Public policy officer jobs in nottingham, england

We are seeking a dynamic Policy Officer to join our policy team, to support our lobbying and advocacy work, raise the profile of specialist FE with parliamentarians and represent the views of members. The work is varied, including monitoring parliamentary activity, undertaking research, meeting with members, helping to prepare consultation responses and analysing government proposals and published policies. The postholder will also take a lead in communicating Natspec’s policy positions to members and other stakeholders.

The main duties of the role include:

• Monitoring parliamentary and media activity to alert the Natspec team to relevant issues
• Maintaining and developing Natspec’s parliamentary database, increasing links with MPs and ministers
• Undertaking research to support Natspec’s policy work
• Preparing news stories, press releases and social media content, and identifying media opportunities to promote Natspec’s work and policy positions
• Working with Natspec member colleges, supporting them in their local lobbying work, and establishing network meetings
• Supporting the Senior Policy Manager and Senior Policy Officer with consultation responses, reports, publications, articles and data analysis.

We are looking for a self-motivated, innovative, dynamic and enthusiastic individual with good written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to develop strong working relationships. You don’t need to have a background in learning difficulties or disabilities or further education, although a demonstrable interest in these areas would be welcome. You should, however, have some prior experience of policy work, including undertaking research and analysis, understand parliamentary processes, and be able to quickly develop your understanding of education and funding policy relevant to specialist FE.

While you will be home-based, you will be in frequent contact with your colleagues both online and in-person and there will be plenty of opportunities to work outside of the home, attending meetings and visiting colleges. You will need to travel to London on a regular basis. You must be able to work flexibly, sometimes under pressure, and thrive on the unpredictability of policy work. 

Job Title: Policy and Impact Officer

Location: Home working with some travel 

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

Salary: £24,000pa 

DBS/PVG: Not required

Job Family: 3

Line Manager: Head of Policy and Impact

Closing Date:  30th September 2025 We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications

Start Date: asap

Interview Dates: 23 October 2025

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications

Who we are

At Volunteering Matters, we believe people have the power to create change. Whether through volunteering by helping others and giving time, or through social action such as speaking up, campaigning, or leading change, everyone can make a difference. We bring people together to build stronger communities across England, Scotland and Wales, making sure everyone has the chance to get involved and create real change.

What we do

We help people of all ages and backgrounds get involved in volunteering and social action. We focus on making sure that everyone, no matter their situation, has the chance to take part. 

How we do this

We support people to share their time and skills to help others and tackle big challenges in their communities.

• We remove barriers to volunteering and social action, making it easier for people who don’t always get the chance to take part.

• We listen to and amplify voices that aren’t always heard, helping volunteers and communities influence change.

• We help volunteers beyond their first experience, offering training, support, and pathways to new opportunities.

• We connect businesses with communities, creating meaningful employee volunteering projects.

• We show the impact of volunteering and social action, proving how it changes lives for the better.

Our promise to volunteers

We are always looking for new ways for volunteers to make a difference. We bring people together across generations and backgrounds to learn from each other and create change. At the same time, we make sure that all our volunteers are trained, supported, and valued, so they feel confident in what they do.

Role Purpose

The Policy and Impact Team sits at the heart of Volunteering Matters. We play a vital role in demonstrating the impact of our work connecting data, qualitative insight, and lived experience to the policy agendas shaping communities across the UK. Through storytelling, analysis, and evidence, we make sure volunteering is recognised as a driving force for social change.

We are a small, hands-on team. You will be involved in every aspect of our work from desk-based research and writing briefings to organising external meetings and working directly in communities alongside our volunteers. This variety allows you to connect national policy with local realities and help volunteers share their voices where it matters most.

 You will help bring our five-year strategy to life by linking project outcomes to broader societal developments and showcasing the impact of volunteers and communities.

Key Duties Responsibilities

· Support the Head of Policy and Impact to coordinate Volunteering Matters’ policy and public affairs work.

· Support people involved with our volunteering projects to engage with local politicians, e.g. by organising visits to projects or meetings with volunteers. 

· Monitor and respond to opportunities (e.g. relevant government consultations, All-Party Parliamentary Group inquiries or Select Committee inquiries) that are relevant to Volunteering Matters’ priorities.

· Support mapping and research exercises to inform our policy positioning. Writing summary reports as needed.

· Collaborate with the National Volunteer Engagement Manager to support the inclusion of volunteer and community voices in our policy and public affairs work.

· Assist with collecting impact and activity data from across the charity and work with the Data Analyst to undertake analysis.

· Support with routine collection of quarterly data from projects - ensuring responses are timely and accurate, providing guidance to project managers as needed.

· Work with project staff to help create impactful and engaging reports.

· Represent Volunteering Matters at charity and volunteering policy-related groups. 

 Essential Skills

· Understanding of UK political systems and policy-making processes across national, devolved, and local levels.

· Understanding of policy, public affairs, or influencing, ideally within the voluntary or community sector.

· Confident communicator, able to engage with policymakers, sector partners, and community representatives.

· Familiarity with both qualitative and quantitative data analysis to inform narrative reporting and strategic insight.

· Excellent writing skills, with the ability to craft clear, persuasive documents based on data and lived experience.

· Alignment with Volunteering Matters’ values and a commitment to amplifying community voice.

· Must adhere to the organisation’s Code of Conduct and uphold its values at all times.

· Proficient in Microsoft 365, particularly Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel, with the ability to manage email communications and collaborate digitally.

· Able to work effectively both independently and as part of a team, managing time and priorities in a busy environment.

· For remote roles, candidates must be self-starters who can work with minimal supervision, stay organised, and remain motivated to meet deadlines and deliver quality outcomes.

· Attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving and information sharing.

Experience Required

No specific experience is required.

Qualifications

Relevant skills and values alignment is more important for this role than specific qualifications.

Our Values & Way of Working

In all that we do we are guided by our values: Empowering, Inclusive, Compassionate, Positive & Straightforward.

Disability Confident & Reasonable Adjustments

We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role. Please provide evidence in your application, which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required in the Job Description under skill and experience. To be considered for a guaranteed interview or to discuss any reasonable adjustments during the process, please state this in your cover letter.

GDPR Statement

If you apply for a role with us, we will retain your contact details including your name, address, email address and phone number to help us manage your application for up to six months.  We will not use your personal data for any other purpose or share it with any third party. You can contact us at any point to update your personal information or ask us to delete it from our records.

Policy on AI-Generated Applications 

Applications are accepted on trust, and we expect all submissions to reflect the applicant’s own words, experiences, and motivations. While tools such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) may support the application process, applications should not be generated wholly by AI. 

To Apply

Please send an updated, complete CV and cover letter via the Charity Job Apply button above. In your application clearly state which role you are applying for. In the cover letter please demonstrate how you would fulfil the role requirements, what previous relevant achievements you have (both in life and at work), what skills & experience you can offer, and what you believe you can contribute to Volunteering Matters.

Please note that all applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we’re unable to progress applications that don’t meet this requirement. 

If you have any questions about current vacancies, the recruitment process, or need support, our team is here to help. Whether you're a candidate looking for more information or with an HR query, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Help shape the future of youth gaming and gambling related harms prevention by becoming the new Chief Executive of Ygam, an evidence-led charity.

Location: Remote, with regular UK travel and occasional international travel
Contract: Permanent, full-time

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 13th October 2025.

About us

Ygam is the UK’s leading charity dedicated to preventing gaming and gambling harms among young people. Our work bridges the critical knowledge gap between young people’s digital lives and the adults who guide them. We believe in harm prevention through education, empowering the people who can make a real difference.

Through our award-winning portfolio of programmes and resources, we build awareness and resilience, helping young people thrive in the digital age. Inspired by lived experience and grounded in robust evidence, our City & Guilds-assured training is supported by a rich library of practical tools and insights. Our work has built a growing and passionate network of educators, parents, professionals and partners, including respected brands such as The Scouts, NSPCC, Barnados and The Children’s Society. Since launching in 2014, we’ve reached nearly 5 million children and young people and trained over 28,000 delegates. We are values-led, mission-driven and ambitious for change. As the landscape evolves and new risks emerge, we continue to lead the way in effective education, safeguarding and prevention.

About the role

This is a pivotal moment for Ygam. With significant policy changes underway, including the Online Safety Act, Ofcom’s Children’s Code and reforms to gambling legislation introducing a new statutory levy, we have a vital role to play in shaping this new era. As we enter the fourth year of our “Safeguarding our Digital Generation” strategy, we are seeking a visionary and collaborative Chief Executive to lead us through our next phase of growth and impact. This is an opportunity to build on strong foundations and guide a nationally respected charity through a changing, dynamic environment.

You’ll be responsible for shaping and delivering our long-term vision, ensuring that everything we do is aligned with our charitable mission. You’ll represent Ygam externally at the highest levels, developing meaningful partnerships across government, education, health and the third sector. You’ll also support a skilled and committed senior leadership team, creating a culture where people feel valued, trusted and motivated to do their best work. This role calls for confident public leadership alongside sound operational and financial oversight. You will be the visible face of Ygam, advocating for change while keeping us grounded in good governance, clear priorities and strong delivery. With your guidance, we’ll deepen our impact, evolve our programmes and continue to grow a resilient, inclusive and evidence-informed organisation.

What we are seeking

We are looking for a strategic and people-centred leader who can inspire trust, unlock potential and help shape a safer digital future for young people. You will bring experience of leading purpose-led organisations or initiatives, ideally with a national footprint. You’ll have a track record of translating strategic vision into meaningful impact, supported by strong operational judgement and a confident approach to financial oversight. You’ll know how to work effectively with a Board of Trustees, and how to build positive, long-term relationships with funders, partners and policymakers.

We’re especially interested in those who bring fresh thinking, clarity, and emotional intelligence to their leadership—people who aren’t afraid to challenge assumptions and push boundaries. Someone who can hold a steady line through complexity, communicate with authenticity and bring out the best in others. You don’t need to come from the gaming or gambling harms sector, but you will need to demonstrate a genuine commitment to our mission and a clear understanding of the social context we work in.

This is a unique opportunity to join a bold and forward-looking organisation at a time of significant opportunity. If you are driven by social purpose and ready to lead a values-led organisation making real impact, we’d love to hear from you.

Please click 'redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the job description and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 13th October 2025.

Title:Policy and Advocacy Manager

Salary:From £40,000 per annum

Contract:Permanent

Hours:37.5 per week (Monday to Friday)

Holiday:25 days per year plus bank holidays 

Location:Home based with travel within / to London and across the UK

Probationary Period:3 months

Reports to:Head of Legal and Policy

Benefits:An additional 3 days holiday between Christmas and New Year, Flexitime policy, 5% pension contribution

Start date:As soon as possible / flexible

We are River Action

We are a small and agile campaigning organisation on a mission to rescue Britain's rivers from a toxic cocktail of agricultural, sewage and industrial pollution. We support community action, galvanise and mobilise public opinion, influence government policy, and call out destructive industrial practices to incentivise changes that end pollution. 

We are building a talented team of positive disrupters and community mobilisers to deliver our strategy to urgently protect and restore our rivers for the benefit of community and wildlife.

Britain’s rivers are our life support system and they are dying. We need urgent action to bring them back to life. 

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a dynamic and self-motivated individual who shares our passion for protecting rivers to join our team to drive forward our policy and advocacy work. This role requires a strategic thinker with strong policy insights capable of blending analytical problem-solving with intelligent advocacy to drive meaningful change. This role requires someone to have excellent writing skills and the ability to draft complex policy documents as well as top line arguments for wider communication. . 

The ideal person will bring a combination of expertise, energy and ideas to amplify our impact, holding decision-makers and polluters accountable with a professional and diplomatic approach. They will engage with influential people across the sector, government, industry and media. 

If you thrive in fast-paced environments and want to be at the forefront of environmental policy and advocacy across multiple campaigns, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll be doing

As our Policy and Advocacy Manager, you will play a leading role in shaping and advancing River Action’s political and policy influence, working closely with the Head of Legal and Policy, Chief Executive and wider team to develop and execute an impactful policy and advocacy strategy.

River Action is the Co-Secretariat for the APPG on Water Pollution, offering our Policy and Advocacy Manager a unique opportunity to shape the policy direction for River Action and also to influence policy development across Parliament. 

You will also work closely with our public affairs agency who manage our daily Westminster activities. 

You will:

• Lead River Action’s policy and advocacy work on agricultural, sewage and industrial water pollution, with a focus on regulation, funding and legal frameworks. 

• Collaborate with River Action’s team and external partners to ensure our collective work is underpinned by robust and forward-thinking policy analysis and evidence.

• Develop policy analysis to support campaign, communications and policy strategies, based on a strong evidence base and a sound understanding of the relevant legal and policy frameworks.

• Translate complex policy and evidence into concise documents with clear messages and compelling campaigns to engage political and policy stakeholders.

• Monitor and analyse political and policy developments, interpreting their implications and opportunities for River Action and its supporters.

• Generate analysis to enable participation in public consultation processes, including drafting high-quality and persuasive consultation responses and briefings for Westminster and Whitehall audiences.

• Increase our political influence with exciting policy interventions, ensuring River Action’s voice is heard at the highest levels of decision-making.

• Build and maintain relationships with key policymakers, civil servants, industry experts and partner organisations.

• Support grassroots community groups and third-sector partners in engaging with their local representatives for effective advocacy.

• Organise and attend key political meetings and events, including the Water Pollution APPG, stakeholder roundtables and parliamentary events.

• Manage strategic policy partnerships, including our relationship with Wildlife and Countryside Link and other third-sector organisations.

• Ensure River Action’s policy and advocacy efforts align with our creative campaigns, by making sure colleagues and spokespeople are well-briefed and communications content is well-informed to maximise reach and impact.

You will also:

• Actively engage in professional development and training.

• Adhere to health and safety policies while working in different locations.

• Maintain confidentiality in all areas of work at River Action.

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to an inclusive, equal and diverse workplace.

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across River Action to collectively deliver our mission while being true to our values. 

UK travel will be required. Training and operational activities may require overnight stays away from home, in which case costs will be covered and standard River Action procedures will apply.

What you’ll bring

The position will suit a self-motivated, strategic and determined person. You will be an excellent communicator, with exceptional writing skills and comfortable representing River Action and engaging with diverse stakeholders. You will have a passion to protect and restore our waterways and to hold decision-makers and polluters to account.

Essential knowledge, skills and experience:

• Experience in a similar policy and advocacy role, ideally within the environmental sector. 

• Policy and/or legislative experience, with a good understanding of the workings of the UK government and Parliamentary procedure.

• A good understanding of the UK water industry, the key UK water-related policies and the issues that are impacting our rivers, land and wildlife.

• Excellent communication and writing skills with close attention to detail and the ability to produce concise and persuasive briefings, reports and consultation responses.

• Strong interpersonal skills and a collaborative approach to working creatively and at a fast pace with colleagues, stakeholders and partners. 

• Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to proactively plan and prioritise work and to report your progress and impact.

• Ability to work flexible hours and travel as necessary.

• A good and supportive team player with a willingness to muck in as and when required.

Why join us?

• Be part of a mission-driven organisation working to restore and protect the UK’s rivers.

• Work at the heart of political and environmental change, influencing decision-makers at the highest levels.

• Work in an agile, supportive and happy work environment where your ideas and expertise will have real impact.

• Opportunities for professional development and growth within the organisation.

Diversity and inclusion

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies show that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single criteria. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. So if you like the look of this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with everything in the job description, we’d still love to hear from you. You may be just the right person for this role.

How to apply

To apply, please submit to jobs at riveractionuk dot com with the subject ‘Policy and Advocacy Manager’:

• your CV (2 pages), 

• a cover letter (2 pages) explaining why you want to work for River Action and how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role, and 

• a written submission (2 pages) as described below. 

Only applications including all three documents will be accepted. Please provide your documents in pdf format. 

Written submission

Please prepare a 2 page policy briefing for MPs on a current issue affecting the health of UK rivers. Your briefing should be written in a clear, persuasive style suitable for a Parliamentary and government audience and:

• Identify a water-related issue (e.g. agricultural pollution, sewage discharges or water management).

• Provide a concise analysis of the impact on rivers and biodiversity.

• Summarise relevant UK Government policies and legislation.

• Propose two or three practical policy recommendations for decision-makers.

Application process

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until 23:59 on Monday 15 September 2025.

Should your application be selected during sift, the next stage will involve an initial 15-minute interview. You may then be invited to attend a second interview with a panel. 

Initial interviews will be held on 17 and 18 September 2025 and panel interviews will be held in w/c 22 September 2025, all via video conference. For panel interviews, some questions will be provided in advance for equity and to give you the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge, skills and experience most effectively. 

Please indicate in your covering letter or in a covering email your availability for interviews.

If you have any questions about the role or your application, please contact us on jobs at riveractionuk dot com.

This is a critical and exciting leadership role for the Bumblebee Conservation Trust which will take the Trust forward to the next phase of organisational growth, building on the superb achievements to date of our retiring CEO. 

You’ll need passion and energy to work on some of the most profound challenges of our time. Nature needs its champions, and you’ll need to harness all of your skills, all of your personality, and your network to grow our influence, our impact, and our outcomes. You’ll excel at galvanising others to take action  enabling  us to achieve our aims and ensure bumblebees are thriving and valued by everyone.

This is an incredible opportunity to join a very special organisation with passionate and high-performing teams who are truly dedicated to our vital purpose. 

Please refer to the CEO pack for further information.

The Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer.  This means that whilst seeking employment or during such employment with the Trust, we will seek to ensure equality of treatment for all persons regardless of sex, race, age, marital or civil partnership status, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, pregnancy or maternity status. 

At the Trust, we have a clear goal: to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay and do their best work. We pride ourselves on reaching for our vision, through the hard work and dedication of our passionate and creative employees. 

Together, the charities Sands and Tommy’s have formed a Joint Policy Unit (JPU) focussed on achieving policy change that will save more babies’ lives during pregnancy and the neonatal period and on tackling inequalities in loss, so that everyone can benefit from the best possible outcomes.

The JPU’s mission is to secure policy change that will reduce rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, pre-term birth and neonatal death, and to work to eliminate inequalities in these outcomes.

While there is widespread agreement on the need for change to improve the safety of maternity and neonatal services, what that change looks like is not clear.  To save more babies’ lives we believe that a continued focus is required, and that governments should set new commitments to reduce perinatal mortality and preterm births, focused on matching the best-performing countries in Europe.

This role will be crucial to the continued success of the JPU unit; leading, shaping and coordinating all the unit’s work. 

We are looking for an independent and assertive problem-solver, a policy expert who can manage multiple priorities, take the initiative, lead the national conversation and is as excited as we are about taking the helm of this venture for both of our organisations.

The successful candidate will need to have a substantial track record of effectively leading and implementing national policy and influencing programmes, driving change and achieving the desired impact.

You will have considerable experience across research, data analysis, policy development, public affairs and communications.  Additionally, you will be well-versed in research and data management, including analysing complex data and evaluating policy developments.

Experience of being a member of a senior management team with successful, significant and relevant management and leadership experience is also essential.

Head of Campaigns & Sales

• Are you a growth-focused sales and campaigns leader who thrives on delivering results?
• Do you have the drive to win new business, upsell existing customers, and lead multi-channel campaigns that generate real revenue?
• Do you want to put your commercial skills to work in a role that directly transforms post-16 education?

Then this could be the role for you.

Learning on Screen is looking for an ambitious Head of Campaigns & Sales to drive our next stage of revenue growth. This is both a strategic and hands-on role: you will lead targeted, multi-channel campaigns while also engaging directly in the sales process to win new business and upsell existing customers.

From building and managing a strong pipeline to pitching, negotiating, and closing deals, you’ll ensure ambitious income targets are achieved and exceeded. Working closely with the Chief Revenue Generation Officer, you will lead a small team and align sales and marketing to maximise impact.

Success in this role will mean surpassing revenue targets, growing our customer base, securing high-value partnerships, delivering campaigns with measurable ROI, and strengthening retention so that existing members and customers remain engaged. In short: you will be at the heart of sustainable growth, with every success directly contributing to transforming education.

Role Overview

• Job Title: Head of Campaigns & Sales
• Salary: £36,000 actual (£45,000 FTE)
• Hours: 28.8 hours per week (4 days, 80%)
• Contract: Permanent, part-time
• Location: Remote
• Reports to: Chief Revenue Generation Officer

What you will be doing 

• Sales growth – Deliver organisational revenue targets by driving new sales and upselling across membership, sponsorship, training, and partnerships, while supporting strong retention.
• Pipeline management – Build, track, and convert a robust pipeline of prospects and opportunities.
• Sales execution – Lead sales conversations, pitches, and negotiations through to closing deals.
• Campaign delivery – Design and deliver integrated, multi-channel campaigns (digital, events, outreach, social media, partnerships) that generate leads and conversions.
• Content and messaging – Oversee compelling, sales-focused content and communications that cut through the noise.
• Digital marketing and analytics – Use CRM, SEO/SEM, social media, and analytics to generate leads, track performance, and optimise ROI.
• Team leadership – Line manage the Business Development Officer and Marketing Assistant, setting clear priorities and motivating them to deliver results.
• Collaboration – Work with colleagues across Membership, Development, and Digital to maximise growth opportunities.
• Performance reporting – Report on revenue delivery, pipeline health, and campaign ROI to senior leadership.
• External profile – Represent Learning on Screen at events, conferences, and sector networks to raise visibility and generate sales.

What we are looking for

• A proven track record of delivering sales growth — winning new business and upselling existing customers.
• Success in delivering multi-channel campaigns with measurable financial results.
• Experience in building and converting a pipeline, negotiating, and closing deals.
• A commercial, results-driven mindset with a focus on ROI.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing a small team.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to pitch, influence, and inspire.
• Agility to adapt quickly and thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Bonus if you have

• Experience in a membership or education-based organisation.
• Experience selling sponsorships, partnerships, or training services.
• Knowledge of event or training programme marketing and sales.

This is a rare opportunity to apply your commercial skills in a meaningful way — driving growth while shaping the future of digital learning.

About Us

Learning on Screen is a membership organisation that champions the use of moving image and sound in post-16 education. We give educators and learners access to millions of films, TV programmes and radio broadcasts—spanning over a century—and support our members to use this content confidently and creatively. From expert copyright advice to innovative partnerships, we help bring teaching to life and open up new possibilities for learning. If you're passionate about education, media, and meaningful impact, you will feel right at home here.

 How to Apply

Please submit the following documents via the 'apply' button below:

• Your CV
•  Cover letter outlining your relevant experience and qualifications
• Completed equality and diversity monitoring form

Application Deadline: Monday 22nd September 2025 by 12pm
1st Interviews: W/C 29th September 2025 (held remotely)

Please note that this is a part-time, permanent position. The job description is subject to occasional amendments and not considered part of the employment contract. Flexibility is required within the broad scope of the role.
 

Learning on Screen is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace.
 

Unfortunately, we are unable to consider any applications received after the deadline.

The role is within our Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns team. You'll play a vital role in supporting disabled Londoners to campaign for affordable, accessible transport, and influencing decision-makers to act on the barriers and extra costs we face.

The role will lead on engagement in London, building relationships with our members, Disabled People’s Organisations, and decision makers. You’ll organise campaigns and forums, represent Transport for All at events, and work with TfL, London Councils and boroughs to make transport fairer and more equitable.

We are a small, committed and disabled-led team working to make sure that disabled people’s voices are heard in politics, the media and beyond. This role is central to ensuring lived experience drives systemic change in London’s transport system.

You must be disabled to apply for this role

This role has a genuine occupational requirement of lived experience of disability. This explicitly includes those of us who are Deaf, neurodivergent, chronically ill, have a mental health condition, have age-related impairments, and people with both visible and non-visible impairments. If you do not meet the genuine occupational requirement, your application will not be shortlisted for an interview.

What happens next?

The deadline for applications is 22 September 2025, 9am

Interviews will take place via Zoom on 13-21 October 2025

For an informal discussion about the role, or to receive the documents in alternative formats, please visit our website.

This is a new role at Befriending Networks, as we seek someone who is up for the challenge of fundraising to support the continuation of our work in supporting the network of befriending organisations and ensuring that meaningful social connection is available to all.

The role will work closely with the CEO to deliver a fundraising strategy, which will focus on trusts, grant-givers, and corporate collaborations across the UK.  

You will be a skilled communicator, and you will be influential in how you present our work. You will be a self-starter and someone who takes pride in producing high-quality work. You will be courageous and curious as you work to position Befriending Networks as an investable charity. 

The key focus of this role

1. Generate income from small grants from trusts and foundations for specific projects and activities over the short to medium term.  

2. Assist the CEO in the preparation of strategic grant applications for work across the UK, with an initial focus on England, Scotland and Wales to deliver key priorities of our Strategic Plan over the longer term.

3. Development of potential corporate partnerships and collaborations. 

We are looking for an experienced Finance Director to join our team of nearly 100 staff, ideally before the end of 2025.

This is a full-time, home-based, permanent position. You can be based anywhere in mainland UK or Ireland, with some travel and occasional overnight stays to meeting and conferences mainly in England and Wales.

We offer flexibility around working hours, including the option of a 9 day fortnight - time off in lieu is also available. We offer 25 days holiday pro rata (rising to 28 days) plus statutory public holidays. We are happy to make adjustments for people with disabilities and/or caring responsibilities, and we welcome applications from all communities.

The role is a grade 7 position with a starting salary circa £75,000 plus benefits including 9% employer pension contribution.

The Finance Director (“FD”) works alongside the Chief Executive and Operations Director to manage the finances and governance of The Rivers Trust, a leading conservation charity with three associated trading subsidiaries operating across the UK and Ireland, with a collective annual income approaching £10m.

Given the prospective retirement of the current postholder at the end of 2025, we are seeking a well-qualified and experienced individual to take on this senior leadership role as soon as possible to enable handover to occur.

The role is very varied and wide-ranging, including presenting financial information to the Trustees and senior management on a quarterly basis, reviewing monthly management accounts, leading on annual budgeting, appraising internal project concepts and contracts, statutory compliance administration and liaising with auditors.

The postholder will lead a team of eight in the Finance department and join a very welcoming team of 95 highly engaged and passionate staff at The Rivers Trust.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Working alongside the CEO, the Finance Director will provide commercial, financial and governance management and leadership for The Rivers Trust ("the Charity") and its associated subsidiaries (“The Companies”). The FD will not only be an exceptional accountant, with executive oversight of the finance function, but will be commercially astute and have the confidence to represent robustly the best interests of The Companies. The FD will also be an experienced manager of people.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Act as a business partner to support and constructively challenge the CEO in the general management of the Charity and the Companies, reporting to the board.
2. Lead all aspects of the finance function (including maintaining and developing the financial control environment; robust financial accounting; cashflow management; incisive management information; clear and concise reporting to Board) to ensure that the Charity and the Companies’ assets are secured, risks are managed, and the Board of Trustees, subsidiary boards and committees can make well-informed decisions.
3. Manage relationships with auditors, funders, IT specialists, banks, investment platforms and other external organisations.
4. Provide support to project bids and the development of other commercial opportunities to ensure that bids/opportunities are optimised for the Charity and the Companies as a whole.
5. Provide input to project and programme delivery from time to time, to ensure that performance is maximised for the Charity and the Companies.
6. Attend Board meetings and Business Audit and Risk Committee meetings to guide the Board and the Senior Management Team on financial, commercial and governance issues.
7. Ensure compliance with the requirements of the Charity Commission and Companies House and, from time to time, provide guidance to members of the Rivers Trust movement on good governance practice.
8. Maintain the finance department operational manual for business continuity.
9. Serve as the Company Secretary for the Charity and Companies.

Staff Management:

1. Lead, manage and develop the finance team (who work remotely) and ensure the team understands their respective and collective contribution to achieving the Charity's and the Companies’ objectives.
2. Support the team in their professional development.
3. Ensure the team delivers a high-quality service focused on internal and external customers and funders.

Knowledge, skills, experience, and personal qualities:

Essential

• Significant experience in financial management and senior leadership roles, ideally gained in a range of organisations.
• A strategic thinker, able to see the big-picture, shape long-term direction and balance this with attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills combined with creativity and openness to innovate.
• Strong IT and digital skills, with experience of using technology to improve efficiency and automate processes.
• Proven people leadership experience, with a track record of managing, developing, and inspiring teams and creating a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative culture.
• Excellent relationship builder, with the interpersonal skills to influence, collaborate, and provide constructive challenge while maintaining positive relationships across the organisation, including with trustees and senior stakeholders.
• Experience reporting to boards of trustees and/or directors, with the confidence to contribute to board-level discussions as a trusted adviser.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills, able to distil complexity into pertinent, concise and understandable messages tailored to diverse audiences.
• The courage to make and communicate tough decisions and be open about risks and setbacks.
• Resilient and calm under pressure, with the ability to maintain focus and steady leadership in challenging circumstances.
• Impeccable standards of integrity and personal ethics, acting as a role model for the organisation values.
• Knowledge of Sage financial software packages.
• Work to a good standard in Microsoft 365, especially Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the charitable sector.
• Experience of being a Company Secretary.
• Understanding of the environmental sector or a passion for making a positive impact.
• Familiarity in using Sharepoint, Sage and Slack.
• Knowledge of Partial Exemption VAT rules.
• A basic understanding of Irish tax law, Irish and UK payroll taxes and corporate governance.

Qualifications/ Education

• Qualified Accountant, preferably ICAEW or ACCA.

Additional information

Everyone who works for us is expected to contribute to a respectful and inclusive working culture and follow our policies and procedures including Health & Safety, EDI, Cybersecurity and GDPR.

Please note we can only accept applications made through this site, and not sent by email or other methods.

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. If you would benefit from any adjustments to support you through the process, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

To apply please send your CV and a covering letter.

Closing date: Wednesday 24th September 2025

We may close this vacancy early if we receive a strong pool of applications, so we encourage early submission

Job Title: University Access Officer, part time 

Salary: £24,570, prorated to £14,742 per year

Closing date: 16th September 2025 

Interviews: w/c 22nd September 2025 

Reporting to: Programme Manager 

Contract: Permanent, Part Time (22.5 hours per week), Friday is a compulsory working day. 

Job Location: Ashfield School, Nottinghamshire 

Start date: Monday 27th October 

About the organisation 
 
The Access Project is an education charity; we believe that every young person can make the most of education, unlocking their potential and creating a fairer society. 
 
Our mission is to support students from under-resourced backgrounds to access top universities, through a unique combination of tuition and in-school mentoring. We work with them to make good applications, get the grades and transition to university. 
 
The programme combats educational inequality and improves social mobility by raising students’ grades and supporting them to understand the pathway to a top university. Young people on our programme are 50% more likely to place at a top university compared to statistically similar students.  
 
Safeguarding Statement 

The Access Project is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Our safeguarding system is underpinned by a range of policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the organisation. 
 
Why work at The Access Project 
 
People who work at The Access Project are motivated by the desire to create a fairer society. We all play an active part in achieving the mission to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds access top universities. At The Access Project, we’re a friendly, collaborative, supportive and inclusive team, with passionate people working together in Delivery, Sales and Partnerships, Strategy, Finance and Operations to achieve our mission. 
 
The vision of our people strategy is to enable and inspire all employees to achieve, grow, succeed and thrive. We regularly have opportunities for people to share their ideas in various working groups, generating strong teamwork across the organisation. 
 
We value every individual who works at The Access Project, and we have a wide range of benefits that make this a rewarding place to work. In our last staff engagement survey, 90% said they’re proud to tell people they work at The Access Project. 

Our values:

Empowerment 

We support students and our people to develop the skills and knowledge to accomplish their goals. 

Courage 

We encourage our students and our people to be authentic, innovative and ambitious in order to reach their full potential and deliver our mission. 

Impact 

We evolve our programmes through an evidence-led approach, supporting our students to achieve their best outcomes. 

Inclusion 

We respect and value individuality and engage diverse voices to achieve our mission. 

Ownership 

We hold ourselves accountable in all our actions and efforts. We ask “What can I do to improve my results?” 

About the role:

University Access Officers are responsible for delivering The Access Project’s high impact mentoring programme to students across our partner schools. This role works with a caseload of students supporting them from the start of Year 12 up to the end of Year 13 to understand the pathway to a top university. 

The role also involves project coordination. You will work with our schools, volunteers and teams across The Access Project to ensure young people are inspired and supported to have the best possible chance of achieving social mobility and enhancing their future prospects.  

This role is for a University Access Officer to work in one of our schools in Nottinghamshire delivering our Accelerate programme.

Role responsibilities 

Mentoring - Work directly with young people by mentoring a caseload of students in a professional and safe manner: 

• Deliver our University Readiness programme through in-depth, targeted 1:1 mentoring sessions with Year 12 and Year 13 students 
• Assess student progress towards being able to make successful university applications. 
• Support Year 12 and 13 students to complete self-paced learning modules on our dedicated platform, The Access Hub, delivering interventions where necessary. 
• Use knowledge and information gathered through mentoring students to flag potential issues within volunteer/student interactions so that appropriate quality assurance can be conducted. 
• Deliver high quality and informative assemblies to students across KS3 and 4 – introducing them to the power of mentoring, de-mystifying the path to university and building their motivation to succeed. 
• Support partner schools with trip logistics, acting in a leadership position when accompanying students on school trips.
• Direct enrolled students to appropriate wider enrichment opportunities, encouraging both extra and super-curricular participation and reflection. 

Project coordination and management: 

• Support partner school with recruitment of students, leading on the enrolment and induction of selected eligible students to ensure that The Access Project has fully enrolled and engaged cohorts. 
• Lead on student facing communications by collaborating with the wider delivery team to case manage students on the programme. This could mean acting as point of consultation for pairing students with coaches/tutors or coming up with solutions when students are not engaging across the whole programme. 
• Support the tuition and coaching team in driving student attendance at volunteer sessions (coaching and tuition), including acting as a point of escalation through mentoring and liaising with schools to make decisions/actions to offboard/replace students if deemed necessary. 
• Lead quality assurance of coaching pairings completing a caseload of drop ins.
• Send regular summary updates to school as their key point of contact. Work with school staff to ensure their cooperation and timely completion of activities contributing to the smooth running of the programme. 
• Upload information onto the Salesforce database in a timely manner (training is provided). 
• Support with creation of school reports and present at school meetings with Managers to report on programme progress. 
• Support the wider team by attending university site visits which take place on occasional Saturdays and weekday evenings (paid time off is provided). 
• Participate in working groups, programme design and annual reviews to drive continuous improvement.
• Any other responsibilities reasonably deemed necessary by The Access Project. 

Person specification 

• Engaging, confident and inspiring communicator with the ability to actively listen. 
• Skilled in building and maintaining excellent relationships. 
• High levels of organisation and time management, with the ability to deliver multiple programmes and projects at pace and manage administration accurately.
• Able to proactively work towards and meet deadlines with a solutions-focused mindset. 
• Able to work independently. 
• Good sense of attention to detail. 
• Resilient and adaptable. 
• Can demonstrate an ability to take action to keep young people safe and raise concerns. 

 
Training and Development 

You will be provided with regular monthly training so that you can develop your skills and succeed in the role. There is support from your line manager (Programme Manager), as well as guidance from more senior University Access Officers and the wider University Access Officer team across The Access Project. There are opportunities for progression, including several additional responsibility roles which are available for UAOs to apply for once they have completed their probationary period successfully.

Together for Short Lives is a charity that ensures seriously ill children and their families receive the care they need, especially at the end of life. We work closely with families, care professionals, and services to improve children’s palliative care. We also speak up to government leaders and decision-makers to help make sure families have access to the best support when they need it.

A fantastic opportunity is available for a Family Support Hub Officer to join us as maternity cover for 9 months. You will work within our Family Support Hub, liaising with identified partners to provide support to families with a seriously ill child, as well as providing grants administration and event organisation support. 

About the Role

The purpose of this role is to help Together for Short Lives reach and support more families - responding appropriately to their needs by listening, signposting or referring onto internal and external support e.g.. grants, peer support, events and engagement opportunities. You will support families contacting Together for Short Lives through the Helpline, website and from partner referrals.

This role combines responsibility for grant administration and voucher processing with day-to-day family support hub tasks, including managing email inboxes and co-ordinating communications. The postholder will ensure that families receive timely information, compassionate support, and access to financial assistance, while helping the organisation meet funding obligations and maintain high-quality service delivery.

About You

• You will be passionate about providing support to seriously ill children and their families and be inspired by the potential to make an impact and to deliver tangible change.
• You will have experience in grant administration and delivering compassionate support and timely information, as well as being a great communicator
• You will have experience helping to deliver and organise events

How to Apply

Please follow the link to our website to find out more and apply. ​

ease

UK-based/ Colchester or Home-based with monthly travel to Colchester office. Overseas travel with trips lasting from 10-14 days. 

This post requires the candidates to have independent rights to live and work in the UK

Background

Lepra is dedicated to addressing leprosy and lymphatic filariasis (LF) and their consequences through direct support, advocacy, and the promotion of inclusive communities. We work in Bangladesh and in India, through our sister organisation, LEPRA Society. We work in partnership with people affected by leprosy and LF to improve detection, ensure access to treatment and care, and promote inclusion and wellbeing. Last year we finalised our new Global Strategy for 2024-30, which will guide us in our efforts to accelerate progress towards global targets for leprosy and LF, and towards our vision of a world free from leprosy and LF.

Job Context

Our Global Strategy marks a significant evolution in our organisational direction, introducing innovative approaches and renewed priorities. This includes our first-ever global Theory of Change (ToC), our most comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework to date, a Research and Innovation strategy, and a dedicated Advocacy sub-strategy to guide our influencing efforts.

With the Lepra Advocacy Strategy, we will be working over the next 6 years to strengthen our approaches to our advocacy efforts. The post holder will play a key role in supporting the roll out of the Advocacy strategy working closely with the Director of Programmes and Advocacy, the Head of Research, the Senior Programme Manager, the Programme Officer and the teams where we work.

Job Purpose

This role is an exciting role within the programmes team in response to evolving needs. The incoming post holder will work within the 5 person UK’s Programme and Advocacy team and will drive, advise and support the team in relation to Lepra’s advocacy profile. We are looking for an enthusiastic, motivated, strategic and creative person who has outstanding skills to engage and work with a diverse team. We are looking for someone to work with a clear strategy and then develop, grow and successfully shape the future of Lepra’s advocacy efforts.

Working Relationships

Reports to Lepra UK’s Director of Programmes and Advocacy (DPA)

Works closely with the Programmes and Advocacy Team

Close working links with colleagues in India and in Bangladesh and the UK’s communications team

International travel as needed for programmes oversight and support, and external representation.

Key responsibilities

Advocacy Delivery (50%)

Under the supervision of the DPA implement Lepra’s global Advocacy strategy and coordinate advocacy initiatives.

Serve as the driver of advocacy efforts, facilitating the transitional year of implementation including coordinating the Advocacy Steering Group; advocacy toolkit development; action planning.

Represent Lepra in specific fora and advocacy networks and within the broader leprosy and NTD community in close coordination with the DPA.

Produce quarterly advocacy newsletters

Maintain quarterly reports on flagging areas of concern and actioning steering committee advice.

Assist in the preparation of policy documents and the presentation of papers for publication, conferences, or specific institutions and/or individuals - identifying and targeting the most appropriate audiences.

Support and contribute to the development and implementation of initiatives that foster an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment across organisational programmes, policies, and advocacy efforts.

Support and contribute to initiatives that promote inclusion and equity, with a strong focus on developing the leadership and advocacy capacity of people with lived experience of leprosy, ensuring their voices are central in decision-making and programme design.

Knowledge management / Learning and Development (20%)

Support the preparation of Lepra advocacy and policy documents.

Disseminate knowledge so that it is integrated into Lepra’s portfolio to amplify the impact for target audiences and improve their outcomes.

Facilitate the new knowledge and learning hub and forge a clear path for its evolution.

Facilitate knowledge sharing through updating the communications team with relevant materials for the new programme folder on the website.

Organise and develop advocacy training.

Develop and take ownership of the new programme’ s team knowledge sharing approaches.

Develop a workplan of knowledge sharing events. 

Support annual review meetings.

Communications (10%)

Assist the programmes team with the documentation of Lepra examples and models of best practice, at the same time identifying and developing mechanisms and avenues for the effective dissemination of this knowledge – internally and externally.

Assist the programmes team, DPO, Chief Executive and Country Programme staff in the synthesis of complex technical/scientific information adapting it to language and formats easily used by target audiences.

Contribute to content development of community engagement materials (public information, brochures, leaflets) that help explain the operations and impact of Lepra’s work to LF and/or leprosy affected communities.

Maintain good working links with Lepra’s UK Fundraising and Communications Team, contributing towards UK facing communications materials as and when required.

Prepare updates, papers, and reports for trustee meetings, funding partners, and wherever else applicable.

External representation (10%)

Support the Chief Executive, DPA and programmes team to maintain and expand existing strategic relationships with key international stakeholders to further Lepra’s advocacy strategy and advance Lepra’s agenda.

Ensure Lepra’s external profile is raised and become the go-to organisation for the leprosy community in terms of advocacy and policy briefings.

Support the preparation of documents for presentation, publication or dissemination at international fora.

Develop/support the development of country specific briefing notes/press kits with the communications team.

Represent Lepra at key events, conferences, and meetings to enhance our visibility and opportunity for impact.

Safeguarding (5%)

Promote a culture of respect, transparency, and accountability within Lepra’s implemented projects.

Ensuring that safeguarding mechanisms are in place and remain at the heart of all activities.

Support the integration of strong safeguarding and PSEA practices into project design and delivery.

Monitoring, evaluation, and impact (5%)

Ensure that all advocacy and knowledge transfer efforts are captured and embedded in appropriate results frameworks, objectives, outputs, indicators and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Provide inputs to Lepra’s reports, according to Lepra’s needs.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Relevant degree level of education in Public Health, Social Sciences, Global Health, Human Rights, Political Sciences or equivalent experience.

Desirable

Relevant post-graduate qualification

Relevant professional health-related qualification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

Minimum of 2 yrs experience of advocacy/campaigning/policy work with an overseas development organisation

Experience of working to advance the rights of excluded populations

Extensive knowledge of global health issues and an up-to-date familiarity with issues and practice in the international development sector

Experience in planning and implementing successful strategies/campaigns/advocacy in Asia.

Experience in programme/project planning, budgeting, M&E and reporting, within a non-governmental organisation, including the preparation of reports for institutional donors.

Ability to analyse and act on data.

Experience of working on issues in relation to disability, mental health, gender, human rights and social inclusion.

Experience in project coordination and management.

Desirable

At least two years’ experience as an advocacy manager, preferably gained with an overseas development organisation or in academia, in a similar health focused role.

Familiarity with data visualisation tools and packages.

Proficiency in one or more Indian languages (e.g., Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Telugu, etc.) is an asset.

Skills, Attitudes and Personal Qualities

Highly motivated individual with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal to build strong relationships, negotiate and persuade a wide range of audiences, with confidence at presenting and representing.

Proven strength in both written and verbal communication

Able to reach, network with and communicate to a wide range of stakeholders and potential stakeholders.

Excellent attention to detail, and organisational and time management skills

Ability to manipulate and analyse data to draw useful conclusions to improve programme delivery.

Ability to use databases, Word, excel, PowerPoint and other Office packages

Ability to work independently, be flexible and prioritise workload.

Ability to travel within the UK and overseas.

The right to work in the UK.

We operate a non-bias recruitment process and run our job advertisements through anonymous recruitment methods.

We offer a lot of flexibility in working practices and there is free reserved parking available at our Colchester office. We also offer 26 days annual leave plus public holidays (pro-rated), pension, Employee Assistance Programme and support from an in-house well-being team.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited for interview. Please check your email inbox and spam/junk mail folder for any email correspondence for this vacancy.

If you require any reasonable considerations such as access or information in an alternative format, please inform us soon as you are able so that we can make the appropriate adjustments.

Please do not use AI to help you write cover letters, CVs and responses to any screening questions.  We want to hear your original voice.

This is an exciting time for Parkinson’s UK, we want to reach as many people as possible so we can improve life for everyone affected by Parkinson’s. We are looking for people to join our network, make genuine connections, and be part of a larger team that works together to support the Parkinson’s community. 

People living with Parkinson's value the services and opportunities Parkinson’s UK provides, delivered by committed and skilled colleagues, volunteers and partner organisations. Following an investment of 1.5 million we have the opportunity to build on the quality and reach of our community services. 

About the role 

Volunteers are vital to Parkinson’s UK; they provide high valued support and services through local branches, groups and cafes. This rewarding role provides the opportunity to work directly with volunteers, together making a positive difference to the lives of people affected by Parkinson’s. 

You’ll act as the main point of contact and support for volunteers in local branches, groups and cafes. As part of an integrated regional team, you’ll contribute to shared plans and priorities. Working remotely and in person, you’ll provide the highest quality customer care and support volunteers in line with the charity’s governance requirements, as well as our policies and procedures. You’ll provide high quality business support to colleagues to promote volunteering opportunities and bring volunteers together in the local community.

What you’ll do:

• Provide excellent customer service to local group volunteers through remote and in-person support. 

• Be the main point of contact for colleagues seeking support to recruit volunteers in the community as part of a regional team. 

• Support volunteers to lead their groups in line with governance requirements through provision of information and relevant tools. 

• Support our local group volunteers with reviewing and planning their activities (including associated budgets). 

• Manage volunteer records using online tools such as the volunteer management system, local activities database, for example. 

• Support events and meetings which bring volunteers together in the community. 

• Promote and facilitate volunteer recruitment, induction and training to local volunteer roles. 

• Maintain relevant data on local group activities, or support lead volunteers to do so. 

• Produce regular reports for performance reporting and monitoring. 

• Collaborate and liaise with colleagues across the charity, as appropriate, to provide excellent customer service to volunteers in the community.

What you’ll bring:

• Strong volunteer support skills and an ability to work in a user-focused and inclusive way. 

• Experience of volunteer recruitment, induction and training. 

• Ability to manage and prioritise own workload whilst working collaboratively across a dispersed team of colleagues and volunteers. 

• Proven ability to take a solution focused approach, supporting with queries raised by volunteers. 

• Ability to confidently support group volunteers with budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting. 

• Practical experience of maintaining accurate data using administrative systems and databases. 

• A commitment to working in an inclusive way that encourages volunteering. 

• Experience of operating in a modern digital workplace including digital workplace including using digital communication routes. 

This is an exciting time for Parkinson’s UK and we would love you to join us!

Please apply by sending us your CV, together with a detailed supporting statement which will fully demonstrate how you meet all the criteria of the role, as stated in the "What you'll bring" section of the job description.

Interviews for this role will be held on 7th October 2025.

The successful candidate will be required to:

• based in the area of Essex, Suffolk or Hertfordshire and have extensive travel in the area and be able to travel freely and flexibly around these areas and occasionally further afield without reliance on public transport

• provide their own broadband service with a minimum download speed of 2Mb 

• have a confidential space in which to work

This role will require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You’ll be required to apply for one; refusal to do so will result in the offer being withdrawn. 

Anyone can get Parkinson’s. It’s vital that the people who work for Parkinson’s UK are representative of our diverse community. We actively encourage people from all sections of the community to apply, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, or religion.