Specialist support worker jobs in belfast

You will be joining us at a time that holds the greatest potential for fundraising in our history, following the launch of the UK Government’s Delivery Plan for ME and initial findings of the DecodeME genetics study (co-led by Action for ME) in Summer 2025. 

Building on our charity’s already established level of support from major donors, you will provide exceptional relationship management to existing donors alongside growing our network of high value supporters.

Working closely with the CEO, alongside managing a portfolio of donors and prospects ensuring excellent stewardship, you will support our Breakthrough-ME Group (a group of high net worth and highly networked individuals). There is an established level of support from major donors at Action for ME so this is a role that will require exceptional relationship management to retain our current valued supporters while growing this crucial area of fundraising. 

This would be an ideal role for an experienced philanthropy professional seeking to work for a small but ambitious charity, helping us to achieve our mission to improve the lives of all people affected by ME – better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow.

Key duties

Major Donor Fundraising

• Successfully develop and implement the philanthropy strategy to secure and maximise funds from high value individuals for Action for ME achieving annual income of £250k+

• Set plans and budgets which will deliver income through major gift fundraising and philanthropic giving through family trusts and foundations, including quarterly forecasting.

• Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors at the £5k to £100k level, to develop and maintain strong and long-standing partnerships

• Work closely with the Director of Fundraising and Development and other colleagues to ensure that plans and activities for fundraising from high value individuals are integrated into the overall fundraising strategy and plan for significant growth.

• Be responsible for our Breakthrough-ME Group with high quality proposition development.  Contribution to Group fundraising activities with a specific focus on ensuring their networks support pipeline growth for future fundraising.

• Lead the delivery of our biennial fundraising gala dinner, maximising income and new opportunities from attendees.

• Develop engaging and inspiring opportunities to steward and cultivate support creating a calendar of activities including events, presentations, approaches, networking and meetings.

• Utilise the CRM database (Raisers Edge) to provide the data required to strategise your approach to philanthropy, monitor progress and provide a high-quality donor experience.

• Ensure utilisation of insight & data, producing management information data to inform planning and strategy development.

• With the Director of Fundraising & Development, create inspiring cases for support and resulting propositions with clear budgets and outcomes.

• Create adequate systems and processes to support the major donor programme.

• Undertake and manage research into prospects and major donors, preparing for approaches and presentations and briefing senior leadership and trustees for donor meetings and events.

• Develop and maintain relationships with donors, a wide range of staff and volunteers from trustee level down.

• Provide regular feedback and internal reporting to line management.

• Work with other fundraisers to ensure that all fundraising opportunities and leads are followed up – particularly in corporate, community and trust fundraising.

• Work with Trustees, the Chief Executive and members of the Leadership Team to develop relationships with major donors.

• Self-administrate including managing your own diary and meetings, keeping accurate and up to date records of activity

• Occasional travel to London, Bristol & events

Other duties

• To positively promote the work and activities of Action for M.E. at all times.

• To contribute to the team’s overall, ongoing and annual planning and budgeting.

• To undertake any other reasonable activity in line with the responsibilities of the post as requested by the Director of Fundraising and Development, Chief Executive or any other senior Action for ME management.

• Act as an advocate for the Charity and its work.

• To work in accordance with Action for ME’s values of collaboration, equity and empathy.

Youth Voice and Influence Officer

The National Youth Agency is looking for a new Youth Voice and Influence Officer to join our Operations Team.

Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £36,050 per annum
Remote: This role is homebased with occasional travel for staff residentials and other events.

What we do

As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.

We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work.

About the Role and Key responsibilities:

Deliver Against Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Work with your line manager to define clear KPIs that align with NYA's strategic goals.
• Consistently deliver activities to a high standard within agreed timelines.
• Monitor and report on progress against KPIs, identifying challenges and proposing solutions.
• Support the evaluation of youth engagement programmes to promote continuous improvement.

Youth Voice Engagement and Delivery

• Lead and support the delivery of youth voice and influence activities and events.
• Actively engage young people in shaping programmes, campaigns, and decisions.
• Facilitate inclusive, youth-led events, workshops, and forums.
• Ensure accessibility and inclusivity, especially for marginalised or underrepresented groups.

Flexibility and Support Across NYA Teams

• Provide flexible support across NYA teams to embed youth voice across organisational activities.
• Collaborate with colleagues to integrate youth input into wider initiatives.
• Share youth engagement expertise with other departments.
• Offer capacity where needed to maintain a consistent youth voice focus.

Building Relationships with Young People and Stakeholders

• Develop and maintain trusted relationships with young people and partner organisations.
• Provide support, guidance, and opportunities for young people to participate confidently.
• Foster inclusive and respectful environments for youth engagement.
• Collaborate with external stakeholders to increase youth influence on decisions.

Please refer to our Candidate Pack for more information on the role and the requirements. Please note that this role requires that you MUST hold a JNC level 6 qualification or be willing to work towards it.

Why Work for NYA?

• NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
• NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
• A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
• NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
• We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.

How to Apply:

To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on 5th September 2025 (applications will be reviewed as they are submitted, so early submission is encouraged. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for this role):

A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section.
A covering letter (maximum two sides) highlighting your suitability for the role by answering the following two questions:

Can you describe a time you successfully supported young people to influence change in an organisation or community?
Aside from youth voice and participation, what other areas of work with young people are you passionate about, and why?

We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.

Please note: the covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 30% AI generated content with be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.

The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.

At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.

We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.

Youth Work changes lives

Which is why we’re committed to ensuring that as many young people as possible get to benefit from it.As the national body for youth work in England, the National Youth Agency (NYA) exists to champion its transformative power. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to benefit from the life-changing impact of extraordinary youth workers and trained volunteers.

We help to grow youth work provision in ways that keep it effective, relevant, safe and engaging, to help millions of young people reach their potential and thrive. We do this by providing guidance, support, advice, training and staff development opportunities for youth workers and youth work organisations. At the heart of everything we do are young people themselves. We work hard to ensure their voices are integrated into all our work, to develop provision that truly meets their needs.

REF-223399

Womankind Worldwide are exclusively partnering with Robertson Bell in their search for a new Director of Finance, People & Culture to join their team on a permanent basis. Womankind Worldwide is a global women's rights organisation working in partnership with women's rights movements and organisations to transform the lives of women and girls.

Reporting into one of the Co-CEOs, the Director of Finance, People & Culture will lead Womankind’s finance, HR, and Resources functions while ensuring regulatory compliance across jurisdictions (UK and Kenya). You'll work closely with their Finance & Resources Committee and serve as Company Secretary, supporting their ambitious Strategy to 2030.You will also lead the people strategy that strengthens Womankind’s culture, enhances employee wellbeing, drives engagement, and aligns talent with their strategic goals.

The organisation:

Womankind Worldwide strengthen and support women’s movements in their focus countries in Africa and Asia, and take collective action at regional and global levels, to ensure women’s voices are heard, their rights are realised, and their lives are free from violence. Currently, Womankind has staff based in Kenya and the UK. They’re undertaking a strategic transformation to strengthen their impact through a grantmaking and partnership review, an updated business model and a strategic alignment process. Staff wellbeing - one of their core feminist principles - will remain central as they navigate this journey. These changes reflect their deep commitment towards a feminist future and will position them to provide more strategic support where it is most needed across their focus countries during these unprecedented times in the development sector.

The key duties of the Director of Finance, People & Culture are as follows:

• Lead strategic financial and HR planning in collaboration with Co-CEOs and Finance & Resources Committee
• Drive implementation of Strategy 2030 particularly those strategies pertaining to Womankind’s goals to value our team and decolonise our practice
• Support assessment of funding landscape and sustainable financing strategies
• Ensure effective 3-year rolling budgeting and planning cycles
• Line manage Finance, People & Culture team, provide coaching, supervision, and development support, whilst building team capacity through process improvement
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and reporting processes
• Lead annual audit and statutory accounts production in the UK and Kenya
• Act as Company Secretary to Board of Trustees
• Ensure consistent quality and delivery of all finance processes (internal and external)
• Strategic development and review of Human Resource management, policies and processes
• Shape and model a feminist, inclusive, and high-performing organisational culture that aligns with Womankind’s values
• Oversee design and implementation of a wellbeing strategy
• Lead on information technology, ensuring systems meet needs of the organisation
• Provide oversight of facilities in the UK and Kenya

The successful candidate will have:

• Qualification: A full, recognised accounting qualification
• Leadership: Proven track record delivering strategic plans as part of senior leadership team
• Experience: Significant experience leading Finance and HR functions
• International: Experience working across multiple jurisdictions
• Charity Sector: Understanding of charity governance, SORP accounting, and charity financing
• Management: Strong staff management and development experience
• Communication: Ability to explain complex financial matters to non-financial
• Governance: Experience working with and being accountable to Board of Trustees
• Values: Strong commitment to feminism, anti-racism, and social justice

This role can be based in either the UK or Kenya, with flexible hybrid working policies in place. The team are also open to considering candidates with strong experience on a 0.8 FTE basis.

Applications are open until Sunday 28^th September, with first stage interviews due to take place the week commencing 6^th October. CVs will be under continuous review in advance of this date and we reserve the right to close the advert early, so please submit your application today to make sure you don’t miss out!

St John Ambulance is partnering with Robertson Bell in their search for a Finance Business Partner (Volunteering) to join their high performing team on a permanent basis. St John Ambulance is England's leading, volunteer-powered first aid charity dedicated to first aid education and emergency response across England. They are committed to ensuring that everyone receives the help they need in a health crisis from those around them.

The Finance Business Partner in Volunteering is responsible for providing the first line of support and assistance with the development of financial plans, analysis of the financial performance and forecasts of the Volunteering businesses. They will be a key member of the Financial Planning and Insight team to ensure delivery of the annual three-year budgeting process, that is aligned to strategic operational plans.

The organisation:

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a team of over 1,400 employees and over 30,000 volunteers, united by their goal of saving lives through essential first aid services, training and campaigning.  As a charity with rich heritage and a long history of serving humanity, they are proud of their past and excited about creating a healthier, safer, more resilient future. 

St John Ambulance works at the heart of communities, supporting and enabling them to access and receive physical and mental health first aid. They do this through developing and providing effective community response and outreach services and using our longstanding expertise to empower people with vital clinical skills and the confidence to use them. There is also a buoyant social enterprise network which delivers first aid training and supplies medical consumables to businesses and consumers.

The key duties of this Finance Business Partner will be as follows:

• Provide impactful and effective finance business partnering to St John Budget Holders, the Senior Management and Executive Teams.
• Deliver high quality business and financial analysis, with detailed outcomes and benefits, to identify and present coherent rationales for change, to support effective delivery of services.
• Work with the relevant stakeholders, to timetable in the production of the charity’s monthly management accounts, the annual budgeting and in-year forecasting process.
• Drive continuous improvement in St John’s financial management reporting, forecasting and analysis.
• Utilise technology and tools to continuously improve the presentation and content of the charity’s financial management reports.
• Provide clear and understandable narrative to stakeholders and the rest of the team, advocating good accounting principles.
• Identify and implement cost and efficiency savings, without compromising the quality of the service and accuracy of the reporting.
• Work with business partners to provide the financial analysis and appraisal for business cases.

The successful candidate will have:

• A full professional accountancy qualification (CCAB or CIMA).
• Ideally, experience in the charity sector and working in large complex organisations.
• Significant experience in management accounting processes.
• Demonstrable, previous, extensive experience in a finance business partner role.
• Track record of supporting the end-to-end processes for in-year forecasts and annual budgets.
• Experience in dealing with a stakeholders at all levels, internal and external.
• Excellent influencing skills, with confidence and gravitas to respectfully challenge.

This role is being offered Nationwide within the UK, with only occasional travel required to an office for key in-person meetings. Applicants must be willing and able to attend occasional meetings in the evenings, via Teams. TOIL and flexible working arrangements facilitate this.

The closing date for applications is on Sunday 7^th September, with first stage interview due to take place the week commencing 15^th September. Applications will be under continuous review in advance of this date so please do not delay in applying to make sure you don’t miss out!

The National Youth Agency is looking for a new Policy and Public Affairs Manager to join our Policy, Insights and External Affairs Team.
 
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time - 37 hours per week
Salary: £37,000 - £42,000 per annum, depending on experience
Remote: This role is homebased with travel for meetings, events and conferences and staff residentials.
 
What we do
 
As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.
 
We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work
 
About the Role
 
This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of youth work in England. As Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the National Youth Agency (NYA), you’ll play a central role in influencing national policy and driving change that impacts young people’s lives.
 
We’re looking for a dynamic and strategic individual to join our Policy, Insights and External Affairs Directorate. You’ll work closely with the Head of Policy and Public Affairs, line manage the Policy and Public Affairs Officer, and collaborate with colleagues and sector partners to deliver a bold and proactive policy agenda that champions youth work in policy making. Your work will ensure the voice of the NYA and the youth sector is placed at the heart of national policy and funding decisions.
 
This role is central to driving NYA’s policy impact: you will lead high-profile policy projects, build strong relationships with political and policy stakeholders, produce influential written outputs, curate strategic events, and represent the organisation at key external engagements. You’ll also be at the forefront of monitoring and interpreting developments across Westminster - from government consultations to parliamentary debates - using these insights to shape our influencing and advocacy efforts.
 
This is an exciting time to join the NYA. Your work will directly contribute to meaningful change for young people, helping to secure the recognition, investment and support that youth work deserves.
 
Key responsibilities for this role will include:
 

• Work with the Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Policy and Public Affairs Officer, and key internal and external stakeholders to help design, manage and deliver a cutting-edge policy agenda and stakeholder outreach programme
• Line manage the Policy and Public Affairs Officer, delegating work effectively and supporting their professional development
• Identify and build positive relationships with key political and policy stakeholders who are critical to advancing our mission and amplifying the voice of the youth work.
• Manage policy projects, including drafting project plans, timelines and budgets, in collaboration with key internal and external stakeholders
• Monitor the shifting national policy and political landscape, including parliamentary inquiries, consultations, political briefings and government announcements, and advise internal and external stakeholders on opportunities and risks
• Provide the secretariat for the National Youth Sector Advisory Board (NYSAB), convening the youth sector with government departments
• Build strong relationships with peer organisations and stakeholders and identify opportunities for collaborative working to further NYA’s mission
• Organise high-quality events and policy seminars to raise the profile of the organisation
• Manage the creation of a range of high-quality written outputs for various audiences, including policy briefings, blogs and consultation responses
• Work closely with the Head of Policy and Public Affairs and Local Policy and Partnerships Manager to connect and align our national and local policy influencing and work
• Represent the NYA at external meetings and events
• Please refer to our Candidate Pack for more information on the role and the requirements.

 
Why Work for NYA?
 

• NYA operates as a people-first organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
• NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
• A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
• NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
• We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.

How to Apply:
 
To apply, please submit the following via our online application platform by 11:59pm on Sunday 14th September 2025:

• A detailed CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements in line with the person specification in the About You section.
• A covering letter (maximum two sides) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the requirements in the About You section.
• We will request data for our EEDI monitoring purposes, providing this is optional.

 
Please note: the covering letter is an essential part of the application process and will be assessed as part of your full application. We use AI detector software, so cover letters or CV’s with over 30% AI generated content with be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance. CV’s will not be accepted without a cover letter.
 
The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.
 
At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.
 
We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.
 
REF-223415