Support work jobs

Job Description

Brent Mencap has been passionate about a healthier and fairer Brent since 1979. We’ve developed and run successful housing, employment, health, advice, wellbeing and self-advocacy services. During austerity and Covid we diversified, successfully taking on NHS work with people with long-term health conditions. We provide social prescribing support and health and wellbeing coaching to patients for Brent GPs. In 2024-5 we helped over 18000 people. We’re a leading partner on the Brent Health Educators Programme. Recently we’ve focused on developing and retaining a much larger staff group, using our data better and improving our marketing.

Brent Mencap offers fantastic free creative and wellbeing activities for people with a learning disability, autism and long-term health conditions. These have flourished since Covid. People love yoga, poetry, singing, gardening, Breathe and Move, self-advocacy, campaigning, awareness raising, CREATE art activities for young people, external trips and parties. Small grants, donations and our reserves fund this while we get longer term funding. Our self-advocates want us to focus on paid employment, youth services and making Brent Council use accessible information properly. People with a learning disability, neurodiversity and their family carers are inclusively supported by social prescribers for advice and by health educators/coaches for health-related matters if needed.

Our current Executive Director, who has led Brent Mencap so well for 25 years wants to retire. The successful candidate will build on Brent Mencap’s history, current success and potential so our long-term passion for a healthier and fairer Brent can evolve and improve the lives of Brent People. Are you the amazing successor to lead and inspire our talented, committed team?

We are looking for someone who  

· Has the relevant voluntary sector experience, vision, determination and leadership skills

· Is committed to developing and supporting our diverse staff group

· Can see the bigger picture but also focuses on the important details

· Supports our ethos of person-centred service delivery and activities

· Can communicate well with users, partners, staff, trustees and funders

· Enjoys influencing and raising awareness

· Is entrepreneurial, savvy, confident and can maintain our current  financial stability and diversify our income streams

· Understands the lived experience of disability, long term health conditions and inequality  and wants to improve their lives

· Understands the importance of marketing and data to challenge inequality, promote positive change and attract new funds.

· Can prioritise reviewing and improving our data collection

· Can develop funding project plans that includes staffing for enhanced  wellbeing and creative activities, for  young people, employment  related support and other identified needs

In addition, they will have to:

· Work with the Board of Trustees and staff to develop our vision, implement strategic plans and  deliver agreed objectives

· Be able to ensure all aspects of our work are done safely, legally, in line with our articles/constitution  and able to assess risks and mitigate them

· Be responsible for staff development, management and all aspects of the administration of the organisation

· Be an ambassador for Brent Mencap, meeting and working with leaders with statutory and voluntary sector, Royal Mencap and local Mencaps

· Represent the lived experiences and voices of people with learning disabilities, neurodivergence, long term conditions and their families who inform our work and the work of others in Brent

· Work late occasionally, attend evening events, meetings and occasional weekends and undertake any other necessary tasks as required to ensure Brent Mencap functions safely.

In order to deliver services effectively, a degree of flexibility is required and the post holder may be required to perform work not specifically referred to above. This job description will be subjected to review with the post holder, from time to time to ensure it accurately reflects the duties and range of the post.

This post is:

• subject to Enhanced DBS Disclosure

• subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. It will be necessary for a disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and barring Service for details of any previous criminal convictions.

• Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK

• Please note: Our office base is on the first floor of a Victorian building with steep stairs.

To be shortlisted,

· Candidates must fully complete our application form, and show clearly how their previous experience and knowledge meets all aspects of the person specification with examples given of actual actions/experience relating to the person specification. Please go to our website to complete the application by 9.00am on 28th August. We do not accept CVs

· Be prepared to visit Brent Mencap so key staff and self-advocates can meet them informally before the interview day  or have a 60–90-minute Teams meeting with them. To arrange a face-to-face or Teams  meet up on a Wednesday only  please contact our office manager Simon via the website.

Interview details

· A 4-part Interview with senior staff, self-advocates, operational managers and trustees, will take place at Brent Mencap on Friday 5th or 12th September 2025. Shortlisted candidates will be given a paper-based scenario to complete and send to us on the Thursday before the interview

· We anticipate the full interviews will take 2.5 hours with a 30-minute break at some point.

Sustainable Living Project Manager 

Salary: £35,500p.a. FTE 

We also offer 27 days of annual leave (pro-rated for hours worked) plus bank holidays and a birthday day off; extra days leave for travelling using alternatives to flying; the opportunity to join the UK’s first net carbon pension scheme and 8% employer pension contributions; a core hours system of working and enhanced family friendly policies.

Contract: Permanent  

Hours:  37.5 hours per week; 30 hours per week, or another flexible working pattern will be considered 

Location: Home based with some travel within England 

Keep Britain Tidy is one of the UK’s leading environmental charities. At a time when we are living in a world that is facing its greatest environmental challenges, the work we do has never been more important or more urgent. We recognise the huge contribution that individuals and communities can make by taking action to mitigate the pressing global challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.

If this resonates with you, please read on.  We have an exciting opportunity for the right person to join our team. We are looking for someone who can work with us to develop and deliver an ambitious audience engagement initiative designed to empower and support people and communities to live more sustainable lives.

Using research insights compiled by our award-winning Centre for Social Innovation, you will pro-actively design, curate and manage an online engagement tool for our large audience of supporters and volunteers. Working collaboratively across the organisation, you will ensure cross-over with our other impactful campaigns and volunteer engagement programmes. You will help design and undertake ongoing monitoring and engagement to ensure that we understand the impact of our offer, and that we can report on it and learn from it. Alongside this, you will work with colleagues to ensure that the project is suitably funded into the future. As the project progresses, there will be additional scope to grow and shape the project dependent on funding. 

Environmental change is affecting us all. We want people from all backgrounds to be part of the solution and help us make the changes that cannot wait. It is for this reason that Keep Britain Tidy has flexible and supportive policies for all our staff and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.  If you need any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, you just need to let us know. 

If you are interested in this job and want to help us make a difference, please review a copy of the full job description and  continue to apply.

As part of the application process, you will need to answer 3 questions and submit a tailored CV which fully demonstrates the essential skills/experience asked for within the job description.  We also ask you to complete equal opportunities monitoring information as we want to try to make sure that our worforce is representative of the population and we are not excluding any community. Please note that this information will be held separately.

The deadline for applications is 09:00 Tuesday 26 August 2025. We reserve the right to close the application window early if we receive a high number of applications.

For successful candidates, interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 September 2025.  Candidates are requested to be available for 1 hour and 45 minutes in total. If you require an in-person interview, please let us know.

We have signed the pledge to always #ShowTheSalary for the roles that we advertise. 

We are proud winners of the Working Families’ Best Small Employer Award 2021. 

No agencies please. 

Salary: £67,752 per annum, plus excellent benefits

Contract: Permanent

Hours Per week: 37.5 hours per week you will be required to work in - person a minimum of two days per week In line with our hybrid working model,

Our Foundation

We are an independent charitable organisation working to build a healthier UK. Health is our most precious asset. Good health enables us to live happy, fulfilling lives, fuels our prosperity, and helps build a stronger society. Yet good health remains out of reach for too many people in the UK and services are struggling to provide access to timely, high-quality care. It doesn't have to be like this. Our mission is to help build a healthier UK by:

1. Improving people's health and reducing inequalities

2. Supporting radical innovation and improvement in health and care services

3. Providing evidence and analysis to improve health and care policy.

We aim for excellence across our work and will achieve this by producing research and analysis, shaping policy and practice, building skills, knowledge, and capacity, and acting as a catalyst for change. Everyone has a stake and a part to play in improving our health. By working together, we can build a healthier UK.

About the role

Are you passionate about shaping policy to improve workforce health and reduce inequalities? We are seeking a Policy and Research Manager to join our Healthy Lives directorate and contribute to advancing the recommendations of the Commission for Healthier Working Lives.

In this pivotal role, you will lead the delivery of policy development and research projects, including externally commissioned work, ensuring outputs are delivered on time and with impact. You will support the implementation of a programme testing preventative workplace interventions, synthesise emerging evidence, and develop credible policy recommendations to influence decision-makers.

You will also play a key role in building and maintaining stakeholder relationships, representing the Health Foundation externally, and communicating insights to a wide range of audiences across policy, practice, and research communities.

This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual with strong analytical capabilities, excellent communication skills, and a commitment to improving health through action on the wider determinants. We are looking for someone who can work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-profile environment.

The Healthy Lives directorate leads the Health Foundation’s strategic work on the wider determinants of health, focusing on areas such as employment, education, housing, and community. Within this, the Economic Determinants of Health team builds evidence and policy analysis to influence government and employer action. Our independence, supported by our endowment, enables us to innovate and test practical solutions that drive long-term change.

How to apply

Our priority is to find the right individual for each opportunity. We are dedicated to building an inclusive workplace that values diversity and invite you to find out more. If you would like to apply, please submit your CV, and using no more than 1000 words answer the following application questions:

1. Describe your experience of designing a policy research programme. How did you select the questions and research methods? How did you ensure the research was delivered to high quality and had an impact?

2. Give an example where you have collaborated effectively with stakeholders to deliver a piece of work. How did you engage key influencers and ensure that diverse voices were heard? What impact did this engagement have?

3. Share your achievements in developing ideas that have had an influence on national or local employment or health policy. How did you make the case for change and gain traction for the idea, e.g. media coverage or direct influencing?

Our commitment to inclusion and diversity

We are committed to an inclusive hiring process, where every candidate has the chance to showcase their unique skills and experience in an accessible, and supported environment, to ensure that we can make the best appointment for each job on merit. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and encourage those from underrepresented groups in this field to apply to us. We have identified three diverse groups, in particular, we want to achieve a better balance across our organisation between men and women, increase representation of people from black and ethnic minority backgrounds and recruit more people with disabilities. As part of this commitment, we particularly welcome applications from these groups. Apply to join our team and let's work towards building a diverse and inclusive workplace together.

Help us work together to make the recruitment process and potential future employment more accessible and enjoyable for you.

Closing date: August 31, 2025, at 23:00

Interview date: September 11 or 12. 2025

Making The Leap is an innovative societal change charity that aims to make a big difference. From direct delivery, to advocacy and leadership, we refuse to stay in our lane and believe passionately that those we exist to serve have the right to be anything they want to be. To say that this is an exciting time for the organisation would be an understatement, as our incredible funders, donors, partners and supporters have given us the chance to move to the next level, and have further influence and delivery nationally.

The ethos of the organisation is to be passionate about helping young people from less-advantaged backgrounds; build up other charities and community groups and want to partner with them or support them; want to work with businesses and organisations to get things done; and care deeply about addressing racial inequity.

The organisation has a number of strands: core Making The Leap; the UK Social Mobility Awards; the Social Mobility Podcast; The Social Mobility List and Black Charity Leaders.

Are you an excellent storyteller with a passion for public engagement and making a difference? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where no two days are the same?

The Methodist Church is looking for a talented and proactive Media Officer to join our busy and ambitious Communications Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the national voice of one of the UK’s largest Christian denominations, ensuring that we tell stories of a Church that is called to be growing, inclusive, justice-seeking and evangelistic, reaching people in meaningful and engaging ways.

You will be at the heart of media operations - driving national press coverage, responding to breaking news, and crafting compelling stories from around the country that highlight the Church’s mission and values.

You’ll have excellent skills in finding and telling stories, in print and through audio and video. You’ll have experience working in a busy press office or newsroom and be willing to do some travel.

This role offers the chance for you to make a real impact – sharing powerful stories of transformation, faith, and social justice across national platforms. You’ll be supported by a highly skilled, passionate and welcoming team, with plenty of opportunities to grow and develop professionally.

For more information about the role visit The Communications Team - The Methodist Church.  You can also contact Jillian Moody, Director of Communications.

Interviews will take place at Methodist Church House, Tavistock Place, London WC1H 9SF

Closing date: 01 September 2025

Interview date : 18 September 2025

Prospectus are excited to be working exclusively with our client to help them recruit for an interim Head of Fundraising to join their team. The organisation is a charity founded in 2018 by families bereaved by gambling-related suicide. They operate the UK's only specialist support service for people affected by gambling-related suicide. Their work prevents gambling-related harm for those who gamble and prevents those impacted by a gambling-related suicide from suffering additional harm.

This role is offered on a flexible 6-month contract basis paying a salary between £55,000 to £60,000 per annum pro rata with remote working arrangements and occasional staff meetings.

The Head of Fundraising is responsible for developing and delivering the fundraising strategy to support the charity’s work across its programme areas, including the family support, research, and prevention. They will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer and colleagues across the organisation to deliver a multi-income stream plan. They will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with funders to promote ongoing support. Critically, the post holder will be responsible for developing fundraising propositions in response to the new statutory levy on gambling operators and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the charity’s funding pipeline.

They are looking for someone with demonstrable experience in a leadership level fundraising role delivering a transformational strategic plan. They are looking for a candidate with a demonstrable track record of raising funds from multiple income streams, including trusts, foundations, government and public bodies, and other funding bodies. They are looking for someone with demonstrable experience of growing and developing an organisation’s fundraising and income generation capability. The ideal candidate will be persuasive and passionate about the charity's aims and objectives with a strong belief in and commitment to their mission, vision and values.

At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome all candidates to apply, regardless of age, sex/gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or pregnancy/maternity. If you have any disability and require reasonable adjustment/s to any part of the process, then please contact Firas El Dib at Prospectus.

If you feel you meet some of the criteria but not all, we really hope you'll enquire and learn more. Prospectus can advise and support on each part of the role and hopefully your application, so we look forward to hearing from you. 

In order to apply please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will arrange for a meeting to brief you on the role. You'll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon. 

About us

The Refugee Council is the nation’s refugee charity. Together with community groups, partners and volunteers, we help people who have escaped war and persecution to rebuild their lives, integrate into communities, and play their part in Britain. Born in the aftermath of World War II, our frontline services support over 14,000 refugees each year to find safety, get to know their neighbours, and enter education, training or work. We share our evidence and expertise with policymakers to help build integrated communities where everyone can contribute. 

Our Values

Our values underpin everything we do:

• Inclusive: We are inclusive. We work with - not for - refugees and people seeking asylum, so they have an equal voice, co-producing projects and ensuring their expertise and experiences are at the heart of what we do.
• Collaborative: We are collaborative. Working with others is a priority in order to have the collective impact that is vital to achieve policy and practice reform.
• Courageous: We speak out when we see injustice, cruelty and unfairness. We always stand up for what we believe is the right thing to do to transform the experiences of those seeking protection in our country.
• Respectful: We are respectful of all those we interact with. We treat everyone – our staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, partners and people we disagree with – with the same respect, professionalism and understanding.

About the role

This role delivers the charity’s public affairs work, which aims to influence decision-makers to secure change in policy and practice for refugees and people seeking asylum.

Staff benefits

To reward our staff for the value they bring, we offer a variety of enhanced terms and conditions and a wide range of benefits, including:

• Training & Development
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Pension Scheme
• Work Life Balance Policies
• Employer-Sponsored Volunteering
• And more.

Let’s work together to improve the lives of refugees in the UK - apply on our website today.

Closing date: 9 September 2025.

Ensuring that the Refugee Council is an inclusive and accessible place to work is important to us. We want to enable people from different backgrounds to apply and thrive with us. We believe our recruitment process enables that and are also happy to make adjustments on request.

The West Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church (based in Yardley), is looking for an individual to provide technical expertise on buildings and property in support of Synod Officers, members of Synod Committees and local churches.

The successful candidate will be working to a wide brief and is expected to undertake a range of duties including, but not limited to, advising and initiating action on property issues in local churches, overseeing quinquennial inspections and manse inspections, and providing advice on property-related matters to Synod Committees.

We are looking for someone who:

• has experience of property matters either through extensive operational management or through the practice of a relevant profession, while holding appropriate qualifications at higher or professional level
• has some knowledge of charity procedures
• is a team player and is used to working collaboratively
• possesses effective oral and written communication skills
• possesses sound IT skills
• has a willingness to work within the Christian ethos of the United Reformed Church
• can work flexibly with some evening and weekend work

In return we can offer a friendly, supportive and flexible working environment, five weeks’ annual leave and a contributory pension scheme.

We do not accept CVs and require candidates to fill in an application form to ensure we consider each person on equal terms. We follow United Reformed Church Safer Recruitment Policy and Practice.

Closing date for applications: 9am on Monday 8 September 2025. Interviews will be held in the week beginning 15 September 2025.

Individual Giving Retention Fundraiser

Job reference: REQ004424

12 months, fixed term (maternity cover)

£32,684

London, E15 2GW with working from home most of the time.

Full time, 35 hours a week

As an Individual Giving, Retention Fundraiser, you’ll work as part of the Public Fundraising team responsible for managing a portfolio of Individual Giving campaigns from inception through to evaluation to generate funds, improve engagement and increase life-time value of existing supporters

Location: Here East Press Centre, 14 East Bay Lane, London, E15 2GW with working from home most of the time.

The role

In this role, you will:

· Be responsible for managing retention campaigns, coordinating with a number of different stakeholders, both internal and externally.

· Experience of monitoring and reporting of results and other financial data.

· Experience of working with data for fundraising purposes, either in using a database to select and segment data or of producing briefs to do so.

· Work with the Senior Individual Giving Fundraisers to deliver campaigns against agreed budgets

About you

The successful applicant will:

· Have direct experience of campaign management across a range of direct marketing activities including direct mail, digital, email and telephone

· Experience of working to a busy schedule, managing a number of campaigns simultaneously

· Have an interest in testing new campaigns, and a passion for raising funds to enable Scope to continue the work that they do.

Please give examples in your application to show how you have these skills.

We also ask you to share how you support Scope’s values and our goal of a fair and equal future for disabled people.

Our values are being pioneering, courageous, connected, open and fair

By living our values and trusting each other, we give our colleagues freedom and space to be creative, push boundaries and change minds.

Disabled candidates

We are a disability equality charity. We encourage applications from disabled people and people with impairments, conditions, and access needs. We want to create a workforce that is a true reflection of the communities we serve.

Scope will interview all disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria for the post. This is part of our commitment as a Disability Confident Leader. Just let us know in your application that you are applying under the Offer an Interview Scheme. This was previously known as the Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

If you require adjustments through your journey with us, please email us via our website.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At the heart of everything we do at Scope is Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.

We encourage people of colour and other underrepresented communities to apply and join Scope. We believe that this will bring new ideas and help us work better. We know that a variety of perspectives and viewpoints will greatly support the work we do and help us to reach all communities. 

We want everyone to feel like they belong. We value each person as an individual. We will treat everyone with dignity and respect and we want to recognise all parts of a person's identity.

We are a disability equality charity. So, we will build a culture that is accessible and inclusive first. We will aim for the same high standards in all our work. We will listen, learn and keep improving.

You can find out more about our approach to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion on the Scope website.

Scope benefits

We believe hard work deserves reward and recognition. We offer a wide range of benefits including:

· 27 days holiday plus bank holidays

· Flexible, hybrid and remote working options

· Pay progression at 6 months and 2 years

· Company pension

· Excellent training and career development

· Strong colleague networks across disability, race and LGBTQ+

· Discounted gym membership, cycle to work scheme and much more.

How to apply

To apply please visit our website via the link and apply online.

Please note that successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Closing date for applications:11:59pm GMT, Monday 1 September 2025.

Interviews to take place in week commencing 8 September 2025.

Position: Education Workshop Facilitator (Freelance Pool)

Organisation: Just Finance Foundation

Fee: Half-day rate £150. Half day usually consists of 2 x 45 minute workshops. Rate is inclusive of travel
Location: London primary schools

Application Deadline: 26 August 2025

About Us
Just Finance Foundation (JFF) is a national charity dedicated to improving financial wellbeing across the UK through financial education. JFF provides schools with innovative financial education programmes that equip the next generation with the skills, knowledge and confidence to make informed money choices.

LifeSavers is our financial education programme, delivered free to primary schools across the UK. We work directly with teachers, educators and schools to provide a wide range of curriculum linked classroom resources and practical activities to engage children with financial education from a young age.

The Role
We’re building a pool of freelance facilitators to deliver engaging, 45-minute workshops using JFF’s pre-developed content. This is a flexible, ad-hoc role perfect for educators or professionals passionate about financial literacy and working with children.

Why Join Us?

· Flexible work: workshops are scheduled in advance, and you choose which sessions you’d like to deliver

· Meaningful impact on children’s financial futures

· Full training and onboarding provided

· Competitive pay (£150 per half-day) with travel expenses included

· Work alongside supportive JFF staff and funder volunteers

Key Responsibilities

· Deliver workshops confidently using provided materials (no content creation)

· Engage pupils aged 9–11 with interactive facilitation

· Support funder volunteers assisting in sessions, ensuring they have a positive experience

· Maintain professional relationships with schools and JFF team

· Provide feedback and support evaluation processes

Requirements

· Experience working with children aged 9–11 or in an education setting

· Strong group facilitation and communication skills

· Professional, reliable, and adaptable approach

· Enhanced DBS check or willingness to obtain one

· Interest or experience in financial education desirable

Additional Information
This role is freelance/self-employed. You will be responsible for managing your own tax, National Insurance contributions, and any other statutory obligations related to your self-employment. Just Finance Foundation will not deduct tax or National Insurance from your fees.

How to Apply
Please send your CV and a short covering letter (max 600 words) outlining your relevant experience and approach to engaging young learners

 
Application Deadline: 26 August 2025 Interviews: Remote, week commencing 1 September 2025

Join our team as a Teaching and Assessment Research Specialist, helping us to support teachers, champion great teaching and raise the status of the profession by helping teachers to develop their assessment literacy, develop a better understanding of different assessment approaches, their advantages and disadvantages and how they link to desired learning outcomes and evidence-informed teaching approaches. This post is funded by the Comino Foundation.

Unfortunately we are unable to consider applicants based outside of the UK at this time.

For an audio description of this role and the full application pack, please visit our website

Job Title: Teaching and Assessment Research Specialist

Reports To: Research Lead with mentorship provided by Prof Bill Lucas, Professor of Learning and Director of the Centre for Real-World Learning at the University of Winchester

Salary: up to £39,500 per annum

Contract: Full time, Fixed Term Contract until October 2027 (potential of extension, subject to the availability of project funding).

Hours: A full working week is 35 hours and we offer flexibility with hours. 

Benefits: Flexible working, generous annual leave, 8.5% employer pension contribution, Paycare, individual and team professional development/learning budget. A full list of our benefits can be found in the application pack. 

Based: Either Hybrid or Remote can be considered.

Start date: Ideally the person will be in post by 20th October 2025.

Deadline and interview: Applications will close on 31st August 2025.

Interviews will be scheduled for w/c 1st September (first round) and 8th September (second round) but we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis so may interview as soon as a suitable candidate is identified.

The interview will consist of a task and competency-based interview.

Application: Please apply by uploading your CV and cover letter. Please use the guidance in the application pack when writing your cover letter. We encourage you to apply promptly as we will be reviewing applications as they are received and may complete the process earlier than expected if an excellent candidate is identified at an early stage​.

The Organisation

The Chartered College of Teaching is a charity and the professional body for teachers. We are working to empower a knowledgeable and respected teaching profession through membership and accreditation.

We are dedicated to bridging the gap between practice and research and equipping teachers from the moment they enter the classroom with the knowledge and confidence to make the best decisions for their pupils.

Our activities mainly focus on four key areas:

• membership
• teacher CPD and accreditation
• research, policy and events
• online and print resources

The Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity for a postgraduate-level researcher who wishes to combine their expertise in education research and astute understanding of real-life classroom practice. While the role will sit within the Chartered College of Teaching, the postholder will also receive mentoring from Professor Bill Lucas, Professor of Learning and Director of the Centre for Real-Life Learning at the University of Winchester, providing a rare opportunity to combine academically rigorous research with real-life application. As part of a project funded by the Comino Foundation, the Teaching and Assessment Research Specialist will help to increase teachers’ assessment literacy by managing a portfolio of assessment-themed online events, developing a suite of assessment-themed resources, co-ordinating the work of the Next Generation Assessment group and developing an overview of evidence-informed teaching and assessment strategies and how they link to intended student outcomes, based on a series of rapid evidence reviews.

Over the course of the assignment, you will support the Head of Research and Policy and work closely with the Research Lead and the Events and Engagement Manager to create and manage an engaging portfolio of online, assessment-themed events and resources.

This would be an ideal opportunity for anyone with proven expertise in and understanding of the links between evidence-informed teaching and assessment approaches and how they link to desired learning outcomes. You will:

• rapidly review evidence of assessment methods and pedagogies designed to cultivate knowledge, skills and dispositions of pupils, identifying gaps
• with support, produce evidence synthesis for a small number of key methods, not currently widely used by teachers
• manage a portfolio of online events aimed at developing teachers’ and school leaders’ levels of assessment literacy
• co-ordinate the work of the Next Generation Assessment group
• create online resources for the Chartered College member platform relating to evidence-informed teaching and assessment.

The postholder will also be required to collate policy announcements around assessment and monitor any developments relating to the use of EdTech and AI for assessment. The ultimate aim of this work is to help illustrate that the common ‘trad’ versus ‘prog’ debates that still dominate many discussions in education are ultimately unhelpful and teachers need a wide range of different teaching approaches to help support a range of intended learning outcomes. This would be an ideal opportunity for anyone with proven expertise in and understanding of the links between evidence-informed teaching and assessment approaches and how they link to desired learning outcomes.

Skills and experience

Essential

• Postgraduate qualification in Education or a relevant field
• Experience conducting rapid evidence reviews relating to teaching, learning and assessment
• Experience of teaching in schools in the UK or internationally
• Experience producing content for a range of audiences including teachers, school leaders and policymakers
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of effective, evidence-informed approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment
• Experience developing and managing an online portfolio of events and resources
• Experience managing and chairing meetings, including the production of written summaries of discussions for a wide range of audiences

Desirable

• A PhD in a relevant field
• Experience presenting complex information in a concise, graphic format
• Experience working with Canva, InDesign or other graphic design software
• Publications in peer-reviewed journals
• Experience writing grant applications

As well as technical requirements, we are looking for people who: 

• believe in the transformative power of education, see teachers as key drivers in achieving improved educational outcomes for all and are motivated to contribute to this change
• communicate clearly and effectively, understand the knack of conveying complex ideas in an easy to understand way
• respect the work schedules and patterns of colleagues
• are learning- and feedback-oriented, intellectually curious, and keen to develop their skillset
• are willing to develop their skills further
• are committed to equality and diversity, which you demonstrate in your work and daily interactions with colleagues, members and other stakeholders. 

Why Us?

As an organisation we care deeply about creating a working environment that supports our people to grow personally and professionally. These are reflected in our organisational values which outline the distinctive working culture we are looking to create. In particular,nthese values are reflected in our commitment to:

• Flexible working: responsive management, flexible hours, hybrid or fully remote working
• Professional development, including formal and informal training and support
• Transparency and ownership: we have an open culture that ensures all staff guide our strategic direction
• Mental health and wellbeing: access to health and wellbeing advice and health cash plan.

Diversity and inclusion at the Chartered College

As a growing organisation we are committed to:

• Becoming increasingly representative of the sector and geographies that we operate in
• Providing a positive experience of work as part of an inclusive culture led by our organisational values
• Maintaining an annual EDI action plan - led by the internal team.

What to expect from the recruitment process

• All applications are anonymised until the point of interview.
• Line Managers trained in recognising bias.
• We implement a standardised interview template and competencies matrix for a fair and transparent process.
• All interviews are conducted via Zoom and the use of camera is optional.

If you require any adjustments in order to proceed with an application please let us know.

Your Personal Data

As part of the recruitment process, the Chartered College of Teaching collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants. The organisation is committed to being transparent about how it collects and uses that data and to meeting its data protection obligations.

Pre-employment checks
All conditional offers of employment are subject to:

• Two satisfactory references
• Proof of qualifications
• Eligibility to work in the UK.

We are an employer committed to the safeguarding of children and young people.

The Vacancy

Job Title: Policy Manager

Location: London/Hybrid

Salary: £43,294.95 per annum

Weekly Hours: 35

Reference: YMC1130049

There’s a new opportunity for a strategic thinker with a passion for influencing public policy and making a real difference in young people’s lives.  YMCA England & Wales is looking for a Policy Manager to play a pivotal role in shaping the future for communities across the country.

As the largest and oldest youth charity in the world, YMCA is a dynamic federation committed to supporting young people in mind, body, and spirit. In this exciting and influential role, you’ll lead our policy function – ensuring YMCA's voice is heard across Westminster, Whitehall, and beyond.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of Policy, Campaigns & Research, the Policy Manager will drive our engagement with government, policymakers, and stakeholders by crafting evidence-based positions that reflect the needs of the YMCA movement and the young people we serve.

You will be responsible for monitoring emerging policy developments, preparing responses to government announcements, and producing high-quality briefings and reports for internal and external stakeholders. You’ll work closely with local YMCAs to ensure our positions are grounded in lived experience and reflect the realities faced by communities across England and Wales.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape public discourse, build influential relationships, and help us champion the issues that matter most – from youth homelessness and mental health to employment and education.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of YMCA’s public policy positions using robust research and insights.
• Monitor, analyse, and respond to government announcements, select committee work, and policy shifts.
• Produce briefings and reports for the Chief Executive, Board of Trustees, and senior leaders.
• Develop strong relationships with government departments, civil servants, and coalition partners.
• Collaborate with local YMCAs to ensure grassroots experiences inform national policy.
• Amplify the voice of young people in all areas of policy development.
• Support and work closely with colleagues across the Policy, Communications & International (PCI) team.

About You

You are a confident communicator with a deep understanding of the UK policy landscape and experience influencing public policy at a senior level. You bring strategic insight, exceptional analytical skills, and the ability to turn complex information into clear, impactful messages.

You’ll have:

• Proven experience in a policy role, ideally in the charity or public sector.
• Strong political awareness and understanding of policy-making processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience producing briefings and reports for senior audiences.
• The ability to build collaborative relationships across a wide range of stakeholders.
• A passion for social justice and a commitment to YMCA’s mission and values.

Why Join Us?

At YMCA England & Wales, you’ll be part of a supportive, inclusive organisation making a tangible impact. You’ll help drive real change for young people and communities, working in a role that offers purpose, flexibility, and professional development.  If you're interested please do not delay, due to recent high volume of applications we may have to close the application window earlier than 24th August.

Our recruitment process is anonymised and candidates' names are hidden. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. Safer recruitment is important to us and the successful applicant will be asked to provide two references. They will also be required to complete a safeguarding self-declaration, safeguarding training and undertake a DBS check.

Sustainable Merton, Merton's award winning environmental charity, is recruiting a dynamic individual to oversee our Community Changemakers initiative and deliver grassroots acitivity in Pollards Hill, Mitcham.  If you are passionate about sustainability, volunteering and making a difference in a local community, we would love to hear from you!

This role combines volunteer leadership with project management. The successful candidate will split their time between:
- Project management and delivery of the WeRPollards project (2 days/week), a grassroots local initiative running from September 2025 to September 2026
- Volunteer and operational management (1 day/week), supporting the charity as a whole
You will work closely with Moat Housing to deliver the WeR Pollards Community Changemaker project and also lead the development and implementation of a new volunteering strategy, support colleagues to adopt new volunteer processes,
and oversee our charity policies to support compliance and our organisational growth.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
WeRPollards project management
1. Group Development and Coordination
● Coordinate and facilitate monthly volunteer meetings at the Pollards Hill Wellbeing Studio.
● Attend the Wellbeing Studio on a weekly basis, attend schools and community pop-up events to increase awareness of and community engagement in the project
● Support volunteers with soft and technical skills development on their path to becoming Community Changemakers.
● Encourage retention and progression of existing volunteers whilst increasing group membership from 15 to 30.
● Liaise with Moat Foundation officer and project tutors to establish a pathway into volunteering and increasing membership of the WeRPollards group
● Work with colleagues at Sustainable Merton to align this grass roots work with their borough wide initiatives such as Merton Garden Streets, Mitcham Community Orchard, Repair Cafes, Preloved Studio and Merton’s Community Fridge.

2. Community Engagement
● In partnership with Pollards Hill Wellbeing Studio team, develop and implement a local engagement strategy to recruit and retain volunteers to become WeRPollards Community Changemakers.
● Design and deliver an induction and training programme for new volunteers.
● In collaboration with the PH Wellbeing Studio team conduct regular listening sessions to identify resident needs, interests and connect volunteers to, or help them develop, relevant community activities.
3. Project and Event Delivery
● Lead the volunteer group to plan and deliver community activities aligned with the 3R’s agenda, that are run out of the Wellbeing Studio, including:
○ Sewing Skills Workshops (Monthly, 10 sessions)
○ Community Gardening Sessions (Min. 5 sessions)
○ Repair Shed Sessions (Monthly, 9 sessions)
○ Street Planting Engagement & Delivery (Min. 3 events)

4. Capacity Building and Progression
● Deliver at least 6 training workshops including SMART goal setting and planning.
● Support residents to lead and take ownership of initiatives and to become Community Changemakers.
● Build a clear, accessible pathway for participation and leadership within the group and studio.

5. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
● Track Key Performance Indicators including:
○ Volunteer numbers, growth and retention (Target: 30 volunteers, 60% retention)
○ Number of volunteer hours contributed
○ Number of accredited or certified training courses completed
○ Number of volunteers progressing into leadership roles
○ Attendance and engagement in all community sessions
● Conduct volunteer satisfaction surveys and gather qualitative feedback.
● Report quarterly on progress to PHCC meetings, outcomes and impact to the Pollards Hill Community Committee.

Volunteer and operational management - Sustainable Merton

● Develop and implement a volunteering strategy covering recruitment, retention, induction, training, and development
● Identify and recruit a cohort of Community Changemakers
● Draft volunteer role descriptions across all projects
● Conduct annual volunteer surveys
● Plan and deliver twice-yearly recruitment drives
● Establish a volunteer recognition scheme
● Build partnerships with local organisations
● Create centralised onboarding systems
● Maintain and manage safeguarding policies and training records
● Collaborate with volunteers and staff on fundraising campaigns and applications
● Ensure our policies are kept up to date
● Oversee risk register
● Support reporting and KPI tracking
EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
Essential

● Experience of managing and supporting volunteers
● Community Engagement experience
● Understanding of environmental issues & the 3R’s agenda
● Project coordination and planning
● Knowledge of volunteer database management and GDPR for volunteers
● Excellent organisational and communication skills
● Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
● Proficiency with Google Suite
Desirable

● Budget monitoring or financial oversight experience
● Bid writing experience
● Knowledge of Merton and the Pollards Hill area

About you

You’re entrepreneurial, independent, and driven. You treat your work like it’s your own business - spotting opportunities, testing ideas, and chasing results.

If you’re a traditional charity fundraiser, this probably isn’t for you. But if you’re excited by risk, growth, and pace - keep reading.

Over the past three years, we’ve bought and scaled swim events, turned others down, failed fast, and doubled our unrestricted income. We want someone who’s up for that kind of journey over the next three years too.

You’re as comfortable pitching to a corporate partner as you are writing fundraising copy, tweaking button text, or building a forecast. You can move between detail and vision, instinct and data, phone calls and spreadsheets.

You know how to deepen supporter journeys, grow fundraising per head, and develop new income streams. Bonus points if you like outdoor swimming.

About us

We’re a Founder-led charity working to solve learn-to-swim for disabled children - and we aim to do that in the next ten years.

We’ve grown our impact 5x in the past three years and now raise over £1m in unrestricted income annually through our swim events. Our events attract 5,000 swimmers and 3,000 fundraisers, and we own and operate some of the UK’s most iconic outdoor swims - including the Dart10k and Bantham Swoosh - alongside a growing series of 24-hour relays in lakes and lidos.

We’re small, ambitious, and fast-moving. Strategy and delivery happen side by side. We work on multiple projects, test constantly, and keep things flexible and responsive. You’ll need to thrive in that environment to enjoy the role.

The role

We’re all driven, and you’ll need to be too - this is a fast-paced, ambitious environment with lots of learning and change.

We’re looking for a strategic, creative Head of Fundraising to lead our next phase of growth.

Your first focus will be stewarding our 3,000 fundraisers - overseeing segmented email journeys, managing a £40k prizing fund, and improving supporter care through deeper, more personal touchpoints. That might mean calls, events, or just finding ways to help people feel more connected to their impact.

Beyond that, you'll help us develop and test new income streams - from matched giving and regular giving, to sponsorships, repeat fundraising, and post-event conversion. You'll also play a key role in evolving our Challenge Events portfolio across in-person, virtual, and blended formats.

This role requires someone with a strong track record in fundraising growth, a test-and-learn mindset, and the ambition to build something big.

Core Responsibilities

• Strategy Development and Implementation
• Develop and execute a fundraising strategy aligned with the charity's objectives.
• Identify and cultivate new fundraising opportunities to diversify income streams.
• Defining our fundraising growth strategies, specifically around our event series.

Community and Events Fundraising

• Oversee the planning and execution of community fundraising initiatives, specifically with our event fundraisers.
• Engage and mobilise volunteers and supporters for fundraising activities.

Fundraiser Care

• Customer Lifetime value / retention / regular giving.
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, ensuring effective stewardship.
• Develop and implement donor retention strategies to increase long-term support and regular giving.

Trusts and Foundations

• Working closely with our Head of Programmes to oversee our bids process, working with specialists and utilising learnings from previous years.
• Deepen strong relationships with grant-making bodies and ensure compliance with grant requirements.

Corporate Partnerships

• Manage and develop corporate partnerships and event sponsorships. 
• Develop tailored proposals and pitches to attract corporate support.

Team Leadership

• Lead, inspire, and manage a small fundraising team, fostering a culture of high performance and collaboration.
• Provide mentorship and professional development opportunities for team members for both fundraising and marketing.

Monitoring and Reporting

• Track and report on fundraising performance against targets.
• Provide regular updates to the Senior Leadership Team. 

Qualifications and Experience

• Proven experience in a senior fundraising role.
• Proven experience working on fundraising events and event fundraising.
• Demonstrable success in developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies.
• Strong track record of securing major gifts, grant funding and/or corporate partnerships.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience in digital fundraising and leveraging social media platforms.
• Strong leadership and team management skills.
• Highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

Optional / Ideal Responsibilities

Marketing & Comms

• Developing Level Water’s marketing and communications strategy
• Leading strategy implementation and ensuring that we’re representing our Programmes work and impact work in the best possible way to our different groups of stakeholders. 

Digital Fundraising

• Leverage digital platforms, advertising and social media to enhance fundraising.
• Implement innovative online fundraising campaigns and initiatives.

Event growth and innovation

• Understanding the mass participation event landscape and its opportunities, ideally within the swimming sector but other sports experience very welcome.

Personal Attributes

• Passionate about the mission and values of Level Water.
• Strategic thinker with a results-oriented approach.
• Creative and innovative mindset.
• Resilient and adaptable, with a positive attitude.
• High level of integrity and commitment to ethical fundraising practices.

Please send a CV and Cover Letter (which can be a 2-3 minute video) to apply.