This is a brand new role with Action Duchenne, leading our new Fundraising and Communications team. This role is part of the Senior Leadership Team.
Applications close at 9am on Monday 21st July 2025, with interviews likely to take place in the weeks commencing 28th July and 4th August 2025. To apply, please click 'Apply', where you will be redirected to our application form.
Main Purpose of the Role:
To manage, lead and support the Fundraising and Communications Team to retain donors, increase income and provide clear direction for our communications. This role will involve supporting relationships with sponsors of Action Duchenne’s International Conference, developing and implementing the fundraising and communications strategy, and reviewing our case for support for our core work and projects.
Specific Tasks:
The focus areas and key deliverables of this role are as follows:
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Develop and deliver on a clear fundraising and communications strategy, with annual action plans and clear objectives and KPIs for team members.
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Understand and keep abreast of sector trends and compliance updates relating to fundraising and communications
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Develop and maintain oversight of all budgets, targets, forecasts and processes relating to fundraising and communications
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Co-ordinate the prioritising of income streams, including community, individual giving, corporate, legacy and trust and grants
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Research, identify, and where there is capacity, pursue income generation opportunities that match the objectives of Action Duchenne
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Ensure Action Duchenne is compliant with all applicable elements of the Fundraising Regulator’s Code of Fundraising Practice, law, and the Charity Commission relating to fundraising
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Research, identify and apply to Trusts and Foundations with a clear pipeline
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Prepare reports for Trustees either for the full Board, or where required, to sub committees, which will include fundraising and communications progress against objectives.
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With a team keen to learn, provide leadership and hands on support to ensure objectives are achieved
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Undertake a review of all Communications materials, including social media and website
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Lead by example across the team and organisation
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Be part of, and therefore contribute towards and prepare for Senior Leadership Team meetings
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Identify existing or potential events to develop relationships with funders, including Action Duchenne’s annual international conference
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Feed in to the development of the international conference, led by the Head of Operations & Events
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Work with staff across the organisation to ensure all elements of work are collaborative, specifically when submitting funding bids or developing the annual international conference
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To maintain the contact database, keeping it up to date and accurate
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Continue to invest in professional development in yourself and your team, including safeguarding
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Identify opportunities, alongside the team, for cross team working - including residentials; family events; Science Educations workshops with regional meetups and education visits to schools and local authorities.
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Obtain, decipher and provide training to the Support Team on new updates relevant to Duchenne families, such as DLA, EHCP and more.
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Work closely with your team, to ensure that each family receives the best support possible, and that long-term support is provided.
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Lead on the development and delivery of monthly reporting of engagement and support contact, which will feed into the wider All Through Support journey.
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To work with the Head of Operations and Events to contribute to Agenda topics and speakers from the community; assign roles for the conference to the Support Team.
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Establish a database for external stakeholders also supporting those living with Duchenne on a national basis, fed in to from the Support Team.
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To develop a triaging and caseload process for the Support Team, and how best to regularly monitor this.
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Be involved in the recruitment, selection, and induction of volunteers appropriate to your area of work.
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Coordinate cover for the Support Team when there is sickness or leave.
Further details can be found on the person specification attached.
Action Duchenne is committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills and experiences. We encourage applicants from all sectors of the community and are especially keen to encourage candidates with relevant lived experiences and those from under-represented groups to apply.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
First Steps ED are looking for a passionate and strategic Head of Fundraising and Communications to join our team and help make a difference in the lives of those we support. First Steps ED provide person-centred support to our service users for a range of disordered eating and eating disorder presentations.
The Head of Fundraising and Communications will lead on the development and implementation of strategies to diversify and grow our income streams, strengthen our brand, and increase engagement with key audiences. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the postholder will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships across trusts and foundations, corporate partners, individual donors, and community supporters. This role will also oversee all aspects of external communications and marketing, ensuring a consistent and compelling voice for the organisation across digital, print, media, and stakeholder channels.
The Head of Fundraising and Communications will provide line management and strategic direction to the fundraising and communications team, with accountability for delivering income targets and enhancing the charity’s profile and impact.
Role Overview:
This position requires a strategic leader who will be a proactive engagement lead and support the charities overall strategy and mission. You will have a proven background of successful fundraising activities, diversifying engagement and income and cultivating key relationships through communication strategies.
Key Responsibilities:
This is an opportunity to develop and shape the fundraising and communications strategy for a growing charity, in an are that is getting more and more attention. The role will require an agile mind to adapt to the ever changing environment, and in return the charity leadership promises flexibility and understanding, as we test learn and adapt these strategies.
Some of the area you are expected to work on are the following, and the rest can be defined by you:
- Budgets and Targets: You are directly responsible for the budgets, and income targets attached to Fundraising and Communications.
- Engagement and Income Diversification: Develop and implement strategies to diversify income streams, including legacy giving, corporate partnerships, individual donations, and major donors.
- Marketing and Communications Strategy: Create and implement strategies to reach a wider audience through innovative marketing and communications channels.
- NHS and Private Sector Opportunities: Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the NHS and private sector.
- Relationship Management: Manage key relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders.
- Team Leadership: Manage and support Fundraising, Marketing and Communications officers, ensuring alignment with fundraising goals and charity objectives overall.
- Lead our flagship campaigns: This year we are developing an online campaign, currently called Scroll Safe, to tackle the issues with online safety, we are included in the parliamentary act, and we wish this to be a multi-year campaign. It is in development for 2025, and you are expected to hit the ground running. Other campaigns include Eating Disorder Awareness Week, and Christmas.
- Digital Agency and PR Management: Oversee the work of digital agencies and PR consultant to enhance online presence and engagement with public relations and media outreach.
- Ambassadors and Patrons Management: Engage and manage relationships with ambassadors and patrons to leverage their support and influence.
- Web Development Leadership: Lead the development and maintenance of the charity's website to ensure it effectively supports fundraising and communication efforts as well as providing clear and concise support to our service users, carers and professionals.
- Manage our portfolio of events: We have an emerging trend in challenge events, and we manage these carefully and mindfully especially long-distance sporting events. This requires key insights in trends and work with our marketing team on key insights.
- Working with the CEO: You will identify opportunities for strategic communications and growth. You will network with likeminded individuals from other charities and build sector connections.
- Senior Leadership Team: You will be an integral part of our Senior Leadership Team, which means working across the whole charity on tasks that may pop up, and planning with the team our Organisational Development.
Qualifications:
- Experience: Minimum of 5 years in a senior fundraising and communications role, preferably within the charity sector.
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Relationship Management, or a related field.
Skills:
- Strong strategic planning and implementation skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
- Proficiency in fundraising software and CRM systems.
- Strong leadership and team management skills.
What we offer
- 28 days annual leave (pro rata for part time)
- Enhanced sick pay
- Company events
- Blue Light Card
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program + Wellbeing App
- Company pension - 5% employee, 3% employer
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
- Work from home (depending on role)
- Accredited training programme towards CPD
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Should we met our target number of applications we reserve the right to close the advert earlier than the closing date.
To ensure everyone impacted by eating disorders and disordered eating has access to professional care.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Are you looking for a fully remote, purpose-led and meaningful leadership role, one where you will be dismantling the motherhood penalty for thousands?
Pregnant Than Screwed work sits at the intersection of providing information and support, research, raising awareness, and advocating and campaigning for change – always with a bold, unapologetic commitment to justice for mothers and parents.
Their impact over the last 10 years speaks for itself with 20,000 supported through their one-to-one advice line, successfully influenced key changes in UK law, including the Day-one right to request flexible working, and extended redundancy protection for pregnant women and new mums. Over 150 mentions in Parliament, Thousands of pieces of media coverage, including front-page features in The Times, The Guardian, and The Daily Mail and over 400,000 followers across social media, building a powerful digital movement
Culture and Inclusion
As Head of Development, you will work with an amazing CEO, an individual who has empathy, knowledge and savviness to lead the charity through its next level of growth. She is a progressive and inclusive leader, bold and brave in her actions, knowing that words do not bring about change, only actions. A kind yet fearless leader who will offer freedom, flexibility and personal and career growth. This is a unique opportunity to work with an incredible CEO and shape the future of working mums in the UK forever.
The lived experiences we’d love you to have
Our client is not a “box ticker” instead they are a progressive and inclusive employer, one where they value your lived experiences and skills just as much and can see behind any gaps you might have on your CV.
Our client has already built a strong foundation with our fundraising efforts – particularly through trusts and foundations – but we’re just getting started. They need a determined, creative, and strategic fundraiser to not only continue to grow this vital income stream but also to develop and scale our individual giving program, including high-net-worth donors, membership opportunities, and fundraising events.
As Head of Development, you’ll oversee our fundraising efforts across key areas:
- Trusts and Foundations: Continue to build on our existing success by nurturing relationships with funders, submitting compelling funding applications, and ensuring robust reporting and stewardship.
- Individual Giving: Develop and execute a strategy to grow this income stream, including high-net-worth donor programmes, membership opportunities, and community engagement fundraising.
- Corporate Giving: Establish and grow partnerships with value-aligned businesses, creating mutually beneficial relationships that generate income, amplify our mission, and align with our campaigning values.
This is a unique opportunity to join a growing organisation and make a significant impact by developing innovative, creative approaches to fundraising while ensuring our existing work continues to thrive.
In return for your passion, commitment and hard work, you will receive some of the most competitive benefits across the sector, whilst knowing that every day you are changing the lives of parents, families and the workplace. Your passion for gender equity will be shape the lens through which you storytelling and campaign tirelessly for the good of the millions of women who continue to lose their jobs, get passed over for promotion and face a penalty for being a mum.
Here are just some of the benefits they offer:
· Flexible working is embedded in our culture with employees working different hours, and days of the week.
· 34 days annual leave, including statutory bank holidays. This is pro-rata for part-time staff.
· Paid leave between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
· 2 paid ‘’Wellbeing Days’’. These are days that can be booked off with no notice and no questions asked.
· 5 days paid leave to care for dependents.
· Participation in a comprehensive workplace pension scheme with contributions from the organisation of 4%
· Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay.
· 4 days of training per year.
· Work from home onboarding and office set up.
Next steps
We would love you to apply, which is a simple and transparent process, with a screening and interview stage with Scoutess Consultancy (we are the recruitment partner for this role) and a one stage interview with our client w/c 21st July (interview 23rd June). Please note the advert will close on Sunday 13th July at midday, however, you may be contacted earlier if shortlisted.
Please apply via Charity Jobs, sending your CV alongside a covering letter of no more than 500 words detailing your suitability for the role.
Charity working to end the motherhood penalty.