Planning jobs in newcastle upon tyne, northumberland

Are you passionate about sport and physical activity and want to use this to share the good news of Jesus to children & young people across South England?

About the role 

Scripture Union England & Wales (SU) one of the UK’s longest-established children and youth ministry organisations is  working in partnership with Activate, an exciting local sport and wellbeing project, to offer this unique role to reach many more young people in the Bushy Park area and across the South of England through physical activity. 

We’re looking for a creative and entrepreneurial individual with a passion for using sport to help children and young people across the South of England to explore and respond to the good news of Jesus. 

This unique role combines the benefits of direct face-to-face engagement with young people in a local context, delivering mission through sport activities and programmes, while also developing and mentoring others to expand ministry across the South region. The ideal candidate will have equal passion and experience in both contexts. 

Key details: Employed by Scripture Union you will spend three days per week developing sports mission across London and the South. For two days per week, you will work on the Activate sports and wellbeing project working across the Bushy Park area.

Location: Home based with travel across London and the wider south region for SU & St Peter’s Church in West Molesey for Activate. 

Important things to note before you apply.  

1. This role will focus on Bushy Park, London and the South of England and will require extensive regular travel across the region.

2. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workforce. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from people, regardless of their background.  

3. We take Safeguarding seriously. This role will require a Disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service and has an occupational requirement to be filled by a committed Christian, active in church life. Equality Act 2010, Part 1, Schedule 9 applies. 

A flexible role shaped around you 

The role is full-time, offering the best of both worlds by working with two partner organisations that collaborate synergistically. This position suits a candidate who enjoys face-to-face interactions with young people locally and strategic work regionally, training others for delivery. You’ll work closely with the Activate team and maintain weekly connections with the SU Sports Mission team as well as contributing to the wider work of the SU South region team. 

Who we’re looking for team

You are someone who loves variety in your work and thrives on the fact that no two days are the same. You value a blend of face-to-face interaction with children and young people through sports coaching and leading, while also adopting a facilitating approach; equipping, training, and motivating others. You enjoy being rooted in a local context but are also happy travelling and working in a range of settings. 

You’re a connector who relishes being in the community, with experience in leading teams whilst working with diverse groups of people. Your creative mindset, combined with excellent organisational skills, enables you to spot and create opportunities for impact. You love Jesus and are filled with energy and passion for sharing the gospel. You excel with people and thrive when given a blank canvas to drive projects from conception to completion. You are a confident communicator with experience in training, coaching, and empowering others. You have a passion for sport and experience in using this as a tool for sharing the gospel with children and young people. You’ve got a Level 2 coaching qualification or you’re willing to work towards one. 

If this describes you and you would like to join a like-minded organisation that offers the flexibility of an exciting, varied role, provides a competitive salary, a generous pension scheme, and other valuable benefits, then read on.

Invest in our mission, as we invest in you: Our Benefits: 

This joined-up role with Activate and Scripture Union means being part of a vibrant team dedicated to making a real, positive difference in the lives of children and young people. We’re proud to be employers that truly value and support our staff. This role offers the flexibility you need for a healthy work-life balance, alongside a competitive salary. Your benefits package includes 23 days annual leave plus bank holidays, plus an additional 5 days for volunteering at  Scripture Union events and two days for spiritual refreshment.

We offer a comprehensive group pension scheme with an employer contribution of up to 12%, as well as life insurance (death-in-service coverage). We offer generous maternity, paternity, and adoption leave benefits. You will also have access to SU’s bible notes, and the opportunity to join daily staff prayers.

About Scripture Union  

You might have heard of us before if you're one of the 1.5 million+ who have attended one of our Christian holidays or missions over the years, or maybe you're one of the 40,000+ subscribers to have used our brilliant devotionals or been stirred by our exceptional bible resources. We've been at this for a fair few years... over 150 to be precise. Over this time, we’ve remained passionate about helping children and young people develop a vibrant faith in Jesus. As our name describes, the radical power of God's word has always been central to our approach.

We still do all the great stuff with resources and holidays, but in the last few years, we have sharpened our vision with a renewed focus to help the 95% of young people (primary and secondary school age) across the UK who have never stepped foot inside a church, to hear and respond to the good news of Jesus. We do this through equipping and resourcing the local church, training up volunteers from local churches (we call them ‘Faith Guides’) and collaborating with local and national partners across the UK to connect with children and young people and support them on a journey of exploring faith in a way that is relevant and meaningful.

In the last few years we’ve developed a brand new approach to how we do this, it’s deceptively simple and incredibly effective, we call it Revealing Jesus, and its making a massive difference, in the last couple of years we’ve trained up nearly 600 faith guides across 400+ churches all over the UK, collectively we’re seeing over 50,000 young people across the UK on a journey of exploring the Christian faith and responding to an invitation to become followers of Jesus. We have 24 staff organised into four regional mission teams, and alongside our local and national partners, we’re playing our part in a network of organisations that seeks to reach children and young people in every context, across every town and city across the whole of the UK. The journey ahead is significant, and we invite you to be a part of it! 

Since 2015, SU has had a dedicated Mission Through Sport team which contributes directly towards this outreach to the 95. We have recently developed some innovative new resources, aligned with the RJ framework, which the post holder will be involved in both delivering and equipping others to utilise. These include our flagship programme called Holy Ground which empowers churches to adopt a local sports space in their community to connect with the 95 in their context. Half Time is our brand new Explore-Respond resource which uses sports-themed videos and fun games to help the 95 to explore the life of Jesus by journeying through Mark’s Gospel. 

About Activate 

Activate is a sport and physical activity-based programme, formed in 2018, seeking to build community through wellbeing that invigorates faith.  Activate seeks to release God’s people to join in his mission through sport and physical activity in the areas surrounding Bushy Park. This includes gathering, encouraging and empowering local Christians involved in sports ministry, including expressions of chaplaincy and missional communities centred around sports clubs, centres, educational settings and gyms.  A number of local churches across denominations and Dioceses have been supporters of the project. 

In the past Activate has supported sports projects in local schools, an activity-based church service, wellbeing cafe sessions, exercise sessions for the elderly and youth activities.  The successful candidate will be involved in re-launching Activate’s mission after a break due to staff changes. 

About your team

With this role, you will have the benefit of being part of a national-focused sports team at SU, as well as the south team with a regional focus and the local context with Activate. You’ll work out of the office of St Peter’s Church, West Molesey, benefiting from the support of a local parish-based team including clergy and youth workers. You’ll contribute your expertise in a variety of settings, ranging from urban and suburban to coastal and rural areas across the south. You’ll have a brilliant time getting acquainted with this rich tapestry of local and national partners. Across the south region, we currently work with 130 churches and have 150 faith guides. We’d like to see these numbers grow significantly over the next few years and believe that a vibrant sports ministry can contribute meaningfully to this. 

Interview date: 11th September 2025 

Interview location: St Peter’s Church, West Molesey

* (CONTRACT) Funding is in place for year one and partly secured for year two. We are confident that through the development of innovate partnerships via the Activate role, including within the church of England, the funds can be generated to not only fulfil the two initial years but also beyond that to ensure longevity in this vital mission. We invite interested applicants to contact Mark Oliver, Sports Mission Team Leader at Scripture Union, for an informal conversation.

Are you a fundraising expert intrigued by the idea of transforming healthcare through the power of volunteering? If so, we have an incredible opportunity for you!
 
Helpforce is on a mission to revolutionise health volunteering and we need a dynamic, strategic, and results-oriented Head of Business Development to be at the forefront of this exciting journey. This is your chance to shape the future of a rapidly growing national charity, working at the intersection of innovation, impact, and social good.
 
In this role, you'll be responsible for driving the growth of our income-generating portfolio, securing new business, and forging high-value partnerships with the NHS and the broader healthcare sector. You'll also oversee the fundraising function, ensuring seamless alignment between our commercial growth and philanthropic income. This dual role is perfect for a senior professional who thrives on relationship building, business innovation, and revenue generation from both commercial and charitable sources.
 
Since our launch in 2017, we've been pioneers with a clear vision for a nation where volunteering is integral to healthcare being its very best. We collaborate closely with NHS Trusts and other healthcare organisations to co-create expert volunteering models that meet healthcare’s biggest challenges, while generating evidence that showcases the value and impact of initiatives. Our insights empower health leaders across the UK to invest in solutions that enhance patient experience, reduce pressure on staff, and bring meaningful benefits to tens of thousands of people who volunteer their time and talents.
 
This is not just any job, this is a chance to make a tangible difference to the lives of millions who receive and deliver healthcare.
 
Key Responsibilities
 
Business Development — Core Focus
 
 

• Develop and lead the business development strategy to expand market presence, secure new contracts, and grow sustainable income streams.
• Identify new markets, service offerings, and strategic partnerships that align with Helpforce’s mission and impact goals.
• Lead negotiations for contracts, partnerships, and commercial agreements.
• Oversee the preparation of bids, proposals, and tenders, working with internal teams to ensure high-quality submissions.
• Leverage Helpforce’s reputation and evidence of impact to generate new business opportunities.
• Conduct market research and competitor analysis to inform strategic decisions.
• Build strong commercial relationships with public sector bodies, corporate partners, and health system leaders.

 
Fundraising — Leadership Oversight
 

• Provide strategic oversight of all fundraising activities including trusts, foundations, major donors, and institutional funders.
• Directly line manage the fundraising function, providing leadership, coaching, and performance oversight.
• Support the development of high-quality funding applications, stewardship plans, and donor communications.
• Ensure fundraising activities comply with ethical standards, contractual obligations, and regulatory requirements.
• Work closely with the CEO and Trustees on high-value fundraising relationships.

 
Leadership & Strategy

• Serve as a key member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), contributing to organisational strategy and leadership.
• Set income targets, KPIs, and performance metrics across business development and fundraising.
• Work with Finance to monitor budgets, forecast income, and manage financial risks.
• Represent Helpforce externally at high-profile events, conferences, and with key stakeholders.

 
Relationship Management

• Build and maintain relationships with donors, funders, corporate partners, and public sector stakeholders.
• Support senior-level relationship-building with strategic funders and institutional partners, working alongside the CEO and Trustees where appropriate.

 
Person Specification
 
Essential

• Senior-level experience (7 years) in business development, commercial partnerships, or strategic fundraising,
• Experience in a non-profit, NGO, social enterprise, or impact-driven business.
• Proven track record of securing significant business contracts or partnerships.
• Strong leadership and line management experience.
• Excellent negotiation, commercial acumen, and contract management skills.
• Outstanding relationship-building skills with diverse stakeholders including public sector, corporate, and philanthropic partners.
• Experience in setting and delivering income growth strategies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for proposals, reports, and presentations.

 
Desirable

• Sector knowledge: [e.g. healthcare, NHS].
• Knowledge of CRM systems and fundraising databases.

 
Equality and Diversity
 
Helpforce encourages applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries. We're committed to having a team that has diverse skills, experiences and abilities. We actively encourage BAME and disabled applicants and value the positive impact that difference has on our organisation. We are committed to equality and diversity within our workforce and all opportunities provided by Helpforce.
 
Location: Remote, but travel to the London office will be required, as will UK wide client meetings.
Salary: c.£62,000 per annum
Benefits: Competitive
 
Closing date for applications is 21st August 2025. Please use the application link to send us your CV and a covering letter to support your application. Applications submitted without a covering letter may not be considered.
 
REF-223097

Imagine a role where your creativity and collaborative approach help connect supporters to a powerful mission, shifting the dial in the food and farming education sector so more children facing disadvantage can discover their connection with the land that sustains us all.

We’re seeking a skilled communicator and digital storyteller equally comfortable crafting social media posts, drafting briefing notes, or capturing and editing film content. You’ll be passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices and supporting social change through engaging communications that inform, connect and inspire.

You will work closely with colleagues across the organisation to drive engagement, raise our profile, and grow our digital presence through impactful multimedia storytelling. Your work will help bring the voices of children, families and communities to partners and supporters nationwide, placing The Country Trust’s mission at the heart of national conversations about wellbeing, education and tackling the poverty of opportunity.

This role involves travel and occasional overnight stays (with mileage reimbursed) across England and North Wales. While we prioritise public transport use, this is not always feasible. Therefore, a valid driving licence is essential.

Key Responsibilities:

Communications & Influence

• Develop and deliver strategic, multi-channel communications that translate complex ideas into compelling messages to increase our influence across media, policy, and partner networks.

Multimedia Storytelling

• Create and deliver impactful, accessible multimedia content that amplifies beneficiary voices, supports advocacy, and aligns with our brand and strategic goals.

Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships​

• Develop and tailor impactful communications and materials that strengthen partnerships, engage funders, and support collaborative initiatives with partner organisations.

Press, Media & Digital Oversight

• Support on press and social media communications by managing media relationships, crafting timely content, and optimising outreach to amplify our advocacy and campaigns.

About The Country Trust

The Country Trust believes every child should discover first-hand the connections between the food they eat, their own health and the health of the planet. We are the UK’s leading educational charity on a mission to connect children with the land that sustains us all.

When we don’t understand where food comes from, how it’s grown, or have the chance to spend time outdoors, there’s a significant knock-on effect for our health and the environment. Through nearly 50 years of programme delivery, we know children facing disadvantage often have the most to gain from this connection but are least able to access it.

Through food, farming and countryside experiences, our mission is to empower children to be confident, curious, and create change in their lives and the world around them — so that they and society thrive.

Imagine a role where your creativity helps connect supporters to a powerful mission, raising vital income so more children facing disadvantage can discover their connection with the land that sustains us all.

We’re looking for a multitalented Digital Marketing Officer who has a passion and skill for creating captivating and emotionally driven content, who can also support fundraising campaigns and drive optimisation through user feedback and data analysis. You’ll be confident with writing copy for websites and newsletters, creating social media posts, and working with design tools to produce digital materials that inspire people to donate, support, and champion our cause.

This is a new and significant role for our charity, offering the chance to contribute fresh ideas and see the direct results of your work. You’ll be joining a highly supportive, creative and digitally literate team committed to using digital innovation to help ensure every child, no matter their circumstance, has access to impactful food, farming and nature-based education.

This role involves travel and occasional overnight stays (with mileage reimbursed) across England and North Wales. While we prioritise the use of public transport this is not always feasible. Therefore, a valid driving licence is essential for this position.

Key Responsibilities:
 

Collect and Curate Impact Content

• Create compelling, emotionally resonant stories and visual content that demonstrate our impact, working closely with colleagues to ensure all materials are brand-aligned, accessible, and consistent in tone and style.

Design Campaign Materials and Reports

• Deliver digital campaigns by tailoring communications for key donor audiences, continually testing to optimise reach and engagement.

Digital Communications Oversight

• Manage social media content in partnership with the Digital Manager, using analytics to optimise performance and identifying emerging digital trends to enhance supporter engagement and income.
• Collaborate across teams to improve supporter journeys and digital engagement, while motivating ambassadors and influencers to amplify our reach and grow income.
   

About The Country Trust

The Country Trust believes every child should discover first-hand the connections between the food they eat, their own health and the health of the planet. We are the UK’s leading educational charity on a mission to connect children with the land that sustains us all.

When we don’t understand where food comes from, how it’s grown, or have the chance to spend time outdoors, there’s a significant knock-on effect for our health and the environment. Through nearly 50 years of programme delivery, we know children facing disadvantage often have the most to gain from this connection but are least able to access it.

Through food, farming and countryside experiences, our mission is to empower children to be confident, curious, and create change in their lives and the world around them — so that they and society thrive.

The vacancy

We are seeking to appoint one lay member to sit on our GOC Council.

About the GOC

We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance and conduct.  For more information about us please visit our website:optical. org.

About the Council

The role of Council is to lead on the GOC’s mission to protect the public by upholding high standards in eye care services.  The Council is composed of six lay members (including the Chair) and six registrant members (i.e. registered optometrists and dispensing opticians).  At least one member of the Council must work wholly or mainly in each of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  One Council member acts as a Senior Council Member whose role is to carry out the Chair’s appraisal as well as provide a sounding board for the Chair and serve as an intermediary for Council members, Executive and stakeholders as necessary. 

The successful candidate will contribute to Council by exercising oversight, ensuring effective corporate governance, and making high-level policy decisions. They will be able to operate strategically and impartially; listen, communicate, and influence effectively; exercise judgment; and inspire confidence and support amongst our stakeholders. 

Remuneration and time commitment

Council members are remunerated in accordance with our member fees policy (£13,962 per annum plus reasonable travel and subsistence expenses).  The member fee includes time for reading and preparation.

The appointed member will be expected to commit approximately 2-3 days per month.  Meetings will usually take place via MS Teams but may on occasion be held at the GOC Offices at Level 29, One Canada Square, London, E14 5AA. There are occasional online catch-up meetings - these are currently scheduled on a Tuesday evening every 6-8 weeks, from 5.30pm – 6.30pm.

How to apply:

Please email the the following to appointment@optical. org

· your CV outlining your employment history, any relevant voluntary work, public service or other experience; together with any relevant professional, academic or vocational qualifications;

· the application form, stating how your experience matches the criteria for the vacancy you are applying for; and

· complete the EDI monitoring form linked in the candidate pack (this is an online form and does not need to be included in the email with your CV and application form).

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  midnight on Sunday 10 August 2025.

Online interviews will be held on between Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October 2025.

If you have any questions, please email them to appointment@optical. org and we will aim to respond to you within 48 hours. 

We welcome applications from individuals who are disabled and from diverse ethnic backgrounds as these are currently under-represented on our council and committees.

We strive to be as diverse as the public we protect and welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity and geographical locations outside of London.

Job description - Partnerships and Income Manager

Salary: £38,000 per annum 

Contract: Permanent

Reports to: Head of Commercial Services

Hours: Full or part-time hours considered, minimum 0.8 FTE 

Start date: November 2025

Location: Home-based (travel costs paid for meetings) 

Annual leave: 27 days FTE per annum plus Bank holidays (22 days FTE per annum under the Four Day Week) 

Please note that at Waterwise we work a Four Day Week, under voluntary agreements which all staff members sign. This means that you will be contracted and paid as full-time but you will sign a voluntary agreement stating that you commit to employing efficiency tools both individual and team-wide to deliver and be paid for 5 days work within four normal 9 to 5 days - the office is closed on Fridays. Training will be provided and you will be expected to continue to refresh your training and to keep up use of the efficiency tools. Annual leave is also pro rata’d. We can answer any questions you may have about this at the interview/s. On a 20 hours a week contract, you would be spending 16 hours a week at work including the equivalent of 2 one hour lunch breaks, and this can be worked in a flexible pattern, such as two full days or more, shorter days. 

Waterwise 

Waterwise is the leading independent voice in the UK for using water wisely, for the benefit of people and the planet. Our vision is that water is used wisely every day, everywhere, by everyone. We are the UK’s conscience on water efficiency, on behalf of people and the planet, and are experts in water efficiency policy, regulation, research, behaviour and campaigns. Waterwise is a people-led organisation which prioritises the wellbeing of its staff.

Water scarcity is an urgent issue right here, right now, right across the UK - consistent record-breaking high temperatures and low rainfall, and recurring drought, show how climate change and population growth are already putting our water resources under severe pressure, and this challenge is growing. Water efficiency has to be a big part of the solution, and we support and challenge governments, industry, customers and others to be innovative and ambitious on water efficiency. Our work includes campaigns, events, media, policy and regulatory influencing, research projects, stakeholder engagement and services such as Waterwise Training and the Waterwise  Checkmark. We are funded by supporters across and beyond the UK water sector. Our Waterwise Strategic Direction, published in August 2022, tells you a bit more about us. Our UK Water Efficinecy Strategy to 2030 tells you a bit more about our ambition.

At Waterwise we put staff wellbeing first, and our staff surveys show that our team knows, feels and appreciates this. Our values are:

People: We will prioritise staff wellbeing, be an inclusive, kind and positive team. 

Purpose: We will deliver independent and ambitious leadership to drive social and  political change on water efficiency 

Pioneer: We will be forward-thinking and visionary in our approach, being brave and  innovative in challenging the status quo 

Passion: We will campaign to protect water and the planet and work to keep our own  environmental impact as low as possible 

We are always looking for bright, committed people with a diverse set of skills and  experience to help achieve our vision that water is used wisely every day, everywhere, by  everyone. We are a lively, happy, friendly team, and we can’t wait to read your application! 

At Waterwise, we’re committed to driving equity and preventing discrimination at work and in the work we do. Please see more on this below. 

We are also working to reduce Waterwise’s own carbon and environmental footprint. 

Partnerships and Income Manager Role Description

The Partnerships and Income Manager role involves engaging a range of stakeholders to help generate greater impact and income for Waterwise. The Partnerships and Income Manager will be responsible for researching and identifying potential new business opportunities; conducting outreach to new and existing stakeholders to encourage collaboration; building and maintaining relationships with Waterwise partners, sponsors and members; and assisting with developing winning proposals for funding, in order to deepen the impact we make with individuals, communities and businesses across the UK. The Partnerships and Income Manager will lead on delivery against income targets for our services and events. 

Key responsibilities in the role include: 

• Generating income for Waterwise by retaining existing partners, recruiting new partners, selling sponsorship opportunities, and increasing engagement and investment in Waterwise membership and services

• Researching and identifying new business development leads in line with Waterwise’s commercial strategy

• Building and maintaining an active pipeline of commercial and partnership opportunities to drive income 

• Conducting market and competitor research and engagement to ensure we have a clear understanding of customer needs and align our services to meet those needs

• Conducting lead generation and lead nurturing activities, including representing Waterwise at events and conferences, reaching out to potential new partners by email, phone or social media, and conducting introductory meetings with potential sponsors, members and partners

• Acting as account manager for Waterwise partners, (working alongside the Membership and Marketing Manager who manages member relationships), leading on administration such as ensuring Salesforce CRM is up-to-date, conducting Waterwise’s ethical screening process for potential partners, managing partnership agreements and payments

• Working with the Memberships and Marketing Manager to design and implement communications to demonstrate how partnering with Waterwise offers value for money and delivers against ESG commitments

• Working on grant funding proposals and project bids

• Working with the wider team to assist in the development of content for our newsletter, social media, blogs, trade media and press

• Assisting the team with organising events (e.g. Waterwise annual conference)

• Attending conferences, seminars and meetings to represent Waterwise

The above is not an exhaustive list of activities but hopefully gives you a sense of the role  and requirements. 

Partnerships and Income Manager Person Specification

We need someone who is proactive and a self-starter, with exemplary communication and relationship building skills.

• Target-driven and commercially-minded, with a proven track record of income generation through sales, sponsorship and grant funding

• Experience in business development, sales, commercial services or relationship management roles

• Experience in writing successful new business proposals, compelling pitches and funding bids

• Good interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders and forge great relationships inside and outside of the organisation

• Ability to approach new leads with confidence, including making ‘cold’ introductions to new organisations 

• Excellent networking skills and confidence to ‘work the room’ at meetings and events

• Strong organisational skills, including the ability to plan and work proactively to meet deadlines

• Proactive and action-oriented approach to achieving income targets and KPIs

• Confident communicator, with excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong negotiation skills

• Ability to positively promote Waterwise and its work

• Ability to work flexibly within a small team that works from home

• Ability to manage own time and prioritise tasks

• Ability to communicate across the team about your work and workload

• Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and wellbeing 

• Eligibility to work in the UK

Benefits 

At Waterwise the wellbeing of our employees is our number one priority. To recognise the  fantastic work our team does in driving water efficiency, and to support their wellbeing, we  have a wide range of employee benefits, beyond statutory commitments. These include: 

• Positive, values-based environment and an inclusive culture where it feels safe for  employees to say ‘no’ on grounds of workload 

• Strong emphasis from CEO on wellbeing and workload management 

• Homeworking and a small allowance for occasional shared office working 

• Four Day week - being paid full-time but working 80% of this (or pro rata equivalent), in exchange for using tools to work efficiently - for full-time employees this equates to a day off every week, in addition to annual leave

• Flexible working

• Part-time working 

• 27 days annual leave per annum for full-time employees (or pro rata equivalent for part-time colleagues), plus Bank Holidays (pro rata’d to 22 days full-time equivalent as we work a Four Day Week)

• Death in service benefit at x2 of salary 

• Paid chartered and professional memberships 

• Individual and team training budgets 

• Maternity leave and maternity adoption leave beyond statutory 

• Childcare costs for activities undertaken outside normal working hours 

• Sickness pay beyond statutory 

Equity, diversity and inclusion 

At Waterwise, we’re committed to driving equity and preventing discrimination at work and in the work we do. We know that simply having a diverse workforce is not enough. We want to create an inclusive environment within Waterwise and in our work and events, where everyone can contribute their best and develop to their full potential. We celebrate and value how different everyone is, and we work hard to ensure everyone is treated with dignity and respect. This aligns with our ‘People’ value that we will prioritise staff wellbeing, and will be an inclusive, kind and positive team.

We are committed to treating all current and prospective employees fairly and to ensuring  that our workplace and employment practices are free from discrimination, harassment or  victimisation on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil  partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. We  strongly encourage applicants from a wide range of backgrounds and with different identities and experiences to apply. Everyone in our team has a role to play in helping Waterwise become more diverse and inclusive, and we hope you will join us for this next stage in our journey - for this role we therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be under-represented in Waterwise’s workforce. These include people of the global majority, LGBTQI+ people, and men.

We want to ensure that our recruitment process is inclusive of and accessible for everyone.  If you are interested in applying for a role with us and think you may need some additional  support or reasonable adjustments made to any part of the recruitment process, please get in touch.

How to apply 

To apply for this role, you will need to answer role-related questions. Please provide evidence and examples from your work history or other aspects of your life to  answer the questions and demonstrate how you meet the criteria required. Please refer to the person specification when you are doing this.

Our goal is to remove bias from the hiring process and so rather than asking you for a CV and cover letter, we have set up role-related questions which will allow us to assess your approach to a problem and understand what knowledge and skills you have. Your answers will be anonymised, randomised and reviewed by the selection panel. We will use these scores to shortlist for interviews. We also think giving feedback is incredibly valuable for candidates, so at the end of the process, you'll see how well you performed during the application process.

The closing date for applications is 23:59pm on 31st August 2025. There will be a two-stage interview process. First interviews will be held on 17th September 2025 and second interviews will be held on 29th September 2025.  First interviews will be held online via Zoom and second interviews will be held in person in Birmingham (venue TBC).

Job Title: Experienced Associate Independent Investigating Officers (IOs) for Stage 2 Complaints (This role sits within our Independent Person for Complaints (IPC) service)

Contract: Associate

Hours: Variable, according to demand for services/caseload and role in investigation

Salary: £25.25 per hour

Location: Associate Independent Investigating Officers for Complaints primarily work from home. Some travel may be required as part of an investigation – location will vary according to the referral received from the Local Authority. Cases will be allocated to Associate IOs living locally to the referring authority, wherever possible.

About Coram

Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.

We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.

Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity, founded by Thomas Coram in London, helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

About the role

We are seeking additional experienced Associate Independent Investigating Officers (IO) for Complaints, to increase our capacity to respond to referrals from Local Authorities to provide an independent element to the formal Stage 2 investigations under the Children Act 1989.

The IO will lead investigations, and will give the complainant (who may be a child, young person or adult) the opportunity to express their view, ensure the child or young person’s rights and best interests are at the centre of the investigation and that the investigation/review process is open and transparent. They write a report on the investigation/review, which is submitted to the referring agency.

The Job Description document sets out the expectations for an Associate Independent Person for Complaints (IPC) who is approved by Coram Voice. IPCs are independent, freelance and responsible for their own work. Nevertheless, IPCs are accountable to the organisation for their professional standards and are expected to comply with Coram Voice Code of Ethics and Practice Guidelines.

Please note: the nature of associate work means that we cannot guarantee a regular amount of work, and complaints will be allocated dependent on the associate’s availability, location and the needs and demands of the individual case. Investigation work takes place Monday to Friday within working hours. This position is not suitable for applicants who already work or have commitments more than two days within the working week.

To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.

Closing date: Please note this is a rolling recruitment campaign

Interview date: TBC

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from, Asian, African, Caribbean and other minority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBTQ+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.