The Southmead Project is seeking an experienced and motivated Fundraiser to support the charity’s long-term financial sustainability.
The postholder will identify, research and secure funding from trusts, foundations, charitable bodies, statutory funders and other appropriate sources. They will lead on developing high-quality, persuasive funding applications and reports that clearly communicate the impact of the Southmead Project’s work and the needs of the people it supports.
Working closely with the CEO, Head of Finance and trustees, the Fundraiser will develop and deliver an annual fundraising plan, maintain a strong funding pipeline, and support the organisation to diversify its income. The role will require excellent writing, research, relationship-building and organisational skills, alongside a strong commitment to the charity’s values and mission.
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Develop an annual fundraising plan, alongside the Head of Finance and CEO.
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Carry out ongoing prospect research to identify new sources of funding from trusts, foundations, charitable bodies, statutory funders and other appropriate sources.
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Maintain a fundraising pipeline, ensuring that opportunities, deadlines, applications and reporting requirements are monitored effectively.
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Build and maintain a database of prospective and current funders, including key contacts, deadlines, funding priorities and application requirements.
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Monitor relevant local, regional and national funding opportunities, including being a sponsored charity at community events.
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Produce funding applications for trusts, charities, foundations and statutory bodies as an ongoing part of the charity’s income generation.
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Analyse data and feedback collected through outcomes processes for report writing.
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Build and maintain positive relationships with funders, partners and relevant stakeholders, including the corporate sector as part of the charity’s income diversification strategy.
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Attend monthly meetings with the Senior Leadership Team and trustee meetings as required.
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To work within the framework, spirit and ethos of the Southmead Project’s Equal Opportunities Policy, and actively engage in promoting the policy within the charity and in all dealings with clients and other agencies.
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To follow the Southmead Project policies, procedures and professional code of conduct as outlined in the Team Handbook.
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All members of staff, paid and unpaid, are required to undergo the enhanced level of Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Please see job description for full details.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Meaningful therapeutic support accessible for adults impacted by abuse and addiction. A safe space for growth, connection and wellbeing for all.
Thank you!
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!
External Affairs and Strategy Specialist
Location: Home Based, Expectation of travel
Working Hours: 37
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £38,960.00 - £48,960
Flexibility in terms of hours and possible part time hours to be considered.
Please note: The salary listed reflects the full earning potential for this role. Starting salaries depend on experience and progression within the band.
About Waythrough
Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England.
Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.
Make a real difference in your community
Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.
About the Role
As the External Affairs and Strategy Specialist, you will help shape Waythrough’s external influence, ensuring the organisation understands and responds to an increasingly complex political, policy and social environment. Working closely with senior leaders, you will support strategic decision-making, build key partnerships and drive campaigns and policy projects that create positive change for the people we support.
This is a home-based role with some travel required, including attendance at our joint All Party Parliamentary Group (five or six times per year), and service visits, team away days and wider meetings as required. . You will work closely with colleagues across the organisation, particularly the Communications team, to ensure our external voice is informed, impactful and rooted in lived experience.
Key Duties
- Monitor and interpret political, policy and sector developments, identifying emerging risks, opportunities and trends.
- Build strong relationships across Waythrough to identify subject matter experts and ensure external positions are informed by operational and lived experience.
- Lead and coordinate elements of national campaigns, maintaining momentum and working collaboratively with Communications colleagues to maximise impact.
- Brief senior leaders on external affairs issues and provide high-quality research, papers and recommendations to support organisational decision-making.
- Represent Waythrough at parliamentary groups, policy alliances, external forums and partnership meetings.
- Develop policy submissions, consultation responses, speeches, presentations and campaign materials.
- Build and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders, including parliamentarians, sector bodies and partner organisations.
- Ensure the voices of the people we support remain central to all advocacy, policy and campaign activity.
About You
You are a confident and proactive relationship builder who thrives in a complex and fast-moving environment. Working as part of a small team, and with support and coaching from the Director, you'll be comfortable seeking out expertise across the organisation, collaborating with a wide range of colleagues and influencing senior stakeholders.
You have excellent communication skills, a strong understanding of politics and policy, and the confidence to work closely with directors and executive leaders. You can balance multiple priorities while maintaining focus on what matters most, and you are motivated by ensuring that campaigns, policy positions and external messages are genuinely informed by the experiences and voices of the people we support. Above all, you'll bring initiative, curiosity and a willingness to get stuck in and make things happen.
What We Offer
We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package:
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27 days’ annual leave, rising to 32 after 1 year (plus bank holidays)
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Pension scheme with 4.5% employer contribution, matched up to 6.5%
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Life assurance (3× annual salary)
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Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly pay
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Birthday leave and the option to buy up to 5 extra days’ annual leave
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Professional fee reimbursement for relevant qualifications
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24/7 online GP access and Employee Assistance Programme
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Recognition and long service awards via our Way to Go and Aspirations portals
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£500 Recommend a Friend bonus
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Cycle to Work scheme and Credit Union membership
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Discounts via Blue Light Card, Charity Discounts, Extras and Tickets for Good
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Free will writing service and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year.
Inclusion and accessibility
Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support.
We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.
Registered Charity
More than 1000
Our vision is to break down the barriers that stop people getting the support they need to live a life they value.
Thank you!
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!
Head of Industrial Relations
£68,602 per annum + excellent benefits.
Home-based with travel to meetings/training across the country as required
Full time, permanent.
Lead negotiations. Influence change. Protect and strengthen the voice of school and college leaders.
Make A Difference
This is a rare opportunity to lead a highly influential function, shape national industrial relations activity and make a lasting difference to the professional lives of school and college leaders.
Why This Role Matters
As our clients Head of Industrial Relations, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that school and college leaders have a strong and influential voice in shaping their pay, conditions and working environment. Leading their industrial relations and collective bargaining function, you will help safeguard members' rights, secure positive outcomes through negotiation, and strengthen their position as the leading professional body and trade union for education leaders. Your expertise will directly contribute to improving the working lives of members across the UK while ensuring the organisation remains legally compliant, strategically focused and highly respected within the sector.
Who We’re Looking For
Our client is seeking an experienced industrial relations, trade union or HR professional with a proven track record of leading successful negotiations at a senior level. You will bring substantial experience of collective bargaining, strong leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of employment relations within complex organisations. You'll be a strategic thinker, an influential communicator and a confident relationship-builder who can work effectively with employers, trade unions, members and external stakeholders. A commitment to trade union principles, combined with the credibility to work alongside experienced school and college leaders, will be essential to your success in this role.
What You’ll Be Doing
You will lead and develop the Industrial Relations team, ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, consistent service to members nationwide. Working closely with employer groups, trade unions and local representatives, you will oversee negotiations, represent members at key joint negotiating committees, resolve disputes, and help secure the best possible terms, conditions and benefits for members. You will also provide strategic advice across the organisation, ensure compliance with relevant legislation and trade union requirements, support the development of local representatives, and contribute to the organisation's broader industrial relations strategy.
What our client can offer
Our client is an equal opportunities employer and offers a very generous package of benefits including
· Flexible working: Flexible working – a combination of working from home, attending external meetings and events and being in-person at their Leicester HQ as necessary.
· Generous leave: 33 days annual leave + bank holidays.
· Pension: 9% employer contribution.
· Professional development: Ongoing training and peer support.
· Expenses covered: Travel, home-working allowance, and equipment provided.
· Inclusive culture: They welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities.
They encourage applications regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
This is a home-based role with travel across England and Wales to meetings and events as required. Reasonable travel expenses, IT and telephone equipment will be provided.
If you’re ready to lead a team that makes a real difference to education leaders and organisations across the UK, they would love to hear from you.
INTERESTED?
The closing date for application is 4pm on Wednesday 5 August 2026.
Interviews will be held in-person, at HQ in Leicester on Wednesday 19 August 2026.
Start date: Tuesday 1 December 2026 but dependent on individual circumstances.
TO APPLY
To download the job description and person specification, follow the link on the 'Apply here' button above (which will take you to Networx Recruitment's website). From there, please complete your email address in the top right-hand box and click on the green 'Apply Now' button and follow the online application process.
