Research and policy officer jobs in Birmingham

About StreetVet

StreetVet is a fast-growing national charity, committed to providing free, accessible veterinary care to the pets of those experiencing homelessness and to keeping pets and owners together to maintain their unbreakable bond. StreetVet relies on its team of over 500 vet and nurse volunteers in 23 locations around the UK to provide free veterinary treatment, funded by grants, corporate and private donors and partners. Since inception in 2016 the charity has treated nearly 3,500 pets and has won numerous awards including the Vet Trust Award for the Most Trusted Veterinary Charity, Purina Better with Pets Prize and Homeless Link Excellence Award for Excellent Support.

About the role

Duration: Permanent

Reporting to: Head of Marketing & Fundraising

Key Contacts: Colleagues, volunteers, external stakeholders, corporate partners, donors, prospects and other supporters

Location: Fully remote, with regular UK travel including evenings and weekends

Hours: 37.5 work week (flexible working available)

Holiday: 25 days per year plus national holidays

Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 depending on experience

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Fundraising Manager to join our team. The role will report to the Head of Marketing and Fundraising and will be responsible for developing and implementing the fundraising strategy, driving forward all aspects of fundraising, including building corporate charity of the year partnerships, individual giving, major donors,
trusts and foundations, legacies and community fundraising.

The successful candidate will be a core member of the Central Team, working closely with the Marketing Team to develop and deliver income for the charity.

 
This role will have budgetary responsibility to achieving a revenue target in financial year 26/27 of £1.5 million, whilst building a sustainable income stream for the long-term with Yr on Yr growth. Key priorities include increasing the Individual Giving and Regular Giving donor database, donor and fundraiser stewardship, organising fundraising events, and securing grants and sponsorships.

For more information about the role, please see attached job description.

Closing Date: Close of business Thursday 16th July 2026 (applications may close earlier depending on response).

Acorns Children’s Hospice provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people who are life limited or life threatened. Supporting over 750 children and nearly 1,000 families annually, Acorns is a vital lifeline for families across the West Midlands and Gloucestershire during unimaginably difficult times.

Individual Giving is a key pillar of Acorns’ fundraising strategy, delivering sustainable income through supporter retention, stewardship and meaningful donor engagement. Following a recent team restructure and significant investment in the function, Acorns is now looking for an Individual Giving Manager to help shape and grow its retention programme.

Reporting to the Senior Individual Giving Manager, you will manage the delivery of warm fundraising campaigns across a range of channels, including appeals, newsletters, telemarketing, email and regular giving. Contributing to a team income target of c.£1.5m, you will focus on retaining and developing supporters, using data and insight to maximise performance and supporter lifetime value.

This is an exciting opportunity for a driven fundraiser who enjoys testing new ideas, using data to inform decisions and taking ownership of campaign delivery. With strong support from senior leadership and the freedom to put your own stamp on the role, you will play a key role in the future growth of Individual Giving at Acorns.

Hybrid, 2 days per week at preferred location (Birmingham, Worcester or Walsall).

As Individual Giving Manager, you will:

• Deliver multi-channel retention campaigns including appeals, newsletters, telemarketing, email and regular giving activity
• Support a team income target of c.£1.5m by maximising supporter retention and increasing lifetime value
• Develop and grow the mid-value programme for donors giving between £200 and £5,000 annually
• Create tailored supporter journeys, stewardship plans and small-scale events that bring supporters closer to Acorns’ work
• Develop engaging fundraising concepts and write compelling copy across print and digital channels
• Work closely with colleagues across Data, Marcomms and Fundraising to deliver excellent supporter experiences
• Identify opportunities to test new approaches, challenge existing activity and drive continuous improvement

Essential skills and experience: 

• Campaign delivery experience within individual giving, direct marketing or supporter engagement
• Experience using data and insight to improve campaign performance and supporter retention
• Copywriting skills and the confidence to develop fundraising concepts
• Experience managing budgets, forecasts and campaign reporting
• A curious, analytical and test-and-learn mindset
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach and the confidence to work independently
• Experience working across a range of fundraising or marketing channels

Desirable, but not essential:

• Experience working across more than one organisation
• Experience delivering supporter retention programmes
• Confidence working independently and taking ownership of campaign delivery

This role could suit an experienced Individual Giving Officer looking to take the next step in their career. As the team grows line management opportunities may become available.

Benefits include:

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• 5 days holiday buyback scheme
• 5% employer pension contribution
• Life assurance scheme (2 x annual salary)
• Retail discounts (including the Blue Light card)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted gym membership
• Access to expert financial health and wellbeing support

External Communications Manager

Salary: £40,000–£42,000 FTE
Hours: 30 hours per week
Location: Remote, with regular travel to FitzRoy services, team and stakeholder meetings as agreed. The role requires attendance in London once per month and applicants must be able to commute to services in Norfolk, Nottingham and Hampshire.
Reports to: Head of Communications
Directorate: Business Development and Partnerships

FitzRoy is a national charity supporting people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs to live lives rooted in choice, meaning and happiness.

We are strengthening our external voice and looking for a confident, perceptive and warm communicator to help more people understand FitzRoy’s expertise and impact and increase our influence.

This is a moment of change for social care. We want to play a more active role in shaping its future, ensuring the people at the heart of it are seen, heard and involved in the decisions that matter.

About the role

As External Communications Manager, you will help build FitzRoy’s profile and reputation by identifying the stories, insight and opportunities that show what good support looks like in real life.

You will work closely with the Head of Communications, fundraising, business development and operational colleagues to turn external communications priorities into practical plans, content and opportunities.

This is a delivery role with real influence. You will be expected to bring ideas, advise colleagues, shape practical plans and turn opportunities into action.

What you will do

You will:

• develop proactive external communications activity that raises awareness of FitzRoy’s work, expertise and impact
• spot opportunities for FitzRoy to contribute constructively to sector conversations
• identify realistic opportunities for media, sector press, partner or local coverage
• gather stories, photos, video and quotes that help people understand what good support looks like in real life
• use social media, website content, audience insight and analytics to strengthen FitzRoy’s external profile

About you

You may come from charity communications, PR, journalism, public affairs, stakeholder communications or another external communications background.

You do not need to have worked in social care before, but you will need to be interested in people, willing to learn quickly and able to handle stories about people’s lives with care, respect and good judgement.

We are looking for someone who is:

• an excellent writer and editor
• confident developing clear, accessible content for different audiences
• warm, curious and able to build rapport quickly
• able to spot strong stories, ideas and opportunities
• confident creating social media and website content shaped by audience insight
• comfortable working independently and managing competing priorities
• able to think strategically about audiences and influence, while being practical about what can be delivered in a small team
• confident gathering content including photos, videos and quotes
• willing and able to travel to FitzRoy services and meetings as needed

A full clean driving licence and access to a car for work travel are required, as some services are not easily accessible by public transport.

Working at FitzRoy

You will join a small, friendly communications team with big ambitions. This role will suit someone who enjoys a mix of planning, writing, relationship-building, story-gathering and hands-on delivery.

You will help us show the difference good support makes – and help ensure the voices, experiences and achievements of people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health needs are seen and heard.

How to apply

To apply, please submit your application and a covering letter.

We do not expect your covering letter to address every point in the person specification. We would like you to tell us:

• what interests you about this role and FitzRoy
• three things you would bring to the role
• a piece of communications work you are proud of and why
• how you approach using social media, website content and audience insight to build external profile
• how you would approach telling stories about people’s lives with care, respect and good judgement

If you are using AI tools to write your application, please use them with caution. We are looking for your own voice and writing style.