Programme manager jobs in frodsham, cheshire west and chester

About Brake
Brake is the UK’s leading road safety charity, dedicated to supporting people affected by road crashes and advocating for safer streets. Since 1995, we have been helping victims and their families to navigate the devastating impact of road collisions through the National Road Victim Service—providing immediate, compassionate, and tailored support for those who have been bereaved or seriously injured. Our mission goes beyond recovery; we campaign tirelessly for legislative and societal changes to prevent future tragedies and make roads safer for everyone.

Join us as a Caseworker – East Midlands Region - To apply for this role, you MUST be a resident in the East Midlands area.

This year, Brake celebrates 30 years of life-changing work, and we’re looking for a committed and compassionate Caseworker to help us continue making an impact. If you are based in the East Midlands region and want to help people at their most vulnerable moments, this could be the role for you.

Every 20 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on UK roads. For families affected, the emotional and practical challenges are immense. As a Caseworker, you will provide direct, trauma-informed care to individuals and families suffering from the sudden bereavement or life-altering injury of a loved one. Working mostly remotely, with home visits to service users, you’ll offer vital emotional and practical support—including helping them access therapeutic resources, financial assistance, and guidance through the complexities of medical and legal processes.

This role is flexible, allowing you to structure your own working pattern within weekdays from 8AM to 6PM. While travel is required, you’ll have control over your diary. The work is challenging but immensely rewarding, requiring resilience, empathy, and a dedication to making a real difference in people’s lives.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing direct support to road victims and their families in the East Midlands  region, following Brake’s trauma-informed model of care.
• Managing a caseload of service users, ensuring their emotional, practical, and advocacy needs are met.
• Undertaking comprehensive needs assessments and creating individualised support plans
• Offering emotional and practical support—this can include helping families access therapeutic resources, financial aid, or even facilitating keepsakes to honour the memory of their loved ones
• Liaising with professionals, including police officers, Family Liaison Officers, mental health services, coroners, GPs, and other support organisations.
• Advocating for victims within medical, legal, and social services to ensure their voices are heard.
• Providing support through multiple channels, including in-person, remote calls, video chats, and messaging, depending on service user preferences.
• Completing safeguarding assessments and escalating concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead when needed.
• Maintaining accurate case records in compliance with data protection policies.
• Engaging in external clinical supervision to manage personal resilience and well-being.
• Participating in team meetings, training, and professional development to ensure the highest standard of service delivery.

What We Offer

• £20,800 per year (fixed term contract, maternity cover until August 2026).
• Flexible working hours—working pattern can be shaped around your needs.
• Mostly remote work, with travel to service users’ homes or safe meeting places (mileage expenses reimbursed).
• Death in service benefit, to the value of 2 x salary.
• 36 days annual leave, including bank holidays and compulsory end of year shutdown (pro rata for part time working patterns).
• Employee assistance program, including counselling, legal and financial advice.
• External trauma consultant support to aid in caseworker resilience.
• Structured induction, training, and ongoing development including in trauma-informed support and risk management.

Who We’re Looking For

Essential Requirements:

• A full, clean UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle.
• Resident in the East Midlands area.
• Experience in frontline support services, preferably involving sudden bereavement or heightened vulnerabilities.
• Strong advocacy and research skills to liaise with multiple organisations on behalf of service users.
• Competency in I.T skills to work remotely.

Desirable Experience:

· Comprehensive understanding of the processes involved in the criminal justice system and coronial process

Personal Qualities:

• Self-motivated and resilient—able to navigate emotionally challenging situations.
• Empathetic and compassionate, with a commitment to helping others.
• Adaptable and creative, able to tailor support methods to individual needs.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to collaborate with professionals and service users alike.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Brake is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We welcome your application whatever your background or situation. We particularly welcome applications from those who are part of the global majority, the LGBTQIA+ community or disabled. We are proud to be a disability confident employer. We don’t want you to ‘fit’ our culture, we want you to enrich it. So, if you have a passion for making a difference and share in our vision for a world where no one is killed on our roads, we would love to hear from you.

About Brake
Brake is the UK’s leading road safety charity, dedicated to supporting people affected by road crashes and advocating for safer streets. Since 1995, we have been helping victims and their families to navigate the devastating impact of road collisions through the National Road Victim Service—providing immediate, compassionate, and tailored support for those who have been bereaved or seriously injured. Our mission goes beyond recovery; we campaign tirelessly for legislative and societal changes to prevent future tragedies and make roads safer for everyone.

Join us as a Caseworker – Kent, Essex & East Region - To apply for this role, you MUST be a resident in the Kent or Essex area.

This year, Brake celebrates 30 years of life-changing work, and we’re looking for a committed and compassionate Caseworker to help us continue making an impact. If you are based in the Kent or Essex area and want to help people at their most vulnerable moments, this could be the role for you.

Every 20 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on UK roads. For families affected, the emotional and practical challenges are immense. As a Caseworker, you will provide direct, trauma-informed care to individuals and families suffering from the sudden bereavement or life-altering injury of a loved one. Working mostly remotely, with home visits to service users, you’ll offer vital emotional and practical support—including helping them access therapeutic resources, financial assistance, and guidance through the complexities of medical and legal processes.

This role is flexible, allowing you to structure your own working pattern within weekdays from 8am to 6pm. While travel is required, you’ll have control over your diary. The work is challenging but immensely rewarding, requiring resilience, empathy, and a dedication to making a real difference in people’s lives.

Key Responsibilities

· Providing direct support to road victims and their families in the Kent, Essex & East region, following Brake’s trauma-informed model of care.

· Managing a caseload of service users, ensuring their emotional, practical, and advocacy needs are met.

· Undertaking comprehensive needs assessments and creating individualised support plans

· Offering emotional and practical support—this can include helping families access therapeutic resources, financial aid, or even facilitating keepsakes to honour the memory of their loved ones

· Liaising with professionals, including police officers, Family Liaison Officers, mental health services, coroners, GPs, and other support organisations.

· Advocating for victims within medical, legal, and social services to ensure their voices are heard.

· Providing support through multiple channels, including in-person, remote calls, video chats, and messaging, depending on service user preferences.

· Completing safeguarding assessments and escalating concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead when needed.

· Maintaining accurate case records in compliance with data protection policies.

· Engaging in external clinical supervision to manage personal resilience and well-being.

· Participating in team meetings, training, and professional development to ensure the highest standard of service delivery.

What We Offer

· £15,600 per year (12 months fixed term with the possibility of extension depending on funding)

· Flexible working hours—working pattern can be shaped around your needs.

· Mostly remote work, with travel to service users’ homes or safe meeting places (mileage expenses reimbursed).

· Death in service benefit, to the value of 2 x salary.

· 36 days annual leave, including bank holidays and compulsory end of year shutdown (pro rata for part time working patterns).

· Employee assistance program, including counselling, legal and financial advice.

· External trauma consultant support to aid in caseworker resilience.

· Structured induction, training, and ongoing development including in trauma-informed support and risk management.

Who We’re Looking For

Essential Requirements:

· A full, clean UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle.

· Resident in the Kent or Essex area.

· Experience in frontline support services, preferably involving sudden bereavement or heightened vulnerabilities.

· Strong advocacy and research skills to liaise with multiple organisations on behalf of service users.

· Competency in I.T skills to work remotely.

Desirable Experience:

· Comprehensive understanding of the processes involved in the criminal justice system and coronial process

Personal Qualities:

· Self-motivated and resilient—able to navigate emotionally challenging situations.

· Empathetic and compassionate, with a commitment to helping others.

· Adaptable and creative, able to tailor support methods to individual needs.

· Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to collaborate with professionals and service users alike.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Brake is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We welcome your application whatever your background or situation. We particularly welcome applications from those who are part of the global majority, the LGBTQIA+ community or disabled. We are proud to be a disability confident employer. We don’t want you to ‘fit’ our culture, we want you to enrich it. So, if you have a passion for making a difference and share in our vision for a world where no one is killed on our roads, we would love to hear from you.

The successful candidate will be required to go through an enhanced DBS vetting process due to the sensitive nature of the service delivered.

Please note we do not accept applications from serious traffic offenders due to the nature of our work. Employees are subject to driver licence checks.

To apply

Submit your CV and a covering letter which clearly demonstrate you have what it takes to perform this challenging and rewarding role.

About Brake
Brake is the UK’s leading road safety charity, dedicated to supporting people affected by road crashes and advocating for safer streets. Since 1995, we have been helping victims and their families to navigate the devastating impact of road collisions through the National Road Victim Service—providing immediate, compassionate, and tailored support for those who have been bereaved or seriously injured. Our mission goes beyond recovery; we campaign tirelessly for legislative and societal changes to prevent future tragedies and make roads safer for everyone.

Join us as a Caseworker – North Yorkshire Region - To apply for this role, you MUST be a resident in the North Yorkshire area.

This year, Brake celebrates 30 years of life-changing work, and we’re looking for a committed and compassionate Caseworker to help us continue making an impact. If you are based in the North Yorkshire region and want to help people at their most vulnerable moments, this could be the role for you.

Every 20 minutes, someone is killed or seriously injured on UK roads. For families affected, the emotional and practical challenges are immense. As a Caseworker, you will provide direct, trauma-informed care to individuals and families suffering from the sudden bereavement or life-altering injury of a loved one. Working mostly remotely, with home visits to service users, you’ll offer vital emotional and practical support—including helping them access therapeutic resources, financial assistance, and guidance through the complexities of medical and legal processes.

This role is flexible, allowing you to structure your own working pattern within weekdays from 8AM to 6PM. While travel is required, you’ll have control over your diary. The work is challenging but immensely rewarding, requiring resilience, empathy, and a dedication to making a real difference in people’s lives.

Key Responsibilities

• Providing direct support to road victims and their families in the North Yorkshire  region, following Brake’s trauma-informed model of care.
• Managing a caseload of service users, ensuring their emotional, practical, and advocacy needs are met.
• Undertaking comprehensive needs assessments and creating individualised support plans
• Offering emotional and practical support—this can include helping families access therapeutic resources, financial aid, or even facilitating keepsakes to honour the memory of their loved ones
• Liaising with professionals, including police officers, Family Liaison Officers, mental health services, coroners, GPs, and other support organisations.
• Advocating for victims within medical, legal, and social services to ensure their voices are heard.
• Providing support through multiple channels, including in-person, remote calls, video chats, and messaging, depending on service user preferences.
• Completing safeguarding assessments and escalating concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead when needed.
• Maintaining accurate case records in compliance with data protection policies.
• Engaging in external clinical supervision to manage personal resilience and well-being.
• Participating in team meetings, training, and professional development to ensure the highest standard of service delivery.

What We Offer

• £26,000 per year (initial one-year contract, with funding in place and potential to extend).
• Flexible working hours—working pattern can be shaped around your needs.
• Mostly remote work, with travel to service users’ homes or safe meeting places (mileage expenses reimbursed).
• Death in service benefit, to the value of 2 x salary
• 36 days annual leave, including bank holidays and compulsory end of year shutdown
• Employee assistance program, including counselling, legal and financial advice.
• External trauma consultant support to aid in caseworker resilience.
• Structured induction, training, and ongoing development including in trauma-informed support and risk management.

Who We’re Looking For

Essential Requirements:

• A full, clean UK driving licence and access to your own vehicle.
• Resident in the North Yorkshire area.
• Experience in frontline support services, preferably involving sudden bereavement or heightened vulnerabilities.
• Experience supporting 16-18 year olds.
• Strong advocacy and research skills to liaise with multiple organisations on behalf of service users.
• Competency in I.T skills to work remotely.

Desirable Experience:

· Comprehensive understanding of the processes involved in the criminal justice system and coronial process

Personal Qualities:

• Self-motivated and resilient—able to navigate emotionally challenging situations.
• Empathetic and compassionate, with a commitment to helping others.
• Adaptable and creative, able to tailor support methods to individual needs.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, able to collaborate with professionals and service users alike.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Brake is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that values diversity. We welcome your application whatever your background or situation. We particularly welcome applications from those who are part of the global majority, the LGBTQIA+ community or disabled. We are proud to be a disability confident employer. We don’t want you to ‘fit’ our culture, we want you to enrich it. So, if you have a passion for making a difference and share in our vision for a world where no one is killed on our roads, we would love to hear from you

Service Team Leader Homicide

We are seeking an experienced and dedicated Team Leader based in the West Midlands to join the Homicide Service team. This role involves managing and supporting operational staff to ensure the delivery of excellent services to those affected by homicide.

The West Midlands covers Birmingham, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire. It is a requirement that you live within one of these area in order to carry out this role effectively.

Position: 6104 Team Leader- Homicide

Location: Remote/ West Midlands

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday 9am -5pm

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £31,732.20 per annum

Closing Date: 16th July 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if enough suitable applications are received.

Interview Date: 22nd July 2025

The Role

As a Homicide Team Leader, you will ensure the provision of high-quality services, maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, and provide strategic leadership to promote and develop services.

As a Homicide Team Leader, you will:

• Conduct audits and generate reports on case management systems, ensuring compliance with contract reporting requirements and national standards.
• Capture and analyse data to ensure outcome-based and evidenced work.
• Allocate work within the team, monitor daily caseloads, and identify trends or patterns.
• Ensure compliance with policies and procedures, provide safeguarding advice, and prioritise client safety and dignity.
• Collaborate with managers to enhance service delivery, address performance issues, and support continuous improvement.
• Support with caseloads, conduct impact assessments, and provide comprehensive support to team members.
• Oversee recruitment, training, performance management, and ongoing support for team members.
• Promote access to services through referrals and partnerships with local organisations.
• Facilitate regular team meetings, share feedback, and ensure effective communication channels.
• Adhere to data protection legislation, confidentiality policies, and organisational procedures.

About You

Ideally, you will have experience in developing and maintaining partnerships within a multiagency framework, and knowledge of intersectionality, especially when working with vulnerable individuals and those experiencing trauma.

You will need to travel across the region to fulfil job responsibilities and develop your role. Flexibility is essential, as the job may require evening, weekend work, and occasional overnight stays.

You will need:

• Knowledge of the criminal justice system and its impact on victims and witnesses.
• Understanding of equal opportunities, diversity, inclusivity, safeguarding, and risk assessments.
• Awareness of confidentiality and safe working practices, including data protection.
• Experience in customer-focused, challenging environments.
• Crisis management and support experience.
• Strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks.
• Problem-solving and data analysis skills.
• Proficiency in using software like Word, Excel, and Case Management systems

If you are passionate about supporting victims of crime and have the necessary skills and experience, we encourage you to apply.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details once you apply.

In Return…

Benefits include:

• Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
• Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
• Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
• Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.

About the Organisation

This independent charity provides a range of specialist services to people who have been affected by crime across England and Wales. Working towards a world where there are fewer victims but who have stronger rights, better support and a real influence in the Criminal Justice System, everyone at the charity is driven by the Vision Ambitions and Values to play their part in making a difference for those who experience crime and traumatic events.

As part of the commitment to the Race at Work Charter we particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. The charity is also a Disability Confident Employer and provides a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates that are disabled and meet all essential criteria for a role.

If you have a disability, a learning difficulty such as dyslexia or a medical condition, which you believe may affect your performance during any aspect of the selection process, the team will be happy to make reasonable adjustments to enable you to perform at your best.

You may have experience in areas such as Service, Case, Services, Operations, Service Manager, Case Manager, Services Manager, Service Team Leader, Case Team Leader, Services Team Leader, Operations Team Leader. #INDNFP

Please note this role is being advertised by NFP People on behalf of our client.  

First Steps ED are looking for a passionate and strategic Head of Fundraising and Communications to join our team and help make a difference in the lives of those we support. First Steps ED provide person-centred support to our service users for a range of disordered eating and eating disorder presentations.

The Head of Fundraising and Communications will lead on the development and implementation of strategies to diversify and grow our income streams, strengthen our brand, and increase engagement with key audiences. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the postholder will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships across trusts and foundations, corporate partners, individual donors, and community supporters. This role will also oversee all aspects of external communications and marketing, ensuring a consistent and compelling voice for the organisation across digital, print, media, and stakeholder channels.

The Head of Fundraising and Communications will provide line management and strategic direction to the fundraising and communications team, with accountability for delivering income targets and enhancing the charity’s profile and impact.

Role Overview:
This position requires a strategic leader who will be a proactive engagement lead and support the charities overall strategy and mission. You will have a proven background of successful fundraising activities, diversifying engagement and income and cultivating key relationships through communication strategies.

Key Responsibilities:
This is an opportunity to develop and shape the fundraising and communications strategy for a growing charity, in an are that is getting more and more attention. The role will require an agile mind to adapt to the ever changing environment, and in return the charity leadership promises flexibility and understanding, as we test learn and adapt these strategies.

Some of the area you are expected to work on are the following, and the rest can be defined by you:

• Budgets and Targets: You are directly responsible for the budgets, and income targets attached to Fundraising and Communications.
• Engagement and Income Diversification: Develop and implement strategies to diversify income streams, including legacy giving, corporate partnerships, individual donations, and major donors.
• Marketing and Communications Strategy: Create and implement strategies to reach a wider audience through innovative marketing and communications channels.
• NHS and Private Sector Opportunities: Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the NHS and private sector.
• Relationship Management: Manage key relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Team Leadership: Manage and support Fundraising, Marketing and Communications officers, ensuring alignment with fundraising goals and charity objectives overall.
• Lead our flagship campaigns: This year we are developing an online campaign, currently called Scroll Safe, to tackle the issues with online safety, we are included in the parliamentary act, and we wish this to be a multi-year campaign. It is in development for 2025, and you are expected to hit the ground running. Other campaigns include Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and Christmas.
• Digital Agency and PR Management: Oversee the work of digital agencies and PR consultant to enhance online presence and engagement with public relations and media outreach.
• Ambassadors and Patrons Management: Engage and manage relationships with ambassadors and patrons to leverage their support and influence.
• Web Development Leadership: Lead the development and maintenance of the charity's website to ensure it effectively supports fundraising and communication efforts as well as providing clear and concise support to our service users, carers and professionals.
• Manage our portfolio of events: We have an emerging trend in challenge events, and we manage these carefully and mindfully especially long-distance sporting events. This requires key insights in trends and work with our marketing team on key insights.
• Working with the CEO: You will identify opportunities for strategic communications and growth. You will network with likeminded individuals from other charities and build sector connections.
• Senior Leadership Team: You will be an integral part of our Senior Leadership Team, which means working across the whole charity on tasks that may pop up, and planning with the team our Organisational Development.

Qualifications:

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years in a senior fundraising and communications role, preferably within the charity sector.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Relationship Management, or a related field.

Skills:

• Strong strategic planning and implementation skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in fundraising software and CRM systems.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.

What we offer

• 28 days annual leave (pro rata for part time)
• Enhanced sick pay
• Company events
• Blue Light Card
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program + Wellbeing App
• Company pension - 5% employee, 3% employer
• On-site parking
• Referral programme
• Work from home (depending on role)
• Accredited training programme towards CPD

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Should we met our target number of applications we reserve the right to close the advert earlier than the closing date.

Data Officer

We are looking for a Data Officer with a keen, analytical mind who is comfortable working with large datasets to be a Data Officer within the Knowledge and Insight team.

Position: SIT53 Data Officer

Location: Home-based, UK, Nationwide. However, occasional travel will be required as part of this role (may include team meetings or other work related meetings)

Salary: Circa £32,100 per annum (inner London weighting £3,950 per annum or outer London weighting £2,275 per annum may be applied in accordance to where you live)

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Benefits: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (this will increase with service up to 30 days, full time equivalent) cashback and discount scheme, employee assistance programme, learning and development, pension scheme, Life Assurance, Eye Care vouchers, Long Service Award, Tax-free childcare, Health Cash Plan, Working Pattern Agreement, flexible working opportunities available.

Closing Date: 11 July 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role.

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Interviews will be held via video conferencing. Please let us know if this will present any challenges when you email your application.

The Role

Reporting to the Head of Data Services, the Data Officer will meet data needs relating to the management and delivery of supporter and engagement products. You will work alongside three other Data Officers to assess, prioritise and provide solutions including the building of data selections and journeys for direct marketing purposes and the running of supporter data imports and exports.

Experience of using CRM Dynamics, Faststats and PeopleStage and or any Donor CRM for marketing purposes will make you a person of interest to us. We will support you in learning to use any of the tools and applications used and actively encourage the development of your data and analytical skills. Communication skills play a key part in this role, because you will need to be able to talk through or present selections or solutions to stakeholders.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Delivering data selections, Building automated journeys for fundraising and engagement activity to support increased income generation and supporter retention, ensuring communications are delivered to agreed Service Level Agreements.
• Providing reports and data sets to supporter product owners, managers and delivery staff to help them maximise the impact of activities.

About You

You will have a proven record of:

• Working with large datasets for marketing purposes and provide solutions and or data in response to enquiries from colleagues and other teams.
• Using a relational customer/supporter database to import and export data to and from external suppliers; including data mapping and the design of appropriate import processes.
• Use of a marketing automation tools such as Faststats and PeopleStage.

Please submit your CV and a supporting statement of no more than two pages demonstrating how you meet the person specification and what you bring to the role in terms of your skills and experience.

To fulfil the role you must be resident in the UK and have the right to work in the UK.

When you click to apply, you will be able to see the full responsibilities and person specification for further information on the role.

Please submit your CV and a supporting statement of no more than two pages demonstrating how you meet the person specification and what you bring to the role in terms of your skills and experience.

If you are applying under the Disability Confident scheme, please indicate this in your supporting statement.

Finding strength through support

The organisation is the only charity in the UK providing lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families. Providing tailored support to tens of thousands of stroke survivors each year. This support includes one-to-one and group support, funding vital scientific research into stroke prevention, acute treatment, recovery and long-term care, and campaigning to secure the best care for everyone affected by stroke. 

They are here for stroke survivors and their loved ones, from the moment they enter the new and frightening post-stroke world, supporting them every step of the way as they find their strength and their way back to life.

It’s only thanks to the generosity of supporters and donors that they can provide vital support. 

The Association is driven by an ambition to improve the lives of everyone affected by stroke. This means they’re determined to create an equitable and inclusive workplace that benefits from the difference, and thrives on the diversity, of our people. Guided by an approach to solving inequity in stroke, the team are prioritising listening to, and learning from, lived experience across the charity.

The charity are working to improve the representation of this lived experience at all levels within the Association and are eager to recruit applicants from a variety of communities and backgrounds. We are keen to receive applications from people affected by stroke, people of colour, members of LGBT+ communities, and disabled people because these identities and experiences are underrepresented and would add enormous value to how the organisation work.

A Disability Confident employer, the organisation is making great progress focusing on flexible working, reasonable adjustments and access to work. The charity has a variety of staff network groups and are committed to continuously improving diversity and inclusion efforts. If you have questions, or access needs, we’re happy to discuss any support and adjustments we can make throughout the recruitment process so that you’re able to contribute your best in a way that meets your needs.

You may also have experience in areas such as Data Officer, Data Manager, Database Officer, Database Manager, Data Marketing Officer. #INDNFP

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

Senior Finance Officer

14 hours per week

As our Senior Finance Officer you will contribute to Career Ready’s finance and operations function by providing high quality financial support to the charity. Working as part of a small team of three, you will perform core finance tasks and will support the Head of Finance and Operations with budgeting, reporting and auditing activities.

Main responsibilities and accountabilities

Bookkeeping and Accounting

• Ensure transactions are properly recorded and entered into Xero Accounts
• Assist with the annual audit
• Maintain financial files and records
• Manage and reconcile the accounts payable and accounts receivable
• Process payable invoices and staff expenses in line with fortnightly payment runs
• Perform credit control for maximum debt recovery
• Reconcile the bank statements for review the Head of Finance & Operations
• Assist with the preparation of annual budgets, forecasts and budget monitoring reports

Support to the Partnerships and Income Teams

• Collating financial information for funding applications as required
• Monitoring expenditure on grant-funded programmes
• Preparing financial reports on receivable grants as required
• Maintain electronic files of funding agreements and contracts

Payroll

• To support with the administration of monthly salaried payroll for staff, and internship payroll throughout Jun-Sep each year
• To raise monthly salary journals for review by the Head of Finance & Operations
• To process payroll payments via online banking portals

Essential skills and experience required

· Fully or part qualified – AAT, ACCA or CIMA or qualified by experience

· Clear understanding of financial controls, compliance, and reporting frameworks

· Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel

· Ability to prioritise and meet competing deadlines

· Previous experience of computerised accounting and payroll e.g. Xero

· Previous experience of payroll administration that includes maintaining confidential data

· Ability to work as part of a team as well as on own initiative.

· Excellent attention to detail and high numeracy

· Ability to communicate financial information to different audiences

· Problem-solving ability

Desirable skills and experience

· To have an understanding of Charity Finance.

· Experience of working in a finance function in a charity

Salary and Benefits

Salary: £32,000 to £38,000 per annum FTE (pro rata for part time), depending on qualifications/experience

14 hours per week.  Career Ready is committed to supporting condensed/flexible working patterns

Permanent and remote

You will be rewarded with the following benefits:

· 6% contribution to personal pension plan, subject to 3% employee contribution.

· Annual leave: 27 days per annum plus bank/public holidays (pro rata for part time). The charity is also closed between Christmas and New Year. Career Ready also allows flexible use of some Bank & Public Holidays

· Cycle to Work Scheme

· Access to both our Reward Gateway Portal and an Employee Assistance Programme.

· Flexible working

· Work from home allowance and paid travel expenses.

We regret that Career Ready is unable to offer visa sponsorship and candidates must be able to demonstrate their right to work in the UK. In accordance with our commitment to safeguarding, offers of employment are subject to completion of a DBS check. 

Full details can be found in the candidate pack.

Timetable

Applications close at 9am on Monday 21 July 2025

Please note that the closing date may be brought forward if we receive strong applications.

We're recruiting for an Engagement Lead, to work in our Innovation & Practice team. 

As Engagement Lead you will play a central role in our team – developing, leading and managing significant projects for us, including citizens’ assemblies, citizens’ juries, deliberative workshops, and participatory processes. You will need to have a good understanding of deliberative processes, have excellent project leadership and project management skills, as well the ability to build and maintain good relationships with a wide variety of people, including members of the public, project partners, colleagues and decision-makers.

The role sits in the Innovation and Practice team that designs and delivers high quality practical engagement work leading to better decisions, more engaged citizens and helps address critical challenges of our society. We are constantly balancing high quality standards with innovation to ensure that we stay at the cutting edge and that our engagement processes break down entrenched inequalities of power.

You will be a proven project leader looking to make your next move and develop your leadership skills and profile in this interesting and important area of public participation work. We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience in the design and delivery of large scale deliberative engagement projects. 

Citizens Advice Wirral is recruiting for a Foodbank Plus Caseworker to provide casework covering benefits and debt as part of the Foodbank Plus project. The successful applicant will have knowledge and experience of advice work and excellent communication skills. The role will involve delivering advice in a variety of mediums and acting for the client where necessary. 

Citizens Advice Wirral is a local charity assisting Wirral residents with a range of issues including benefits, debt, employment, housing and life challenges that affect their health and wellbeing.  We also actively work for change in the policies and practices of organisations that impact our clients.

Our values shape how we work with each other across all roles: Open and Honest, Professional, Empowering, Non-judgmental and Approachable. They apply to all areas of our advice-giving, our research and campaigns work and how we challenge discrimination and champion equality. 

Working for Citizens Advice Wirral has a range of benefits including:

• A generous holiday allowance of 25 days (rising to 30 days) plus bank holidays (pro-rata)
• Agile working with both home and office-based days (role dependent)
• A contributory pension scheme 
• Employee Assistance Programme

To find out more and start your application please click the apply button.

About Resource Futures

We want to create a future where organisations, people and communities can thrive, and rebalance their relationship with material resources.

Resource Futures is an organisation accelerating the shift towards a circular world: putting restorative practices of reuse, repair, recycling at the heart of the fight to address the climate crisis. We help governments, businesses, NGOs and non-profits embrace regenerative change.

We are non-profit-distributing and have a close-knit team of 50+ trusted employees who collaborate across various areas of the business. Our multi-disciplined and connected approach sets us apart from the competition and enables us to build robust solutions that have a meaningful impact in the world.

We are passionate not only about what we do but how we do it, and we’re proud to be a part of the global B Corp movement to use business as a force for good. Employee-owned and independent, we’re all about helping each team member grow, and together striving towards our goal of creating a sustainable world.

The opportunity

The Partnerships Lead will act as Project Manager for the community strand of Together for Tomorrow, a five-year National Lottery-funded programme supporting grassroots climate action across Devon. Working in close partnership with Libraries Unlimited, you will coordinate delivery across libraries and grassroots groups, supporting communities to develop practical climate initiatives and helping libraries become active sustainability hubs.

You will lead on toolkits, training plans, outreach and focus groups, while also supporting monitoring and reporting. The role blends strategic coordination with hands-on delivery, ensuring the programme is inclusive, locally rooted, and aligned across all partners.

This role sits within the CAG (Community Action Groups) Devon team, a network that supports community groups to take action on reuse, repair, food waste, composting, biodiversity and wider sustainability issues. CAG provides the tools groups need to thrive, including training, resources, and opportunities to connect with others.

What you will be doing

Project, people and partnership management

• Acting as project manager for the community strand of Together for Tomorrow, overseeing planning, coordination, and delivery.
• Building and maintaining partnerships with libraries, grassroots groups, and underrepresented communities.
• Recruiting and line managing the Project Officer, who will be supporting project delivery. Working closely with the CAG Devon team to align community support and delivery models across the network.

Community development and delivery

• Helping new community groups to form and supporting existing ones to grow, diversify, or expand their climate action work.
• Facilitating focus groups and community consultations to shape project delivery and ensure activity is insight-led.
• Delivering a targeted promotion and outreach plan, with a focus on ‘deep dive’ areas and engaging underrepresented communities.

Reporting and learning

• Contributing to the development and implementation of the project’s monitoring and evaluation framework.
• You will lead on monitoring and quarterly reporting (including financial), ensuring that CAG team and wider community partners meet agreed targets.
• Acting as an ambassador for the project, sharing insights and learning to support continuous improvement and knowledge exchange across the sector.
• Carrying out any other duties required of the role.

The essentials

• Strong project management skills, able to plan, coordinate and deliver complex work with multiple partners.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across sectors.
• Experience in community development, supporting new and existing groups.
• Skilled in engagement and facilitation, including focus groups, workshops, or public consultations.
• Strong organisational skills, with experience of balancing coordination with delivery.
• Experience of monitoring and evaluation and producing project reports.
• Comfortable working both independently and as part of a remote team.
• Commitment to inclusive, community-led climate action.
• Able to travel regularly across Devon.

Great to haves

• Familiarity with the CAG Devon network or experience working in community-led climate action in Devon.
• An understanding of the voluntary sector and environmental players across the County, at a strategic and local level.
• Experience developing toolkits, training, or learning resources for community or volunteer use.

Benefits

• Embedded flexi working culture.
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, each year (pro rata for part-time hours) – flexibility to work or use some bank holidays for annual leave.
• Buying and selling annual leave policy to add further flexibility around how you manage your work/non-work time and give you better control over how much and when you take leave from work.
• Paid volunteer time each year (a full day for those working 19 hours or more per week, and a half day for those working up to 18.75 hours per week).
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
• Enhanced sick pay.
• Scottish Widows pension plan – the company will match up to 7% of your contribution.
• Group life assurance cover.
• Healthcare portal offering 24/7 GP access and prescription service, mental health support, wellbeing advice, financial and legal guidance.
• Mental health and wellbeing group with trained mental health first aiders and responders, maintaining a focus on support for our team.
• A cycle to work scheme for all and on-site showers at the Bristol office.
• Home and tech scheme – costs at Currys and Ikea spread across 12 months, and up to 10% savings.
• On-site charging points for electric vehicles at the Bristol office.
• Paid professional membership such as CIWM or IEMA.
• An opportunity to become a company member, contributing to decision making and the future direction and success of our business.
• Consultative Group – a group of employees providing an anonymous vehicle for employee voice, raising issues, proposing changes and engaging senior management.
• Regular line manager 1:1s and performance reviews, with opportunities to discuss and build targets that inspire and push you professionally.
• Annual training budget to ensure continued progression and development, as well as regular internal ‘Lunchtime Briefs’ and other sessions to share skills and knowledge across all roles.
• Two annual team activity days, each followed by evening socials.
• Green and accessible Bristol office, surrounded by nature, and close to the harbourside.
• Accessible central Glasgow office close to local public transport links.
• An opportunity to join a friendly, fun, professional, challenging, and supportive place to work, and a team that is collectively focused on making a positive impact.

For full information on this role, including the key responsibilities and person specification, please view the job pack.

Applications close at 23:59 on Sunday 6th July 2025.

The Organisation

ImpactEd Group supports education and purpose-driven organisations to maximise their potential. We do this by helping our partners to be consistently impactful and operationally sustainable. ImpactEd Group is made up of ImpactEd Consulting and its specialist practices, ImpactEd Evaluation, ImpactEd Philanthropy and our most recent practice ImpactEd Data and Artificial Intelligence. Drawing on our domain expertise and technical skills in these areas, ImpactEd Group aims to be the first port of call for leaders across the education ecosystem. Since being founded in 2017, ImpactEd Group has worked with thousands of schools and hundreds of organisations, serving more than a quarter of a million pupils annually. Our strategy commits to systemic impact by helping our partners to make better decisions. We also empower our team to make decisions on behalf of the organisation as part of our aspirations for employee ownership.

The Opportunity

The Director role is a new opportunity working across ImpactEd Evaluation. Our partnerships encompass education organisations such as charities, edtech organisations and government, and schools and multi-academy Trusts. Across all our partnerships, we aim to design and deliver high-quality research and evaluation projects that help our partners make better decisions for children using good evidence.

As a Director, you will be a senior leader of the evaluation practice and a statutory director on our Practice Board. Reflecting this, you will have a key role in the success of the practice, both commercially and in terms of social impact, and help to shape and deliver the strategy for ImpactEd Evaluation as a practice within ImpactEd Group, reporting to the Practice Lead.

The role will be a combination of business development, oversight and support of evaluation delivery, and strategic responsibilities. You will lead a number of sales and marketing campaigns, and support the design and delivery of our product offerings within those areas, as well as other priority strategic projects. You will also lead on a small number of high-priority partner engagements directly, and play a significant role in overseeing and quality assuring partnerships led by others.

The role would be ideal for a candidate with deep understanding of research and evaluation, a track record in business development, and the ambition to shape the leadership and direction of a growing social enterprise.

Why Us?

As an organisation we care about creating a meaningful place to work and supporting people to grow personally and professionally. These are reflected in our organisational values and our commitments to:

• Agile and flexible working: responsive management, flexible hours, hybrid or fully remote working

• Personal excellence: we invest significantly in professional development, including an external mentor, an individual CPD budget, and formal and informal training and support

• Mental health and wellbeing: access to health and wellbeing advice and free therapist support.

As a growing organisation we are committed to diversity and inclusion and providing a positive experience of work and maintain an annual EDI action plan, supported by a Board sponsor.

About the Role

Key duties and responsibilities

• Provide court representation for clients, including emergency actions, by attending hearings at Liverpool Civil and Family Court.
• Prepare and present cases ready for court hearings by checking time limits, adherence to pre action protocols by creditors, completing relevant court forms and checking fees/remissions.
• Negotiate with and signpost/refer to third parties as appropriate.
• Assist client with alternative dispute resolution cases e.g. Financial Ombudsman Service.
• Assist clients with other related problems where they are an integral part of their case and refer to other advisers or specialist agencies as appropriate.
• Provide advice and assistance to other staff across a range of debt issues.
• Ensure that all work meets the quality standards of the AQS Debt Advice Services, the Citizens Advice quality assurance scheme and the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) quality framework.
• Meet the individual performance targets and engage positively in discussions with the Line Manager to maintain required levels.
• Provide regular reports and feedback to the Line Manager as required.
• Assist with social policy work by providing information about clients' circumstances through the appropriate channel.
• Work collaboratively with partner agencies, Liverpool Civil and Family Court user groups, local authority and other local statutory and voluntary organisations to increase access to the service and to the range of support and advice needed according to individual circumstances.
• Work as part of the CAL Money Advice Team and contribute to effective service provision.
• Work independently in the Liverpool Civil and Family Court with clients as well as working from home and at different sites within Liverpool according to client appointment need.

General

• Ensure achievement of MaPS accreditation to Court Representation level within 3 months of starting the role, if not already achieved.
• Attend relevant internal and external meetings as agreed with the Line Manager.
• Maintain an up to date working knowledge of all new relevant legislation through reading monthly subscriptions including relevant case law.
• Keep up to date with Citizens Advice aims, policies and procedures and ensure these are followed.
• Ensure that work reflects and supports the Citizens Advice service's equality, diversity, and inclusion strategy.
• Abide by health and safety guidelines and share responsibility for your own health and safety and that of colleagues.
• Identify own learning and development needs and take steps to address these with your Line Manager, including engaging in team meetings and supervision sessions.
• Carry out any other tasks within the scope of the post to ensure the effective delivery and development of the service.

Requirements

1. Knowledge and experience of court representation, complex debt casework, covering priority and non-priority debt advice, options and insolvency solutions.
2. Experience of achieving performance and quality targets/KPIs.
3. Ability and willingness to undertake training and development to comply with MaPS Caseworker accreditation to court representation level, and Citizens Advice quality standards.
4. Effective oral and written communication skills.
5. Numerate to the level required by the tasks.
6. Ability to prioritise own work, meet deadlines, manage workload and targets in a pressured environment.
7. Ordered approach to casework and an ability and willingness to follow and develop agreed procedures.
8. IT literate with an ability to use software packages including Microsoft Office products in the provision of advice and preparation of formal written materials.
9. Ability to give and receive feedback objectively and sensitively and a willingness to challenge constructively.
10. Ability and willingness to work as part of a team.
11. Understanding of and commitment to the aims and principles of the Citizens Advice service and its equalities and diversity policy

Desirable

1. Citizens Advice Generalist Advice learning/certificate.
2. Institute of Money Advisers Certificate in Money Advice Practice or MaPS accreditation to court representation equivalent.

How to Apply

For more information and to apply, please click on the Apply button.

About us

The Court Specialist (Housing) Debt Adviser is responsible for providing a quality court representation service for clients facing court proceedings for housing and personal debt, including mortgages, secured and unsecured loans, who are not eligible for housing legal aid.

The project joins a programme funded by the Access to Justice Foundation that aims to sustain and improve access to early social welfare and family legal support and advice, to enable people to resolve these problems as early as possible and avoid the need for court or tribunal proceedings where possible. Where court or tribunal proceedings are needed, the project will provide the support needed to help people navigate the process effectively, including where support to prepare for court and at court is required. The focus of this project will be to provide housing debt court/tribunal support and representation to increase homelessness prevention.

To be successful in this role, you will need to be confident, motivated and willing to try new things, have excellent communication skills with an ability to work under pressure to achieve targets and outcomes with minimum supervision. You will need to have knowledge and experience of complex debt casework, and (county) court money claim, and possession proceedings as well as priority and non-priority debt advice, options and insolvency solutions.

This role is homebased with regular travel to South West and London, and occasional travel to Birmingham for team meetings.

Are you a communications professional looking for an exciting and rewarding new role? Apply for the Regional Communications Officer job vacancy at homelessness charity Emmaus UK.

About Emmaus

Emmaus is a secular organisation supporting homeless and socially excluded people by providing a home for as long as it is needed, meaningful work experience in a social enterprise and a sense of belonging and community. There are currently 29 Emmaus communities in the UK stretching from Glasgow to Dover and Norfolk to South Wales, collectively supporting more than 850 people. There are also 3 Emmaus groups working towards the development of services in their areas. We understand that a home is more than just a roof over your head; it’s somewhere to belong, where you feel part of a community, and that’s what Emmaus offers.

About the role

Our team of Regional Communications Officers support Emmaus communities and groups to increase their profile and engage supporters. You will work closely with up to four Emmaus charities to identify their communications needs, plan and deliver work to help achieve their goals.

Who are we looking for?

We require someone with excellent skills and knowledge in communications, public relations and marketing with at  least two years’ experience working in a busy and varied communications role. Although not essential, knowledge and understanding of homelessness and the charity sector would also be an advantage.

Within this hybrid role, you can be based at home or in an Emmaus community. Wherever you are located, maintaining ongoing positive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders is vitally important. This role will suit someone located in the South West or London as regular travel (usually at least one community visit per week) will be required to Bristol, Gloucester and London.

If you’re passionate about making a difference and seeing a long-lasting impact, then this is the perfect time for you to get involved and join Emmaus.

What we offer

· £30,400 per annum pro rata

· Working hours: 4 days per week (30 hours), Monday to Friday

· Contract: Permanent

· Pension: Stakeholder pension with 6% employer contribution

· Annual leave: 25 days + Bank Holidays + 3 concessionary days leave

· Training & development:  Individually tailored induction, ongoing training and development

· Volunteering: 2 days allowance each year

· Employee assistance: 24/7 employee assistance scheme is available

· Wellbeing: Weekly wellbeing hour to promote personal wellbeing

· Flexible working: Options available, subject to the requirements of the role

· Life assurance: Death in service lump sum of 3 x salary

To apply

To apply for the role, please complete our application form and equal opportunities monitoring form and email us by midnight on Sunday 13 July 2025

Please ensure you download the job pack and refer to the job description and person specification when completing your application form.

Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview conducted via Microsoft Teams on Monday 21 July 2025.

If you would like to arrange an informal discussion about the role, please email us.

Equal Opportunities

Emmaus UK provides equal opportunity for all job applicants and employees and is committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination. We are dedicated to an inclusive culture, and we strive to create a workplace where teams of people with diverse backgrounds, characteristic, perspectives, ideas and experiences work together. We welcome applications from all individuals irrespective of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, marital status or parental responsibilities.

To ensure fairness and consistency to select the best candidate for our roles, all our applications are anonymised up until an interview has been confirmed so that shortlisting is based solely upon the suitability of the candidate’s experience.

An exciting opportunity to be involved in the development of a growing adult literacy charity as it expands across Central England

One in 20 adults in the UK has never learnt to read at all. This can have a serious impact on their confidence and wellbeing, limiting access to training, employment, and everyday opportunities that many take for granted. Being unable to read as an adult can be isolating and dangerous, reinforces social inequality, restricts economic growth, and worsens intergenerational disadvantage - but it is never too late to learn.

Read Easy helps adults transform their lives by learning to read. It does this by supporting its growing network of locally run, volunteer-led affiliated groups that offer free, confidential, one-to-one reading coaching—both in person and online to adults - aged from 18-88. 

With its free, flexible, confidential approach, Read Easy encourages people who are too embarrassed to join a class to come forward for one-to-one support. Each new reader is provided with their own personal Reading Coach, so that they can learn in private and at their own pace. Learning to read transforms their lives in many other ways as well, including enabling them to support their children’s and grandchildren’s reading, and so transfers the benefits to the next generation.

There are currently 80 affiliated Read Easy groups across England, together involving more than a thousand volunteers. Read Easy UK is the registered charity and umbrella organisation which supports this network of affiliated volunteer groups and provides the structure, training and support to enable volunteers to establish groups in new areas.

As our Central Regional Adviser, your role would be to provide strategic leadership, guidance, and oversight to ensure that all volunteer groups consistently deliver high-quality services aligned with Read Easy UK’s strategy.

You will support local volunteer leaders to strengthen group performance, and foster collaboration across affiliated groups, so that that they deliver coaching to Readers with consistent quality, and a positive and worthwhile experience is had by all.

You will also find volunteers to ‘pioneer’ three new groups in the counties where there is no Read Easy presence in the East and West Midlands and East of England and provide them and our 29 existing groups and pioneers in the region, with high-quality support. Your quality support will ensure that they provide the same for their volunteers and new Readers. From meeting (mostly online) with Team Leaders to provide one to one support, and hosting online and annual in-person volunteer forums, to delivering presentations and occaisonal training for small groups of volunteers, this is a dynamic and rewarding role.

This is a home-based post requiring flexibility, some early evening working and occaisional travel to visit groups. The role is available on either a full or part time basis (min 32 hours p/w, 85% of 37.5 hours p/w FTE).

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Live within one of the following areas: West Midlands (Defined as the 7 metropolitan boroughs of Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall, and Wolverhampton), Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire or Rutland;
• have been employed to work with volunteers for at least two years;
• have strong people management and interpersonal skills; excellent communication skills; and the confidence to run meetings and deliver presentations.

Salary & Benefits 

• Annual Salary £25,075 (85% FTE) -£29,500 (100% FTE)
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and Christmas closing and 2 days volunteering leave – pro-rata for part time roles
• Company sick pay to financially support you when you are unwell (above statutory upon completion of probationary period) 
• Support when extending your family – company parental and adoption pay (above statutory after 12 months service) 
• Access to RewardHub – which gives retail discounts and has a ‘Wellbeing Centre’ with tools, tips, recipes, workout videos and guides which will help you to reach your own wellbeing goals 
• Training and Development opportunities and resources – we are developing personal plans in this area to enhance employee experience and opportunity 
• A collaborative, creative and inspiring working environment full of committed and passionate employees and inspirational volunteers 

We strive to ensure our recruitment practices are fair, open, easy to access and as inclusive as possible. We aim to recruit a team which broadly reflect the local communities which we serve; to work with and learn from each other to continually improve the service we deliver to our Readers. Our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group is actively promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion, ensuring a culture where everyone can be themselves and thrive. We welcome you to apply and be your authentic self.

When applying for a job with us, if an applicant has a disability covered by the definition outlined within the Equality Act 2010 and can show that they meet the ‘essential criteria’ described in the person specification for the role being applied for, they are guaranteed an interview for the job for which they are applying through our Disability Confident scheme.

If you need any support with your application, please contact us,

The closing date for this post is 10:00 Tuesday 15th July 2025. Should you be shortlisted, the first round of interviews will take place online on Wednesday 23rd July, with in-person interviews, being held in Gloucestershire or West Midlands, on Tuesday 29th July 2025. 

The successful candidate will be invited to meet the team on 31st July in Birmingham, should they be able to do so.