Life skills coach jobs

Policy and Public Affairs Manager
Harrogate, North Yorkshire

We offer hybrid working and we are committed to paying the Real Living Wage.

About Us

Yorkshire is one of the regions hardest hit by cancer. Together, we can change this.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a charity dedicated to funding research so that you and those you love live longer healthier lives, free of cancer.

Thanks to supporters, the charity funds vital cancer research and pioneers innovative new services for people with cancer. These life-giving medical breakthroughs are helping more people survive cancer – in Yorkshire, and beyond.

As an inclusive employer, our aim is to ensure our workforce reflects the rich diversity of our region. We believe a diverse workforce is vital to us taking action to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer more effectively in Yorkshire. We offer equal opportunities regardless of race, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnerships.

The Benefits

We offer all employees a wide range of benefits including an enhanced contributory pension scheme, 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (increasing to 30 days after 5 years’ service), flexible working arrangements, private medical insurance, enhanced maternity leave, career progression, learning and development, wellbeing initiatives, offices within walking distance of Hornbeam Park train station, free onsite parking and a whole lot more.

We’ve got a strong set of values that inform everything we do and we’re looking for people who are aligned with these. As our Policy and Public Affairs Manager, you will put people in Yorkshire at the heart of everything you do, unite with colleagues and other organisations in this cause, and dare to think big and bold to make positive solutions happen.

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Policy and Public Affairs Manager to join our Research, Policy and Impact team.

Supporting the Head of Cancer Insight, you will continue to develop and deliver a policy and public affairs strategy, including influencing at a local, regional, and national level, with the aim of helping the charity achieve its strategy and bringing benefit to the people of Yorkshire. You will develop evidence-based policy reports and recommendations that can be used to influence a variety of audiences and project manage the development, delivery and evaluation of public affairs campaigns and events. As Policy and Public Affairs Manager, you will also act as a source of expertise across the organisation and externally on key policy areas and the wider policy environment.

Specifically, you will:

Influencing

· Support the further development, refinement and delivery of the charity’s influencing strategy and impact evaluation process, in line with the charity’s own strategic ambitions.

· Lead the development of insightful written materials and reports to aid influencing.

· Lead the charity’s response to regional and national consultations relevant to cancer in Yorkshire, making a robust and evidence-based case for the charity’s position.

· Oversee the continued growth of the charity’s political monitoring work and ensure the effective pursuit of every opportunity offered.

· Engage with regional and national decision makers to influence policy-making for the benefit of people in Yorkshire and beyond.

· Grow relationships with key stakeholders across Yorkshire and beyond (such as DHSC, NHSE, Integrated Care Boards, Cancer Alliances, national policy groups, and other charities, to influence change based on policy recommendations.

Policy development

· Support the continued development of the policy production and dissemination process, including the policy development pathway, internal/external dissemination and impact evaluation.

· Lead the research, production and dissemination of high quality, evidence-based cancer-related policies and the strategic development of key policy recommendations.

· Oversee regular updates of existing policies and position statements, ensuring that topical policies are updated frequently.

· Ensure external insight is built into policies and policy development, such as gaining views from the Patient and Public Involvement Community, the inclusion of external patient and public contributors and endorsements from clinical and academic experts.

· Oversee work with relevant internal teams to create key messages for a range of internal and external stakeholders, ensuring these are in line with the latest evidence and are used correctly, and provide expert commentary on media stories.

· Act as a source of expertise on the charity’s cancer-related policies and position statements, both internally and externally. Undertake media interviews as required to communicate key messages with the public.

Campaigns and Events

· Project manage the development, delivery and evaluation of public affairs campaigns, in collaboration with the Brand and Relationships team where relevant, manage relationships with third parties to support campaign delivery where required.

· Lead the outreach and delivery of influencing events, including visits to charity-funded projects and party conference activity.

· Further develop and deliver of a strategy for growing and maintaining a handraiser supporter base, to enhance public affairs campaigns activity.

About You

To be considered for this role, you will need:

· To have a degree in a relevant subject area, for example public policy, public health, scientific, medical etc.

· To have substantial experience of writing influencing materials such as briefings, letters, blogs, campaign materials.

· To have substantial experience supporting the implementation of high impact campaigns that engage the public and are designed to influence. Experience of working on campaigns that encourage behaviour change.

· To have experience of evaluating campaigns, and assessing the impact of policy and public affairs activities.

· To have excellent Public Affairs experience including understanding of local, regional and national government, the current health policy landscape as well as knowledge of UK parliamentary processes along with a proven track-record of engaging politically to make change happen.

· To have substantial experience of developing evidence-based policies for a health focused organisation.

· To have substantial experience of communicating health policy positions to a variety of audiences including for influencing purposes.

· To have a good understanding of the health care system in England.

· To be a strategic thinker with strong analytical, judgement and decision-making skills.

· To be able to sift out the essential elements from a mass of complex information, integrate and synthesise ideas, and present information to others in an accessible way.

· To be a pro-active and creative approach to policy work with an ability to identify and use external opportunities and a desire to succeed.

· To have excellent verbal, written communication and presentation skills with the ability to interpret complex information and communicate this to a range of audiences so it is clear and accessible.

· To have excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise work, handle conflicting demands and meet tight deadlines with exceptional levels of accuracy maintained.

· To have strong management and leadership skills, with the ability to coach team members to encourage continued development and learning.

· To have strong networking, influencing and relationship management skills, with the ability to inspire and influence others, as well as the confidence and personal authority to work with external organisations.

Application

Before applying, please visit our Careers Page to view the full role profile and find out more about working for Yorkshire Cancer Research.

To apply please submit a CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for the role to Claire Wooldridge, Head of People,before 15 December 2025. Please read our privacy notice before applying.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a responsible and flexible employer.  We welcome any discussion for flexible working at the interview/offer stage where we will consider an individual’s circumstances against the needs of the charity.

We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. If we can make any reasonable adjustments to support your application please contact us via our website. 

At YMCA DownsLink Group, our mission is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.

YMCA What is Sexual Exploitation (WiSE) is our child sexual exploitation project which works with children and young people across Sussex and Surrey. Our primary focus of work is supporting young people affected by exploitation through raising awareness, education and empowerment.

We have an exciting opportunity to join the WiSE team as a Male Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE) Practitioner. This role involves providing specialist support, working across Sussex and Surrey to provide case work support and group interventions to boys and young men at risk of or experiencing sexual exploitation, as well as those exhibiting harmful sexual behaviour. You will deliver outreach sessions in various settings, collaborate with professionals to support interventions leading to prosecutions, and provide training on boys/young men and sexual exploitation.

Due to the sensitive nature of the client group and in order to ensure that the young people feel safe, supported and understood, there is a genuine occupational requirement for the post holder to be male, as permitted under the Equality Act 2010.

A full driving licence and access to a car are essential due to the wide geographic area covered by the service. You will be required to visit head office in Hove once a week for an anchor day. The other days will be across Sussex and Surrey in the community

In delivering the role, the key responsibilities are:

• Carry a caseload of boys and young men identified as exhibiting harmful sexual behaviours and/or being sexually exploited
• Work collaboratively with other professionals to provide intensive and holistic support
• Maintain detailed case notes and contribute to reports
• Facilitate group work interventions in schools, accommodation projects and youth groups
• Deliver detached sessions in various settings to engage at-risk boys and young men
• Provide expertise and increase awareness of harmful sexual behaviour and sexual exploitation
• Contribute to WiSE Child Exploitation training and awareness campaigns

About You – If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we are looking for.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Proven experience in safeguarding young children
• Experience providing casework support to boys and young men
• Group work experience with young people
• Safeguarding children and young people at risk of serious harm
• Delivering and risk assessing outreach work with young people
• Knowledge of risks posed to vulnerable young people through sexual exploitation and harmful sexual behaviour
• Significant knowledge and understanding of boys and young men and their lives

Qualifications:

• Qualification in Youth Work/Social Work or equivalent, or comparable experience working with vulnerable young people.

CLOSING DATE: Sunday 4 January at midnight. We reserve the right to close this advert early if a successful candidate is found, so please submit your application as soon as possible.

Successful candidates will already have the right to live and work in the UK without restrictions. We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists) check, along with a reference and background check carried out by a third-party service provider. 

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. Successful applicants are required to undertake an Enhanced DBS (including the Children’s and Adults’ barred lists) check, along with a reference and background check carried out by a third-party service provider. 

Reports To: Head of Frontline Services

Hours: 12 hours per week (flexible but should include attendance at fortnightly Monday morning team meetings in Harrow). There may be opportunity to expand hours if desired.

Location: [Hybrid: Harrow team meetings /West London Community – which could span Hounslow, Hammersmith, Harrow, Barnet, Ealing, Brent/Online/Telephone] 

Our head office is currently in Croxley, Watford and team meetings may move to this location. You need to be able to travel to this location as part of the role.

Salary - £34,320 pro rata

The Violence Intervention Project (V.I.P) is a young Charity (founded in 2017), pioneering new approaches to working with young people (YP) involved in serious youth violence (SYV). Through a combination of practical and therapeutically informed practice, we support YP, their families and communities to live safer lives. Today, The V.I.P. supports more than 50 YP and families across the London Boroughs of RBKC, H&F, Ealing, Hounslow and Hillingdon. As an organisation with a therapeutic ethos at the heart of our practice, we prioritise the care and wellbeing of our employees. As a result, we have an incredible team and strong employee engagement backed by clinical supervision, a Board of Trustees and a Leadership Team who support and promote personal care and professional development. It’s because of our unique working culture that we’re able to meet the serious challenges and demands of our work.

At the V.I.P we aim to be a thought leader in our sector. To date we’ve established strong ties with the Anna Freud Centre along with funding from the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit. All our operations are framed within a public health approach and built on the fundamental belief that shame is a catalyst for violence; to which relationships are the antidote.

Our innovation, passion and principles have translated into a strong reputation and sustained expansion across West London. Our practice model, Urban Therapy, meets young people where they are — in cafes, parks, and community spaces. We also deliver early intervention programmes in schools and lead The Shame Initiative, our national training and consultancy offer for frontline practitioners.

All our posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS disclosure as well as a full employment history and two employment references. We are committed to equal opportunities in employment and service delivery and we welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Job Purpose: The Family Outreach worker plays a vital role in supporting the families of clients to enhance their stability, wellbeing, and access to essential services. In this role, the Family Outreach worker will provide personalised assistance to families, strengthen connections with external partners and community resources, and collaborate with the team to ensure comprehensive and cohesive support. Additionally, they will establish structured communication and availability protocols to manage expectations and promote sustainable assistance for families.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Develop and Implement Family Support Plans § Caseload Management: Maintain a focused caseload of 4–5 families at a time, ensuring each receives consistent, high-quality support § Care Plan Development: Co-design and implement personalised support plans with families, focused on clear, achievable goals, addressing unique needs such as housing support, access to services, and emotional and practical assistance. § Outcome Tracking: Regularly assess and monitor family progress, aiming for high satisfaction and meaningful, positive outcomes. § Ensure all work complies with safeguarding and confidentiality policies and promptly escalate any concerns regarding the welfare of children or vulnerable adults.

2. Build and Strengthen External Partnerships and Professional Networks § Networking and Outreach: Dedicate time each month to building relationships with key external partners, such as housing providers, domestic violence services, cultural support groups, and other community organisations. § Professional Network Integration: Actively collaborate with members of each family’s professional network (e.g. healthcare providers, educators, social services) to ensure aligned and effective support. § Partnership Development: Identify service gaps and cultivate partnerships with external agencies to broaden the range of resources available for families, especially during crises or complex situations. § Crisis and Complex Needs Support: Utilize professional connections to extend the support network available to families, enhancing their access to comprehensive care.

3. Foster Team Collaboration and Communication § Team Meetings and Case Discussions: Participate in regular team discussions to align family support strategies and incorporate team insights into care plans. § Documentation and Information Sharing: Maintain detailed documentation on family interactions, progress, and needs to facilitate informed team coordination. § Collaborative Problem Solving: Leverage the collective expertise of the team to address complex family needs and ensure proactive, cohesive support.

4. Develop Clear Communication and Availability Protocols § Service Model Communication: Communicate service guidelines, availability expectations, and emergency protocols to families to promote mutual understanding and prevent miscommunication. § Feedback-Driven Adjustments: Regularly gather and assess feedback from families to adjust communication protocols and improve service effectiveness.

5. Ongoing Monitoring, Review, and Professional Development § Role and Service Review: Schedule regular check-ins with management to assess role effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. § Feedback Collection and Analysis: Collect feedback from families and professional network contacts to maintain high-quality service standards and align with organisational objectives. § Professional Growth: Engage in professional development opportunities to continually refine and align your approach with the organisation’s mission, vision, and evolving community needs. Key Requirements: § Experience in Family Support or Community Outreach: Proven background in social work, family support, or community engagement, with an ability to manage complex family cases. § Strong Communication and Network-Building Skills: Effective communicator able to engage with families, team members, external partners, and professional networks, ensuring cohesive, high-quality support. § Empathy and Professionalism: Commitment to providing respectful, empathetic support to families, balanced with clear professional boundaries. § Organisational Skills: Ability to manage multiple cases, maintain thorough documentation, and adhere to Urban Therapy protocols to ensure high-quality, consistent service.

Key skills and qualities: · Flexibility and adaptability · Trust building · Advocacy skills · Crisis Intervention skills · Resilience · Active Listening · Solution Focused · Ethical practitioner

Urban Therapy is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion, and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

This role may evolve as community needs develop; the Family Outreach Worker will contribute to shaping the service model over time.

Job Purpose:

1. To lead the development and delivery of WIP’s housing programme in South London and Manchester, ensuring high quality, trauma responsive services.
2. Develop effective pathways with local housing teams and providers, including through co-design with women with lived experience, developing training and resources to improve the knowledge and understanding on women impacted by the CJS. 
3. Provide effective leadership to direct reports, fostering a positive, supportive and collaborative team culture.
4. Work collaboratively with the external affairs team to provide programme insights to influence policy and systems change to prevent criminalisation of women due to homelessness and housing insecurity.

Data, Insight and Impact Manager

Salary: £41,097 - £45,423 per annum (salary depending on experience)

Location: Leeds, with regular travel to Centres across Yorkshire and Humberside

Hours: 37 hours per week, full-time

Closing date: Monday 5th January 2026, 9AM

Interview date: W/c 12th January 2026

Please note: this role is only open to women, in accordance with the sex-based exemptions of the Equality Act 2010 pursuant to Schedule 9, Part 1.

About us

Together Women is an award-winning charity that supports women and girls across Yorkshire and Humberside, with particular focus on women who are involved in or at risk of entering the criminal justice system. Our vision is for women and girls to feel safe, valued and in control of their own life choices.

From our women centres, we provide tailored support across a range of different pathways, including housing, domestic abuse, debt, and unemployment. As a charity led by women, for women, we provide trauma informed, holistic support to help break cycles of trauma, abuse, and re-offending, and evoke systems change.

Role Summary

This is an exciting role for someone with a passion for leading data-driven, insight-led service design and delivery, and for a person who loves to champion best practice in data management and governance. In this role you will contribute to improving the experiences and outcomes of the women who access our Women’s Centres and Services, and by listening to and learning from women, you will utilise insight to drive organisational and systemic change.

You will lead on the strategic use of data and insights, embedding best practice in data collection methods and gender-specific assessment tools, with a focus on the Women’s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA) and the Gendered Wellbeing Assessment (GWA). You will deliver robust and meaningful operational and strategic reporting; regular and accessible management information to support effective service delivery; regular performance monitoring and reporting to commissioners and funders; and further develop the ways we demonstrate our impact and share stories of change.

You will lead operational delivery of our data systems, to ensure robust data governance, compliance and ongoing technical implementation and optimisation. This role is critical to embedding a culture of data-driven decision making, using insight to support high quality service delivery, and to drive long term systemic change through key research projects. You will work closely with our WRNA Project Manager and the wider Management team to embed learnings from the Effective Women’s Centres Partnership and support our ongoing contribution to University of Birmingham long term research into women’s experience of the criminal justice system, helping to shape the development of evidence-based policy and best practice across the Women’s sector in the UK.

You will work closely and line manage the Data and Impact Analyst to ensure robust training programmes are in place, to support our staff teams to effectively and efficiently utilise our data tools and systems, and to embed data management best practice. You will also work together to embed our involvement and lived experience strategy, ensuring women’s voices and insight are at the heart of our service delivery models.

The role will also provide leadership on data protection and organisational Data Protection Officer (DPO) responsibilities, and will work closely with our Information Governance Lead.

Key accountabilities

Data Systems Oversight and Leadership:

• Work with EWC partners, The JABBS Foundation and University of Birmingham to support the final design phases of a specialist, bespoke case management system (CMS), to ensure it meets the needs of Together Women, and our sister organisations within the Effective Women’s Centres Partnership.
• Roll out the implementation and adoption of the new CMS, to include data migration, staff training programmes, and new reporting suites and dashboards.
• Provide strategic CMS oversight to ensure the system continues to meet organisational needs and lead planning for CMS development projects including upgrades, integrations and enhancements.
• Monitor and assess future CMS system needs, scoping and identifying development areas.
• Contribute to budget planning, including CMS ongoing costs and development projects, and ensuring activities are delivered within agreed resources.
• Work closely with Senior Management and wider Management team on future projects relating to updates or changes to the CMS system.

Data Leadership and Governance:

• Develop a Data and Impact Strategy to align with organisational priorities.
• Lead on data governance and UK GDPR compliance, including data governance policies, DPIAs, information sharing agreements, SARs, and ongoing breach and information security risk management.
• Support the implementation and ongoing review of data policies, ROPA documentation, data security protocols, and internal staff training.
• Provide assurance to the Senior Management team on data compliance, reporting risks and mitigating actions.
• Ensure staff understand their data responsibilities, build data capability and a strong data protection culture through training, guidance and fostering data confidence and accountability.

Insights, Analysis and Performance:

• Lead the provision of insights, analysis, and performance reporting, and embed a culture of insight-led decision making across the charity.
• Support the ongoing development of our involvement and lived experience insight workstream, and further establish our ability to co-design and co-produce our service offer.
• Evidence our impact and performance within contractual monitoring reports, and contribute to future funding bids and tenders to secure commissioning arrangements.
• Produce clear, interpretable reports for internal and external stakeholders, as required.
• Produce clear management information and performance reports on both outputs and outcomes, and enable Managers to articulate stories of change, drive continuous improvement and demonstrate the quality of our work.
• Develop a performance framework to monitor progress of the implementation of Together Women’s strategy, and prepare reports to inform Trustees of progress made.
• Support senior leaders with data-driven planning, presenting insights in accessible ways.
• Conduct ongoing data analysis to identify improvement opportunities, risks and issues.

Team Leadership and Collaborative working:

• Line manage the Data and Impact Analyst, providing support, direction, coaching, workload prioritisation and professional development opportunities.
• Take a hands-on role in data processing to support the day-to-day delivery of the data function, ensuring operational resilience. Contribute to the immediate data management requirements as well as leading on the longer-term data strategy.
• Collaborate with colleagues across Together Women to align data activities with organisational objectives and mission.
• Work closely with key external stakeholders and maintain excellent relationships with key partners through collaborative, mutually beneficial working practice.
• Attend regular meetings and networking opportunities relating to the Effective Women’s Centres Project, and associated networks and events.

Quality Assurance and Contribution to research:

• Ensure data collection, management and storage processes are standardised and consistent across all our services.
• Embed the Women’s Risk Needs Assessment and Gendered Wellbeing Assessment as Together Women’s default assessment tools.
• Support Master Trainers to embed WRNA and GWA certifications across all frontline staff teams.
• Work closely with colleagues to develop a new Quality Assurance (QA) audit process and embed this into Together Women’s work.
• Identify and resolve problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines, and escalate where necessary.
• Uphold the principles of ethical research, particularly with regard to consent and confidentiality.
• Carry out administrative tasks related directly to the delivery of the research.

General duties:

• Maintain and improve competencies through continuous professional development.
• Support and uphold the mission, values and behaviours of Together Women.
• Actively promote equity, diversity and inclusion, and work in line with our Ethical Framework. 
• Adhere to all organisational policies, code of conduct, and practices. 
• Complete all mandatory organisation training.
• Treat personal or sensitive information and data about organisations, clients, staff and projects in line with UK GDPR and Data Protection principles. 
• Carry out other associated duties as needed, in line with the broad remit of the role. 

Please note these accountabilities do not form part of the Data and Impact Manager’s contract of employment, and may be subject to amendment as the organisation's needs evolve. 

Person specification

Essential:

• Practical experience of conducting research, collecting and analysing data and presenting findings to a range of audiences.
• Experience of leading or coordinating organisation-wide data, evaluation, or reporting projects.
• Ability to translate data into actionable insights that inform service improvement or strategic planning
• Experience of preparing data reports for external funders.
• Experience of analysing and communicating complex information clearly.
• Good working knowledge of software packages and excellent organisational skills.
• Experience of presenting to external or internal audiences.
• Experience of developing others and providing training to staff.
• Experience of outcomes/impact monitoring and reporting.

Desirable:

• Experience of working or volunteering in a trauma-informed, gender responsive environment and/or Women’s Centre.
• Experience of presenting to academic or policy-making audiences.
• Experience of working in partnership with academic or research institutions

Personal Attributes:

• Excellent communication skills and self-motivation.
• Ability to build trust and influence at all levels, including senior leadership and external partners
• Ability to problem solve and work collaboratively. 
• A commitment to the principles and practice of safeguarding adults and children at risk of harm.
• Ability to travel independently to meet the needs of the role, including work at the Women’s Centre, with occasional meetings at the University of Birmingham and/or other Women’s Centres.
• Commitment to undertake learning opportunities and continuing professional development.

Other Requirements: 

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office 365 
• Willingness to travel across the region
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings as required. 
• Commitment to anti-racism, feminism, social justice, and abolitionist values. 
• Commitment to safeguarding data integrity, confidentiality, and ethical use of information.
• Lived experience of the criminal justice system is welcomed and will not necessarily preclude appointment.