Public affair assistant jobs

We are looking for a dynamic and skilled professional to take on this new senior leadership role at BABCP. We are a growing organisation, driven by social purpose. We aim improve the mental health of people across the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, through furthering research and good practice in CBT and related professions.

The British Association for Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) is the lead organisation for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in the UK and Ireland.

We have more than 24,000 members across the UK, Ireland and overseas, and with a growing staff team who work remotely. As we have grown, so has our need to communicate more effectively and to wider stakeholder groups. Ideally we need someone who is comfortable delivering a range of different communications functions, such as leading strategy; working with politicians and policy influencers; understanding the needs of our members; and communicating directly with the wider public about issues that matter to them.

We are looking for someone who shares our passion for mental health and wellbeing, to take responsibility for the delivery of an effective and efficient External Affairs function, which meets the needs of our growing business.

The successful candidate will have the ability to influence government and health systems; manage a team to deliver planned and responsive communications; network with other professionals including journalists; and be comfortable in setting, monitoring and reporting performance measures, including reporting to CEO and board.

The role will be home-based, with occasional requirements to travel to our Head Office in Greater Manchester and to meetings in London, as well as less frequent meetings across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

To find out more, please access the attached job description.

How to apply

Send an up to date CV and covering letter of no more than two pages no later than 21st July 2025 (interviews will be held 1st August 2025).

The covering letter should set out how you would meet each of the criteria from the person specification that are marked “Application”.

*English below*

Rydym yn chwilio am Gynorthwyydd Digwyddiadau brwdfrydig ac effeithlon i ymuno â'n sefydliad croesawgar sy'n parhau i dyfu. Dyma gyfle cyffrous i gefnogi gwaith i gynnal amrywiaeth eang o digwyddiadau (ar-lein ac yn y cnawd) i randdeiliaid ar draws bywyd gwleidyddol, cyhoeddus ac academaidd Cymru. Mae'r rôl hefyd yn cynnwys cefnogi cyfathrebu, cyfarfodydd a meysydd eraill oddi mewn i LSW wrth iddynt ddatblygu. Gan hynny, mae'n cynnig profiad cynhwysfawr gwych i rywun sydd eisiau datblygu eu gyrfa.

Mae'r rôl hyblyg ac amser llawn hon yn cael ei chynnig am gyfnod penodol o flwyddyn, a bydd yn rhoi cymorth hanfodol i'n tîm bach a chyfeillgar - gan ein galluogi i gyflawni ein strategaeth pum mlynedd er budd Cymru.  Rydym yn chwilio am rywun sy'n hyblyg, yn gefnogol ac yn drefnus. Ar gyfer rôl lefel Cynorthwyydd nid ydym yn disgwyl ichi fod wedi cael llawer o brofiad gwaith blaenorol. Er hynny, rydym yn chwilio am rywun hunanysgogol â pharodrwydd i ddysgu, ac mae agwedd ragweithiol at helpu eraill a chanfod atebion yn hanfodol. 

Sefydliad dwyieithog yw LSW sy'n cefnogi siaradwyr a dysgwyr Cymraeg gweithredol ar bob lefel. Nid yw'n ofynnol bod yn rhugl yn y Gymraeg ar gyfer y swydd hon, ond mae'r gallu i gyfathrebu yn Gymraeg yn ddymunol, a pharodrwydd i ddysgu yn hanfodol.

Ynglŷn â'r rôl

Rheolir y rôl gan y Pennaeth Polisi Cyhoeddus, ac fe'i dyluniwyd i  weithio ar draws ein tîm bach, gan gefnogi rheolaeth ar amrywiaeth eang o ddigwyddiadau (ar-lein ac yn y cnawd) yn ogystal â rhoi cymorth ar gyfer cyfathrebu, cyfarfodydd ac agweddau eraill wrth iddynt ddatblygu.

Rydym yn trefnu ac yn cynnal amrywiaeth eang o ddigwyddiadau, o ddarlithoedd cyhoeddus mawr i ddigwyddiadau rhwydweithio bach, ciniawau yn y cnawd i seminarau a chyfarfodydd ar-lein. Mae rhai o'r rhain yn ddigwyddiadau blynyddol sefydledig ac eraill yn digwyddiadau untro.  Yn y digwyddiadau a'r cyfarfodydd hyn, byddwn yn croesawu rhanddeiliaid o bob rhan o'r byd gwleidyddol a chyhoeddus yng Nghymru. Byddwn hefyd yn cynnwys ac yn ymgysylltu â'r 700 a mwy o Gymrodyr sydd gennym sy'n cynrychioli rhagoriaeth ar draws y byd academaidd a thu hwnt.

Prif ffocws y rôl hon fydd digwyddiadau'n gysylltiedig â Blaenoriaeth Strategol 1 LSW: “Cyfrannu at ddatrysiadau polisi pwysig drwy roi cyngor annibynnol a hwyluso cyfnewid gwybodaeth”.  Mae'r digwyddiadau hyn fel arfer yn ymwneud ag un o'r pum pwnc canlynol:

1. Hwyluso darparu tystiolaeth ac arbenigedd i lywio polisi cyhoeddus, gan gynnwys y canlynol fel rhanddeiliaid: Llywodraeth Cymru, Y Senedd, Swyddfa Gymreig Llywodraeth y DU, a Phwyllgor Materion Cymreig San Steffan.

2. Cynnal trafodaethau ar faterion polisi sy'n effeithio ar y sectorau ymchwil ac arloesi, fel Ecwiti, Amrywiaeth ac Arloesi, y diwylliant ymchwil, cyllid, ymchwil agored, ac ymgysylltu â dinasyddion.

3. Eiriol dros bwysigrwydd pob math o ymchwil, arloesi a gwybodaeth oddi mewn i Gymru ac er budd Cymru.

4. Cefnogi ac eiriol dros Astudiaethau Cymru, h.y. ymchwil ynglŷn â Chymru.

5. Ymgysylltu rhyngwladol i godi proffil Cymru ymhlith rhanddeiliaid gwyddoniaeth ac ymchwil yn rhyngwladol, a rhoi llais i Gymru mewn sgyrsiau allweddol mewn gwyddoniaeth ac ymchwil fyd-eang. (Mae'r rhan fwyaf o'r gwaith cyfredol yn yr Alban ac Iwerddon, gydag ymgysylltiad cynyddol ag Ewrop)

Byddwch hefyd yn rhoi cymorth ar draws y tîm - gan gynnwys i'r Prif Weithredwr, y Llywydd, y Pennaeth Ecwiti ac Ymgysylltu, y Swyddog Cyfathrebu, a'r Swyddog Digwyddiadau a Gwobrau os bydd angen cymorth arnynt ar gyfer cyfarfodydd, digwyddiadau a chyfathrebu.  Byddwch yn gweithio gyda gwahanol aelodau o'r tîm yn dibynnu ar y digwyddiad neu'r gweithgaredd neilltuol, felly byddwch yn rheoli eich amser eich hun - gyda chefnogaeth eich rheolwr llinell.

*********************************************************

We are seeking a motivated and efficient Events Assistant to join our growing and welcoming organisation. This is an exciting opportunity to support the delivery of a wide range of events (online and in person) for stakeholders across Wales’ political, public and academic life. The role also includes support for communications, meetings and other areas within LSW as they develop. As such, it offers a great all-round experience for someone looking to develop their career.

This flexible, full-time role is fixed term for one year and will provide essential support to our small and friendly team – enabling us to deliver our ambitious five-year strategy to benefit Wales.  We are looking for someone who is adaptable, supportive and organised. For an Assistant-level role we do not expect you to have substantial previous work experience, but we are looking for a self-starter with a keenness to learn, and a proactive attitude to assisting others and finding solutions is essential. 

LSW is a bilingual organisation that supports active Welsh speakers and learners at all levels. Fluency in Welsh is not a requirement of this post, but the ability to communicate in Welsh is desirable, and a willingness to learn is essential.

About the role

Managed by the Head of Public Policy, this is a role which is designed to work across our small team, supporting the management of a wide range of events (online and in person) as well as providing some support for communications, meetings and other areas as they develop.

We organise and host a wide variety of events from large public lectures to small networking events, in-person dinners to online seminars and meetings. Some of these are established annual events and some are one-off.  At these events and meetings, we host stakeholders from across Welsh political and public spheres as well as engaging and involving our 700+ Fellows who represent excellence across academia and beyond.

This role will focus primarily on events relating to LSW’s Strategic Priority 1: “Contribute to major policy solutions by providing independent advice and facilitating knowledge exchange”.  These events typically relate to one of the following five topics:

1. Facilitating the provision of evidence and expertise to inform public policy, with stakeholders including Welsh Government, the Senedd, the UK Government Wales Office, and the Westminster Welsh Affairs Committee.

2. Convening discussions on policy matters impacting research and innovation sectors, such as EDI, research culture, funding, open research, and civic engagement.

3. Advocating for the importance of all research, innovation, and knowledge in and for Wales.

4. Supporting and advocating for Wales Studies, i.e. research about Wales.

5. International engagement to raise Wales’s profile among science and research stakeholders internationally, and give Wales a voice in key conversations in the global science and research world. (Most current work is in Scotland and Ireland, with increasing European engagement)

You will also provide support across the team – including for the CEO, President, Head of Equity and Engagement, Communications Officer, and Events and Awards Officer where they require assistance with meetings, events and communications.  You will be working with different members of the team depending on the particular event or activity so you will manage your own time – with support from your line manager.

Help shape a future where fewer people die by suicide

​ 

At Samaritans, our vision is that fewer people die by suicide. Our ambition is to see rates decline to the lowest ever recorded rates in the UK and Ireland.​

As our next Assistant Director of Policy, Practice & Influencing, you’ll ensure our strategy and plans for policy, public affairs, campaigns, and industry partnerships help our work towards make this ambition a reality.​

This is a rare opportunity to shape national and sector-wide policy at a time when suicide prevention has never been more urgent. Working closely with the Executive Leadership Team and leading a high-performing team across policy, public affairs and industry partnerships, you’ll set the strategic direction for our influencing work.​

This is a high impact senior leadership role with strategic responsibility for influencing Westminster government, industry, and media. We’re looking for a confident strategic thinker and values- led leader, someone who brings clarity, compassion and credibility in equal measure.​

You’ll be a visible ambassador, trusted adviser, and systems thinker, someone who can help shape our Influencing function to be able to drive forwards progress with our mission. ​You’ll help us build new partnerships, and ensure our voice is not only informed by evidence, lived experience, and practice, but is far reaching and amplified ensuring that Samaritans remains at the forefront of influencing much needed change for the future.

​

Full outline of the role available in the Job description file here.​

​

Contract Terms:​​

• Initially a 12month fixed term contract
• £75,000 - £80,000 per annum with Benefits
• We’re open to how this contract is worked, our full time hours are 35 hours per week, but we are passionate about flexible working, and would support you to work part time, talk to us about your preferences.
• Hybrid working: Linked to our Ewell (Surrey) office with a blend of home working and access to work from our offices in Ewell and London Bridge.
• In-person working: Meeting in person and working collaboratively are things we value. We work in person around 2 days or more per month.

​

What you'll lead:​

• Reviewing our function and developing the delivery of our policy and influencing strategy to drive systemic change in suicide prevention
• High-performing teams covering policy, public affairs and industry practice
• Strategic stakeholder relationships across Government, NHS, regulators, industry and third sector
• Ground-breaking thought leadership, advocacy, and responsible media influence
• Integration of lived experience and insight into all influencing activities

​

About you: ​

You’re an experienced senior leader in public affairs, policy, or advocacy, with a track record of influencing change at national level. You bring clarity, compassion and credibility to every conversation. You understand the power of collaboration and storytelling, and you’re driven to create lasting impact.

​

Your experience includes:​

• Leading multi-disciplinary influencing teams
• Shaping high-quality policy and public affairs strategies
• Navigating complex political and stakeholder environments
• Embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion in all areas of your work
• Making evidence-based decisions underpinned by research and real-world insight
• Inspiring engagement and bringing your team with you on the journey to contribute to your vision for the future.

​​

Why Samaritans: ​

​You’ll join a values-led organisation with a powerful mission and a collaborative culture. We offer flexible hybrid working, excellent benefits, and the chance to make a tangible difference in suicide prevention across the UK and Ireland.

For further information about Samaritans, including our charity structure, values, employee benefits, and application process, please read our recruitment brochure available here. You can also visit our careers website to access this.

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, racialised minority and LGBTQ+ candidates, as these people are under-represented at Samaritans.​

​

Ready to lead change and help us save lives?

If you’re a strategic, compassionate leader with a passion for influencing policy and practice at the highest levels, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply, please complete the application questions including those outlined below, and submit your answers along with your CV and an optional brief supporting statement.​

• Why do you want to work for Samaritans leading our influencing work and what do you think might be challenging about the topic? 300 words max
   
• How would you go about creating a culture of influencing within the organisation and what success have you had of doing this? 300 words max
   
• Tell us about a time when you've developed and delivered an influencing strategy - what impact did you have and what learnings were there? 300 words max​

We kindly ask that you don’t rely on AI tools for your application answers, or to generate interview answers. We want to see your own unique ideas and writing skills. We want your application to stand out from the rest and showcase your own strengths.

Applications close: ​9am, Monday 28th July

​

Interviews:

Virtual interviews will take place on the 11th and 12th August.

Informal second stage interviews will be held in person at our offices in Ewell on the 13th August. Those invited to attend will be informed on the 12th August. Unfortunately due to staff holidays we may not be able to be as flexible as usual in offering an alternative date so please do hold these dates in your diary, if applying.

Assistant Communications Officer

Do you have experience working in a fast paced press office or communications team and are looking to take your next step? Are you skilled in juggling tasks and enjoy the buzz of a busy comms office? Mencap is recruiting for an Assistant Communications Officer - a vital role across our PR and social media teams, helping bring together our day to day work - this position is hugely varied with bags of opportunity to learn and grow in the role.

The role is full time (37.5 hours per week) with hybrid working at home and in the London Office. We know that work is something you do not just a place you go.  At Mencap we give office-based colleagues and teams more flexibility about where the work is done. 

About the role of Assistant Communications Officer:

•  You will be supporting both the media team and wider communications team to help us reach as wide an audience as possible.
•  Supporting the media team with day-to-day tasks such as writing and issuing the daily news summary, managing rotas, assisting with compiling monthly reports, take part in the team rota to be the first point of contact for media requests coming into the organisation - via press phone and media inbox.
•  Supporting the media team with campaign press - writing press releases and creating social media content, pitching stories to journalists, setting up media interviews and writing briefing documents and work with the social media team to monitor our social channels and interact with followers where required.

You will be a crucial cog in ensuring the smooth running of the press office with:

·  Strong organisation and time management skills to keep the team running efficiently and manage your varied workload.

· At least 1 years experience within communications.

· Have good initiative.

*This is not an exhaustive list of the role, please see the attached job description for more information.

This role closes on Wednesday 23rd July 2025 and first interviews will be Wednesday 30th July via Microsoft Teams.

At Mencap, we value a diverse and inclusive workplace and we intentionally plan for the success of our colleagues in everything we do. We welcome applications from everyone, so come as you are and join us. Together we are Mencap! 

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.

· Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.

· Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes

· Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

Salary: £25,971

Grade: 6

Position type: Part time, Permanent (1x 0.8 role Monday - Thursday and 1 x 0.6 role Wednesday to Friday) Flexible working considered

Responsible to: Supporter Care Team Lead/Officer

Direct reports: None

Location: ShelterBox HQ, Truro, Cornwall. (Hybrid working with a minimum of two days in the office)

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a proactive and enthusiastic individual with a passion for amazing supporter experience. The ideal candidate will be a great communicator and be a real people person with previous experience in customer facing roles. They will have a keen eye for detail, able to accurately follow processes and have experience handling spreadsheets and databases.

As part of a growing organisation, we are looking for someone with an interest in supporter engagement and international affairs who will continuously seek new ways to ensure supporters are at the heart of everything we do.

Main Roles & Responsibility to include:

As part of the Supporter Care team, the Supporter Care Assistant will help provide an excellent supporter experience and through every interaction will seek to build meaningful relationships with our supporters which increases their level of satisfaction and engagement. Whether you are handling donations, maintaining a high-quality database, responding to various supporter enquiries and fulfilling their requests, responding to complaints and feedback, or providing supportive administrative services to the department, the delivery of outstanding customer service to our many supporters will remain at the heart of your role and be the focus of your efforts. Over the coming year ShelterBox is transitioning to a new CRM system (Dynamics 365), and the job holder will be involved in supporting team SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) and being active participant in adopting new changes and learning new processes.

Duties will include but not be limited to:

• Delivering a consistent and high quality of supporter engagement through all enquiry channels including inbox, phone calls, social media direct messages and post.
• Managing the ongoing relationship with supporters as they progress in their ShelterBox journey.
• Championing the supporter voice throughout the organisation via meetings, communications and daily interaction.
• Processing and acknowledging all donations that have come in through a range of sources including but not limited to post, website, standing orders, direct debits and financial reconciliations.
• Maintaining accurate gift aid records.
• Ensuring supporter records are kept up to date and data entry is accurate, recording all communications on our CRM database.
• Producing written correspondence such as bespoke letters and responding to feedback or complaints.
• Aiding the Supporter Care Manager, Supporter Care Team Leader & Supporter Care Officer in project work that will develop the team's approach to supporter engagement.
• Supporting and supervising volunteers within the team.
• Taking an active part in ensuring your own personal development.
• Contributing new ideas and continually seeking to improve processes to drive efficiency and improve supporter experience.
• Undertaking general admin tasks related to supporter communications such as filing, scanning etc.

General Duties

• Contribute new ideas and continually seek to improve processes to drive efficiency and improve supporter experience.
• Participate in the day-to-day work of the organisation - such as reporting, attending team meetings as required, and taking a flexible approach.
• Always following all policies and procedures and contributing to the review of any policies and procedures as required.
• As part of an emergency organisation there will be times when you will be required to work evenings and weekends at short notice in response to a disaster.
• Occasionally represent the work of ShelterBox at events to members of the public and supporters.

About the role

During a period of transition and transformation at NCVO, we’re looking for a strategic leader to join our communications, campaigns and marketing function. This fixed term role would help support the interim Director of Voice and Impact stabilise new teams and evolve and innovate our thinking in two key areas: creative content and marketing.

We want to ensure that we support our members, and the wider sector, as best we can – helping them get the most out of their membership, help them access our support and services and amplify the impact of the voluntary sector for the better.

This role will be a senior lead in both the directorate and the organisation and therefore need to work with leads from across NCVO to understand needs, prioritise and ensure delivery. They will negotiate with, and work collaboratively with, internal stakeholders at all levels – operating in line with our values and behaviour framework.

About the Voice & Impact directorate

​This role sits within the Voice & Impact directorate, a team focused on amplifying the voices of charities in civil society and making positive change for the future. It comprises NCVO’s policy and public affairs team; communications, campaigns and marketing team; digital content team and membership and engagement team.

​About the Communications, Campaigns and Marketing team

​Communications, Campaigns and Marketing, which has evolved to include digital content, drives brand visibility, strategic messaging, and audience engagement. Through creative storytelling, innovative campaigns and cross-channel marketing, we deliver impactful campaigns that support engagement and income generation.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

NCVO is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in our sector. We want this to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds and identities.

We particularly welcome applications from under-represented groups in the voluntary sector and those with diverse, lived experience. As part of our commitment to employing disabled people, all disabled candidates who meet the minimum requirement for all competencies on the person specification will be guaranteed an interview.

If you have access needs or require reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process, please let us know.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a pre-interview task and will have one week to complete the exercise. Interview question themes will be shared in advance. NCVO is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from everyone.

Benefits for NCVO employees

NCVO offers attractive benefits including:

• ​25 days’ annual leave (for full time staff and pro-rata for part-time staff) and office closure between 25 December and 1 January inclusive. After three years' service annual holiday increases to 27 days, and after five years to 30 days, (pro rata for part time staff)
• ​the option to purchase or sell up to five more days each year
• ​five days’ volunteering leave (pro rata for part-time staff)
• ​2.5 extra ‘wellbeing’ days off during the year
• ​enhanced pay for sick/maternity/adoption leave
• ​subsidised gym membership
• ​season ticket loan
• ​flexible working, including opportunities to work from home/off site
• ​monthly homeworking allowance for permanent homeworkers
• ​monthly office worker allowance for those who have to work from the office on a daily basis
• ​generous employer pension contribution of up to 8.5% of salary, into our stakeholder pension scheme (linked to employee contribution)
• ​training and development opportunities.
• ​The opportunity to join Hospital Saturday Fund health cash plan for free at the basic level of cover, or at a reduced rate for other levels of cover
• ​24-hour free and confidential employee assistance programme

​We’re located a short walk from London King’s Cross station in a modern accessible building, overlooking Regent’s canal.

About NCVO

We are the charities charity. For over 100 years, NCVO has stood shoulder to shoulder with communities, championing and celebrating voluntary action.

​Our membership is made up of over 17,000 voluntary organisations across England, from small, grassroots community groups and social enterprises, to large, far-reaching charities.

​We believe that communities are strengthened by voluntary action. We therefore want charities to thrive and be empowered to deliver for people and communities.

​We focus on empowering charities and volunteers by making sure they have the knowledge, tools, and resources they need. We advocate for and with our members, giving voice to those not often heard, and harnessing the collective power of partners to ensure the voluntary sector is valued. We bring charities together so they can learn, connect, and create greater impact.

​As the voluntary sector and volunteering adapt to new challenges and a changing context, so must NCVO. We are therefore prioritising work to evolve as an organisation to ensure we live our values of ambition, inclusion, openness and collaboration in everything we do internally and externally.

​We have around 80 staff and income of more than £7m per year. With our members at the heart of everything we do, our mission is to unite to champion the remarkable role of charities and volunteers. Because stronger charities make for stronger communities.