Rural partnerships development manager jobs in newcastle

At Working Options, we are keenly aware that talent exists in all parts of society, and yet opportunities are not available to all. We aim to help all young people in the UK to transform their career and life chances. In 2024 we delivered in-person activities for 73,000 young people and engaged 2.5 million with digital content. We are proud of the impact our small, dedicated team has, and we can only achieve this success with committed volunteers, schools and funding partners who value the services we offer.

We were founded in Luton in 2012, and in 2024 following a generous grant from the Moondance Foundation we launched our work in Wales. So far, we have supported 20,000 Welsh students in a quarter of Welsh secondary schools. By 2029 we aim to be working in all state secondary schools across the country.

We are looking for a strategic lead to take our work in Wales to the next level. With oversight of our Wales Accelerator, the postholder will develop relationships with funders, media, government, and other key players to open doors for our work across Wales. You will listen and respond to local needs to direct our operational work on the ground.

Success in this role will be measured by our increased profile, new partnerships and income secured to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of our work in Wales.

We are flexible about whether this is a full-time or part-time position. The postholder will work closely with me and our Trustees, our key Advisors and Ambassadors (high-profile and well-connected individuals from a range of sectors), as well as our Head of Programme and delivery team for Wales. Your contribution to our work will be critical to our success, maximising the number of businesses, individuals and schools joining our movement to help all young people in Wales achieve career success.

Sue Maskrey
Chief Executive

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Yn Working Options, rydym yn ymwybodol iawn bod talent yn bodoli ym mhob rhan o'r gymdeithas, ac eto nid yw cyfleoedd ar gael i bawb. Ein nod yw helpu holl bobl ifanc y DU i drawsnewid eu cyfleoedd gyrfa a bywyd. Yn 2024, fe wnaethom gyflwyno gweithgareddau wyneb yn wyneb i 73,000 o bobl ifanc ac ymgysylltu â 2.5 miliwn gyda chynnwys digidol. Rydym yn falch o'r effaith y mae ein tîm bach, ymroddedig yn ei chael, a dim ond gyda gwirfoddolwyr ymroddedig, ysgolion a phartneriaid ariannu sy'n gwerthfawrogi'r gwasanaethau a gynigiwn y gallwn gyflawni'r llwyddiant hwn.

Fe'n sefydlwyd yn Luton yn 2012, ac yn 2024 yn dilyn grant hael gan Moondance Foundation fe wnaethom lansio ein gwaith yng Nghymru. Hyd yn hyn, rydym wedi cefnogi 20,000 o fyfyrwyr Cymreig mewn chwarter o ysgolion uwchradd Cymru. Erbyn 2029 ein nod yw bod yn gweithio ym mhob ysgol uwchradd y wladwriaeth ledled y wlad.

Rydym yn chwilio am arweinydd strategol i fynd â'n gwaith yng Nghymru i'r lefel nesaf. Gyda goruchwyliaeth ein Cyflymydd Cymru, bydd deiliad y swydd yn datblygu perthnasau gydag arianwyr, y cyfryngau, y llywodraeth, a chwaraewyr allweddol eraill i agor drysau ar gyfer ein gwaith ledled Cymru. Byddwch yn gwrando ar ac yn ymateb i anghenion lleol i gyfeirio ein gwaith gweithredol ar lawr gwlad.

Bydd llwyddiant yn y rôl hon yn cael ei fesur yn ôl ein proffil cynyddol, partneriaethau newydd ac incwm a sicrheir i sicrhau cynaliadwyedd ariannol hirdymor ein gwaith yng Nghymru.

Rydym yn hyblyg ynghylch a yw hon yn swydd amser llawn neu'n rhan-amser. Bydd deiliad y swydd yn gweithio'n agos gyda mi a'n Hymddiriedolwyr, ein Hymgynghorwyr a'n Llysgenhadon allweddol (unigolion proffil uchel â chysylltiadau da o ystod o sectorau), yn ogystal â'n Pennaeth Rhaglen a'n tîm cyflawni ar gyfer Cymru. Bydd eich cyfraniad at ein gwaith yn hanfodol i'n llwyddiant, gan gael y nifer uchaf o fusnesau, unigolion ac ysgolion i ymuno'n mudiad i helpu holl bobl ifanc Cymru i gyflawni llwyddiant gyrfa.

Sue Maskrey
Prif Weithredwr

Are you passionate about sharing the good news of Jesus with children & young people through sport and physical activity?

About the role 

Scripture Union England & Wales (SU) one of the UK’s longest-established children and youth ministry organisations is  working in partnership with Activate, an exciting local sport and wellbeing project, to offer this unique role to reach many more young people in the Bushy Park area and across the South of England through physical activity. 

We’re looking for a creative and entrepreneurial individual with a passion for using sport to help children and young people across the South of England to explore and respond to the good news of Jesus. 

This unique role combines the benefits of direct face-to-face engagement with young people in a local context, delivering mission through sport activities and programmes, while also developing and mentoring others to expand ministry across the South region. The ideal candidate will have equal passion and experience in both contexts. 

Key details: Employed by Scripture Union you will spend three days per week developing sports mission across London and the South. For two days per week, you will work on the Activate sports and wellbeing project working across the Bushy Park area.

Location: Home based with travel across London and the wider south region for SU & St Peter’s Church in West Molesey for Activate. 

Important things to note before you apply.  

1. This role will focus on Bushy Park, London and the South of England and will require extensive regular travel across the region.

2. We are committed to building a culturally diverse workforce. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from people, regardless of their background.  

3. We take Safeguarding seriously. This role will require a Disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service and has an occupational requirement to be filled by a committed Christian, active in church life. Equality Act 2010, Part 1, Schedule 9 applies. 

4. Please note that we do not provide visa sponsorship arrangements so applicants will need to have the right to live and be employed in a permanent job in the UK. 

A flexible role shaped around you 

The role is full-time, offering the best of both worlds by working with two partner organisations that collaborate synergistically. This position suits a candidate who enjoys face-to-face interactions with young people locally and strategic work regionally, training others for delivery. You’ll work closely with the Activate team and maintain weekly connections with the SU Sports Mission team as well as contributing to the wider work of the SU South region team. 

Who we’re looking for team

You are someone who loves variety in your work and thrives on the fact that no two days are the same. You value a blend of face-to-face interaction with children and young people through sports coaching and leading, while also adopting a facilitating approach; equipping, training, and motivating others. You enjoy being rooted in a local context but are also happy travelling and working in a range of settings. 

You’re a connector who relishes being in the community, with experience in leading teams whilst working with diverse groups of people. Your creative mindset, combined with excellent organisational skills, enables you to spot and create opportunities for impact. You love Jesus and are filled with energy and passion for sharing the gospel. You excel with people and thrive when given a blank canvas to drive projects from conception to completion. You are a confident communicator with experience in training, coaching, and empowering others. You have a passion for sport and experience in using this as a tool for sharing the gospel with children and young people. You’ve got a Level 2 coaching qualification or you’re willing to work towards one. 

If this describes you and you would like to join a like-minded organisation that offers the flexibility of an exciting, varied role, provides a competitive salary, a generous pension scheme, and other valuable benefits, then read on.

Invest in our mission, as we invest in you: Our Benefits: 

• Home-based working

• 23 days holiday + bank holidays + 5 volunteering days 

• Up to 12% pension contribution 

• Life insurance 

• Enhanced family leave.  

• Free Bible Reading Guide 

• A supportive, faith-filled environment where your work has eternal impact  

About Scripture Union  

You might have heard of us before if you're one of the 1.5 million+ who have attended one of our Christian holidays or missions over the years, or maybe you're one of the 40,000+ subscribers to have used our brilliant devotionals or been stirred by our exceptional bible resources. We've been at this for a fair few years... over 150 to be precise. Over this time, we’ve remained passionate about helping children and young people develop a vibrant faith in Jesus. As our name describes, the radical power of God's word has always been central to our approach.

We still do all the great stuff with resources and holidays, but in the last few years, we have sharpened our vision with a renewed focus to help the 95% of young people (primary and secondary school age) across the UK who have never stepped foot inside a church, to hear and respond to the good news of Jesus. We do this through equipping and resourcing the local church, training up volunteers from local churches (we call them ‘Faith Guides’) and collaborating with local and national partners across the UK to connect with children and young people and support them on a journey of exploring faith in a way that is relevant and meaningful.

In the last few years we’ve developed a brand new approach to how we do this, it’s deceptively simple and incredibly effective, we call it Revealing Jesus, and its making a massive difference, in the last couple of years we’ve trained up nearly 600 faith guides across 400+ churches all over the UK, collectively we’re seeing over 50,000 young people across the UK on a journey of exploring the Christian faith and responding to an invitation to become followers of Jesus. We have 24 staff organised into four regional mission teams, and alongside our local and national partners, we’re playing our part in a network of organisations that seeks to reach children and young people in every context, across every town and city across the whole of the UK. The journey ahead is significant, and we invite you to be a part of it! 

Since 2015, SU has had a dedicated Mission Through Sport team which contributes directly towards this outreach to the 95. We have recently developed some innovative new resources, aligned with the RJ framework, which the post holder will be involved in both delivering and equipping others to utilise. These include our flagship programme called Holy Ground which empowers churches to adopt a local sports space in their community to connect with the 95 in their context. Half Time is our brand new Explore-Respond resource which uses sports-themed videos and fun games to help the 95 to explore the life of Jesus by journeying through Mark’s Gospel. 

About Activate 

Activate is a sport and physical activity-based programme, formed in 2018, seeking to build community through wellbeing that invigorates faith.  Activate seeks to release God’s people to join in his mission through sport and physical activity in the areas surrounding Bushy Park. This includes gathering, encouraging and empowering local Christians involved in sports ministry, including expressions of chaplaincy and missional communities centred around sports clubs, centres, educational settings and gyms.  A number of local churches across denominations and Dioceses have been supporters of the project. 

In the past Activate has supported sports projects in local schools, an activity-based church service, wellbeing cafe sessions, exercise sessions for the elderly and youth activities.  The successful candidate will be involved in re-launching Activate’s mission after a break due to staff changes. 

About your team

With this role, you will have the benefit of being part of a national-focused sports team at SU, as well as the south team with a regional focus and the local context with Activate. You’ll work out of the office of St Peter’s Church, West Molesey, benefiting from the support of a local parish-based team including clergy and youth workers. You’ll contribute your expertise in a variety of settings, ranging from urban and suburban to coastal and rural areas across the south. You’ll have a brilliant time getting acquainted with this rich tapestry of local and national partners. Across the south region, we currently work with 130 churches and have 150 faith guides. We’d like to see these numbers grow significantly over the next few years and believe that a vibrant sports ministry can contribute meaningfully to this. 

Closing date: 31st October, 2025

Interview date: 11th November, 2025

Interview location: London, location to be confirmed. 

* (CONTRACT) Funding is in place for year one and partly secured for year two. We are confident that through the development of innovate partnerships via the Activate role, including within the church of England, the funds can be generated to not only fulfil the two initial years but also beyond that to ensure longevity in this vital mission. We invite interested applicants to contact Mark Oliver, Sports Mission Team Leader at Scripture Union, for an informal conversation.