At Cruse, we have recently launched our new strategy, setting out our charity’s plans to grow our income and build on our expertise and unique position in the sector. We provide expert bereavement and grief information and support, and our charity has been supporting people for over 65 years. We support adults, children and young people across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, through our national services, 84 local branches and online information about grief and bereavement.
You will lead the Community Fundraising and Individual Giving team to inspire support and donations from groups, organisations and individuals in local communities across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You will oversee a range of activity across the Community fundraising team and manage a portfolio of relationships including Fundraising Champions (volunteers in branches) and key donors and supporters. You will review, inform and deliver activity to secure individual giving income and promote gifts in Wills, building our income from individuals including those who have received support from Cruse.
As part of the Income and Marketing/Communications Management Team, you will help shape plans to grow our income, raise awareness and increase engagement from volunteers and donors. Working with key colleagues in Services, Volunteering and Finance, and key volunteers, you will build our approach to Community and Individual Giving.
Timeline:
Closing date: 6th August 2025
Interviews: w/c 18th August 2025
NB We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.
The selection process will involve two stages. First interview will be by video call. Second interview is planned to be via video call, but we reserve the right for an in-person meeting.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to support you during the interview, please don’t hesitate to let us know—we’ll be happy to accommodate.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Who we're looking for
Brilliant storyteller with confidence in their digital marketing, copywriting and PR skills.
Changemaker who is excited about embedding and championing our new brand.
Motivated communicator who will improve engagement with our stakeholders.
Creative leader who enjoys a proactive and responsive environment.
Impact and evidence champion to influence target audiences, raise awareness and garner support.
Values-led collaborator who will build strong relationships with our team, members and strategic partners.
Our focus is on creating libraries of tomorrow with children and young people today.
We want all children and young people to feel at home at the library, to be understood, empowered and inspired. Our collaborative network is made up of member, partners and supporters. We believe in the need for safe spaces and real-life connections to support the demands of modern life. Together, we’re creating change, and you can be a part of it.
Our charity is going through a rebirth, with a new name, strategy and brand identity launching this autumn. This is a pivotal time for a passionate, skilled communicator to join our team. We’re looking for someone to bring the energy and expertise to take us into this new chapter and to new heights, maximising impact and reach.
We are an Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation. Our members are leaders in children and young people’s public libraries and schools library services (SLS).
What’s important to us needs to be important to you too. We want to focus on impact, to work openly, to collaborate with and learn from others, to take the time to care for ourselves and each other, and to have fun together. We want to build an environmentally sustainable charity, and we want to be celebrated as an inclusion changemaker in the sector.
Experience as a communications professional is essential and you’ll be energised by the opportunity to:
- Raise our profile higher within the sector.
- Raise awareness of the range of activities and impacts libraries deliver for children and young people through research, evidence and compelling communication.
- Develop, manage and deliver targeted advocacy for public libraries and schools library services.
- Maintain and cultivate proactive relationships with advocacy and influencing partners to ensure children and young people are always represented in national policy discussions.
- Embed and champion a strong brand, which supports our members and resonates with new stakeholders to ensure we are the ‘go to partner’ for children and young people’s libraries.
- Maximise our use of existing and new research and data to evidence the impact of library services for children and young people’s and schools library services.
- Promote the sector-leading work of our charity, grow our membership and develop new and innovative ways to increase our reach and engagement.
- Develop a strong case for support to attract new funders and supporters.
We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. If you would like to discuss specific requirements, please get in touch.
Further information including the role description and application form is available on our website.
Registered Charity
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Creating libraries of tomorrow with children and young people today.