Play worker jobs in Milton keynes

This permanent, part-time role is ideal for someone with strong financial administration and bookkeeping experience who is committed to social justice and human rights. You'll be responsible for the day-to-day management of our finances, maintaining accurate records, supporting reporting and compliance, and providing financial information to help staff and trustees make informed decisions.

Join us and play a key role in supporting Just Fair's mission to secure economic, social and cultural rights for everyone in the UK.

Remote (Surrey and surrounding areas) | 18 – 24 hours

£27,500 pro rata | Flexible working | Real impact

Are you kind, caring and professional – the sort of person who listens deeply, holds space for others, and wants to make a real difference?

At Jigsaw South East, we support children and young people who are facing or coping with the death of a loved one. We’re looking for a compassionate and confident Grief Support Worker to join our small, dedicated team.

In this role, you’ll:

• Support families one-to-one and in groups, both pre- and post-bereavement
• Hold meaningful (and sometimes tough) conversations with warmth and sensitivity
• Help children feel less alone in their grief, and families feel more connected
• Contribute to our PIECES group programme, helpline, and referral process

This isn’t just a job, it’s a chance to walk alongside people at one of the hardest points in their lives and offer light, steadiness and support.

We’re looking for someone who brings:

• A warm, person-centred approach
• Experience working with children and families
• Emotional resilience and a strong sense of purpose
• The ability to travel across Surrey and attend some evening/weekend sessions

We offer:

• Flexible working
• TOIL and supervision
• Ongoing training and personal growth
• A supportive, values-led team who genuinely care

If you believe in the power of kindness and want to help children feel seen, safe and supported, we’d love to hear from you.

View our recruitment pack for more information including a full job description and person specification:

Amputee Network Development Officer – South West

Fixed term 12 months from starting date with potential to extend

Ensure that no amputee need cope alone

The Limbless Association is seeking a proactive, creative and resourceful Development Officer to enable the charity to extend its reach across the south west.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting individuals and their families experiencing amputation, through their rehabilitation, recovery and life beyond limb loss.

The Amputee Network Development Officer will play a pivotal role in the LA realising its outreach aims in the region. This role will build capacity across a range of outreach support activities, working closely with the Regional Development Manager (South), Services Development Lead and Volunteer Coordinator, to realise increased multi- stakeholder engagement, project reach, awareness of the charity and its services as well as working with the team to realise regional financial support of the LA’s work.

We’re looking for someone who:

· Is passionate about building strong outcomes focused relationships with a variety of stakeholders.

· Enjoys turning ideas into meaningful opportunities and actions.

· Can think strategically whilst remaining practical

· Understands the importance of lived experience and co-production

· Has a strong geographical knowledge of the south west of England.

· Wants to make a genuine difference

If you are motivated by improving lives with purpose and compassion, we would love to hear from you.

About the role:

Ready to lead a service that changes young lives? Youth Concern is looking for an experienced manager to lead our busy Drop-in Centre and support a dedicated team committed to helping young people across Aylesbury Vale. Help us shape our charity’ next chapter as we prepare to move to new premises in 2027. You will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Drop-in Centre, ensuring that young people receive high-quality, accessible support in a safe and welcoming environment. Working closely with staff, volunteers and partner agencies, you will oversee service delivery, support organisational development and play a key role in our exciting plans to relocate to new premises in 2027. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about improving outcomes for young people and shaping the future of an essential community service.

Place of work is flexible (to suit us and the successful candidate, approx 2 days a week from home, 3 days a week working from the Drop-in Centre). Our Drop-in Centre in open to young people Tuesday-Saturday including two evenings. This role can be flexible and can be worked Monday-Friday with occasional evening and weekend work.

Benefits:

• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays per annum plus 1 day's leave on your birthday

• Mobile phone and laptop

• Pension

• 24/7 employee support from Health Assured

• TOIL policy

• Monthly supervision and training

Interviews will take place on Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th September 2026.

This is a Youth Worker Maternity cover (FTC - 11 Months), hybrid role, with a combination of home working, community-based work and regular travel to sites within the Buckinghamshire area such as, Aylesbury and High Wycombe.

For the full job description, please visit our website for the full recruitment pack. 

PURPOSE OF ROLE

Caudwell Youth exists to level the playing field for Young People at risk.

To change this, we:

• Shape Futures: person-centred support through long-term volunteer mentoring and targeted intervention
• Shape Community: positively impacting the community by connecting people together
• Shape Change: reduce stigma, amplify youth voice and demonstrate best practice in the sector

Our core service is a person-centred volunteer mentoring service, delivered across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Slough, Milton Keynes and Luton, for up to 18 months.

We also offer a short term intervention programme, in Buckinghamshire. The Shaping Futures programme 8 - 12 weeks of targeted work to support reduction in offending behaviour.

The Operations Team play a key role in achieving this vision.

You will be responsible for ensuring the Charity achieves its aims and objectives and fulfils its operational plan effectively by providing high quality support services, providing person centred long- term mentoring for young people.

Key Duties:

• Coordinate onboarding of young people, including the initial assessment, and developing 12 individualised sessions bespoke to each young person.
• Ensure a 12-week programme is written and sent to the young person with agreed outcomes after initial meeting.
• Responsible for a case load of young people up to 20 young people at any one time.
• Lead sessions and activities with appropriate resources to empower young people to make more positive choices to reduce violent behaviours, reduce risk of exploitation and other offending behaviours.

Coordination & Development

• With support from your line manager, ensure the delivery, development of services, community-based activities, and development opportunities are in line with regulatory requirements, our own policies, including safeguarding, social media, health & safety and data protection.
• Develop services and activities and opportunities for inclusion, community engagement and personal development for young people as agreed with your line manager.
• Ensure appropriate planning, risk assessment and evaluation for all activities relating to your area of responsibility is completed, with support from your line manager where appropriate.
• In collaboration with the Operations team, support activities for the needs of the young people across the charity’s wider geographies.

Partnerships & Liaison

• Work closely with the team and the stakeholder steering group to promote good communication and shared focus.
• Ensure effective, relevant and appropriate communication at all times.
• Represent the Charity to other organisations, funders and supporters.
• Establish and develop good relationships with other charities and agencies to increase partnership and effective joint working where appropriate.
• Be a point of contact for referrers and external contacts as regards to activities and service provision.
• Maintain strong working partnership with Thames Valley Police and Buckinghamshire Council to deliver the Shaping Futures Programme.

On appointment, you are expected to have:

Essential

• Minimum of 2 years' experience working with young people in formal or informal settings
• Experience working with statutory services to support at-risk young people
• Experience planning and delivering activities or support services for young people
• Experience working to agreed delivery targets, monitoring outcomes, and report writing
• Full UK driving licence with no endorsements or convictions, eligible for business insurance

Desirable

• Experience of liaising and relationship building with local networks
• Hold a Certificate in Youth Work and Community Practice or a relevant equivalent (minimum Level 2 - JNC, NYA, or equivalent)

Knowledge & Skills:

• Excellent knowledge and understanding of young people services in the UK
• Strong understanding of young people at-risk and trauma-informed practice
• Good understanding of safeguarding, confidentiality, and child protection procedures
• Knowledge of local referral pathways and support services
• Basic experience using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and CRM systems (Beacon CRM)
• Excellent presentation skills to external stakeholders

Personal Attributes:

• Strong people skills: demonstrates empathy, leads by example, and contributes to positive team culture
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion
• Positive attitude with proactive and flexible approach to work
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently while accepting guidance and supervision
• Resilience and ability to manage challenging situations
• Cultural competency and awareness of diverse communities

You will have key and major responsibility for coordinating service areas and develop the Charity’s programmes, supported by your line manager. One of your key roles will be developing positive working relationships with key partner organisations.

Citizens UK 

Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.

Living Wage Foundation 

The Living Wage movement began in 2001, after Citizens UK brought together communities in East London to discuss poverty and low pay. The campaign grew in momentum and soon required a mechanism to recognise employers who wanted to join the movement, which saw the establishment of the Living Wage Foundation in 2011.

Still part of Citizens UK today, the Living Wage Foundation continues to work with community organisations to make sure the voices of both workers and businesses are part of the Living Wage movement. We now work with over 16,000 employers, benefitting over 475,000 people and winning over £3bn of better wages for people who need it most.

Citizens UK works with a broad base of institutions across the political spectrum. At the Living Wage Foundation, we take the same deliberately broad-based approach and accredit all organisations who pay the real Living Wage to their directly and indirectly employed staff and are committed to tackling in work poverty.  As a team we work across a range of industries and sectors to achieve this mission. We seek pragmatic coalitions in order to progress specific campaigns, and partnership around a particular issue such as Living Wage, does not imply an endorsement of broader purpose and policies.

Purpose 

At Citizens UK, our organisers and project staff work within communities to develop leaders, strengthen organisations, campaign for change and organise across difference. There are various project roles and operational, communication, finance and HR roles that support the organisation and project staff and organisers to deliver on this mission and work. This work is rewarding and can be challenging; it requires a personal commitment to inclusion, a willingness to listen and disagree respectfully, and an interest in working in an organisation where our staff, member institutions and leaders will come from a diversity of backgrounds and often hold views that may be very different from our own. More information about how we operate within this context and build trusted relationships across difference can be found on our website and is covered in induction. Onboarding and navigating this relational culture, and type of work, is supported by line managers and further training. 

Main Responsibilities 

We are looking for highly motivated and organised individual to coordinate our accreditation scheme. The role will work with our network of employers, and support new organisations through the accreditation process. 

The Programme Officer will lead our work across the South West and support our managers to grow and deepen engagement with Living Wage Employers through our associated schemes. You will help to ensure our resources and publicity materials are well written and up-to-date, and to coordinate events to grow our employer network. 

Working as the Programme Officer for Citizens UK, reporting to a Programme Manager, your main responsibilities will include: 

Contribute towards the achievement of CUK and LWF’s strategic objectives

Understand how the role contributes to LWF’s purpose and the core mission of CUK

Reliably implement CUK’s and LWF’s policies, procedures, and values in own work

Work with CUK community organisers and leaders to promote civic engagement with and ownership of the Living Wage campaign 

Feed into the LWF strategy and objectives development 

Living Wage Accreditation 

• Support key contacts at potential LW Employers through the accreditation process, from dealing with initial enquiries to guiding them through the employer journey, to checking and processing their accreditation 

• Develop rewarding relationships with key employers, industry, and campaign partners within our networks to build interest in the Living Wage and deliver a high-quality experience to our accredited employers 

• With support from the wider team, develop plans and strategies to grow the number of accreditations in specific regions or industries 

• Collate and disseminate Living Wage criteria and policy issues through both internal and external facing guidance, whilst reviewing and monitoring its suitability 

• Support the development and implementation of projects to promote and grow Living Wage accreditations and develop the quality of service offered 

Build and manage projects and achieve work targets effectively

Successfully progress projects and tasks incl. tracking performance and expenditure 

Deliver agreed areas of the LWF’s work plan and leading on agenda items to report into team meetings.

Support the growth and development of new and existing Living Wage schemes incl.  Recognised Service Providers, LW Funders, LW Places, Living Hours, Global Living Wage and Living Work Consultancy 

Deliver personal work targets on time and to standard: 

• Respond to telephone and web-based enquiries by providing advice and support to employers and supporters 

• Provide administrative support for all aspects of the accreditation journey, incl. processing accreditations, recognitions, and renewals 

• Maintain LWF data on systems, incl. Salesforce employer database

• Support the maintenance of our systems to ensure efficient processes and develop reporting mechanisms for effective monitoring and evaluation of our impact and progress against plans 

• Coordinate and administrate Steering, Advisory or Leadership Groups as required, incl. coordinating agendas, sending out timely papers, taking minutes and following up on actions 

Learning & expertise

Keep abreast of new developments in the accreditation space

Apply new learning to work and respond effectively to feedback 

Work collaboratively with the LWF and franchise teams to share learnings and experience and ensure that we are meeting the expectations of our network and stakeholders 

Develop and manage external relationships 

Effectively develop and support a range of external relationships 

Respond effectively to queries or requests from stakeholders 

Engage with a diverse range of external stakeholders to support and develop projects as required 

Communications 

Communicate effectively within the LWF; ensuring that messages are reliably passed to those who need to know 

Represent the LWF coherently in writing and verbally 

Events and Communications 

• Plan and organise events to celebrate and grow our network of LW Employers, incl. playing an active role in the delivery of LW Week and assisting colleagues with event logistics 

• Represent and speak on behalf of the LWF at internal and external meetings and events 

• Develop or feed into employer resources incl. marketing materials, blogs, reports, templates, and guides 

Develop and manage internal relationships 

Work effectively with colleagues across Citizens UK 

Work collaboratively within the LWF team and actively participate in the team to ensure we meet the expectations of our network and stakeholders 

Generate income and resources

Contribute to plans and proposals to grow sources of income/resource.

Take personal responsibility for the careful stewardship of LWF’s resources 

Personal Specification 

(D) Desirable, (E) Essential 

Qualifications 

Bachelor’s degree in any subject (D) 

Subject of relevance to community work or community organising (D) 

Experience 

• Comprehensive experience in an administrative role (E) 

• Experience of building positive relationships (E) 

• Experience of managing and updating Salesforce or similar databases (D) 

• Experience of delivering a range of high quality communications materials, including websites, reports, newsletters (D) 

Key skills and knowledge 

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to juggle a wide range of competing demands (E) 

• Understanding of database and systems management (E) 

• Ability to take in and interpret information and present in a succinct manner(E) 

• Excellent communication skills, both verbally and written, combined with the ability to liaise with senior stakeholders, both online and in-person (E) 

• Ability to act on own initiative to introduce and develop new systems as appropriate (E) 

• Strong attention to detail (E) 

• Strong IT skills to include MS Office and database software (E) 

• Understanding of the policy and campaign landscape in the UK (D) 

Personal qualities & values 

• A proactive approach to all areas of work with a ‘can do’ attitude and a flexible approach to work demands (E) 

• A strong commitment to the Living Wage campaign and principles of Citizens UK (E) 

About the application process 

We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role. 

For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email us.

Interviews will be in person in the South West region, week commencing 28th September 2026.

Location: Home-based anywhere in the UK with travel for meetings. Option to work from our Bristol or London offices.

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. And that impact can be felt by entire family. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer.

We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make their voices heard and their unique needs understood, so they can get the right care and support at the right time

About the role

We're looking for a Programme Development Officer with experience of supporting projects, programmes, events or organisational initiatives to join our Innovation, Policy & Systems Change Directorate.

This is an exciting opportunity to support a wide range of programmes and strategic initiatives that aim to improve outcomes for children and young people with cancer and their families. You'll help turn ideas into action by supporting the development, coordination and delivery of work across the directorate, working closely with colleagues, partners and stakeholders.

You'll play a key role in developing proposals, presentations and briefing materials, organising workshops and collaborative sessions, supporting new initiatives and funding opportunities, and ensuring projects stay organised and progress effectively. You'll be someone who enjoys bringing people together, building positive relationships and helping conversations translate into meaningful next steps.

We're looking for a proactive, organised and adaptable individual who is eager to learn and develop their career in areas such as research, learning, policy, systems change or innovation. You don't need experience across all these areas, but you'll be curious about how evidence, collaboration and practical action can create lasting change for young cancer patients and their families.

This role is subject to a Criminal Record Check. In the event of a successful application, a Basic Criminal Record Check will be completed. A previous conviction is not necessarily a barrier to employment. We encourage qualified applicants to apply, and we will consider each case individually.

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your day-to-day isn't easy. Here are some of the main things you'll be doing, but you'll find more details in our Role Details document.

• Supporting the development and delivery of programmes, projects and strategic initiatives across the directorate.
• Producing proposals, presentations, briefings and other materials to support projects, partnerships and new initiatives.
• Planning and coordinating workshops, meetings and collaborative sessions, including communications and follow-up actions.
• Supporting funding bids, research proposals and partnership development opportunities.
• Gathering, organising and summarising information to support decision-making, learning and continuous improvement.
• Maintaining project trackers, shared workspaces and collaboration tools to help teams stay organised and informed.
• Supporting the sharing of learning, progress and outcomes across teams, partners and stakeholders.

What do I need? 

Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

• Experience supporting projects, programmes, events or organisational initiatives.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and keep work progressing.
• Experience coordinating meetings, workshops or collaborative activities involving a range of stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including producing presentations, reports, briefings or meeting notes.
• Ability to build positive working relationships and collaborate effectively with colleagues, partners and other stakeholders.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office and collaboration tools, including project-tracking systems such as Trello.
• A proactive, adaptable and curious approach, with a willingness to learn and contribute across a variety of work areas.

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days: four days a year to to step back from the day-to-day and focus on your own learning and development
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for this role, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed. We recognise the benefits of AI, but if you're considering using it to submit your application, we encourage you to reflect on the value AI adds. AI tools often lack the personal touch and authenticity that set candidates apart. We want to hear your unique perspective, experiences, and skills, so we encourage you to tell us about your skills and experiences in your own voice.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.

If you have questions about the role or process, please email us.

#ShowTheSalary #NonGraduatesWelcome

Salary – Grade 4 - £35,581 per annum, pro rata for part time

Hours: 1 x part time - 28 hours per week - can be worked flexibly

Contract: Fixed term until end of March 2028

Location: Home Worker with occasional travel to Manchester, Birmingham or Sheffield

Closing date: Thursday 27th August 2026 at 11:30pm

Are you a customer-focused individual with recent experience of providing specialist level debt advice? Then join Shelter as a Specialist Debt Adviser supporting client-facing debt advisers with their complex casework, contributing to resources and helping us to influence the debt advice sector.

About the Team

Our Specialist Debt Advice service works with front-line debt advisers based across England & Wales, providing support with their complex case work. The service currently operates between 9-5 Monday to Friday, with advisers offering live support to clients on a rota basis throughout the week.

About the Role

As a Specialist Debt Adviser, you will be responsible for handling phone and email enquiries to the service, using diagnostic questioning to fully establish the caller's enquiry and providing detailed and timely responses. We'll also rely on you to identify and act upon any emergency enquiries and prioritise your workload accordingly. Helping our Team to produce written and on-line content and provide service users with the latest developments in debt regulation, policy and good practice will be important too.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About you

You are someone who champions user-focused advice and who can take complex language and processes and make them easy to understand for professional advisers and other audiences. You will need excellent all-round understanding of debt advice, with experience of producing written and on-line resources, including guidance documents, webinars and attendance at networking events, providing service users with the latest debt regulation, policy and good practice. You have good typing skills and proficiency using Microsoft office applications and case management and reporting systems.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave (pro rata), enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

About Shelter

Home is a human right. It’s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet every day millions of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding Statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

How to Apply

Please submit your work history and a supporting statement with responses to the four 'About You' points outlined in the job description. The supporting statement should be no more than 1500 words in total. Please provide specific examples following the STAR format and ensure you demonstrate how you address the behaviour below throughout your responses:

· We prioritise diversity and have an inclusive and open mindset

· We are open to risk and learning from our experiences

Shelter does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.