Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We're thrilled to be partnering with Christian charity Young Life International, a charity that believes in the power and potential of young people and helps them find hope and purpose. Their work begins with caring adults who meet young people right where they are, offering genuine friendship, a listening ear, and a heart for what really matters to them. By showing up with consistency, kindness and unconditional support, Young Life leaders help young people discover that their lives are full of worth, meaning and purpose. With fun, adventure, and authentic relationships, they create safe spaces where hope can take root. Through these trusted relationships, they gently earn the opportunity to share with young people the life-changing message of God’s love for them.
Young Life has been working with young people in communities across the UK and Ireland, and over the past five years, the London Team has grown from a few staff serving one borough to 12 staff and 63 volunteer leaders supporting over 1,000 young people across 11 boroughs.
We are seeking a passionate London Director of Development to build and develop meaningful relationships, initially with London-based high-net-worth individuals, securing significant funding to grow Young Life International's impact on young people in London and beyond. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in expanding a mission-driven charity's capacity to transform young lives.
In this influential brand new role, you'll develop an active portfolio of major donors and potential major donors, working towards establishing new funding each fiscal year including annual and multi-year commitments. You'll cultivate relationships with high-net-worth individuals and major trusts, represent Young Life in high-level meetings and networking events, and plan impactful vision events to inspire and engage supporters. Working collaboratively with senior management and fundraising colleagues, you'll connect donor interests with different aspects of Young Life's mission, inviting supporters to experience first-hand the life-changing work being done. You'll also lead on securing grants from key UK trusts and oversee an effective stewardship process to retain and grow donor support.
With the potential for wider influence across the UK and Europe, you'll lead by example in donor stewardship, train the wider team, and play a key role in expanding Young Life International's philanthropy efforts.
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate:
- Proven ability to build strong relationships with major donors and secure funding in the range of £10,000+
- Experience in securing multi-year funding from trusts, foundations, and institutional donors
- Ability to organise and deliver high-quality vision events to enable prospects to hear the case for support
- Leadership experience, capable of managing a high-performing team
This is a unique opportunity for a practicing Christian to combine strategic fundraising expertise with a passion for youth mission. You'll be part of a team that believes every young person deserves to be safe, loved and supported, helping young people in London discover hope and purpose through Jesus.
DBS Requirement: Enhanced and a PVG (due to camp in Scotland)
For more information, please contact Nick Thomas, Recruitment Consultant, Charisma Charity Recruitment. Your application should be submitted through the Charisma website and include your CV and supporting statement.
We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion*, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.
*In accordance with the Equality Act 2010, Part 1, Schedule 9, it is a genuine occupational requirement that the post holder is a practicing Christian and in agreement with the Young Life Statement of Faith.
Location: Hybrid – Ideally in London at least 3 days per week
Closing date: Sunday 23rd November 2025
Charisma vetting interviews must be completed by: Tuesday 25th November 2025
First stage interviews with Young Life International (Virtual): w/c 1st December 2025
Final stage interviews with Young Life International (In-person): w/c 8th December 2025
Registered Charity
51 - 100
Introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Policy Specialist (Children and Young People)
Are you interested in improving the lives of children and young people with a learning disability? Can you turn complex ideas into evidence-based policy? Are you a skilled communicator able to influence decision-makers? If so, we would love to hear from you!
We are currently looking for a Policy Specialist to join Mencap. This position sits within the Policy and Public Affairs teams of Mencap’s Campaigns, Advocacy and Activism Directorate (CAA). You will work closely with our influencing, information and advice, campaigning, and research work, as well as sector partners like the Disabled Children's Partnership.
This is an exciting new role to deliver policy change and enhance the rights of children and young people with a learning disability. At a key time to influence Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) education reform, we are seeking a policy specialist to shape policy work that reflects the needs and experiences of children, young people, and their families. Working within the policy team, you will be responsible for developing evidence-based policy work and influencing decision-makers.
This is a full time position (37.5 hours per week). We are flexible with your work location, but there may be some occasional travel needed to our London office or Westminster.
You will:
- Translate complex work into clear and persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses and reports.
- Work within wider coalitions of charities, building collaborative relationships and ensuring that the needs and priorities of our community are addressed.
- Develop and expand Mencap’s ‘Policy Shapers’ work, ensuring our work reflects the experiences of children and young people with a learning disability and their families.
- Support our information and advice team, briefing them on important developments, inputting into casework discussions relevant to your areas of work, and supporting the creation of public information resources.
- Represent Mencap at meetings and events, with MPs, civil servants, and sector partners.
- Identify and analyse relevant research to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.
You will bring to this role:
- Experience of working on public policy issues.
- Strong communication skills: experience tailoring your messaging to a variety of different audiences and representing an organisation.
- Experience building positive relationships and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes; able to positively challenge, negotiate and compromise.
- The ability to work on your own initiative while contributing to team priorities and sustain enthusiasm under pressure.
- Experience analysing evidence to develop recommendations.
- Knowledge the issues facing children and young people with a learning disability and/or the SEND system, as well as the wider parliamentary system.
- Passion about making the world a better place for people with a learning disability.
If you're passionate about driving meaningful change for children and young people with a learning disability and you're ready to use your policy expertise to make a real impact, please apply now with an up-to-date CV. This role will close on Monday 27th October. Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 3rd November.
Benefits
Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.
Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.
For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!
About Mencap
Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.
We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.
At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.
Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.
- Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.
- Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes
- Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.
We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.
We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.
Registered Charity
More than 1000
Empower individuals with learning disabilities and autism to reach their full potential and lead the lives they choose.