Peer support officer jobs

Fundraising and Communications Officer

Can you increase community fundraising income by building relationships while developing compelling stories?

Salary: £31,537 - £33,699 FTE (NJC Point 18-22)
Hours: Part-time, 22.5 hours per week. Hybrid working available.
Contract: Permanent
Location: Bristol (with some remote working)
Closing date: 5pm, Friday 3rd October 2025
Interview date: Monday 20th October 2025 at The Old Co-op, Ground Floor, 40-42 Chelsea Road, Bristol, BS5 6AF

We are seeking someone with a mix of skills: an individual with proven community fundraising experience, excellent relationship-building abilities and a crafter of persuasive and powerful content that resonates with a variety of stakeholders.

This is an exciting time to join, as the organisation builds on recent fundraising growth and development. Can you help deliver effective communications while moving income generation to the next level?

Your role
You’ll be securing financial support from individuals while simultaneously raising the organisation’s profile among stakeholders through communications and marketing. This work includes:

• Building relationships with community groups and corporate organisations, managing individual giving programmes, organising fundraising events and providing supporter care
• Delivering communications to promote the organisation’s work, producing materials such as newsletters, reports, blogs and videos
• Overseeing the website and social media presence, and handling media relations

About you

• Proven track record in community fundraising, with a good understanding of supporter stewardship
• Creative and proactive, with marketing and communications expertise to bring stories to life across a range of platforms
• Confident networker who can spot opportunities
• Resilient, self-motivated and meticulous with a strong eye for detail and excellent planning skills
• Commitment to working within an ethos of respect, empowerment and inclusion

About the organisation
The organisation provides support services to people facing health-related challenges in the local community. This includes advice, peer support groups, mentoring and wider holistic services. They pride themselves on treating clients with respect and dignity, maintaining confidentiality, and ensuring services are accessible, person-centred, non-judgemental and of the highest quality.

Benefits include:

• 26 days holiday per year plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• 6% pension contribution
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Regular supervision
• Flexible/remote working (with some office presence required)
• Cycle to work scheme

How to apply
Please complete the online application form outlining your reasons for applying and how your skills and experience fit the person specification. All applications will be scored against the person specification. General life experience can also be included when evidencing your abilities.

The organisation is committed to reducing inequality, valuing diversity and enabling inclusion. Applicants from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply, particularly people of African or Caribbean heritage and people living with HIV, who are currently underrepresented in the staff team. Applicants from these groups who meet the essential criteria will be automatically invited to interview.

PLEASE NOTE: This role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of the organisation.

The Centre for Progressive Change is looking for a full-time Operations Director that will be part of the newly formed Executive Team. This role will be responsible for running the operations of the organisation with a focus on our people, systems and processes. They will work closely with the Executive Team, ensuring the organisation runs smoothly and efficiently so that we can have impact.

The Centre for Progressive Change (CPC) is an organisation that builds campaigns for national policy change in the UK. Our focus is on making progressive gains that improve the lives of low- and middle-income communities. We want the UK to be a place where everyone has the financial resources they need, where people are treated as equals and are free to be who they are without persecution, and where we look after our environment.

To achieve this vision, our mission is to build proactive campaigns for progressive legislative change, do research on what works when campaigning for national policy change and offer training and consultancy to support other organisations to build effective campaigns. Our campaigns use an inter-disciplinary approach including community organising, mobilising, advocacy, business engagement, campaign research and press work.

Prison Facilitator - HMP Guys Marsh

Location: HMP Guys Marsh

Department: Prison delivery

Salary: £16,964

Hours: 21 hours / 3 days per week

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy levels amongst people in prison?

Shannon Trust are delighted to be working with His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) to provide peer-led learning programmes at HMP Guys Marsh. 

Working closely with the prison and their staff, Shannon Trust volunteers and mentors, this post will lead the delivery and development of our prison-based reading and numeracy programme, maximising peer opportunities for people in prison to learn to read.  

Ideally you will have some experience of prison settings underpinned by the ability to build relationships and possess personal qualities that include resilience, determination and a problem-solving approach. 

This role will be prison based, working 3 days per week. Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.

‍We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. However, these roles do require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.

Please note this is a fixed term role until 31st March 2026, with possibility of extension

Please note this role is subject to contract award.

Closing date: 9th October 2025

‍Interviews are planned for: 14th October 2025 - Online

REF-223 810

We are looking for an Adult Carer Wellbeing Navigator, employed by Sutton Carers Centre and based within the Wellbeing Team at Sutton Talking Therapies as well as our Centre. In this role, you will provide both practical and emotional support to Carers - helping them to set goals, develop effective coping strategies, and strengthen their confidence by accessing appropriate therapeutic interventions. 

You will bring experience of working with people facing difficulties around their mental health, offering person-centred support designed to improve their overall health and wellbeing. You also will have knowledge of the wider issues that may affect mental health, including the particular challenges and rewards of caring for others.

Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing demands in a fast-paced, dynamic, multi-partner environment are essential. Flexibility is also key - you’ll need to respond to the varying needs of Carers and the organisation, including occasional work outside standard office hours.

Designed by families, for families, The Ark was opened in September 2019 by the Mayor of London. The grounds offer wheelchair accessible outdoor experiences, including a Woodland Walk through a 7-acre nature reserve, a hydrotherapy pool and overnight suites for families to be close to their loved ones. At The Ark we are able to provide Specialist Care and Nursing for babies, children and young people, supporting their full clinical, emotional, social and practical needs. We have created a space where children who are seriously unwell are accepted as they are, safe to play, explore, express themselves and build confidence.

Rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, the charity has had a sustained period of growth over the last two years and we are looking for high quality employees to come and be a part of that success.

Our expert staff and trained volunteers provide clinical, emotional and practical support for families across North and Central London and Herts Valley. We carefully adapt our support for every child and offer it wherever it is required - whether in their home, their community or at our state-of-the-art children’s hospice building, The Ark, in Barnet.

JOB DESCRIPTION 

We are seeking a Head of Partnerships & Events to join our highly successful Philanthropy team. In this role, you will work closely with the Director of Fundraising & Communications to develop and enhance our Corporate and Special Events Programme. This is very much a hands-on role of team leadership and direct account management. This includes six figure partners and our key relationships with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, The Dorchester Hotel and international insurer Fidelis. Special Events include our Winter Ball which raises over £500k annual and our Golf Day at around £100k. The post-holder has a key role in the management of our Philanthropy & Corporate Board, which bring together industry leader to help move both these programmes forward. There is great freedom to innovate and a healthy pool of local business with an affinity to our cause. The post-holder takes a key leadership role across fundraising and marketing, working with their peers (Heads) and Director to take strategic decisions for wider benefit of the department. Having invested in the team’s capacity, we aim to grow income from c. £1.5m to £2m over the next few years. This in the broader context of a total voluntary income target for the charity of £5m-£6m.

The Head of Partnerships & Events leads a team of two currently, although this may increase. We have a Corporate Manager and Events Manger with support from the Philanthropy Officer.  You will play a key role in building and maintaining relationships with existing and prospective partners of Noah’s Ark. You will ensure our partners have the best possible experience, making them feel engaged and motivated, valued and informed about the impact of their involvement and help them achieve their organisation’s objectives.

Please refer to the job description for more information on this role.

Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice is an equal opportunity employer and particularly welcomes applications from groups who are currently under-represented in our staff.

Our diversity council is working hard to construct positive changes within our organisation. We are a disability confident employer and part of our commitment is to interview all applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and consider them on their abilities.

About Unfold

We are a bold, growing local charity powered by volunteers and dedicated staff who support young people and families to set and achieve goals that matter most to them. Through mentoring, peer groups, and specialist programmes for people seeking asylum and refugees, we are creating opportunities for growth, belonging, and brighter futures. Last year, we supported over 350 people, and we’re growing.

The Role

We are seeking a Funding and Impact Manager to help us achieve our ambitious growth plans. This is a pivotal role where you’ll blend strategic fundraising with impact storytelling, ensuring our programmes remain high-quality, sustainable, and far-reaching.

You’ll be working closely with our CEO, Deputy CEO, and Programme Managers to:

• Secure sustainable income streams through grants, trusts, corporate partnerships, and individual giving.
• Strengthen our impact measurement, analysing programme data to tell powerful stories of change.
• Support our fundraising strategy, from opportunity spotting to proposal writing and reporting.
• Build and maintain relationships with funders, partners, and supporters.
• Use and improve our CRM (Beacon) to manage funding pipelines and track programme outcomes.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is proactive, innovative, and passionate about making a measurable difference.

About You

To be successful in this role, you'll be:

• Experienced in third-sector fundraising and income generation.
• Skilled in monitoring and evaluation with the ability to turn data into insights and impact stories.
• A strong communicator with the ability to write compelling bids and reports.
• Collaborative, yet confident working independently.
• Aligned with our values of trust, compassion, and empowerment.

Experience with CRM systems and/or data visualisation (e.g. Power BI) would be an advantage.

Why Join Us?

• Holidays: 25 working days (along with additional Christmas closedown days)
• Pension: We offer a generous pension provision. New staff are automatically enrolled for a pension after three months, and after six months, we will match your contribution up to a maximum of 8%.
• Team working: We are a small but brilliant team: we're supportive, diverse, and we help each other out. There are always opportunities to get involved in different aspects of the organisation, or lead on new initiatives.
• Training opportunities: We want to ensure that our team is continuously learning and building expertise in their field. For this reason, we offer each team member two days per year dedicated to professional development and training opportunities.
• Wellbeing - How we feel matters: Staff have access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, and our staff Wellbeing Champions are leading on the design and delivery of our wellbeing strategy, including the review of our quarterly wellbeing survey. Staff have regular supervision sessions to encourage reflection and discussion on our work and wellbeing. Additionally, we’re excited to introduce three days a year dedicated to team-building activities. These days are an opportunity to build skills, foster connections, and recharge as a team!
• Flexible working: We're happy to consider flexible working arrangements in line with the requirements of the role.
• Working Environment: We work in a beautiful, accessible, eco-friendly co-working space with a number of other charities, with plants, a leafy roof terrace and free hot and cold drinks. With comfortable spaces to read quietly or talk in a group, our workspace is somewhere you'll want to be. 

Part time role for 21 hours/three days per week, for a committed, motivated and suitably qualified individual to deliver counselling for people dealing with issues related to their sexual health, including people living with HIV.

METRO, in partnership with Turning Point, NAZ and London Friend, deliver a model of sexual health support throughout the three London boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster.

We are seeking a committed, motivated and suitably qualified individual to deliver counselling for people dealing with issues related to their sexual health, including people living with HIV within the Support and Advice on Sexual Health (SASH) programme.  

The post holder will deliver high-quality person-centred service within a busy inner London environment. The clients are from diverse communities affected by sexual health and mental health issues. The role will support staff to work with people from diverse communities such as LGBTQ+ and the Global Majorities.

Turning Point is the lead partner for the contract, and a matrix staffing model is in place. The post-holder will work within the partnership and be line-managed by METRO SASH Counselling Services Manager, and work alongside staff from other agencies. The role will also be clinically supervised via an independent supervisor arranged through METRO.

Prison Facilitator - HMP Isis

Location: HMP Isis (London)
Department: Prison delivery
Salary: £12,110
Hours: 14 hours
Contract Type: Permanent

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy levels amongst people in prison?

Shannon Trust are delighted to be working with His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) to provide peer-led learning programmes at HMP Isis. Working closely with the prison and their staff, people in prison, Shannon Trust volunteers and mentors, this post will lead the delivery and development of our prison-based reading and numeracy programme, maximising opportunities for people in prison to learn to read.

Ideally you will have some experience of prison settings underpinned by the ability to build relationships and personal qualities that include resilience, determination and a problem-solving approach. 

This role will be prison based. Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.

‍We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. These roles do require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.

‍Interviews are planned for the week commencing 29th September 2025

Benefits: Standard Shannon Trust: Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme.

REF-223607

Prison Facilitator - HMP Bedford & HMP Littlehey

Location: HMP Bedford and HMP Littlehey
Department: Prison delivery
Salary: £28,274 per annum
Hours: 35 hours
Job Type: Full time
Contract Type: Contract

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy levels amongst people in prison?

Shannon Trust are delighted to be working with His Majesty’s Prison & Probation Service (HMPPS) to provide peer-led learning programmes at HMP Littlehey & HMP Bedford. Working closely with the prison and their staff, people in prison, Shannon Trust volunteers and mentors, this post will lead the delivery and development of our prison-based reading and numeracy programme, maximising opportunities for people in prison to learn to read.

Ideally you will have some experience of prison settings underpinned by the ability to build relationships and personal qualities that include resilience, determination and a problem-solving approach. 

This role will be prison based. Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.

‍We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions. These roles do require prison security clearance, so we will need to ask for details of any relevant criminal convictions before an offer of employment is finalised.

‍Interviews are planned for: 30th September 2025

Benefits: Standard Shannon Trust: Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme.

REF-223590

PWSA UK is a small charity providing lifelong support to all those affected by Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). PWS is a rare genetic condition causing an overwhelming and uncontrollable drive to eat that can be life-limiting, as well as learning and physical disabilities. We provide a dedicated helpline, a comprehensive information hub, a network of peer support groups, a varied programme of community events, training for professionals working with those with PWS, and support for vital research. Our aim is to help our amazing community overcome the challenges and live life to the full with PWS.

We are looking for a part time PWS Specialist Advisor for Scotland to support the PWS community in Scotland. PWS is a rare and isolating condition and our ambition it to reach families in Scotland to provide impactful advice, support, information and training. The ideal candidate will have an in-depth working knowledge of health and social care systems and education in Scotland as well as a belief in the potential and value of people with Prader-Willi syndrome.

You will need to be able to demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, as well as being self-motivated and able to engage with families, health care professionals and policy makers.

The position is part time (3 days a week) and is home based and ideal for someone living in Scotland

The Public Affairs Lead at the Food Foundation provides expertise on building relationships with political stakeholders to deliver impact across all areas of our work aimed transforming food systems and shifting diets.

· Do you have knowledge of the UK’s political system and experience of how to influence policy-making?

· Do you care about what we eat and its impact on our health and planet?

· Do you want to work in a small, ambitious organisation and use your influencing skills to deliver real impact?

If the answers to these questions are yes, we would love to hear from you!

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week (willing to consider part time hours, no less than 4 days)

Starting Salary: £39,960 (pro rata and London weighting included)

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: This is a London based role (our office is in London, Brixton) and you will be expected to work at least 2 days per week from the office. Whilst there will be a need to regularly attend in-person meetings in parliament and officer, there is flexible working options.

Job requirements: An enhanced clean DBS check, obtained through The Food Foundation plus two references

Job Purpose

The Public Affairs Lead sits within our Policy and Advocacy Team, working to build support for The Food Foundation’s work amongst Parliamentarians and to influence the government to help deliver policies that will transform the food system.  This is an exciting opportunity to join a small organisation delivering big impact on the political agenda around food. 

The Public Affairs Manager reports to our Head of Policy and Advocacy and will be responsible for planning and delivering our public affairs activity. You will spend considerable time meeting MPs and Peers in parliament and building relationships with their teams with a view to identifying potential new supporters and ensuring that The Food Foundation has a range of contacts that we can call on to support and amplify our policy asks and to raise issues when required. 

While this role is focused on political engagement, you will work closely with policy and research colleagues and with our communications team to share perspectives on which priorities it may be tactical to pursue at any given time and to understand what evidence is available to inform engagement.

You will also work closely with public affairs professionals in other organisations to deliver joint programmes of engagement work which leverage respective organisational strengths.

You will have excellent political instincts and a strong interest in policy developments, monitoring closely what is going on in Parliament and in Government, and keeping abreast of the latest developments in order to identify opportune moments to maximise political attention on the issues we work on and to galvanise support for policy change. 

You will work with our communications team to build compelling narratives targeted at different political stakeholders about the impacts of the food system on our diets, our health and our planet, and the need for evidence-based solutions.   In the current parliamentary term we expect a major focus of activity to be on securing a White Paper and then A Bill on food system change.

You will lead on developing and commissioning a range of briefing materials and reports for policy audiences and formulate responses on behalf of the organisation to policy development processes and Parliamentary inquiries.

You will think creatively about methods and opportunities for engagement in order to ensure that The Food Foundation’s messages and priorities are noticed and heard by policy-makers in a very crowded policy space, including by working closely with our events manager to deliver impactful parliamentary events.

You will bring a learning mindset to the role, assessing the impact of our policy engagement approaches in order to make continuous improvements.

The role will be a fulfilling blend of planning engagement campaigns, developing the materials and monitoring tools to enable delivery, and the practical task of developing personal relationships with key stakeholders.

A week in the job will look like: meeting with a Peer that is new to our work to brief them on evidence we have published and our current political priorities, completing a political stakeholder mapping exercise for a new campaign on sustainable diets to identify a shortlist of MPs to engage with, spending an afternoon in parliament to engage informally with passing MPs, pitching a new idea for a parliamentary inquiry to parliamentary staff from the Health and Social Care Committee, drafting an MP briefing for an upcoming debate on the Government’s obesity prevention priorities, reviewing next week’s parliamentary calendar to spot opportunities for engagement, attending a roundtable to share intelligence and discuss priorities for political party manifestos with other NGOs working on food issues, ringing round parliamentary offices to confirm attendance for an upcoming parliamentary reception, meeting with an MP that is closely involved with The Food Foundation’s work to refine messaging for an upcoming campaign.

About the Role

In this leadership role, you will lead our Philanthropy and Partnerships Team, driving strategies across corporate partnerships, trusts & foundations, major donors, and other high-value supporters. With a focus on meeting income targets, appeal planning, and long-term forecasting, you’ll play a vital role in maximising our fundraising impact.

***Please download the job description for full details***

About You

To be successful in this role, you will bring proven experience in managing high-value relationships across corporate partnerships, major donors, trusts & foundations, and statutory bodies. You'll have a strong track record of securing and growing long-term partnerships, including successfully negotiating six or seven-figure sums with corporate partners and/or major donors. You'll bring outstanding communication and relationship-building skills, with a proven ability to engage high-value supporters and collaborate effectively across diverse stakeholders.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the corporate, trust & foundation, major donor and other high value supporter strategies.
• Manage and develop the Rapid Response Network, retaining existing partnerships whilst also identifying and securing new partnerships.
• Deliver excellent stewardship that retains and develops support.
• Take to completion and implement recommendations from strategic projects, to include the major donor review and the RRN / corporate support review.
• Continually hone “next appeal” plans that lead to successful appeal launches and maximise funds raised throughout the appeal life cycle.
• Achieve annual core cost income targets and put in place robust forecasting for future years.

About the DEC

The Disasters Emergency Committee brings together 15 of the UK’s leading humanitarian charities to raise funds and respond quickly to global disasters. Since our founding in 1963, we have raised over £2.5 billion through 79 appeals, providing life-saving assistance to millions of people around the world.

Our mission is to save, protect, and rebuild lives through effective humanitarian action. As a team, we operate with urgency, transparency, and compassion.

All roles at the DEC are based in our London office. We operate a hybrid working model, with some non-negotiable office attendance. Please note, during the two-week appeal launch period, staff are required to work long hours in a high-paced environment, with mandatory office attendance.

The DEC is an equal opportunities employer and provides opportunities to learn and grow in an inclusive, supportive, and productive environment. We encourage applications from anyone who can meet the criteria, regardless of gender, race, age, disability, sexuality, or religion.

What We Offer

• Flexible working hours (outside of appeal periods)
• Hybrid working model (some mandatory office days during appeals)
• 25 days annual leave, increasing with service
• Healthcare Cash Plan (value ~£1,660/year)
• Pension contribution (3%, rising to 8% post-probation)
• Wellbeing and mental health support
• Access to Wellhub, discounts, and ticket schemes
• Season ticket and hardship loans (post-probation)
• Cycle to Work and Car schemes (salary sacrifice)

How to Apply

If this role is of interest and meets your skills, experience, and knowledge, then please apply with your anonymised CV & cover letter by Thursday 2nd October 2025.

We are unable to support applications for our vacancies if you do not have the right to work in the UK

The DEC is committed to the safeguarding and protection of children and vulnerable adults and participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from successful applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. 

By applying, the job applicant confirms their understanding of, and consent, to these recruitment procedures.

Team Coordinator

Youth Futures Foundation is the national What Works Centre for youth employment, with a specific focus on marginalised young people.   

We find and generate high-quality evidence to better understand England’s’ youth unemployment and inactivity challenge, and most importantly to learn what solutions work to address this. We do this through bringing together the best evidence already in existence and build on this by conducting original research and testing and evaluating promising interventions to produce much needed new evidence where there are gaps.  

We are looking for a dynamic Team Coordinator to provide administrative and business support to the Programmes and Grants Directorate. The successful candidate will help us to deliver our objectives by providing seamless support and delivery. They will:

Understand the needs of the teams, the context in which they operate, and focus on problem-solving and working with others to meet objectives. 

Help the teams to work effectively, co-ordinate team activities, maintain relationships, alongside supporting operational excellence 

Work flexibly as needs evolve to support teams, and occasionally, support cross-Directorate colleagues. 

Use digital ways of working, technology and platforms to achieve goals. 

This role will be based at our Birmingham office.

We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

For more information and a full job description, please download the Recruitment Pack.

HOW TO APPLY

Click on the 'Apply on website' button below to apply online. The closing date for applications is Sunday 28th September 2025 11:59 PM.

As part of Youth Futures Foundation’s safeguarding policy, all employees are subject to a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, some positions may require an enhanced level disclosure. 

The young people we aim to serve – and the challenges they face - are all unique. We are looking to build a team that reflects this diversity. Our commitment to inclusion across race, gender, age, class, religion, identity, and experience forms the cornerstone of our work. We are an equal opportunities employer, Mindful Employer, Disability Confident and welcome applications from all sections of the community. 

We are particularly keen to encourage people with lived experience of the challenges facing young people in the labour market, and committed to supporting you in your application. Please contact us if you require any additional support. 

Internally, we encourage an open, collaborative and inclusive working environment. 

About Impetus

Our vision is for a society where all young people, regardless of their background, can thrive in school, secure crucial qualifications, and take their first steps into the world of work on the journey to sustained employment in adulthood, for a fulfilling life.

As a leading impact funder, since 2002, Impetus has been helping the best leaders build stronger organisations delivering the most promising interventions that support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed against the odds. We do this by using our deep expertise and high calibre networks to give the best non-profits the essential ingredients to have a real and lasting impact, through a powerful combination of long-term funding, direct capacity building support from our experienced team and our pro bono partners, alongside research and policy influencing to drive lasting systems change.

We tackle the three most difficult challenges that affect a young person’s ability to succeed in life in Britain today:
• Lost learning through absence, suspensions, exclusions from school.
• Stagnation in education attainment outcomes, which means many are missing out on key qualifications like GCSE English and maths.
• The large numbers of young people out of education, training and employment.

These are challenges that are faced by all young people, but they disproportionately affect young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

You would be joining a team that is passionate, rigorous, determined, creative and warm. We care deeply for our colleagues, our charity partners and the young people we serve.

Impetus is a registered charity and our charity number is 1152262.

About the role

Are you passionate about giving all young people the best chance in life? Are you a brilliant influencer and communicator who relishes harnessing great policy, research and communications to realise social change? Do you want to work in a pioneering charity with impact at its core?

Then this could be the role for you. At Impetus we are looking for our next Director of Public Affairs, someone who can inspire our brilliant Public Affairs team and spearhead our communications, policy and research work. This is an exciting senior role, joining our Senior Management Team and working alongside our CEO, board, donors, supporters, portfolio partners and the wider sector to effect real change for young people.

This is an exciting time to join Impetus. We are at an inflexion point, having welcomed a new CEO this year and implementing a new strategy focusing on strengthening and expanding our impact and influence. A big part of that is through our public affairs and communications work; whether influencing policy makers so that all young people regardless of background get the best possible chance to succeed, reducing the gaps in education and employment between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their better off peers, or working with government and other funders to prove and expand impactful programmes or communicating our findings, insights and message to a wider range of audiences.

The Director of Public Affairs will work with the CEO and Senior Management Team to raise our profile and influence policy, unlock and steward resource and build new partnerships, in order to facilitate growth in impact. They will do this by getting the most out of our high performing Public Affairs team, which covers policy, research, advocacy and communications - as well as working across teams and with the Board to ensure Impetus is well positioned externally.

We’re proud of the work we’ve achieved to date, developing a strong track record of high-quality research and insightful reports, significantly raising our profile through media relations and stakeholder engagement, building strong sector partnerships and coalitions to drive meaningful change, establishing a wide range of relationships across government and the sector and building strong expertise in the team. We’re delighted that you’re considering joining us to take forward this work to the next level.

Here are some examples of the types of work that the Public Affairs team delivers:
• Our monthly policy newsletter, Impetus Insights
• Our news and commentary and blogs
• Our latest research reports on school engagement, attainment and youth employment
• Our coalitions: The Youth Employment Group and Who is Losing Learning?

For more information on what we’re looking for from our Director of Public Affairs & what a typical week can look like – please view the Director of Public Affairs recruitment pack.

Key responsibilities

Fundraising and income generation

• Work with Impetus CEO and SMT to support the delivery of the Impetus strategy and business plan and deliver the public affairs milestones to time and within budget.
• Champion and contribute to embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across all areas of Impetus' work, ensuring that EDI principles related to Impetus’ mission are reflected in advocacy, stakeholder engagement, communications and public positioning.
• Vision setting and strong line management of the Public Affairs team, developing their capabilities, representing the team at SMT and to the Board and ensuring it continues to make a valuable - and valued - contribution to the achievement of Impetus’s objectives, through building and implementing high quality work plans for the team and ensuring the wider Impetus team is aligned on these.
• Increase awareness, understanding and trust in Impetus among key stakeholders, through regular, thoughtful engagement with the sector and securing high profile media coverage.
• Raise awareness of the education and employment gaps faced by young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and what we can do to break down the barriers they face - through research, policy positioning and effective communications.
• Build a positive reputation for Impetus in government and parliament and among funders, as a source of expertise on how to improve the education and employment outcomes of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and as a trusted interlocutor and partner, building on and leveraging the many relationships already established.
• Ensure that all advocacy is supported by high quality research and evidence, with our policy and research agenda well aligned to supporting the delivery of Impetus’ strategy.
• Ensure a positive media profile, continuing to build on the base established to build awareness among the media of Impetus’s expertise and content.
• Position Impetus as a ‘sought-after’ collaborative partner for other organisations with shared objectives; including regularly representing Impetus at relevant sector events.
• Support the delivery of our fundraising strategy and the successful delivery of our events programme, in particular, our flagship Transforming Lives Dinner.
• Where appropriate, collaborate with our portfolio partners to support their public affairs work and to leverage relevant partnerships, drawing on their insights to inform Impetus’ work.
• Contribute to the successful performance of the Senior Management Team, and provide expert advice to them, as well as to Trustees, on all public affairs-related activities and in the implementation of the broader strategy, engaging with decisions and challenges across the organisation.
• Oversee the running of our Public Affairs Committee (PAC), leveraging their skills, expertise and influence for the good of Impetus.

Personal specification

Essential

• A commitment to Impetus’ mission
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• Experience of leading public affairs / communications / policy at a senior level
  Strong track record of influencing (through policy, advocacy, communications, stakeholder relations)
• Strong management skills including strategy development, people management, budgeting and impact monitoring
• Experience of leading multiple and complex workstreams to achieve measurable results
• Experience of representing an organisation externally; in meetings, media interviews and on public platforms
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills
• Presence, credibility, motivational skills, natural ability to command respect based on experience, and ability to look beyond own area of expertise
• Proven experience of building and maintaining influential external relationships and strategic partnerships
• Ability to motivate a team and work collaboratively, enlisting support from others
• Knowledge of the education and/ or young people sectors

Desirable:

• Experience of fundraising, including trusts and foundations
• Knowledge of digital communications
• Experience of data management and good analytical skills
• Understanding of, and/or lived experience of, the barriers that young people face, that contribute to the education and employment gap
• Knowledge of venture philanthropy / impact management
• Knowledge of private equity and associated industries

Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion

We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop.

We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need to in order to be successful.

We recognise the importance of a good work/life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time job shares and other arrangements.

Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore.

Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds.

How to apply

Please click here to apply.

You will need to:

• Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement.
• We will also share our equal opportunities form which must also be completed.

The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification.

You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission.

As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage.

The deadline for applications is 11:59pm, Sunday 12th October 2025.

Interviews

First round interviews will take place: w/c 20th/27th October 2025.

Second round interviews will take place: w/c 3rd November 2025.

You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK.

Personal Data

Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.