Policy And Public Affairs Officer Jobs in Charing Cross, Greater London
Reports to: Policy and Research Manager
Direct reports: None
Location:Our well-equipped office is in Kings Cross, London, WC1X 9NW. We encourage staff to work where they wish, at home or in the office, within the limits of the role and taking into account personal circumstances. This role will generally be expected to attend the office at least once a week and will have meetings at other locations in London fairly frequently.
Status:Permanent
Hours:Full-time
Salary:£31,437 to £34,659; plus benefits
Role Summary
This position provides key support for the policy and research functions of the charity, in addition to collaborating on campaigns and public affairs work. You will be responsible for carrying out primary research relevant to the charity’s policy and research functions. You’ll be monitoring and collating new policy and research materials and contributing to public communications including report-writing, blog posts and social media activity. You’ll be providing input into strategic planning regarding policy and research activities. You’ll connect with researchers and policy people from other charities and from universities. Finally, you’ll be attending conferences and meetings on behalf of the charity.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
Policy
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Support the P&RM, DR&PA and CEO in responding to public consultations, advising policymakers and working with national policy and research bodies as appropriate.
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Represent the charity in meetings with policy partners where appropriate.
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Attend policy and research conferences on behalf of the charity, providing feedback to the team on key learning and opportunities that arise.
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Work with the SC&PA and DR&PA to draw up influencing strategies to target key stakeholders on policy priorities.
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Monitor external research that helps our policy work and opportunities for collaboration.
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Work with the SC&PA to engage campaigners in our policy work.
Research
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Work with the P&RM to carry out research activities relevant to the policy and research functions of the charity; including collating and analysing data, and co-authoring reports for both internal and public purposes.
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Work with the P&RM and the Communications and Marketing teams to produce engaging and accessible communication of research findings for a range of audiences.
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Monitor and collate new policy and research materials, including research reports, policy documents and media activity. Work with the P&RM to produce internal reports where appropriate and to ensure the charity’s activities reflect and respond to the wider policy and research environment.
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Work with the P&RM on external research projects funded by the charity, including support with assessing the quality of bids by external researchers.
Across both areas
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Produce social media communications where relevant to policy and research. Work with colleagues across the Research and Public Affairs and Communications and Marketing teams to develop strategies for maximising impact, especially in digital communications.
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Contribute to strategic planning by contributing to staff meetings, producing supporting materials and providing feedback on public affairs.
The postholder will also be expected to:
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attend training courses and develop skills as required, sharing learning with other staff as relevant
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in unusual circumstances, work weekend and / or evening hours, for which time in lieu will be given
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undertake other reasonable work as requested by the P&RM.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Role Summary
As the Director of Research and Public Affairs you lead a team working across the full range of research work (including commissioning, grant-making and in-house research) and public affairs work (including policy analysis, advocacy work and mobilising our activists). You also contribute to the charity’s strategies, leadership and governance as a member of the Executive Team. Ultimately, your role is to generate new knowledge; and communicate knowledge, ideas and emotions to change hearts and minds, creating tangible reductions in alcohol harm across the UK.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities
Leadership, strategy & planning
1. Lead the research and public affairs functions at Alcohol Change UK.
2. Produce and deliver plans across our research and public affairs work programmes that are ambitious for change (impact), realistic given our resources, and consistent with our strategy, our other work programmes, and our values.
3. Set budgets, tightly control costs and identify opportunities for making savings, growing income and making the case for investment.
4. Appropriately monitor and evaluate our research and public affairs work with a view to knowing, growing and showing the impact we make.
Research
5. Work closely with the CEO, Policy and Research Manager, R&P sub-committee and Wales Office to determine and oversee the charity’s programme of commissioned research, research grants, and in-house research.
6. Ensure that all research is designed with impact-in-mind and, once complete, that it delivers on that impact through active and ongoing communication of the findings to the right audiences with the right messages through the right channels.
7. Lead the research function to be the central hub for the charity on the topic of alcohol harm and its solutions, staying on top of new research.
8. Influence the research spending of other agencies (e.g. NIHR) with a view to maximising funding into alcohol research in general.
Public Affairs
9. Lead and manage the charity’s public affairs activity, deploying the CEO, Research & Policy Officer and other staff as a team.
10. Lead our work with external alliances, such as the Alcohol Health Alliance and the Alcohol and Families Alliance, and on the APPG on Alcohol Harm.
11. Develop excellent relationships with Parliamentarians, civil servants, charities and other important institutional actors in our field.
12. Build Campaigner journeys for our engagement audience to best mobilise them to help us with our influencing work.
13. Lead on the commissioning and management of any external public affairs agencies, parliamentary monitoring services and similar suppliers.
14. Ensure our policy positions are kept up-to-date, based on emerging evidence and contemporary thinking, and consistent with our principles.
15. Work closely with the Director of Engagement and Fundraising to effectively mobilise and deploy our activists, Community Champions and other supporters so they (i) make a difference, (ii) become better informed over time, and (iii) remain motivated to campaign for our cause.
16. Work closely with the Director of Marketing and Communications to influence all forms of media to better support our desired outcomes.
Team Leadership and Management
17. Lead and manage the research and public affairs team(s), ensuring excellent line management.
18. Lead the process of recruiting and inducting new team members, as appropriate.
19. Proactively develop your own skills and experience as well as those of staff within your team.
Cross-organisational Role
20. Act as a spokesperson for the charity at high profile events and across media, including radio and TV.
21. Be an active and positive member of the charity’s Executive Team.
22. Work with colleagues across the charity to support their work and to act as ‘one team’.
23. Work particularly closely with colleagues in the Wales office, optimising opportunities for joint working.
24. Contribute actively and positively to the development of charity-wide strategies and activity.
Other Duties
25. Continually develop your knowledge of alcohol harm and solutions to it.
26. Act as a positive ambassador for Alcohol Change UK at all times.
27. Know, embrace and actively uphold the values of Alcohol Change UK at all times.
Other reasonable duties at the request of the CEO.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs (maternity cover)
· Maternity cover
· Salary £58,807 per annum
· Full time (37.5 hours)
· Flexible working options will be supported.
· Central London Office and Hybrid working
We offer a pension scheme with employer contribution up to 10%, in addition you’ll receive 28 days holiday plus bank holidays, 24-hour access to a comprehensive employee assistance programme, cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan scheme and other benefits.
About the role
We are looking for a confident, senior Public Affairs and Campaigns professional to lead a programme of relationship building and to develop and deliver parliamentary and campaign strategies to bring about changes in policy, practice, and attitudes across our wide range of target audiences.
The Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns will be crucial in helping us to strategically build relationships with advocates and champions for our work in Westminster and Whitehall, across key industry bodies, sectors and networks and at a local and national level. This includes overseeing our programme of events and working with colleagues across the organisation to develop and deliver high-quality campaigns that effectively build support for the changes we want to see.
This is a hands-on role that will work seamlessly with the Head of Communications and colleagues across the wider organisation to plan and deliver a powerful, coherent, and integrated communications and influencing function. The successful candidate will be proactive and tenacious in horizon-scanning and seeking out opportunities where we can most effectively influence the work of others. You will also be responsible for developing and co-ordinating policy positions and approaches that are attractive and actionable and achieve buy-in and support from others.
You will line manage three individuals and have dotted line oversight of the work of Communications & Campaigns Officers in our Action Areas, as well as general responsibility and oversight – along with the Head of Communications – for the work of the wider Communications Team and influencing activity across the organisation more broadly.
You will be a proven collaborator who is able to demonstrate a strong commitment to Ageing Better’s vision, mission and values.
About you
- You’re a senior public affairs and campaigns practitioner with a strong track record of influencing change in previous roles
- You will have excellent knowledge of UK Government and Parliament, how policy change happens and how to develop effective advocacy strategies to achieve change.
- You’re highly motivated and a team player, able to take the lead in managing issues and external relationships, while providing briefings and support to senior colleagues on others.
About us
The Centre for Ageing Better is a charitable foundation funded by The National Lottery Community Fund and part of the government’s What Works Network
Everyone has the right to a good life as they get older and our whole society benefits when people are able to age well. But far too many people face huge barriers, and as a result are living in bad housing, dealing with poverty and poor health and made to feel invisible in their communities and society.
The Centre for Ageing Better is pioneering ways to make ageing better a reality for everyone. Its key areas of work include challenging ageism and building a nationwide Age-friendly Movement, creating Age-friendly Employment and Age-friendly Homes.
We are striving to create an organisation that reflects our society and the communities we serve. A workplace where everyone feels empowered and where diversity of background and thought is celebrated. We know there is more work to be done and are committed to continuing to improve our practice around Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
We very much welcome applications from minority groups and those underrepresented in our workforce. This especially includes people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, LGBT+ people, and Disabled people.
We are a Positive Action employer, therefore in recruitment where two candidates are ‘as qualified as’ each other, we will favour a candidate from any group identified as currently underrepresented in our team based on protected characteristics as outlined in the Equality Act 2010.
The closing date for this role is 11:59pm on 15th May, with in- person interviews to take place during week commencing 27 May.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Position
The Mental Health Foundation is recruiting for a Policy & Public Affairs Officer to support our Policy Team in the London office.
Deadline: Monday 13 May, 9.00 am.
Location: London
Salary: Starting salary £31,350 rising to £35,381 plus £3,285 London Weighting.
Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week). We are currently trialling a 32-hour week until April 2025 on the same pay & conditions.
Contract type: Permanent
This exciting Policy & Public Affairs Officer role will lead on developing and influencing specific policy priorities identified by the Foundation as areas where change is most needed to improve the population’s mental health. Initially, the policy area of focus for this role will be the mental health of asylum seekers and refugees.
What does the role involve?
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of policy and legislative developments affecting public mental health and particular priority policy topics for the Foundation.
- Carry out background research, developing influencing plans, responding to government consultations and providing briefings for politicians and other external stakeholders.
- Ensure the Foundation’s stakeholders, including people with lived experience of mental ill health, are involved in development of policy work and strategy.
Requirements
What skills, knowledge and experience are we looking for?
- In-depth knowledge of policy development systems and processes in the UK.
- Excellent writing skills, including the ability to write precisely and quickly for a range of audiences.
- Ability to critically analyse complex legislative, policy and research documents.
- Ability to work within and across teams to deliver results. This includes our policy, research, communications, fundraising and programmes teams.
Safeguarding is Everyone’s business: the Mental Health Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of all its beneficiaries, those who surround them, its staff, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with its services and expects all trustees, staff, and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate vetting procedures (proof of eligibility to work in the UK, proof of residency and satisfactory employment screening, including a Disclosure check and two most recent references) along with 3-year renewals of Disclosure checks. We are unable to provide sponsorship for this post; you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in the UK.
Other information
If you think your skills match and you’d like to be part of a dynamic and growing organisation, please complete and submit your application below. Please ensure you attach an up to date CV and statement of suitability answering all points of the person specification. Applications will close at 9.00 am on Monday 13 May and we are unable to accept late applications. Interviews are planned for the 23 and 24 May. There will be a short written test on the day of the interview.
We believe our people should represent the communities, organisations and individuals we work with. Diversity and inclusion is a strategic priority for us as an employer and mental health charity, and we are proud to be signatories of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter and the Disability Confident Committed Scheme. Applications from under-represented sections of the community are actively encouraged.
If you have a disability, require any additional support or have any questions regarding the role, please contact us. We make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and during employment. Disabled candidates who meet all the essential person specification criteria will be offered an interview. Therefore, please do ensure you tick the relevant box on the application form and clearly indicate in your application/covering letter if you consider yourself to meet the requirements of the Equality Act 2010/Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
We are currently operating mostly digital recruitment (including interviews via video conferencing). We have moved to a hybrid working model of a minimum of 2 days per week in the office and the rest working from home.
We look forward to hearing from you!
The End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) is looking for a Public Affairs Officer to help drive forward our campaigning to end violence against women in all its forms.
The last few years have seen a huge increase in awareness of violence against women and girls, and support for our work. With this crucial human rights issue on the public and political agenda like never before, now is the time to disrupt the status quo and lay the foundations for a different world.
ABOUT THE ROLE
EVAW’s public affairs officer will help persuade policy makers and stakeholders to prioritise tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) and develop policy and practice that is effective, inclusive and rooted in equalities and human rights.
Typical tasks for this job might include reviewing and synthesising political speeches and debates, drafting briefings for MPs and other stakeholders and supporting with the organisation of stakeholder events such as parliamentary and party conference meetings.
Candidates are likely to have some experience in public affairs or policy work on VAWG or a related field connected to social justice, human rights and equalities. and will be seeking an opportunity to work in a highly impactful, agile and dynamic feminist organisation.
A background in VAWG will of course be an asset, but regardless you’ll need to show us you can keep abreast of key political developments, identify challenges and opportunities to pursue an organisation’s aims, and work to influence key decision-makers in a given field. The applications which stand out in this process will be from those who deeply believe in what we do.
MORE INFO
We guarantee an invitation to interview for disabled applicants who demonstrate, within their application, sufficient evidence to meet the essential criteria for the job.
Please note we are only able to consider applicants who are able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK.
EVAW aims to be an anti-racist, values-centring employer. We are seeking out individuals with dedication, aptitude and the ability to deliver meaningful campaigning work. If you have strong knowledge and experience related to any of the significant parts of this job but are not sure that your profile fits in a ‘traditional’ way, please do consider making an application, or get in touch to discuss your background and we will try to give you a steer on the job and what's involved. If you would like to discuss this, please contact us.
TIMELINE
Applications must be received by 11.59 PM on Wednesday, 8th May 2024.
Shortlisted candidates will be notified by w/c 20th May 2024, with interviews will take place in London between 5th and 7th June 2024.
Please note that we cannot provide feedback on all applications, and will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.
We’re a group of feminist organisations and experts from across the UK, working to end violence against women and girls in all its forms.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you passionate about ensuring everyone can engage effectively with the digital world? Are you a brilliant influencer who relishes harnessing great policy and research to realise social change? Do you want to work in a pioneering initiative with impact at its core?
Then this could be the role for you. At the Digital Poverty Alliance, we are looking for our new Policy & Insights Manager. You must be able to inspire us and our partners and spearhead our public affairs work, including through our National Delivery Plan to unite action to end digital poverty by 2030.
We bring together charities, corporates and government to address the underlying issues stopping families gaining full access to digital services such as education, healthcare and employment. We seek social change through our National Delivery Plan, whilst also delivering solutions in local areas that help real people and provide evidence for change.
This is an exciting, high profile and fast-paced role, joining our small team and working alongside partners, National Delivery Committee members and our wider stakeholders to effect real change for people. You will report directly to the Chief Executive, working alongside our Head of External Affairs.
A big part of our social change ambition is delivered through our public affairs work; influencing policy makers so that our ambitions are shared with government, companies and with everyone able to deliver to our vision of a world where everyone is able to connect successfully with the digital world where and when they want to. You will also be responsible for drafting white papers, analysing trends and data, and identifying new insights. You will support our Industry Forum, working with existing and new members to broaden the group.
The DPA aims to work through partners in delivering to our core mission and, as such, we retain only a small core team with support from our PR agency. As such, you’ll lead on delivering our policy and public affairs work, from briefing MPs to developing our policy positions.
Whilst the role is remote based, you will regularly need to attend in-person meetings and events in central London (daytime and evening), as well as undertaking travel across the UK. Given the need to attend meetings in Westminster and Whitehall, you will need to live within commuting distance of London.
Key focus areas
- Building relationships with public, private and third sector organisations, including the wider DPA community.
- Working to convene and collaborate with organisations and individuals committed to ending digital poverty.
- Work with colleagues across local, regional and national governments and across political parties to advocate for policies to promote digital inclusion.
- Undertaking research and analysis to understand digital poverty and the impact of policies to address it.
- Managing policy and research projects including the ongoing development of the national delivery plan and supporting ‘proof of concept’ projects.
- Developing commercial and research partnerships with organisations and supporting the development of the industry forum.
- Communicating the DPA vision and perspective through verbal and written communication.
First interviews will be held w/b 6th May 2024 via Microsoft Teams. Second interviews will be held soon after. The role is to start as soon as possible. Please note this role will be subject to a DBS check.
Unfortunately, due to the expected volume of applications and our small team, we will not be able to acknowledge every application. If you have not heard from us by 6th May you have not been successful on this occasion.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
We’re looking for a Senior Policy Advisor to join our policy and campaigns team to help drive our position as an influential, informed and powerful voice for change. The post holder will join a high performing team to help develop and implement policy and influencing strategies that drive change, ensuring a strong voice for people experiencing poverty. You will work closely with the Director of Policy & Campaigns, developing our policy work on Social Security, housing and poverty and influencing decision-makers and other stakeholders including MPs, political advisors, councillors and civil society.
About You
We are looking for someone committed and proactive with demonstrable knowledge and experience of policy development and making the case for social policy change. You will be committed to social justice and will have experience of policy analysis and public affairs work in relevant social policy areas, particularly social security. We are looking for an analytical thinker with excellent verbal and written communications skills. You will have an aptitude for using evidence to make persuasive and credible policy arguments, strong interpersonal skills, and a track record of establishing and maintaining effective relationships with external stakeholders. You will be a self-starter and have a collaborative approach to working. In turn we are committed to supporting all our staff to develop their skills and experiences to make a significant difference to the lives and treatment of people on low incomes.
About Zacchaeus 2000 Trust (Z2K)
Z2K’s vision is that no individual in the UK should be living in poverty. We believe that adequate income and secure housing are key to creating a more equal society where everyone has the chance to lead a stable and dignified life. We work with people in London to solve their social welfare legal issues, with a focus on social security and housing matters, and we use the evidence from our casework to campaign to change policy and practice that drives injustice. Embedded at the heart of Z2K is our ambition to work in partnership with experts by experience, ensuring the voices and views of people with lived experience are heard by decision-makers.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
The Public Affairs and Policy Manager will play a crucial role in helping to determine and shape TMs policy goals and how best to achieve them. Working closely and collaboratively with colleagues from across the organisation, and in close consultation with the TMs internal and external stakeholder groups and networks you will develop policy, research and campaigning projects to meet the organisations strategic objectives. You will be able to understand complex policy issues, recognise their relevance to the Traveller Movement and identify policy solutions. You will know how to generate and analyse data and bring issues to life by drawing out the lived experience of people from Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities
You will led develop and sustain a small committed team of two policy and campaign officers to produce policy, research and campaigning activities. You will lead TMs Public relations and influencing work developing relationships with policy makers, partner organisations, parliamentarians and the media. You will ensure co-production and the voice and lived experiences ethnic Romani (Gypsy), Traveller and Roma is central to all our engagement and influencing work.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are looking for an experienced and passionate Senior Public Affairs Officer to work as part of our Policy & Influencing Team.
Imagine being part of an organisation whose common purpose is to help those who are severely impacted by mental illness. We believe that everyone should be treated with respect and dignity – and that’s why equity is one of our core values. We draw on the expertise, unique perspectives and lived experience of our people – regardless of who they are or their background – to help us become inclusive and anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider that reflect the diverse communities we support as a mental health charity.
Job Summary
Rethink Mental Illness exists to improve the lives of people severely affected by mental illness. With a general election expected this year, followed by a new government, this is arguably the most crucial window for influencing policy on mental illness in the last decade.
As Senior Public Affairs and Stakeholder Officer, you will play a vital role in helping Rethink Mental Illness bring about policy improvements for people severely affected by mental illness, supporting our influencing and relationship building work with political stakeholders, and aiding our work planning for and influencing a new government.
You will be working closely with colleagues in the wider Policy and Influencing Team, Communications and Campaigns Team, and Chief Executives’ Office. And you will work particularly closely with the Public Affairs and Stakeholder Manager on devising and implementing influencing activity, including writing briefings and submissions for political audiences, developing election content, creativity utilising the All Party Parliamentary Group for Mental Health to create change, and drafting letters and correspondence to external stakeholders.
You will have some experience working in public affairs or politics, including an understanding of parliamentary processes and the political landscape in Westminster. You will be working with a range of internal and external stakeholders and will be able to build relationships and work proactively.
Your areas of work will involve both planned work but also a degree of fluidity with the need to adapt and develop according to priority as circumstances change and opportunities to influence are identified. Existing knowledge of the health sector is not required but would be a bonus.
You will predominantly be working with the following people and teams:
- Policy and Influencing Team
- Policy and Practice Team
- Communications and Campaigns
- Chief Executives’ Office
Person Specification
- Experience working in a public affairs and/or politics. This could be in a public sector, charity, think tank, or agency role, or for an MP.
- Experience of working with government and/or parliamentarians. Demonstratable record of being proactive with work and problem-solving independently.
- Familiarity with government, parliamentary and legislative processes.
- Good in-person stakeholder management and interpersonal skills, including when meeting parliamentarians, political staffers and other stakeholders in the sector, such as charity partners.
- Ability to work on creative, external-facing influencing campaigns that may involve working with parliamentarians or the media
- Ability to engage with people who have lived experience of relevant policy areas
- Ability to work collaboratively with different teams, including representing the public affairs function to other teams independently.
- Excellent persuasive communication skills in writing and in person
- Good attention to detail.
- Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise workload demands. An understanding of Rethink Mental Illness and its organisational aims.
Desirable but not essential
- A good knowledge of the health and social care policy environment
- Experience at organising events
Interviews are scheduled to take place on 8th and 9th May
*Appointments are typically made near the bottom of the pay range
*London Allowance is paid for roles that are based within the Greater London area only.
We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Please see further details on our website
You can also follow us on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram and LinkedIn to find out more about the work we do!
Don’t meet all requirements?
If the role sounds exciting to you but your experience, skills or qualifications don’t exactly match every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply, you may be just the right person for our position!
Caring for our people.
We offer a wide range of support. Some of our benefits include:
- PULSE: our recognition, rewards, wellbeing, and benefits platform. Providing access to thousands of discounts and benefits including cashback; reloadable cards; savings etc. As well as being able to thank colleagues and nominate them for awards.
- Wagestream: gives you instant access to up to 50% of your pay. Also provides a library of expert tools, tips and articles plus, helps you start building a rainy-day pot straight from your salary.
- Wellbeing support: our Wellbeing hub gives physical, emotional, and mental health support. We also have a BUPA Employee Assistance Programme with access to appointments.
- Taking time for you: we work flexibly –you get to choose where you work, managing your own diary. We have generous annual leave, starting at 25 rising to 30 days, plus bank holidays, as well as your birthday off. We also offer the opportunity to buy and sell annual leave.
- Planning for the future: We have a contributory pension scheme.
- Structured Corporate Induction: Onboarding you into the Charity supporting your wellbeing along the way.
- £300 when you introduce a Friend: receive up to £300 when you introduce a friend or family member.
Who are we?
We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”
It is an exciting time to join our growing charity. We are on a transformation journey, one that supports the delivery of the organisation strategy – delivering Communities that Care. Supporting employees, managers and leaders through this change is a key priority for the People function. Just like its key that we attract diverse people to come and work for us.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Diversity is important to us and we appreciate difference through difference, inclusiveness and belonging. It gives us a deeper understanding of the world, our society and the diverse communities we’re working with. By including everyone, we are able to draw on the unique experiences and expertise of our people to help shape and enrich our workplace and improve our services. One way we are doing is through our valued staff networks which play a critical and highly valued role in keeping us focused on creating a diverse, inclusive and engaged employer. We recognise and support staff networks for our Black, Asian and minority ethnic and our LGBTQIA+ colleagues. We are also proud to have been awarded Disability Confident Employer status and are a signatory to the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter.
Becoming a truly anti-racist organisation
We have an ambition of become a truly anti-racist employer, campaigning organisation and service provider - and in our efforts to influence policy and wider societal factors impacting on mental health set out in our anti-racist statement . We have designed a multi-year anti-racist programme of work contained in our Race Equality Action Plan which demonstrate our intention to hold ourselves accountable and be judged on our progress on becoming a truly anti-racist organisation.
We therefore actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including applicants with lived experience, those who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or questioning), Intersex and (asexual) (LGBTQIA+), people with a disability, and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Are you passionate about driving real change and making a positive impact on society? Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where your ideas can shape policy and influence decision-making at both national and local levels? If so, join Samaritans and lead our Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns team, at the UK and Ireland’s leading suicide prevention charity.
• £56,000-£58,000 per annum
• Permanent, full-time role (35 hours per week)
• Hybrid working: Linked to our Ewell (Surrey) office with home working and the option to work from our London office in EC3R
• In office working - we'd love to see you in person at least twice a month
• We are passionate about flexible working, talk to us about your preferences
The Team
The team of seven works alongside people with lived experience, our campaigners, supporters and volunteers to push for the public policy and legal changes that will help us achieve our vision. We work to achieve system change with the Westminster parliament, and influence every government department to play their part in suicide prevention, alongside our offices in the nations.
Why Samaritans?
Make a real difference in the lives of those affected by suicide, all whilst working in a supportive and inclusive environment. As the Head of Policy, Public Affairs, and Campaigns, you'll play a pivotal role in leading our efforts to drive meaningful change to help prevent suicide.
Your Role
You'll lead a dedicated team focused on shaping public policy, influencing decision-makers, and driving advocacy campaigns.
Your key responsibilities include:
• Providing exceptional leadership and support to your team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Crafting ambitious strategies to advance our policy priorities, leveraging evidence-based approaches and best practices.
• Ensuring the development of impactful advocacy campaigns and public affairs work, engaging both internal and external stakeholders to amplify our message.
• Ensuring the voices of those with lived experience of suicide and self-harm are central to our advocacy efforts.
What You'll Bring:
We're looking for a strategic thinker with a track record of successfully managing advocacy work. You'll have:
• Great people management skills.
• Proven experience in developing and executing impactful influencing strategies.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences effectively.
• Experience in developing inspiring advocacy campaigns that drive change.
• A deep understanding of the current health and public health political landscape in England and the UK
What’s in it for you – our benefits
So, you want to work for us? Good choice. We like it here too. We offer competitive salaries, flexible and hybrid working to suit your needs, family-friendly policies, 28 days annual leave inclusive of wellbeing days and a matched pension contribution up to 5%. You’ll have a structured induction and ongoing projects, secondments & learning opportunities. We also have colleague-led affinity groups made up of people with shared identities.
Your health and wellbeing is our priority. We have a staff community of Mental Health First Aiders, a Health Cash Plan and an Employee Assistance Programme. You’ll have free subscriptions to Headspace (your personal guide to mindfulness, sleep, focus, movement, and more) & Perkbox (an employee benefits platform with online exercise classes). That’s not all. We listen to your ideas and have staff forum and social committee networks.
Hybrid and flexible working
We are a flexible organisation, and we embrace hybrid working – a mix of connecting in person and remotely. We’re aware that the world is changing, and we all want and need different things from our work and home lives. So, if you need to walk the dog, go to the gym, or have commitments outside of work, we’re open to talking through flexible working options that work for you and us.
Being Inclusive
We recognise the enormous benefits and the social justice imperatives of ensuring diversity at every level of our organisation. Samaritans is wholly committed to inclusion and diversity and to building a culture and environment where everyone is appreciated for the unique person they are. To ensure Samaritans is representative of those we support and who support us, we particularly welcome applications from Disabled, BAME and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.
Application
If this sounds like the opportunity for you, apply. You’ll be asked to upload your CV and answer three application questions. Applications close at 9 am on 22 April. Video interviews likely to be w/c 29 April.
If you're ready to lead impactful change and contribute to our mission that fewer people die by suicide, apply today.
Job title: Director of Policy and Strategy
Term: Full time, permanent
Salary: Circa £100,000 per annum plus generous benefits, and 30 days’ annual leave.
Location: London (Victoria) – hybrid (one to three days in the office as a minimum), with some travel around England required
Closing date: 10am 22 April 2024
Interviews: w/c Monday 6 May 2024
NHS Providers is the membership organisation for the NHS hospital, mental health, community, and ambulance services that treat patients and service users in the NHS. We help those NHS foundation trusts and trusts to deliver high-quality, patient-focused care by enabling them to learn from each other, acting as their public voice and helping shape the system in which they operate.
NHS Providers has all trusts in England in voluntary membership, collectively accounting for £115bn of annual expenditure and employing 1.4 million staff.
Our Policy directorate encompasses around 35 people, and the director of policy and strategy has responsibility for four direct reports and sits on our Executive Management Team (EMT), also helping to lead strategy and development across our 100-strong organisation. As director of policy and strategy, you will play a pivotal role in developing and strengthening our Policy and Strategy directorate. This will include ensuring we continue to operate in an integrated way across our Policy and Strategy, Communications, and Development and Engagement directorates to deliver the greatest impact for members and our organisation.
You will provide strategic leadership for the organisation’s policy, strategy, analysis and public affairs functions, providing high-level advice and support to the chief executive, deputy chief executive, chair and board, as well as playing a key role as part of the NHS Providers director team.
NHS Providers is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported and welcomes applications regardless of sex, gender identity, race, age, sexuality, beliefs, or disability. To be successful in this role you will need to be personally committed to being anti-racist and support our broader diversity work across all protected characteristics
About us
Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. We know that homelessness is not inevitable. We know that together we can end it.
It has never been a more important time for Crisis. With homelessness reaching record levels and a general election around the corner, we have an opportunity to secure commitments from the main political parties to the policy solutions that we know can build a future free from homelessness. This role will play a key role in delivering our priority general election campaign – the ‘Make History’ campaign. Beyond this, you’ll be helping to establish Crisis’ relationship with a newly elected Parliament and Government
Location: London - You will be required to work from the London office once a week or twice a fortnight.
About the role
As Senior Campaigns and Public Affairs officer, you will be responsible for the shaping Crisis’ political influencing strategies for our national campaigns.
Through our research of what works both in the UK and internationally, and our work supporting thousands of people who are homeless or at risk each year, Crisis has developed the solutions needed from Westminster Government to reverse the rising levels of homelessness and we campaign to secure the policy changes needed. With the right political will and leadership, homelessness can be ended.
This role will oversee design and delivery of creative public affairs tactics that will inspire politicians to support our campaigns. This includes overseeing our work to provide the secretariat for the APPG for Ending Homelessness, managing our monitoring and stakeholder relationships and proactively identifying local and regional influencing opportunities.
The role sits within the Campaigns Team in the Policy and Social Change directorate, but you’ll collaborate with a wide range of teams across the organisation to identify influencing opportunities, ensure our campaigns and public affairs activity have maximum reach and ensure people with lived experience are at the heart of our political influencing activity.
We’re a passionate and supportive team, dedicated to our mission of ending homelessness.
About you
You will have significant experience of working with politicians in Parliament or Government and will have experience of designing and delivering political influencing strategies to secure policy change. To be successful in this role you will have solid understanding of Parliamentary process and have worked on a range of tactics to raise the profile of issues in Parliament, with excellent political judgement and intuition.
Effective communication and ability to manage a range of internal and external stakeholders will be vital in this role in order to work collaboratively to further our campaigning objectives. You will have good ability to understand policy solutions and how best to communicate them to a range of audiences. Line management experience is desirable, but more crucially you will have experience of motivating teams or individuals to deliver results.
Understanding or knowledge of homelessness or housing policy is desirable. You may have experience in; public affairs, policy, communications and public relations.
We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities and backgrounds.
Working at Crisis
As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:
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Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy
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Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%
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28 days and option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave
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Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay
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Flexible working around the core hours 10am-4pm
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And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)
Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience and career.
When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.
How to apply
If this sound likes the opportunity for you, please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below.
Closing date: Sunday 21 April 2024 (at 23:59)
Interviews will be held on Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 May 2024
Accessibility
We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help.
Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as the applications come in. Don’t miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you passionate about making a difference? Do you thrive in a dynamic environment where your voice can shape policy and bring about change? Join our team at the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association as a Senior Public Affairs Adviser: Westminster. This role is pivotal in ensuring everyone impacted by MND receives the care and support they deserve.
You'll work closely with the Public Affairs Manager to drive forward our public affairs priorities and pro-actively identify opportunities to influence party political debates, legislation and select committees in relation to the Association's vital work. From drafting impactful briefings to building relationships with decision-makers, you'll be at the forefront of our advocacy efforts.
Ensuring a coordinated approach to our parliamentary work at Westminster and locally, your responsibilities include supporting parliamentary inquiries, coordinating our presence at political conferences. You will identify and develop effective links with key parliamentarians, influencers, and decision makers whose remit may impact the sphere of our work, including, senior civil servants.
Additionally, you'll help empower our campaigning volunteers and regional staff to engage with local decision-makers effectively. Your role will also contribute to shaping our strategies and plans, ensuring that our advocacy efforts remain impactful and aligned with our purpose, mission and 5 promises.
Located in London, with flexibility for hybrid working, this role offers an exciting opportunity to drive positive change in the lives of those affected by MND.
If you're ready to use your expertise to make a real difference, we want to hear from you. Join us to drive positive change for people living with and affected by MND.
Hybrid Working Expectations: Flexibility to attend the London office when required to meet business needs.
What are we looking for?
A thorough understanding of parliamentary processes and procedures, with previous experience in public affairs within a voluntary organisation.
Experience of working with Parliamentarians. You should also demonstrate proficiency in supporting volunteers and coordinating events.
Excellent communication skills are paramount, allowing you to interact and influence with stakeholders and diverse audiences across all levels including politicians and volunteers. As a team player and networker, you'll thrive in collaborative environments.
Additionally, strong IT skills, including database management and use of social media, is vital.
Flexibility for occasional evening and weekend work, as well as travel to external meetings, is required.
For full role responsibilities please view the job description located within the Recruitment Pack.
Our Benefits
- 28 days holiday, rising to 33 days after 5 years' service, plus Bank Holidays
- Access to UK Healthcare which includes reimbursement for dental appointments, eyecare, Health & Wellbeing screening and therapies
- Access to a 24/7 phone and video GP Service
- Life assurance
- Confidential counselling helplines
- Salary sacrifice schemes to include:
- Cycle to work
- Buy and sell annual leave
- BenefitHub which offers lifestyle discounts and offers on everyday shopping
- Enhanced pension scheme
- Opportunities for training and personal development
- Hybrid working
How to apply
Please submit a CV and supporting statement. Your supporting statement should be no longer than one side of A4 and demonstrate how you meet the following areas of the role.
- A thorough understanding of parliamentary processes and procedures.
- Demonstrable public affairs experience within a voluntary organisation.
- Experience of working with Parliamentarians.
Where experience is asked for, please give one example showing what you did and what it achieved. Where we require evidence of ability, please explain either how you would approach that particular competence or give an example to support your suitability.
About Us
Our vision is a world free from MND. Our mission is to improve care and support for people with MND, their families and carers. We fund and promote research that leads to new understanding and treatments and brings us closer to a cure for MND. The Association also campaigns and raises awareness so the needs of people with MND, and everyone who cares for them, are recognised, and addressed by wider society.
We are committed to equality and value diversity. We are working hard to remove perceived and actual barriers to participation for people with and affected by MND, current and future staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.
We guarantee interviews for disabled applicants that meet the requirements of the role as part of our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme. Reasonable adjustments can be made as required.
Important Information
Adverts may be closed before the deadline once sufficient applications are received. To avoid disappointment, please apply early.
We request that recruitment agencies do not contact us in relation to this role.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Salary: £52,000 per annum + generous benefits
Contract: Full time, permanent
Location: Victoria, London (hybrid working with one to three days in the office each week)
Closing date: at 12 noon, Friday 26 April 2024
Interviews: w/c 13 May 2024
NHS Providers is the membership organisation for the NHS hospital, mental health, community, and ambulance services that treat patients and service users in the NHS. We help those NHS foundation trusts and trusts to deliver high-quality, patient-focused care by enabling them to learn from each other, acting as their public voice and helping shape the system in which they operate.
NHS Providers has all trusts in England in voluntary membership, collectively accounting for £115bn of annual expenditure and employing 1.4 million people.
We are recruiting for a policy advisor to join our busy, supportive and high performing team. The current focus of this role is to analyse and influence the national policy agenda on NHS funding levels, financial performance, payments systems and contracting. This portfolio is one of the most high profile and reactive areas of work in our organisation and carries with it the opportunity to develop and lead projects, working closely with directors of NHS trusts and foundation trusts, and with the senior management of NHS Providers, including working closely with our media and public affairs teams.
The postholder will also support our policy work on other priority areas, such as ‘operational performance’ by which we mean access standards, progress against national targets, planning and prioritisation.
The NHS is in a significant period of reform, due to the legislative change establishing integrated care systems (ICSs) as statutory organisations in 2022. It is also in a uniquely challenging period due to ongoing operational and financial pressures, rising demand, workforce challenges, and the need to recover care backlogs. The reform agenda and operational context both mean trusts need to find new ways to work in their local systems and deliver for patients.
This role is an exciting opportunity to support trust leaders as they respond to this challenging and changing environment. This role will require the postholder to be flexible, adapt to a rapidly changing external landscape, responsively manage parts of a wide-ranging portfolio, and contribute to media, public affairs and board development work. The focus of the role may change over time, dependent on the needs of our members.
We actively support equality of opportunity for all our staff and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, any disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion, or belief. We particularly encourage applications from those from underrepresented communities.
To apply, please send a CV and cover letter setting out why you are interested in the role and how you meet the person specification to HR Team.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Title: Senior Policy Research Officer
Directorate: Strategy and Knowledge
Team/Department (if specific): Policy and Public Affairs
Salary range: £35,423 (plus £3,366 London weighting)
Location: London (hybrid working, with at least one day- Tuesday- in the office). The post holder will occasionally be expected to travel to locations across the UK.
Working hours: 35 hours (flexible working may be considered)
Date Written/ Amended: March 2024
Context and Background
The NSPCC's vision is that together, we can stop child abuse and neglect. Through the collective power of our staff, volunteers, supporters, partners, and over 100 years of experience we will move closer to achieving that vision.
We launched our ten-year strategy in 2021, which is centred around three impact goals. This is the difference we want to make by 2031:
1. Everyone plays their part to prevent child abuse: we'll work together to make it easier for everyone to play their part and create a social safety net that prevents child abuse and neglect.
2. Every child is safe online: together, we'll transform the online world, so it's safe for every child to go online.
3. Children feel safe, listened to and supported: more children will be able to speak out, so they feel safe, listened to and understood - and abuse doesn't shape their future.
The Policy and Public Affairs (PAPA) team is part of the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate at the NSPCC. The Directorate exists to help shape the world around us - and what the NSPCC does - so that it reflects what we have learned and can help keep children safe from abuse.
The PAPA team works across the four nations of the UK to influence legislation, policy and practice to ensure they are as effective as possible in keeping children safe. We focus on policy priorities through our five core workstreams: the child protection system and children's social care; early years and health; child sexual abuse; online safety; and young victims and witnesses.
We are recruiting a Senior Policy Research Officer to develop and deliver our early years and health policy work to deliver real change and reform in the best interests of children.
The post holder will work in the UK/England part of the Policy and Affairs Team focussed on influencing the Westminster Government. The role involves a variety of responsibilities including policy research, policy development and public affairs. This is a great opportunity to drive policy work in an exciting policy area, by building a strong evidence base and contributing to effective influencing strategies.
Job purpose
The Senior Policy Research Officer will be responsible for undertaking policy research to achieve the NSPCC's strategic goals, using their skills and experience to strengthen the NSPCC's impact on public policy relating to the early years and health. In doing so, they will make a significant contribution to protecting the youngest children from abuse and neglect
Key relationships - Internal
· Reports to the England Policy and Public Affairs Manager
· Colleagues in the wider Policy and Public Affairs team across the UK
· Colleagues in the Media and Campaigns teams
· Colleagues in the Research and Evidence team
· Colleagues in the Services directorate (to ensure policy development is informed by experiences and learning from our frontline professionals/ volunteers)
· Colleagues in the Participation Unit (to ensure the involvement of young people in policy and influencing work)
Key relationships - External
· Key civil servants and policy advisers in the UK Government
· MPs and Peers in the UK Parliament
· Colleagues in relevant voluntary and statutory agencies
· Practitioner bodies
· Key academics, researchers and research networks
Main duties and responsibilities
· Develop and maintain a high level of expertise on priority policy areas, with lead responsibility for early years and health policy.
· Scope, develop and refine NSPCC policies on priority policy issues, putting forward the economic case for change where possible.
· Analyse a wide range of primary and secondary sources of evidence (such as official data sets and statistics, policy documents, academic literature, economic analyses, FOls and survey data) to develop innovative and evidence-based policy solutions to complex problems.
· Prepare high-quality policy outputs such as briefings, summaries, consultation responses, papers and presentations for internal and external audiences.
· Contribute to the delivery of our research activity, working with teams across NSPCC to assess policy and evidence needs, then design and undertake impactful research projects to address these.
· Contribute to the commissioning of methodologically robust and ethically sound research to investigate a substantial child protection challenge, including by devising clearly defined requirements for the work.
· Manage policy research projects from development and commissioning stage through to completion, providing direction and supervision to ensure the highest standards of delivery.
· Develop and maintain a network of key contacts across parliament, the civil service, and civil society, using this network to amplify the NSPCC's voice and take advantage of opportunities to influence policy making.
· Represent the NSPCC on relevant internal and external advisory groups, meetings, and stakeholder events.
· Act as media spokesperson for the NSPCC on relevant subject areas, including live and pre-recorded interviews as well as background discussions with journalists on policy relating to early years and health.
Responsibilities for all Staff within the Strategy and Knowledge Directorate
There is a set of responsibilities for all staff within each directorate.
· A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people
· To maintain an overview of child protection policy and practice
· To maintain an awareness of own and other's health and safety and comply with NSPCC's Health and Safety procedures
· An active commitment to promoting ED&I, safeguarding and trauma informed practice
· An agile approach to work
· To maintain and develop competence in the use of IT systems
Person specification
1) Strong support for the NSPCC's mission and values.
2) Good understanding of child protection, early years, health or related public policy areas combined with knowledge of the wider legal, government and media context.
3) Excellent policy development skills, with the ability to develop and refine policy solutions to complex problems.
4) Proven ability to undertake research (qualitative and/ or quantitative) and analyse findings, with an ability to design methodologically robust and ethically sound research that is delivered to a high standard and agreed timescales.
5) Experience of successfully presenting research accurately to make a clear and compelling case for policy and legislative change.
6) Excellent communication skills including a clear and concise writing style, combined with good oral presentation skills, that can be tailored to a variety of audiences.
7) Good public affairs skills, with strong knowledge of parliamentary processes, sound political judgement, and experience of contributing to the delivery of influencing strategies to secure support from decision makers in parliament and beyond.
8) Ability to work on own initiative with strong organisational and project management skills, including demonstrable experience of project managing small research projects, working at speed and under pressure when required, while successfully managing project progress, risks and quality.
9) Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build constructive working relationships with external stakeholders, as well as to work effectively as part of an internal, cross departmental team.
Safer Recruitment
As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk.
Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.
The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.
Our principles:
Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role and the organisation.
• Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants (internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are applying for.
• We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or volunteering their time with us.
• Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on their merit.
• As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18's joining the organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and activities are safe and appropriate.
• All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance with the GDPR legislation.