Campaign & Gift Aid Officer

Reports To Senior Accounts Technician

Hours of work: 35 hours per week Monday to Friday

Overview of the Diocese

The Diocese of Portsmouth comprises 90 parishes across Hampshire, Dorset, Berkshire (except Slough), South Oxfordshire, the Isle of Wight and the Channel Islands. Formed 19th May 1882 by the division of the Diocese of Southwark, the Diocese of Portsmouth has a presence in every community and can offer ministry and mission to all who come to us, working towards the Bishop’s vision of Bringing people closer to Jesus Christ through his church.

Background

The prime responsibility of the Diocesan Finance Office is to support our parishes in the smooth functioning of all financial matters. This includes managing transactions with and for parishes, supporting their access to banking and credit cards and providing systems and guidance for financial reporting and claiming Gift Aid. Parishes approach us for advice and support on a wide range of activities relating to fundraising, Gift Aid, the payment of staff, pension scheme rules, handling charitable collections and administering restricted funds. The aim and mission of our team is to provide the highest possible quality of support to parishes, and to the priests and volunteers that serve them. We also provide a support function to other Diocesan central departments, assisting with financial transactions and with budgeting and financial monitoring. We are responsible for producing statutory accounts and supporting the audit process.

Overall Job Purpose

The Gift Aid function is an important role within the Diocesan finance team. The purpose of this role is to undertake the bulk of the day to day responsibility for claiming Gift Aid for the Diocese. The value of the Gift Aid claimed annually from HMRC is around £2 million. Gift Aid is organised locally in parishes by volunteers, and it is a key responsibility of this role to ensure that these individuals are trained and encouraged to perform this service. Training and communication will therefore be of primary importance as a new way of working is promoted to users across the Diocese. It is essential that the post holder has the ability and communication skills to build strong working relationships at all levels across the organisation. The role will report to the Senior Accounts Technician

Additionally, the role will be responsible for collections/donations/direct debits for all campaign fundraising. The Diocese has embarked on a 5 year campaign (Closer to Christ) which is anticipated to raise in excess of £10 million. The administration of the cash collection and accounting for this campaign is very important and will be a key element of this role

Key Responsibilities

Gift Aid

• Maintain user access to the Gift Aid Claim System database, processing new users and issuing passwords

• Maintain communications and contact details of all members of the Gift Aid community within the parishes

• Take the lead on maintaining the ongoing relationship with the Gift Aid Claim System software provider

• Manage the monthly claim process, including working with the Senior Accounts Technician to ensure the accuracy of funds passed back to parishes

• Ensure the correct analysis is undertaken to apply Gift Aid to restricted funds within the Diocese

• Organise an annual Gift Aid seminar as part of the Parish Volunteers day. This also serves as an AGM for the scheme

• Work with Gift Aid volunteers and finance team to continue and develop a system of self-auditing for Gift Aid to comply with HMRC requirements

• Access updates and training as required to ensure that our guidance is technically up to date with all HMRC changes reflected

• Ensure that an efficient filing and data storage system is maintained

• Prepare accounting journals for both Gift Aid and Collections/Donations

Closer to Christ Campaign

• Maintain excel spreadsheet of campaign pledges and enable efficient electronic filing of pledges

• Process new Direct Debit collections and ensure smooth running of existing direct debit mandates

• Pay in cheques on day of receipt

• Liaise weekly with CCS

• Reconcile monthly with bank account and journal entries onto accounting system

• Respond to queries from donors

Person Specification

(Personal attributes essential to performing role: e.g. skills, competencies, expertise, knowledge, experience.)

Competence, expertise & Knowledge

Essential

• Good communication skills, with the ability to provide instruction, guidance and advice to other staff and volunteers

• Numeracy and attention to detail

• Ability to self-motivate and undertake a wide variety of tasks

• Able to meet deadlines and identify and resolve problems

• Collaborative approach to working, willingness to support other Finance team members

• Basic accounting experience preferred

Please apply by sending:

A Covering letter:  Please tell us how your motivation, values, skills, experience, and personal qualities demonstrate your suitability for the role (around 500 words) and why you would like to work for the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth.  

Current CV and the details of two referees: This should include full education and employment history (including dates, with no gaps left unexplained). Please include your current or most recent employer as one of your referees.

Please send applications via email 

Closing date for applications: Friday 10th December 2021 at 1700 hours 

Notes to candidates

1. Interviews: all shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a face-to-face interview.

2. Unsuccessful applications: if you have not been contacted within 3 weeks of your application, we regret that you will not have been offered an interview on this occasion.

3. General: this post will be subject to review under the relevant Diocesan Terms and Conditions of Service.

4. New employees to the Diocese will be subject to a probationary period of six months.

BACKGROUND

Since 1933, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) has developed unparalleled expertise in responding to emergencies and helping uprooted communities to rebuild. Founded at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster.

The International Rescue Committee UK is part of the IRC global network, which is on the ground in more than 40 countries, providing emergency relief, relocating refugees and rebuilding lives in the wake of disaster. Through over 20 regional offices in cities across the United States, the IRC also helps refugees resettle in the US and become self-sufficient.

The IRC is committed to a culture of bold leadership, innovation in all aspects of our work, creative partnerships and, most crucially, accountability to those we serve. The IRC is a tireless advocate for the most vulnerable.

IRC UK

IRC UK was established in London in 1997 to support the organisation’s global activities and particularly to diversify its donor base and be able to better advocate with European policy-makers on behalf of the people we serve. Since its establishment IRC UK has grown rapidly and is now acknowledged for its high-quality project management, technical expertise in governance and rights and economic recovery, and innovative thinking on early recovery and gender-based violence. IRC UK comprises approximately 150 staff. The IRC UK recently launched its first Resettlement Asylum and Integration (RAI) programme in the UK called RISE, working in partnership with local councils, to provide integration support to resettled refugees in Southeast England and now has the opportunity to support educators who are working with recent Afghan arrivals to the UK.

The Purpose of the Role

The Education Coordinator is responsible for the coordination, management, and development of IRC’s new education programming in the UK

Key Working Relationships:

The position reports to the Head of Programmes, UK. The position supervises the Education Officer and the Project Assistant. The Education Coordinator also works closely with, and receives technical guidance from RAI Education technical units and the Senior Integration Officer, as well as the Grant Management team.

Key Accountabilities

Programme design and delivery

• Lead education programme design processes that ensure programmes are aligned to IRC’s Outcomes to Evidence framework, evidence-based, and appropriate to context in order to maximize impact;
• Oversee high quality processes to adapt resources and programmatic tools including curricula on Social Emotional Asset Development;
• Align the UK education programme with programming priorities and best practice across RAI, as well as IRC’s organizational strategy.

Coordination and management

• Meet regularly with staff, and partners to assess progress toward objectives, discuss issues and assist in finding solutions to identified challenges;
• Analyze data emerging from the education program and ensure that this analysis informs programming and advocacy;
• Ensure that all reporting requirements are met, that reports are of a high quality and are submitted on time;
• Coordinate closely with other RISE project staff to contribute to coherent management and growth of the overall programming in the UK;
• Recruit and supervise direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting performance objectives, providing regular and timely performance feedback.

External Relations

• Develop effective working relationships with key partners – including NGOs

and civil society, public authorities at the national and local levels and education institutions.

• Identify and develop strategic partnerships with UK partners for education programming
• Support in the development of new business opportunities to allow the portfolio to grow and develop;

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential

• Progressively responsible relevant work experience, esp. in the implementation of education projects in support of asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants
• Solid understanding of the UK education system and challenges for students with immigrant backgrounds
• Professional written and oral communication skills in English
• Experience crafting non-traditional, innovative programming and creating suitable

organisational structures; strong proposal writing skills

• Proven diplomatic and networking skills: the ability to effectively handle a variety of internal and external relationships including with education sector leaders and government staff;
• Experience with programme monitoring and evaluation and demonstrated success using data to drive high quality decision-making;
• Ability to respond to multiple priorities in a timely manner, producing high-quality outcomes
• Ability to travel occasionally to the service delivery area.

About FareShare

FareShare is the UK’s national network of charitable food redistributors, made up of 18 independent organisations. Together, we take good quality surplus food from right across the food industry and get it to almost 11,000 frontline charities and community groups. We support 10,962 local charities and community groups. Over the past year 24,074 tonnes of food were redistributed by FareShare. Our charity network serves 933,578 people every week.

Hunger is a growing issue in the UK and while there is surplus food that is otherwise going to waste, we believe that this food should be used to feed people first.

About FareShare Go

FareShare and the Irish social enterprise FoodCloud have been working together since 2016 in a partnership designed to help UK retailers address the issue of edible surplus food they may have within their stores. This innovative partnership, known as FareShare Go, brings together a technology platform and FareShare’s knowledge of the UK charity food redistribution market. Using this App we are connecting charities with edible surplus foods.

The Role

As Community Coordinator, your role will focus on the growth and sustainability of the FareShare Go programme; through maximising relationships and adding value to create the best experience for our charity community. The successful candidate will be an exceptional communicator, with an approachable nature who will play a vital role in developing and maintaining charity and retailer relationships, plus raising awareness of FareShare Go across your local area

• Charity Welcoming and Engagement: You will carry out Welcome Visits to new charities and be responsible for ensuring that coverage KPIs are reached and maintained for both new and existing retailers. Using your analysis of charity needs, plus your knowledge of retailer and store profiles, you will use these visits to maximise the offer to charities, ensuring the service meets their requirements.

• Community Capacity Building: As part of the Building of relationships with charities, you will seek opportunities to enable and empower charities to increase their capacity and ability to take more food, to ultimately increase the redistribution of surplus food to those in need.
   
• Sustainability and Compliance: You will work with your Regional Manager and team to identify stores where re-engagement activities are needed to improve charity coverage and charity compliance. Liaising with the Central Team, you will work to maximise the amount of food collected by charities with lower levels of compliance. You will also be responsible for undertaking annual food safety checks within the agreed timeframe.

• Retailer Engagement: You will play a key role in maintaining strong retailer relationships across your region. You will take an active role in any meet and greets with retailers, where required. Plus you will be responsible for maintaining regular contact with the relevant retail stakeholders in your region, sensitively dealing with any issues in a professional manner, as and when they arise.
   
• FareShare Network Engagement: We aim to become 'oneFareShare’. These roles are an integral part of our FareShare network and you will partner closely with the Regional Centre(s) in your areas. You will work on joint initiatives which improve and grow the FareShare community, ensuring that charities have access to the FareShare service which best meet their needs.

Specification

Essential

• Have exceptional relationship building skills with a range of stakeholders
• Be a strong communicator who is able to engage with a variety of audiences.
• Be confident and assertive in handling difficult situations, whilst demonstrating calmness and professionalism
• Strong problem solving skills
• Self-manage your own performance and workload.
• Have initiative and innovative thinking, in order to shape new/different ways of working
• Have strong IT skills
• Be flexible with working arrangements as the role may involve high levels of travel to areas of the UK.
• Have a valid driver’s licence for the UK, access to a car and can undertake extensive travel across your region.

Desirable

• Level 2/3 Food Safety training is desirable, but training will be provided.
• Have previous experience working with constituent relationship management (CRM) software. Salesforce experience is advantageous.
• Some experience in data analysis and project planning
• Be degree educated or have a strong career history doing

Are you a compassionate individual who has thought about a career in the Violence Against Women Sector?

Would you like to help offer support to hundreds of victims and survivors of stalking, domestic violence & abuse, and sexual violence?

Who are we?

Aurora New Dawn is a feminist led charity dedicated to ending violence against women and children, and hidden violence. Since 2011, we have offered safety, support, advocacy, and empowerment to survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking. We are a passionate and enthusiastic team, delivering a variety of services across Hampshire and beyond.

DVA Car / Helpline Advocate Job Outline:

This role comprises of two parts, worked on a rota basis and totalling an 30.5 hours per week:

1. Week one:

1. To provide an out-of-hours, face-to-face crisis response to incidents of domestic violence in Hampshire (based in Southampton), working alongside officers from Hampshire Constabulary (20hrs).

These shifts are between 17.00hrs – 03.00hrs, Friday and Saturday

1. Operating an Out of Hours DVA Helpline (10.5hrs)- working from home answering calls, processing, and reviewing referrals, calling survivors to offer emotional and practical support.

These shifts are Monday – Friday (1700-0800hrs) Saturday and Sundays (combination of 9hr (0800hrs – 1700hrs) and 15hr (1700hrs – 0800hrs) shifts)

1. Week two:

Operating an Out of Hours DVA Helpline (30.5hrs)- working from home answering calls, processing, and reviewing referrals, calling survivors to offer emotional and practical support.

These shifts are Monday – Friday (1700-0800hrs) Saturday and Sundays (combination of 9hr (0800hrs – 1700hrs) and 15hr (1700hrs – 0800hrs) shifts)

Core Duties include: -.

• Take the role of Project Advocate within the Aurora DVA car service, working with clients who are experiencing domestic abuse.
• Deliver an on-call service to clients, on a rota basis and alongside officers from Hampshire constabulary, offering independent, face-to-face support at the time of incident.
• Sitting within police teams offering independent, face-to-face or telephone support.
• Identify and assess the risks of domestic abuse victims using an evidence-based risk identification checklist.
• Support the empowerment of the client and assist them in recognising the features and dynamics of domestic abuse present in their situation, helping them to begin to regain control of their lives.
• Provide a pro-active, short-term crisis intervention service.
• Undertake the allocation of onward referrals ensuring each client receives the appropriate service individual to their needs, to help keep them and their children safe. 
• Liaise with other agencies (both voluntary and statutory) to facilitate onward referrals, as above.
• Help maintain accurate and confidential case management records using the database and contribute to monitoring information for the service.
• Comply with data protection legislation, confidentiality and information sharing policy and procedures and all legislation connected to your work.

What we’re looking for:

Some experience of providing support to people experiencing domestic abuse, whether in a paid or voluntary capacity, is desirable but not essential. Applications from those with demonstrable transferable skills and good knowledge and understanding of the issues facing those experiencing Domestic Violence & Abuse (DVA) would also be welcomed.

• A well-organised individual with a passion for helping survivors of domestic violence and abuse.

• You’ll need to be flexible and adaptable, capable of working under pressure.
• Someone who can communicate effectively with a range of people and professionals
• The ability to establish and maintain appropriate boundaries when working with those who are experiencing crisis.
• The ability to communicate sensitively with survivors who may be distressed

• Understanding of Safeguarding, and the legal responsibilities surrounding these issues
• Any experience working for a SME charity or non-profit, is beneficial but not essential.

Additional information:

• Details of how to apply can be found via our website. 
• DBS Disclosure at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment and this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
• This post will be based in either Portsmouth or Southampton with regular local travel, including to our main office base in Portsmouth, so it is essential that you have your own transport. Travel further afield may occasionally be required.
• This is a fixed term contract until September 2024. Continuation will be dependent on funding.

We encourage applications from women of all backgrounds and communities and are committed to having a team that is diverse in terms of skills, experiences and abilities. We particularly encourage applications from disabled and Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic women, as these groups are currently underrepresented in our organisation.

#Please note: This post is open to Female applicants only, as a genuine occupational requirement in accordance with Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010

DBS Disclosure at Enhanced level will be required prior to any offer of employment.

Full Non-Personnel Police Vetting will be required on acceptance of employment.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

To apply:

For further details on this vacancy and how to apply please visit Aurora New Dawn website

You are advised to read the job description and person specification carefully as the decision to shortlist you for interview will be based on the information you provide in your letter.

The deadline for all applications is 9.00am 22nd November 2021

Interviews – week commencing 29th November 2021

Interviews will be conducted via face to face or via Microsoft Teams