled in partnership working, able to collaborate with volunteers, community groups and external organisations to achieve shared outcomes. 
• Strong communicator with excellent written, verbal and digital skills, including social media content creation and public-facing representation. 
• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, with an understanding of how to design accessible and welcoming engagement. 
• Organised and proactive, able to manage multiple workstreams, prioritise effectively and work independently within a dispersed team. 
• Competent with IT systems, particularly MS Office and collaborative platforms such as Teams. 
• Professional, positive and adaptable, able to represent the Woodland Trust and partners with confidence and clarity. 
• The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Basic DBS Check, as part of our pre-employment screening. 

Benefits and Wellbeing: 

Joining our team means you’ll be a big part of tackling environmental and climate issues. We take good care of our staff, offering support and training opportunities. We also offer: 

• Enhanced Employer Pension 
• Life Assurance 
• Flexible & Hybrid Working Options 
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 Days Plus Bank Holidays (pro rata’d for part-time) 
• Buy and Sell Holiday Scheme 
• Enhanced Parental Pay 
• Employee Assistance Programme 

About Us: 

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.  We want to see a world where trees and woods thrive for people and nature. The Trust engages and inspires people to make their difference tackling the nature and climate crisis helping protect, restore and create our vital woods and trees. 

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: 

To achieve our vision of a world where woods and trees thrive for people and nature, we need to better reflect society and the communities we work in. All people, no matter their background, identity, ability, or circumstance, should benefit from trees.

People of colour and disabled people are currently under-represented across the environment and conservation sector. If you identify as a person of colour and/or disabled, we particularly encourage you to apply.  

Please contact us to discuss any additional support or adjustments you may need to complete your application. 

Application Advice: 

For fairness we keep our candidates’ personal details hidden from the hiring managers, and CVs are redacted until after shortlisting is complete. Make sure that your Personal Statement clearly shows how your skills and knowledge link to the specifications in the job description and you share with us your passion for the role. Even if you don't meet every requirement of the role, we would encourage you to apply.

Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI): 

We understand that candidates may choose to use AI tools to support their job applications-for example, to help structure or edit written responses. We welcome the use of AI in this way, particularly where it helps improve accessibility, such as for neurodivergent applicants. However, we ask that any information submitted reflects your own experience, skills and understanding. During interviews, candidates are expected to respond independently without the use of AI tools.

Apply Now: 

If you're ready to make a difference and grow with us, send in your application today. We might close the job opening early if we get a lot of applications, so it's a good idea to apply soon. If we do close the advert early, and you have an application in process, we will email you prior to closing to give you time to complete. 

Interviews to be held on April 21st 2026.

About The Role
When dementia touches someone’s life, it can change things in ways that feel overwhelming, for the person themselves and for those around them. In those moments, having someone who listens, understands and simply shows up can make all the difference.
This role is about being that person.
If you’re someone who leads with kindness, who takes the time to really hear people, and who believes everyone deserves to feel supported, included and valued, this could be a truly meaningful next step for you.
We’re excited to offer an opportunity to work alongside the Local Service Manager to help grow and strengthen supportive networks across Havering, so that no one affected by dementia has to face things alone.
Location: Across Havering Borough, with some homeworking
As a Dementia Adviser, you’ll become a familiar, trusted face in the community. You’ll build genuine connections with people, taking the time to understand their experiences, their worries and what matters most to them.
Your days will be varied and people focused. You might be helping to create warm, welcoming group sessions where people can share stories, build friendships and feel a sense of belonging. You might be sitting with someone in their home, offering reassurance and practical support in a space where they feel most comfortable. You’ll also connect with people over the phone and through local networks, making sure support is always within reach.
At the heart of everything you do is compassion, respect and a belief in meeting people where they are. You’ll also keep thoughtful and accurate records of your work, helping to ensure that every person’s journey is understood and supported with care and continuity.
Every conversation, every visit and every small moment of connection matters here.
What you’ll bring

- The ability to travel across the Havering Borough area
- An understanding of health and social care, or a willingness to learn, and an appreciation of how support needs can shape people’s lives
- Strong organisational and time management skills
- A warm and adaptable communication style, with the ability to connect with people from all backgrounds and experiences
- A genuine commitment to equity, diversity and belonging, and a desire to help create spaces where everyone feels welcome
- Confidence using IT systems, including databases and online tools such as Teams or Zoom

This is more than a role. It’s a chance to walk alongside people, to offer reassurance during uncertain times, and to help create moments of connection, confidence and hope.

About Alzheimer's Society
Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer. One in three people born in the UK today will develop dementia in their lifetime.

At Alzheimer’s Society, we’re the UK’s leading dementia charity and the only one to tackle all aspects of dementia by giving help and hope to people living with dementia today and in the future. We give vital support to people facing the most frightening times of their lives, while also funding groundbreaking research and campaigning to make dementia the priority it should be.

Together with our supporters, we’re working towards a world where dementia no longer devastates lives.

Our values make sure that our focus is clear for the challenges and opportunities ahead and remind us of what we all stand for.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. 

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people. 

Our hiring process

During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply.  Please also contact Alzheimer’s Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.

We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.

We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a DBS check at the relevant level.

Giving back to you

Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society. 

You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it’s like to be an employee at the Society.

Retail Regional Business Manager – Region 1 (Midlands, Kent, South Coast)

Service: Retail

Salary: £32,365 plus £480 home working allowance, per annum

Location: Home-based with regular travel throughout Region 1 (covering shops in Evesham, Hythe, Meads, Seaford, Warwick, and Whitstable); overnight stays as appropriate

Hours: 37 hours per week (full-time)

Contract: Permanent

Family Action & the Role’s Impact:

At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.

We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the

importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.

This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and driven Retail Regional Business Manager to play a pivotal role in leading the success and growth of our Community Shop network. You will champion high-quality retail operations across your region, inspire and develop Community Shop Managers, and cultivate strong, positive relationships within local communities. With a focus on commercial performance, brilliant customer experience, and exceptional people leadership, you will help shape the future of our shops and strengthen their impact. This role offers the chance to influence strategic direction, support new store developments, and contribute meaningfully to Family Action’s mission and values while growing your own leadership and retail management expertise.

Main Responsibilities:

• Provide direct line management to Community Shop Managers, ensuring clarity of objectives and accountability and assist them in the day-to-day running of their stores.
• Maximise income from the Community Shops in the region by tightly managing expenditure and being innovative in income generation.
• Conduct regular shop visits to monitor performance, provide feedback, and document findings in visit reports.
• Develop and execute an annual business plan for the region and the individual Community Shops.
• Assist with the preparation of budget forecasts and monthly reporting.
• Monitor retail budgets, track expenditures and flag variances.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety, financial control, and all operational policies and procedures.
• Process Shop Teams’ petty cash claims and expenses and sign-off timesheets.
• Work with Recruitment and HR teams to fill vacancies and support Community Shop teams.
• Maintain staff and volunteer records – particularly around absence tracking and training logs.
• Work with and support Shop Teams to achieve financial targets.
• Keep up to date with developments in the charity retail sector at the local and national level and use this information to help grow the business.
• Support the Shop Teams in embedding the shops in their local communities.
• Allocate resources within the region and share best practices across the shops to maximise opportunities to achieve budgets.
• Serve as a liaison between Shop Teams and the wider charity.
• Deliver inductions, coaching, and training to Community Shop Managers and Shop Teams.
• Promote a positive image for Family Action among your team.
• Lead on creating high-performing cultures with a focus on customer service, operational excellence, financial control, and delivering budgets and targets (both financial and Gift Aid).
• Maintain P&L accountability for the region, controlling costs and monitoring budgets.
• Contribute to the development of the national Retail Strategy.
• Support on new site acquisitions, refits, and disposals in the region as required.
• Act as a key member of the Retail Senior Leadership Team, supporting strategic decision making.
• Uphold Family Action’s Health & Safety and Data Protection policies, reporting issues promptly.
• Promote and embed Family Action’s Equality & Diversity principles in all work.
• Adherence to Family Action’s Safeguarding policies and processes. 
• Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service, visiting shops a minimum of once per month and overnight stays as required.

Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):

• Experience in managing multiple retail locations and teams
• Experience in charity retail or community-based initiatives
• Experience in P&L management
• Proven ability to deliver against financial targets and control costs
• Strong leadership and people development skills
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Ability to work cross-functionally with other charity functions
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and retail management systems
• Full UK driving license and willing to travel
• Excellent commercial awareness and financial acumen
• High levels of organisational skills and attention to detail
• Competence in using EPOS systems
• Ability to work under pressure
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities

Benefits:

- an annual paid leave entitlement that commences at 25 working days, rising each April by one day, subject to a maximum of 30 working days plus bank holidays (pro rata)

- up to 6% matched-pension contributions

- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions

- eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers

- cycle to work scheme

- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities

We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.

To Apply:

· Click the ‘Apply’ link below and fill out our digital application form

· Closing Date: 13th April 2026 at 23:59pm

Interviews are scheduled to take place virtually, with slots throughout the working day and early/late slots available.

All appointments with Family Action are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.

We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates. We are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action because we know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and we strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.

All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.

To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse reasonable travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person.

*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.

Trusts and Foundations Manager
Permanent | Full time
Ideally 1 or 2 days a week in either in Coventry or Middlesbrough
circa £38,000 - £45.000 per annum

Are you an experienced trusts & foundations fundraiser looking to join a much loved charity which supports babies and young children who have life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.

Aquilas is delighted to be supporting Zoe’s Place in the appointment of a new Trusts and Foundations Manager, a key role at an exciting time of growth for the charity.

About the charity

Zoe’s Place is the only baby specific hospice charity in the UK, providing specialist palliative, respite and end of life care for children aged 0 to 5 with life limiting and life-threatening conditions. They offer a safe, nurturing and joyful environment where families can feel completely supported. With their dedicated nurses delivering 24-hour care, they work together to make every moment of childhood count.

About the role:

Supporting the delivery of Zoe’s Place overall income generation strategy, by researching, record keeping, applying and reporting to a portfolio of trusts and foundations to deliver long term sustainable income growth for the Trust. Overall accountability for capital projects across the Trust

Key Responsibilities:

Account manage the trust and foundations fundraising function   

• Contribute to the maintenance of a comprehensive database for both hospice sites of all relevant grant making trusts and keep up to date with changes in the sector.
• Develop and write applications and bids to a wide range of funders as required.
• Work collaboratively with the Head of Fundraising and fundraising colleagues to ensure all funding opportunities are maximised
• Manage and develop relationships with new and existing funding partners.
• Work collaboratively with Director of Clinical Services, clinical teams and finance to prepare bids and reports.
• Ensure funding partners receive timely and appropriate information about the progress and outcomes of projects including written reports and evaluation in accordance with requirement.
• Responsible for delivery of income targets.
• Ensure excellent relationships are maintained with current, past and prospective funders so the Zoes Place Trust name is associated with honesty and high standards of service delivery.
• Organise visits and tours for trustees of charitable foundations if requested to both Middlesbrough and Coventry sites.

 Administration and pipeline

• Use our fundraising CRM and in line with GDPR to ensure accurate and timely record keeping allowing for good stewardship.
• Carry out detailed research on prospective foundations, identify and maintain a calendar for submitting applications.
• Working with an income pipeline / tracker to ensure accurate and timely financial forecasting, identifying risk to income and mitigating accordingly.
• Ensure activities comply with current law, guidance and best practice of the Fundraising Regulator

Person Specication:

• strong track record in Trusts and Foundations fundraising
• Experience of working in the charity Sector
• Excellent and persuasive writing skills and a sharp eye for details
• Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills

To Apply:

To receive a candidate pack or arrange a confidential conversation, please contact:

Kieran McGorrian, Head of Not for Profit Appointments, Aquilas (contact details in candidate pack)

Applications close 5pm Monday 20th April

Aquilas are wholly committed to equality of opportunity and diversity and we warmly welcome applications from all suitably-qualified candidates.  We are truly invested in our candidates and being supportive and informative throughout the application journey

Together for Short Lives is looking for a driven and creative Business Development Manager to develop and secure high‑value corporate partnerships that will help transform the lives of seriously ill children and their families. You’ll lead our business development strategy, build a strong pipeline of opportunities, and develop lasting relationships with prospective and existing supporters.

If you’re collaborative, tenacious and passionate about making a real impact in children’s palliative care, we’d love to hear from you.

Full‑time 1 year FTC | Hybrid (UK‑wide with travel to our Bristol Office) | £42,000

Purpose of role

The Business Development Manager will lead our efforts to secure high-profile, high-value partnerships with corporate organisations  that will generate vital income for children's palliative care. Securing new partnerships and growing our income requires exceptional collaboration skills; a driven, tenacious and resourceful nature; innovation and creativity; and a passionate determination to make a difference to the lives of children and families across the UK.

The main objectives are as follows:

1. Secure new corporate partnerships raising funds to support Together for Short Lives’ direct work, and our National Fundraising Scheme (raising funds on behalf of the UK’s children’s hospices).
2. Develop and deliver a business development strategy, including  prospect research, managing  a robust pipeline of opportunities, and developing a diverse range of business development products. 
3. Manage and develop relationships with a portfolio of individual contacts and organisations, including prospective and existing supporters.

We seek to appoint a community pioneer for ‘Earthed’, a relatively new initiative that seeks to work across the Almondsbury and Severnside area (South Gloucestershire)

The successful applicant will be supported fully so they are free to wander and seek to respond to where God is calling. Applicants will be creative visionaries, who are resilient and able to respond to the challenges such a unique role will uncover.

This isn’t about running polished events or having everything figured out. It’s about bringing people together in simple ways - walks, time around a fire, moments of reflection - and seeing what grows.

The Community Pioneer for Earthed will cultivate spaces where people can connect - with one another, with nature, and with God. These spaces will be open, authentic, and welcoming, especially to those who are curious, questioning, or exploring faith.

About The Role
Are you able to remain organised while successfully managing projects or events? Would you like to ensure we provide best possible events experience to our supporters, whilst raising vital funds to help those affected by dementia?
We are recruiting for Events Fundraising Officers to join our ambitious Third Party and Organise your Own (OYO) Events team.
As Events Fundraising Officer (Third Party & OYO) you’ll support the growth, development, and delivery of our Third Party Events portfolio. You will lead on a varied portfolio of events such as the London Marathon, Manchester Marathon or selected events within the AJ Bell Great Run Series.” And “(travel expenses paid for by the Society and you will be entitled to claim TOIL).
You’ll work across multiple events to help us to give our participants and supporters the best possible events experience. This will enable us to build lasting connections with our cause and contribute to the £12million our team is projected to raise this financial year, with the wider Events team set to raise £22million. This is a rewarding role which helps to raise vital funds to support the lives of people affected by dementia.
These roles are all home-based, however you will be asked to travel and attend events in-person and occasionally across weekends throughout the year (travel expenses paid for by the Society).
This is a fixed-term position running until 31 December 2027.
 Interviews for this role have been provisionally scheduled to take place via MS Teams on the 29th & 30th April.
About you
Joining us, you’ll have experience managing projects and/or events, with the ability to stay organised and prioritise your workload effectively. You’ll have experience of financial management and budgeting in relation to a project or an event.
Crucially, you’ll be able to build positive relationships with both internal and external stakeholders and suppliers. You’ll be an effective communicator with experience producing and managing marketing or stewardship communications. You’ll also have the ability to collaborate successfully with others to deliver successful events that enable us to achieve targets.
What you’ll focus on:

- Organising, planning and delivering Third Party events successfully, providing the best possible experience for our participants.
- Building, monitoring and managing income and expenditure budgets, along with participant numbers, to ensure we hit our ambitious targets.
- Communicating with and building positive relationships with external suppliers and internal colleagues.

Making data-led decisions and problem solving to ensure we hit our ambitious team targets, working under your own initiative whilst collaborating with peers.

Our commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging

We need to ensure the voices around our table better reflect and understand the communities we exist to serve. We strongly encourage individuals to apply who have a disability, impairment or health condition or individuals who identify as Black, Asian or from another minority ethnic background, as these groups are currently under-represented at Alzheimer's Society.  

We want everyone we work with, as a colleague, volunteer, supporter, or someone we support, to feel included and that they belong at Alzheimer's Society. 

Our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy here along with our internal employee forum and Employee Lived Experience network groups help us promote inclusion and belonging, becoming an engaged and inclusive organisation for all our people. 

Our hiring process

During your recruitment process we want to make sure that you bring your whole self and can be at your best. We are working hard to ensure our recruitment process is as inclusive as possible, so please do inform us of your experience and anything you think we could do better by completing our candidate survey when you apply.  Please also contact Alzheimer's Society Talent Acquisition Team via [email protected] for application support or any adjustments you might need.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value it truly adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to showcase them in your own voice.

We try to avoid closing roles early where possible, however if we receive a high volume of applications, we may close earlier than the advertised closing date. Should this occur, we will aim to provide you with at least 48 hours' notice.

We are committed to safer recruitment and ensuring the welfare of those we work with, due to the nature of some of our roles, we might need to carry out a Criminal Record Check at the relevant level. You can read more information via our Website.

Giving back to you

Our employees work hard every day to make a true difference in people's lives. We are proud to support them with a range of benefits, recognition and many options for working agilely, all contributing to a strong work life balance. We also have various learning programmes to support you in your development and help you grow to realise your potential and shape a career with Alzheimer's Society. 

You can also visit our Working for Us pages, which give you more information about what it's like to be an employee at the Society.