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This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
SMART CJS – Trust and Foundations Bid Writer
Role Overview
Are you committed to supporting people who are homeless or rough sleeping?
Are you proactive with a positive attitude?
Job Title: Trust and Foundations Bid Writer (with some responsibility for corporate fundraising)
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Working from our office in central Bedford, with some provision for remote working.
About SMART CJS
Founded in 1997, we are a charity that provides safe spaces for people who are facing or experiencing homelessness, are rough sleeping or have fallen on tough times. As times have changed, our services have adapted and grown, but we’ve always kept the people we support at the centre of all that we do. We believe that everyone needs a little help sometimes and, with trust, respect and honesty, people can make incredible changes. Our vision is to transform communities so that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their fullest potential, participate in and contribute to all aspects of life. Our mission is to provide safe spaces to work with vulnerable people within our communities, empowering them to make positive changes and take control of their lives.
Why Join Us?
We believe in diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.
Benefits include:
- 27 days Annual Leave (rising to 30 after 3 years) + Bank Holidays (pro rata)
- Generous Pension scheme (after successfully completing a probation period)
- Excellent Development and Growth Opportunities
- Access to a Charity Worker Discount scheme
- Access to the company health and wellbeing service including support with mental health, legal advice and more
- Access to an online GP service
We require all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This job description will be supplemented by annual objectives which will be developed in conjunction with the post holder.
The Role
SMART CJS is looking to recruit a Trusts and Foundations Bid Writer. The successful candidate will also have some responsibility for corporate fundraising with businesses based in Bedford and beyond; this responsibility will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.
The main responsibility, though, will be to generate income by writing bids to charitable trusts and foundations, and to statutory funders.
The role will include researching and identifying charity trusts and similar bodies which are able to make an award to SMART. It will also include keeping abreast of developments in fundraising in the charity sector as a whole, especially in the field of grant awarding and, to a lesser extent, of corporate giving.
There will be a probationary period for the role. As it generally takes six months for a grant to be awarded (though some arrive more quickly), the probationary period will need to be for a minimum of seven months, though its precise duration can be negotiated with the successful candidate.
Training will be given; the scope of the training will depend on the candidate’s previous experience.
This is an exciting opportunity to join SMART’s friendly and dedicated team. You’ll need to be able to manage your time effectively; the role is primarily self-directed. We envisage that you’ll be working primarily from our offices in Prebend Street, Bedford, though you'll be able to work from home for some of the time as well. Given the nature of our work, personal resilience is important; some of the stories we use when applying for funding can be emotionally challenging.
Our fundraising comes from regular gifts, donations from the community (individuals and groups), and corporate bodies (businesses). The majority of our fundraising income comes from grants. There will be a realistic target for the amount you need to raise; this will reflect the performance for grant applications in the charity sector as a whole and it will not be unrealistic. Fundraising is not an exact science; the assessment of performance against the targets will be fair and reasonable. The final responsibility for SMART’s fundraising rests with the trustees; they appreciate and understand the complexity of the issues involved.
Main Purpose of the Role
You will work closely with the CEO, the Chair of Trustees, the Head of Business and the fundraising team. The post involves gathering information, writing the bids, tracking the progress of submissions, and reporting back to grant awarders on how their money has been spent, if they require this.
There will also be a responsibility for corporate fundraising. This will involve building relationships with businesses in and beyond the Bedford area. The responsibility for this will be shared with our Community and Corporate Fundraiser.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising and Bid Writing
- Research and identify suitable grant and funding opportunities from charitable trusts, foundations, and statutory bodies.
- Write and submit high-quality funding applications and proposals in line with SMART’s strategic priorities.
- Work collaboratively with service leads and front line teams to gather accurate, up-to-date data and service information for applications.
- Tailor the applications to the funder’s criteria, using storytelling effectively.
- Manage a pipeline of applications and submissions, ensuring deadlines are met and income targets are tracked.
- Maintain and build relationships with key funders, providing timely reports and updates on grant-funded work.
- Work to realistic targets and be able to provide feedback on these.
- Organisational Development and Support
- Contribute to the strategic development of SMART’s income generation plans.
- Support development of strong internal bid and grant management systems.
- Monitor success rates and provide monthly reporting on funding performance to the Head of Business and to the Chair of Trustees.
- Represent SMART CJS at funding briefings, webinars, and networking opportunities where appropriate.
Other Responsibilities
- Participate in SMART’s performance management and appraisal process.
- Attend the monthly meetings of the Fundraising Committee (a sub‑committee of the Board of Trustees).
- Comply with health and safety policies and procedures.
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, as required by the CEO, the Head of Business or the Chair of Trustees.
Person Specification
Whether you’re already an experienced bid-writer, or whether you think this is something that you could learn to do effectively, we’d like to hear from you. You need to have excellent skills in written English and be able to write in prose that’s clear and readily understandable to the general reader. The criteria for each grant awarder are different; you need to be able to match your bid to what they would like to fund (homelessness, mental health, relief of poverty, women’s issues and so on). You need, then, to tell SMART’s story in a way which appeals to each funder.
You need to have excellent inter-personal skills and be able to work as part of a team. While there is a strong element of self-direction in the role, you need to be able to work closely with senior management and also with the trustees; the trustees have the final responsibility for fundraising in the charity.
You will need, too, to have a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, and to have a genuine interest in homelessness and the work of the charity, and a commitment to improving our clients’ lives and wellbeing.
Registered Charity 
51 - 100
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Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
JOB TITLE:HR Coordinator
LOCATION: Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire (minimum 4 days in office per week)
SALARY: £35 - £40k per annum, depending on experience
JOB TYPE: Permanent, 5 days per week (37.5 hours)
Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives.
We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving Medical Alert Assistance Dogs to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease with our Bio Detection Dogs. We have an exciting new opportunity to join this small, but ambitious charity that is a world leader in its specialist innovative field.
MAIN PURPOSE & SCOPE OF THE ROLE:
The HR Coordinator will provide specialist and proactive support to other departments within the charity to ensure organisational compliance in all relevant areas relating to HR.
WHAT YOU’LL DO:
Reporting to the People Engagement Manager, you will be supporting the Charity to set and deliver on its People Strategy. You will be responsible for providing operational HR services, advice, and guidance with a primary focus on HR transactions, employee relations management, engagement, recruitment and performance management. You will identify, analyse and utilise HR data to inform decision making and identify more efficient ways of working.
Reports to: People Engagement Manager
ABOUT THE ROLE
- You will lead the development and implementation of a best practice approach to recruitment.
- You will advise managers on best practice techniques for monthly one-to-one meetings and annual appraisals to ensure staff feel confident to openly discuss challenges as well as successes.
- You will review and update our existing HR policies and procedures, ensuring they not only comply with current HR law but importantly promote best practice.
- You will also work with the senior leadership team to develop a set of organisational values that prioritise equality, diversity and inclusion and reflect best practice, ensuring these are then communicated to all staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.
- This is a rare opportunity to join a charity that wants to strengthen the support it provides to its staff and volunteers.
Responsibilities of the Role
- Maintain all HR policies and procedures ensuring they are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect relevant legislation and best practice.
- Ensure managers and staff are aware of and understand policies and procedures, communicate changes, and provide support to managers when interpreting policies as required.
- To work in collaboration with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team in leading Medical Detection Dogs towards our vision of becoming a staff-centric charity.
- Provide an efficient service to deliver HR transaction activities throughout the employment lifecycle, from offer to off-boarding.
- Provide support, guidance, and advice for managers in conducting and concluding employee relations cases, including absence, performance management, disciplinary and grievance cases, ensuring adherence to policy.
- Manage, maintain, and deliver the charity’s onboarding induction to new members of staff.
- Always maintain the highest levels of discretion and confidentiality.
- Be a role model within the charity demonstrating MDD’s values and behaviours at all times.
- Monitor completion of performance appraisals and one to one meetings, issuing reminders and offering support to managers as required.
- Coordinate and support the delivery of employee engagement surveys, including planning, analysis, reporting and follow up actions.
- Produce regular HR reports and people data metrics for the Senior Leadership Team (e.g. turnover, tenure, sickness absence trends, performance outcomes).
- Maintain and update the HR system (Breathe HR), ensuring employee records are accurate and up to date.
- Prepare and submit monthly payroll changes to the finance team in line with payroll deadlines.
- Manage staff benefits including the health cash plan, life assurance, pension scheme and long service awards.
- Produce and circulate internal HR communications such as staff newsletters, HR updates and policy changes.
- Coordinate and support learning and development activities, including booking and maintaining training records and delivering HR related training for managers and staff (e.g. one to ones, appraisals, HR systems).
- Assist in developing employee engagement initiatives.
- Contribute to wellbeing and inclusion initiatives.
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Experience & Qualifications
Essential
- CIPD Qualified and a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar role or currently undertaking the qualification.
- Employee relations (e.g. performance, absence, disciplinary, grievance, redundancy, etc) case management in line with current UK employment legislation
- Management of end-to-end recruitment activity, supporting hiring managers and focussed on candidate experience
- Excellent interpersonal, networking and communication skills
- Experience of managing relationships with staff at all levels
Desirable
- Experience of reward and recognition practices
- Experience of managing and inspiring staff, including encouraging innovation and improving ways of working to build a resilient and high performing team culture that delivers results
- Effective organisation and administrative skills gained within HR
- Experience on use of HR database (BREATHE)
Knowledge & Skills
DESIRABLE
- Ability to work independently and under minimal supervision in a fast paced and demanding environment, exercising good judgement, and using own initiative.
- Ability to work supportively and effectively within and across teams and build good working relationships
- Ability to maintain confidentiality when appropriate
- Proficiency in using Microsoft Office
- Highly effective written and verbal communication skills
- Good influencing and negotiation skills
- Strong people management skills with the ability to train and develop individuals and create a ‘one team’ ethos
Other Requirements
- A full current driving license
- Comfortable with dogs in the workplace/office
DIVERITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION
We are a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive Charity. Medical Detection Dogs thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Charity Values
All employees are expected to uphold the charity’s core values in their daily work. This includes demonstrating respect through open and considerate communication, fostering cooperation by working collaboratively, maintaining honesty in all interactions and ensuring fairness through just and transparent decision-making.
Benefits
- Sick Pay
- Health Cash Plan
- 26 days holiday, increasing with service
- 5% Employer Pension Contribution
- Free On-site parking
- Life Insurance
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.