Research jobs in Brighton, east sussex

Assistant Benefits Advisor
Salary £24,000 FTE (rising to £27,000 per year FTE after 1 year and completion of training) 
17.5 - 21 hours per week, 6.6 weeks holiday   
Remote working with occasional travel for events and meetings in West Sussex

Are you passionate about working with SEND families? 
Do you have the transferable skills and qualities to train as a benefits advisor?

We have an exciting opportunity for someone to join a rapidly growing caring charity with the benefits of flexible family friendly working (from home), generous holiday, pension scheme, travel expenses, laptop and phone provided.  

Reaching Families was established in 2008 to empower, inform and support parent-carers and families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in West Sussex.  We achieve this through the delivery of our services providing information, training and peer support.

Our Benefits Advice Service provides support to parents of children and young people with SEND in West Sussex applying for Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independent Payments (PIP).  Offering 1-2-1 advice sessions on the above benefits, support with claim checking of draft applications, information resources on benefits and other sources of financial support, and training workshops on DLA, PIP and Universal Credit.

We are looking to recruit a skilled and motivated Assistant Benefits Advisor to join our team
The post holder will be responsible for supporting our Benefits Advisor with the delivery of information, advice and guidance on Carers Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to parent-carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in West Sussex.  This is a training role with the view to promotion to Benefits Advisor following completion of training. 

Person Specification (essential):
• Understanding of challenges facing parents and carers of children with SEND 
• Passionate about improving the life chances of children with SEND and their parents/carers, and families
• A highly motivated self-starter with a flexible approach to working life 
• A creative and strategic thinker 
• Committed to professional and personal development and lifelong learning 
• Ability to work independently and manage a diverse and demanding workload 
• Comfortable working with people from a diverse range of backgrounds
• Excellent inter-personal and communication skills
• Excellent writing and editing skills 
• Experience of using MS Office including SharePoint
• A good all-round education including GCSE’s (or equivalent) or NVQ level 2 

See attached job description for details and full criteria 

We welcome applications from all members of the community and value diversity in the organisation. Please contact us if you require any reasonable adjustments to be made to the application or interview process due to any disability or health requirements. 

Closing date for applications is 12th January 2026

Interviews to be held in Littlehampton on 21st/22nd January 2026

To apply please complete the attached application form and share why you feel you fit the role and person specification (see attached documents) 

This is a brand-new role with big potential. We’re looking for an experienced community fundraiser who’s excited to build something meaningful for Possability People.

You’ll lead local community and corporate fundraising, spark supporter engagement, and drive income through events, partnerships, and donor initiatives. You’ll also coordinate trust and foundation applications, support individual giving, and play a part in major donor work.

Working closely with teams across the charity, you’ll help shape fundraising that truly reflects our values and fuels our future growth.

Why we’re recruiting

We’re creating our first dedicated Fundraising Officer role to boost community fundraising, grow local partnerships, and coordinate income from trusts, foundations, individual donors, and corporate supporters. You’ll be the go-to person for bids, working with project leads and the CEO to spot opportunities and move applications forward.

With strong local relationships and a respected reputation already in place, we’re ready for someone who can turn that potential into a steady, sustainable pipeline of support. This is a hands-on role with real autonomy, perfect for a fundraiser who enjoys building structure, nurturing supporters, and driving results while helping shape the charity’s wider fundraising direction.

Day-to-Day Overview

You’ll spend your time out and about in the community, planning and running fundraising events like fun runs, afternoon teas, and seasonal campaigns, while being the face of Possability People. You’ll also act as the central point for coordinating bids and grant applications, working closely with Project Leads and the CEO to ensure opportunities are identified, tracked, and progressed. Alongside this, you’ll manage local corporate partnerships and sponsorships, building relationships that support our events and wider fundraising activity. This is a hands-on, mid-level role where your experience and initiative will shape how our fundraising operates and grow our income locally.

Why work for us?

Working for Possability People means being part of something bigger than just a job. You’ll help improve the lives of disabled people while enjoying a supportive, inclusive workplace that values your wellbeing and development. We offer generous holidays, flexible working, a pension scheme, and excellent learning opportunities. You’ll be supported through regular supervision, wellbeing initiatives, and access to free counselling and mental health support. As a Disability Confident employer with strong quality standards and a genuine commitment to inclusion, we’re proud to create a place where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a real difference every day.

Salary:  £35,000 (pro-rata: £21,000 for 21 hours, £28,000 for 28 hours)

Department:Core

Line Managed by: Chief Executive Officer

Holidays: 28 days plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time staff: 21 hrs = 17 days, to 28 hrs = 22.5 days)

Working Hours: 21 hrs (0.6 FTE) to 28 hrs per week (0.8 FTE) (to be agreed)

We’re open to the role being between 21 and 28 hours a week because finding the right person matters most. We’re very happy to chat about how those hours could work for you while still meeting the needs of the role. Whether you’d prefer to spread your hours across five days, start a bit later, or work longer days over fewer days, we’re open to a range of options. The role includes attending events and travelling around the local area, and there are also opportunities to work from home for part of the week.

About Possability People 

Possability People is a pan-impairment disability charity based in Brighton. We work with people with a number of health conditions, including mental health and neurodivergent conditions, as well as with older people.