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About Chapter One
Chapter One is a growing charity dedicated to ensuring every child has access to one-to-one reading support at the time they need it most.
We support children at every stage of their primary reading journey through three programmes - Early Literacy Intervention, Online Reading Volunteers, and Book Clubs - helping them build both the will and the skill to read. Our innovative Online Reading Volunteers Programme aims to support 3,500 children facing disadvantage during the 2025-26 academic year, pairing five to eight-year-old children with reading support volunteers from over 180 local and national businesses. Our unique approach requires volunteers to commit just 30 minutes a week for an entire academic year, using our bespoke digital platform. The results are transformative, significantly boosting children's reading confidence and ability.
For more information about our programmes please visit our website. Please also take some time to visit our social media channels and watch our videos.
About the role
With ambitious targets to support thousands more children by 2029, Chapter One is seeking a passionate, energetic Fundraising Officer to be an integral part of our Fundraising team. Reporting to our Fundraising Manager, you’ll generate income from a range of existing and new trusts and foundations, along with individual fundraising activities, to contribute towards the 2025-26 fundraising target. The fundraising budget in 2026-27 will be £356,000, when you’ll have an individual target.
This role is ideal for an early career professional who can write creative, compelling proposals and build impactful relationships to make your mark in a fast-growing charity which is flexible and agile. You’ll be a proactive, determined self-starter and have high standards for yourself and others. You’ll develop and manage a funding pipeline by investing in thorough research and relationship cultivation, and you will thrive in working with funders, partners and supporters on a day-to-day basis.
Key responsibilities
Deliver the fundraising plan
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Work collaboratively with the Fundraising Manager to grow Chapter One’s fundraising portfolio and meet agreed income targets from trusts and foundations.
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Maintain a portfolio of existing trusts and foundations, ensuring an excellent cultivation and stewardship journey in order to build relationships and maximise income.
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Proactively identify and research new prospective trust funders, finding creative ways to engage with them to secure support.
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Create compelling and tailored fundraising applications and reports, ensuring there is a strong emotional case for support and accuracy, to inspire prospects and supporters across trusts and foundations.
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Contribute to the highest levels of donor care for supporters, including creative stewardship, adhering to all grant conditions and responding in a timely manner to all enquiries from supporters and prospects.
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Research, interpret and present data about literacy and impact that makes a compelling case for Chapter One’s programmes.
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Contribute to internal planning and budget setting for restricted and unrestricted activities, setting out clear plans and a pipeline for income generation from trusts and foundations.
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Work with the Fundraising Manager, Corporate Partnerships team and Communications team to support the development of strategies and campaigns to grow individual giving from existing volunteers and supporters.
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Undertake administrative duties to support the delivery of individual fundraising initiatives including matched-giving campaigns and Payroll Giving.
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Work closely with the Fundraising Manager, Corporate Partnerships team and Communications team to ensure a cohesive approach and maximise all fundraising opportunities.
General
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Oversee and maintain specific fundraising administrative processes, including recording of activity on the Salesforce CRM and internal databases.
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Maintain up-to-date knowledge of fundraising regulations, networks, and developments across the sector.
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Adherence to Chapter One’s Donation Acceptance Policy.
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Contribute to forecasting and regular reporting, producing verbal and written reports for senior management as required.
We are looking for some of the following attributes, though you might be more experienced in some areas than others:
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A commitment to Chapter One’s mission and values.
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Experience of fundraising, ideally from trusts and foundations.
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A demonstrable track record of successfully generating income and achieving targets.
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An ability to create compelling and successful fundraising applications and proposals.
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Excellent written communication skills, with an understanding of how to tailor communications for different audiences/contexts.
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Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and manage relationships with a range of stakeholders, both internally and externally.
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Evidence of effective prospect research, growing and managing a pipeline, planning for your portfolio and increasing income.
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Good financial acumen and proven ability to present complex financial information accurately.
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Excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and high levels of accuracy.
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Ability to effectively work under pressure and manage conflicting priorities.
You’ll be more successful in the role if you have:
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Experience of individual giving or employee fundraising.
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Experience of working in a charity that has a strong corporate volunteering offer.
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Experience using the Salesforce CRM.
How to Apply
Please send your CV (maximum 2 A4 sides) and a covering letter via Charity Jobs. Your covering letter (maximum 1 side of A4) should:
1) Detail your relevant experience, including clear examples.
2) Tell us the story of a successful fundraising relationship that you have been involved in, how much you raised and what you did to make it succeed.
3) Tell us about how our organisational mission is in line with your values.
Applications that fail to meet these criteria will automatically be discounted. We understand that you may use AI to help craft your application, but do remember that we will be looking for individuals who write a letter that stands out. We want you to have every opportunity to shine and to show us your talents - please let us know if there is anything we can do to make sure the assessment process works for you.
Chapter One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and celebrate diversity in backgrounds and experience and are deliberate about the kind of inclusive teams we are building. Literacy is a universal concern, and we need people from all backgrounds to maximise our innovation, creativity and impact. We especially welcome applications from persons who have experienced disadvantage and/or from those who are of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities who are currently underrepresented in the organisation.
Chapter One is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All post holders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service disclosure. Copies of our Safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Policy are available on request.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
At Chapter One, we want to create a world where all children have the literacy skills needed to thrive.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Retail Regional Business Manager – Region 1 (Midlands, Kent, South Coast)
Service: Retail
Salary: £32,365 plus £480 home working allowance, per annum
Location: Home-based with regular travel throughout Region 1 (covering shops in Evesham, Hythe, Meads, Seaford, Warwick, and Whitstable); overnight stays as appropriate
Hours: 37 hours per week (full-time)
Contract: Permanent
Family Action & the Role’s Impact:
At Family Action we support people through change, challenge or crisis. It’s what we’ve done for over 150 years. We protect children, support young people and adults and offer direct, practical help to families and communities.
We see first-hand the power of family to shape lives, for better or worse, so we speak up for the
importance of family in national and local policymaking, amplify family voices and represent the changing needs of families in the UK today.
This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and driven Retail Regional Business Manager to play a pivotal role in leading the success and growth of our Community Shop network. You will champion high-quality retail operations across your region, inspire and develop Community Shop Managers, and cultivate strong, positive relationships within local communities. With a focus on commercial performance, brilliant customer experience, and exceptional people leadership, you will help shape the future of our shops and strengthen their impact. This role offers the chance to influence strategic direction, support new store developments, and contribute meaningfully to Family Action’s mission and values while growing your own leadership and retail management expertise.
Main Responsibilities:
- Provide direct line management to Community Shop Managers, ensuring clarity of objectives and accountability and assist them in the day-to-day running of their stores.
- Maximise income from the Community Shops in the region by tightly managing expenditure and being innovative in income generation.
- Conduct regular shop visits to monitor performance, provide feedback, and document findings in visit reports.
- Develop and execute an annual business plan for the region and the individual Community Shops.
- Assist with the preparation of budget forecasts and monthly reporting.
- Monitor retail budgets, track expenditures and flag variances.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety, financial control, and all operational policies and procedures.
- Process Shop Teams’ petty cash claims and expenses and sign-off timesheets.
- Work with Recruitment and HR teams to fill vacancies and support Community Shop teams.
- Maintain staff and volunteer records – particularly around absence tracking and training logs.
- Work with and support Shop Teams to achieve financial targets.
- Keep up to date with developments in the charity retail sector at the local and national level and use this information to help grow the business.
- Support the Shop Teams in embedding the shops in their local communities.
- Allocate resources within the region and share best practices across the shops to maximise opportunities to achieve budgets.
- Serve as a liaison between Shop Teams and the wider charity.
- Deliver inductions, coaching, and training to Community Shop Managers and Shop Teams.
- Promote a positive image for Family Action among your team.
- Lead on creating high-performing cultures with a focus on customer service, operational excellence, financial control, and delivering budgets and targets (both financial and Gift Aid).
- Maintain P&L accountability for the region, controlling costs and monitoring budgets.
- Contribute to the development of the national Retail Strategy.
- Support on new site acquisitions, refits, and disposals in the region as required.
- Act as a key member of the Retail Senior Leadership Team, supporting strategic decision making.
- Uphold Family Action’s Health & Safety and Data Protection policies, reporting issues promptly.
- Promote and embed Family Action’s Equality & Diversity principles in all work.
- Adherence to Family Action’s Safeguarding policies and processes.
- Work flexibly to meet the needs of the service, visiting shops a minimum of once per month and overnight stays as required.
Main Requirements (for details check the job description and person specification):
- Experience in managing multiple retail locations and teams
- Experience in charity retail or community-based initiatives
- Experience in P&L management
- Proven ability to deliver against financial targets and control costs
- Strong leadership and people development skills
- Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills
- Ability to work cross-functionally with other charity functions
- Proficient in Microsoft Office and retail management systems
- Full UK driving license and willing to travel
- Excellent commercial awareness and financial acumen
- High levels of organisational skills and attention to detail
- Competence in using EPOS systems
- Ability to work under pressure
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities
Benefits:
- an annual paid leave entitlement that commences at 25 working days, rising each April by one day, subject to a maximum of 30 working days plus bank holidays (pro rata)
- up to 6% matched-pension contributions
- enhanced paid sick leave and paid family leave provisions
- eye care and winter flu jabs vouchers
- cycle to work scheme
- investing in your professional development with ongoing quality training and career development opportunities
We are forward looking, ambitious and committed to continuous improvement. We are a people focused, can-do organisation, which strives for excellence in all we do and operates with mutual respect.
To Apply:
· Click the ‘Apply’ link below and fill out our digital application form
· Closing Date: 13th April 2026 at 23:59pm
Interviews are scheduled to take place virtually, with slots throughout the working day and early/late slots available.
All appointments with Family Action are subject to satisfactory Safer Recruitment checks.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:
We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process and you will be asked whether you require any adjustments if shortlisted for interview. We also make reasonable adjustments on the job, where required.
We are committed to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion in all that we do and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Intersectionality is important to us and we welcome applications from ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ candidates and disabled candidates. We are committed to increasing the representation of these groups at Family Action because we know that greater diversity will lead to even greater results for families and children and we strive for our workforce to be truly representative of the diverse communities we support.
All candidates with a disability are welcome to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme and request priority consideration for an interview, provided they meet the essential criteria for the role.
To help remove financial barriers to working with us, we will reimburse reasonable travel costs if you are invited to attend an interview in person.
*Ordinarily Family Action appoints new starters at the starting point of the salary scale (with subsequent annual pay progression), unless you have experience that would justify appointment further up the salary scale or there are any other exceptional reasons.
Registered Charity
501 - 1000
Family Action is an award-winning national charity working from the heart of local communities across England and Wales.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.