Policy assistant jobs in uxbridge, greater london

• Hours: full time 37.5 hours per week
• Permanent Position
• Hybrid working predominantly in the Surrey area

About us

The South East Rivers Trust (SERT), is the river restoration charity for the South East of England. Our vision is that rivers across the South East are clean, healthy and rich in biodiversity. Our mission is to restore and protect rivers and their catchments against multiple threats and a dramatically changing climate. We do this by:

• delivering evidence-based and nature-based solutions on land and in rivers;
• inspiring and empowering more people to protect rivers for the future.

Working at SERT is rewarding, fulfilling and busy. We work collaboratively and with passion, and this is reflected in our core values of: delivering high quality work, using expertise and scientific understanding, building good and effective relationships, and bringing positive energy to all we do. With rivers and catchments needing serious action to survive, our aims are growth and impact – so you’ll be comfortable with challenges and excited by change. If this sounds like an environment that you would thrive in, we would love to hear from you.

The role

This is a fantastic opportunity to utilise your educational skills, in a natural environment, whilst engaging young people,  as well as our local communities.  You will have a background and passion for teaching and engaging a range of audiences, to learn about the importance of our rivers, together with the ecosystems that survive and thrive around them.  You will have a hands on approach, with the ability to design, develop and deliver a range of educational activities to suit your varying audiences.  You will enjoy having time working independently to create your teaching sessions, either in an office environment or at home, as well as being outside, delivering your teaching or activities.

Whilst you will predominately cover the Surrey catchment area, you will be happy and flexible to work anywhere within the south east, together with some degree of flexibility with the hours that you work, so that events can be held on occasional evenings and weekends.  Your time will be spent at home developing your sessions, delivering a range of activities such as guided walks or talks, as well as hands on activities in and around a river, or educational events.

The South East Rivers Trust has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic individual who loves our natural environment, and wants to engage and teach local communities.  As our Education and Engagement Officer, you will inspire children and their families through a range of fun, hands-on activities that connect them to our amazing rivers and their wildlife.

Please see the full Education and Engagement Officer job description for more information.

How to apply:

Please send the following documents to us (details are on our website):

• Your CV
• a completed SERT Application form
• Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form (optional)

The deadline for application is 11:59pm on 8th June 2025.  We reserve the right to close the recruitment early.

EMpower is a global philanthropic foundation that partners with organisations across 15 emerging market countries who are focused on solutions that integrate the voices and experiences of marginalised young people, especially girls, aged between 10–24 years. We provide grants and capacity building support to local organisations working to strengthen education and livelihoods of young people across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Turkey.

EMpower’s fundraising proposition is proven and highly differentiated – we invest in local partner organisations for 10 years; a long-term approach that dramatically improved outcomes whilst also demonstrating short term progress. Significantly, we have the unique advantage that our fundraising, administration and management costs are covered by our Board of Directors, which means that every penny donated goes to where it is needed most.

This proposition and our recent investment into fundraising means that our income has nearly doubled in the last 5 years. We have attracted new large-scale corporate donors on top of maintaining our traditional areas of relationship-based fundraising success, including HNWI from the finance sector. Yet we know we are still only scratching the surface of what’s possible. 

This new position is a response to the increasing focus on events as a key part of our fundraising and stewardship strategy. Our flagship Annual Dinner is our main fundraiser; last year we smashed our targets and raised over £2m. With this added post in our team we are confident that we can not only replicate but increase that growth. This role will take responsibility for all UK events, and resulting relationships with a small portfolio of major donors.   

When thinking about the profile of individuals who would be well suited to this role and who will help bring our events and donor stewardship in the UK to the next level, it is likely you will have consolidated events experience, a talent for building relationships and a proven track record in securing some funds, ideally through relationship-driven fundraising activity.

This is a pivotal role within our fundraising team, with shared responsibility for generating the engagement and income that drives EMpower’s strategy and vision—a future in which young people living at the margins have the opportunities, skills, and confidence to transform their lives and communities 

To read more about our work and the specifics of this role and team plus how to apply, please download the full appointment brief.

Closing date: 12 June 2025

Screening conversations: 13-17 June 2025

EMpower 1st Interviews: 25 June 2025

EMpower 2nd Interviews: W/c 30 June 2025