Whitley Fund for Nature
The Whitley Fund for Nature (WFN) is a UK charity supporting outstanding grassroots conservation leaders across the Global South. Through project funding (Awards), training, and media profile, we support local solutions to the planet’s most pressing conservation challenges. Our winners are courageous changemakers, working alongside communities to save species and protect ecosystems. Established in 1993, we have channeled £24 million to +220 conservation leaders in 80 countries, benefitting wildlife, landscapes, and people. WFN is governed by a committed trustee board. Our team is dynamic, passionate about our mission, and ambitious. The charity benefits from high profile support from Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, and Ambassadors including Sir David Attenborough.
The Opportunity
In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to use and develop your communications skills to help amplify the work of WFN and conservation leaders. You’ll play an important role in supporting our digital channels, campaigns, and content creation - from social media and newsletters to website updates and event communications. You should have excellent writing skills, strong attention to detail and an interest in nature and wildlife conservation issues. If you are looking to build a career in communications, want to help support those protecting our planet, and are seeking experience working for a small, ambitious charity, then we want to hear from you!
“Saving our planet is now a communications challenge. We know what to do, we just need the will” - Sir David Attenborough.
COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT - PERSONAL SPECIFICATION
Essential:
- Excellent writing skills
- An eye for design to create engaging assets for diverse audiences and platforms, including our website, newsletters, social media and events
- Confident communicator with a friendly, professional manner
- Organised, with high levels of accuracy and attention to detail
- Proficient in Microsoft Office - Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
- Able to manage and prioritise a varied workload within deadline
- Reliable, proactive, and willing to take initiative
- Comfortable working as part of a small, busy team
- Interest in wildlife conservation.
Desirable
- Experience drafting and scheduling social media posts, and producing campaign assets
- Familiarity with programmes such as Canva and Hootsuite to aid with content creation and scheduling
- Experience with basic video editing
- Competency using a Salesforce database, WordPress, or Mailchimp.
Additional details and benefits:
- Attractive holiday package totaling 30 days p.a. plus bank holidays
- Training and professional development opportunities provided
- Hybrid working opportunities
- The charity operates a Pension Scheme and a Life Assurance Scheme
- Access to 24hr Employee Assistance Programme.
This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship. Only applicants who have the right to work in the UK at the time of application will be considered for this role.
Regrettably, due to limited resources and the high number of applications we receive, we are only able to contact short-listed candidates. If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been successful on this occasion.
Diversity and Inclusion
At WFN we are committed to developing an inclusive and diverse organisation, in which everyone feels supported, valued, and able to be their full selves. We celebrate and respect diversity in nature and among the people and partners with whom we work. We need more people and diversity across the environment sector, and to achieve our vision. We therefore encourage applications from Black, Asian or minority ethnic; disabled; LGBTQ+; or from lower socio-economic backgrounds. As a small organisation we are committed to progressing and continuing development across DE&I. Please contact us to discuss any additional support you may need to complete your application. Applications are considered solely on your demonstrated suitability for the role.
COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT - JOB DESCRIPTION
REPORTING TO HEAD OF COMMUNICATIONS
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS
WFN’s communications amplify the work of Whitley Award winners, raise the profile of the charity, bolster fundraising efforts, and contribute to global conservation conversations, positioning WFN as a leader within the sector.
- Monitor, and create and schedule content for WFN’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn accounts, helping to grow engagement and channel performance, driving traffic to WFN’s website, and sharing charity, winner, and sector news – in line with WFN’s communications strategy and with oversight from the Head of Communications (HoC)
- Lead management of WFN’s photo library and footage archive (Google photos): naming, categorising, and uploading winner and event photos
- Support delivery of social media campaigns during the lead up to events to drive engagement and/or donations, and supporting with posting content throughout the event period
- Help produce video content
- Support production and distribution of our regular e-letter (through MailChimp)
- Work with the HoC on WFN’s website to regularly review and update content
- Draft copy for website news stories and any additional copywriting as needed throughout the year
- Assist the HoC with monthly reporting on the website, social media platforms, newsletter and media coverage
- Support digital event communications including creation of e-letters, e-invitations, website pages, email signatures and visual assets.
PR
WFN shares impactful stories that resonate with supporters and demonstrate we can make a difference. Throughout the year, we actively work to secure PR coverage for Whitley Award winners. Increased visibility helps winners to attract further funding, gain new connections, and increase political clout – all tools which strengthen conservation work.
- Produce reactive social media to share PR coverage secured by the HoM
- Create and distribute toolkits for press and partners to bolster media campaigns
- Collate charity and winner press coverage, including website news pages, throughout the year
- Support the Head of Media (HoM) and HoC in responding to press enquiries and supplying materials.
EVENTS
Whitley Awards Ceremony
The Whitley Awards are the result of an international search to find, fund, train and put a spotlight on outstanding grassroots leaders and their conservation projects. Finalists are invited to London for a week of training and events, culminating with the Whitley Awards Ceremony, where winners receive their Awards from WFN Patron, HRH The Princess Royal in front of 400 guests and many more tuning in via our livestream.
The Communications Assistant will assist the team in planning and delivery of events during the Whitley Awards Ceremony week, including the Friends Reception, Ceremony and NGO Reception, particularly in the following areas:
Communications
- Assist with supplier liaison across event filming, livestream, and photography
- Help create event visuals and on-screen graphics
- Support with creation of the Ceremony invitations and booklet
- Support with sourcing additional material for the Whitley Award films as needed
- Support the HoC with creation and uploading of content to the website and across social media platforms, including press releases, photographs, news stories, winner pages, and films.
Other WFN Events
Throughout the year WFN holds other fundraising and engagement events ranging from intimate dinners with supporters, winner talks, events as part of our Next Gen programme and major initiatives such as Biodiversity Summits which will require the CA’s assistance.
- Assist with the production of pre-event communications and marketing materials, including invitations, e-letters, social media content, and advertisements
- Assist with setting up and managing platforms such as Eventbrite as needed
- Assist with production of event materials (signage, banners, programmes, displays, slides)
- Assist with communications-related supplier liaison eg. Photography, filming, livestreaming etc.
GENERAL DUTIES
- Review and respond to general email enquiries when needed (info@ inbox)
- Represent WFN professionally at all times
- Adhere to WFN’s financial and operational procedures
- Undertake any other duties as reasonably requested from time to time. This job description is not exhaustive and may evolve.
Registered Charity
6 - 10
Whitley Fund for Nature is a fundraising and grant-giving nature conservation charity supporting grassroots practitioners across the Global South.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
We're looking for a kind, empathetic and resilient Support worker to join our Learning disabilities Service in Tower Hamlets.
£28,808.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.
Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.
As a Support Worker you will be expected to undertake duties and work as part of the staff team to support customers with daily support to achieve personal goals by using person centred approach.
What you'll do:
* Work proactively with the team to handle the service caseload and support an effective team approach to meeting each customer's identified needs.
* Contribute to a positive service environment, ensuring the service is supportive and a place of safety and stability for customers. This includes working flexibly and being proactively in delivering, reviewing and arranging effective support for emerging needs and risks in order to prevent escalating concerns.
* Ensure Look Ahead Health and Safety policies and local protocols are always adhered to, to ensure the safety of the customers, colleagues, visitors, contractors and premises including responding to maintenance, fire and health and safety issues.
* The ability to follow Infection Control guidelines and use initiatives to manage it. For example, following a thorough cleaning rota and completing all relevant checks such as living standards checks.
* Deliver all aspects of support to enable customers to develop independent living skills as appropriate to the individual needs of the customer. This may include practical tasks, delivering personal care (if required), including but not limited to prompting and or supporting with personal hygiene, meal preparation, medication management and personal finances support as required.
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead
About you:
? Good values and interactive personality.
? Trustworthy, professional, able to work in partnership and willing to achieve outstanding outcomes.
? Capable of working as part of a group or team and able to use ow initiatives.
? Able and willing to listen to others and share own ideas and knowledge.
? Fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement.
Essential:
? Has good values, professional and willing to learn to gain experience
? Demonstrable willingness and or experience of supporting adults with Learning Disabilities
Desirable:
? NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent or willing to complete the qualification
? Other relevant professional memberships and/or specialist qualifications
? Local and or familiar with the borough
About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:
We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.
Please see our website for ful Job description