ILC, the UK’s specialist think tank on the impact of longevity on society, and what happens next, is looking for a part-time Head of Operations (Maternity Cover) to be responsible for the daily operations of the organisation.

This is an exciting and diverse role for someone looking for a new year-long challenge. During the contract, you will be encouraged to identify and work on new operational projects that will enhance the organisation.

The ideal candidate will have experience of office management in a small organisation and will have the ability to work dynamically - moving between large long-term projects and short tasks under tight timeframes. You will join our dedicated Senior Management Team (SMT), leading on our general operations and seeking continuous improvement in line with our strategic goals. During the placement, you will have the opportunity to work on some new and exciting operations projects.

You will have experience developing and reinforcing processes and procedures and working with confidential data. Amongst a number of responsibilities, the post holder will service the ILC Board of Trustees, leading on the preparation of meeting papers and attending meetings, managing recruitment campaigns including working with the Director and line managers on job descriptions, recruitment packs, and drafting employment contracts.

You will be an accomplished people manager, able to lead and support the wider team. You will keep up to date with the latest government advice and directives - providing the organisation with appropriate guidance as we work through the current coronavirus pandemic. As we are a small team, you will have exposure to the whole organisation and will work closely with all members of the team from the SMT to the researchers, finance team and the events and communications team.

This is a unique opportunity to work for an established and respected London-based think tank where you will quickly be able to make your mark.

Read the full recruitment pack, including job description and information on how to apply, on the ILC website.

About The Institute for Voluntary Action Research (IVAR)

We help charities and funders to be the best they can be – for the people and communities they exist to support. We do this by asking questions and helping our partners to answer them through action research – bringing together an organisation's data and experience with wider evidence. It’s high quality, rigorous research – with a practical application. Grounded in 20 years’ of working with organisations and partnerships across the UK.

Through our work we often produce useful ways of thinking about particular challenges. We publish these freely on our website for others to use. 

We value diversity, equality and inclusivity. Applications are actively encouraged from underrepresented backgrounds, including but not limited to gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation and religion.
 

Job description 

You will be a capable communicator who can help take IVAR’s profile to the next level; supporting us to bring our strategic priorities to life, and enabling us to share insights from the full breadth of our research portfolio with a wider audience of professionals from the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector; trusts and foundations; and public agencies. 

Main functions

• Work with researchers on the design and delivery of communications plans for specific projects
  • Manage the production of communication materials from brief to delivery using our external team of designers, web tech support, proofreaders and printers
  • Create new webpages (using templates; Wordpress site)
  • Write and distribute press releases 
  • Develop constructive and collaborative working relationships with IVAR’s staff and associates, trustees and funders enabling them to contribute actively and meaningfully to IVAR’s communications activities
• Support the delivery of IVAR’s strategic priorities
  • Contribute creativity and initiative to the question of how IVAR can use communications to meet its strategic priorities (find out more on page 4 of job application pack)
  • Contribute to the growth of our network
• Contribute to IVAR’s organisational communications planning and delivery
  • Work with the Head of Communications and research team to generate and plan content across IVAR’s channels: website; blog; social media (Twitter and LinkedIn); newsletter (Mailchimp)
  • Manage IVAR’s social media feeds (Twitter and LinkedIn)
  • General website updates, e.g. updating time sensitive information
  • Use audience insights and Google, Twitter and web analytics to gather data to report on the effectiveness of IVAR communications

Person specification

This post requires someone with the following: 

Interest

• A natural interest and understanding of the distinctive features and operating environment of the voluntary sector and/or funding environment
• A commitment to IVAR’s mission, values and ways of working – including a commitment to continuous learning
• Ability to think conceptually and creatively about the translation of research into useful and usable materials

Knowledge, skills and personal attributes

• First class communication skills; able to write, edit and present information clearly and engagingly with a keen eye for detail
• Experience in extracting key messages and meaning from longer format content and adapting content to a range of formats, e.g. newsletters, reports, web, Twitter
• Understanding and experience of the production process required for delivering communications across media from brief to completion (e.g. print, online, social media)
• Experience in digital communications
• A good team player, yet also able to work alone, take initiative and manage a diverse and fast-paced workload
• Understanding of data management, data protection and legal requirements
• Competent use of Word, Powerpoint, Excel
• Competent/confident to use Mailchimp/Wordpress content management systems
• Competent/confident to use Google/web/Twitter analytics

How to apply

You can find out more about the role and how to apply by downloading our job application pack. 

We are looking for four exceptional people to join us as trustees who can help ensure that we have a high performing Board during a period that we may end up looking back on as among the most crucial in our history.

We are hugely proud of the impact we have had on behalf of people affected by blood cancer. The £500 million we have invested in research over the last 60 years has saved many thousands of lives, and we are now in a position where the day we will beat blood cancer is finally in sight. But with the coronavirus crisis already having had a big impact on our income, it is more vital than ever that we have the strong strategic leadership to keep our mission to beat blood cancer on course.

As a Board, we know we need to become more diverse to better reflect the community we serve and share with us new ideas and opinions, so we would welcome approaches from the following:

• Individuals from black and ethnic minority communities.
• Younger people who may not have had previous board experience but have other experiences, for example: of committee work, associations and other team decision making experience.
• Individuals who have personally been affected by blood cancer who have the capacity to support us as a trustee
• Experience in the following fields would be of interest to us: Medical Research, Clinical Research, Audit, Finance and Accounting.
• Individuals who have experience of information support for blood cancer patients and health policy.
• Influencers who have experience with fundraising and have celebrity or VIP connections that could be further explored.
• Members of a minority group through physical or cultural characteristics.

This is a challenging but very rewarding role and your contribution could assist the blood cancer community in a huge way.

If you would like an opportunity to make a difference and contribute in a positive way we would encourage you to apply to join us on our journey, please share with us your CV, along with a brief Cover Letter outlining your interest and how you feel you could add value to our cause.

If you would like to know more prior to applying please feel free to get in touch with Louise Keegan - Recruitment Officer at Blood Cancer UK for an informal discussion about this exciting opportunity. 

The closing date for this opportunity is: Midday on Saturday, 31 October 2020.

Thank you for your interest in Blood Cancer UK and we very much look forward to hearing from you!

Please note: Should we be successful in our search for suitable individuals prior to the closing date we reserve the right to close this opportunity early.

About upReach
upReach is a fast growing, award winning national charity that helps university students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds get top graduate jobs. We help these young people achieve their career potential by providing an intensive programme of career support that addresses socio-economic barriers to graduate employment.

Our work is important because right now those from comprehensive schools are 17 times less likely than those from selective schools to secure graduate roles at some top employers.

We are working to address this issue in partnership with employers and universities. Building on the success of the past five years, upReach’s current partners include Allen & Overy, Bank of America, the Civil Service Fast Stream, Deloitte, McKinsey & Company and Slaughter and May. We also partner with universities including Exeter, King’s College London, Liverpool, Warwick and Manchester.

This academic year, over 1600 undergraduates (we call them upReach Associates) are being supported through our unique programme of application guidance, soft skills workshops, video forums (small group, online seminar-style sessions), mentoring and professional experience. We aim to support 2,500 per year by 2022, while maintaining our personalised approach and expanding the support offered.

Our impact is clear; a 2019 analysis by the University of Exeter shows that the Exeter students we supported outperformed their more advantaged peers. Despite the many barriers to graduate success, upReach’s tailored programme of support is helping Associates outperform fellow students long after graduation.

upReach is a dynamic organisation. We have invested in class-leading technology to facilitate, deliver and evaluate our programmes. The upReach Graduate Employability Framework (GEF), against which all of our activities are mapped, enables students to understand their employability and plan their learning. We built getEmployable to provide all students with a means to measure their employability using the GEF. Our contextualised grade model, REALrating, is used to better understand academic potential rather than relying on grades alone.

The strength of our online platform and resources have enabled us to continue to support students throughout the Covid-19 crisis. Since lockdown began, there has been a significant increase in demand for upReach support; 100% of planned face-to-face events have been adapted into virtual equivalents or postponed to a later date. While we remain alert to the increased uncertainty about the economic outlook due to Covid-19, our ambition and growth strategy remain intact.

To find out more about upReach and how we support our students, visit our website and read our latest Annual Report.

About the Role
upReach are looking to appoint an additional trustee who can bring:

• A passion for social mobility
• A track record in delivering new technology projects and/or growing online platforms/products/websites

Previous trustee or non-executive experience would be desirable but not essential. More important is the experience, credibility and influencing skills which the individual can bring to the Board, along with a willingness to leverage their networks to support the charity’s growth, and a strong commitment to the Nolan principles of public life. We particularly welcome applications from women, ethnic minorities and applicants who would further enhance diversity at Board level.

About the Board

• The upReach Board consists of nine trustees including the Chair and three “upReach Alumni” who were formerly upReach Associates.
• There are 4 board meetings per year (normally held after working hours) plus an annual strategy day.
• Up to a further 2 days a year may be required to attend events or otherwise support the charity.

London Community Foundation exist to help develop strong and connected communities. They do this by inspiring individual and corporate philanthropy - as well as public sector funds - to invest in London's grassroots charities. The Foundation has unrivalled access to small charities and community groups across London and their role is to inspire London's wealth to support them. Having now made grants totalling £80 million since their founding in 1995, the Foundation has seen their annual grant awards grow from £60,000 to £9.5 million over this period.

Trustees

Unremunerated

London

London Community Foundation now seeks to grow the size of their Trustee Board to greater reflect their role in London's communities. This is an exciting time of growth for the Foundation as they continue to make more grants than ever before and are in the process of establishing a pro-bono advisory network to strengthen their reach into the City and its leaders.

The Board of London Community Foundation seek to recruit four new Trustees to support the continued ambition of the foundation in inspiring the Capital's generosity and investment in frontline, grassroots community organisations.

Specifically, London Community Foundation is interested in candidates who bring a background in one of the following areas:

• Experience of navigating London's philanthropy networks and working closely with donors

• CEO experience in a London based community focussed charity

• A strategic assurance background with experience of managing complex operational risk

• Local authority leadership experience in a London Borough

The successful candidates will be deeply invested in London, its diversity and its communities.

At LCF, we are committed to ensuring that how we are governed, our team and our partnerships all reflect the true diversity of London. We need to challenge ourselves and be challenged. We will fall short at times, but we will continue to learn and to support pro-active long-term change for grassroots organisations and the communities they serve. We actively encourage applications from those that have lived experience of benefitting from community projects in London. We strongly encourage applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) candidates, as these groups will shortly be under-represented on our Board due to the expiry of Trustee Terms.

To learn more about this unique opportunity, and to find out how to apply, please read the full appointment brief, on the Prospectus website, which can be reached by clicking on the “Apply on Website” Button.

Closing date: Sunday 25 October 2020

Initial Interviews with Prospectus: w/c 2 & w/c 9 November

Final stage interviews with LCF: w/c 23 November

Quaggy Development Trust (QDT) is a Charitable Trust organisation based on the borders of Greenwich and Lewisham delivering services through nurseries, children’s centres and a café.

Formed in 2003, we have demonstrated consistent growth, and currently have annual income in excess of £2 million, net assets of over £1.5 million, and 60+ dedicated employees.

We are looking for a fully qualified Finance Director to report to, and work closely with, the Chief Executive and the Board of Trustees.  Responsibilities will include all aspects of financial management, active development and support of organisational strategy, and monitoring systems, controls and grant proposals to secure and maintain the long-term health of the Charity. You will lead the reporting and analysis of all financial information and will develop and implement recommendations aimed at delivering the most cost effective outcomes consistent with the Charity’s constitution.

You must be a fully qualified member of a recognised UK (or equivalent) professional accounting body (defined as CCAB or CIMA). Previous experience in the charity sector would be an advantage but not essential.

The position is part-time, working 2 - 3 days per week. Salary range (based on full-time earnings) is £44,916 to £55,941 per annum. Some evening and occasional Saturday working will be required.

Quaggy Development Trust is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to safeguarding, and promotes the welfare and confidentiality of all service users. If successful, you will be required to complete an enhanced DBS check. All interested applicants must be able to provide proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

In many organisations this role is purely fundraising.  We’re looking for someone to design our supporter journeys and as importantly someone to inspire and support them across their many different journeys.  Fundraising is good, but it isn’t everything.

We want to have reached 10,000 supporters and members by 2023. We’ll work on outreach campaigns and need you to make sure new members and new enquirers are given the love and attention they need to get, and stay engaged.

Your role is to create the communications and the processes to support our supporters and members in their engagement with us. We’ve little in place right now, so this is a great time to make your mark.

ROLE

To support our supporters and ensure that they are made to feel welcome;  that they can find the information they need, can get involved in a way that suits them, are aware of the services they can access, take part and vote as members, stand or vote for Trustees, attend the AGM, are supported in reaching out to others, are acknowledged, thanked and are kept informed and inspired.   

ABOUT YOU

You enjoy writing and have an easy, relaxed style. You will be at home in the social media environment.  Alongside your great communication skills (is it wrong to hope you stammer?) you are analytical - able to see the bigger picture – keen to drill down on user journeys and set up processes capable of supporting and tracking the different paths our supporters take – whether that be fundraising, campaigns, volunteering or just kept inspired. And convert passers by into fully engaged members and supporters. 

SUPPORTER JOURNEYS

You will start by mapping the routes people (can) take to get involved – and set up systems and communications (emails, tweets, letters, thank yous, information packs) to encourage them to stay engaged and involved.

You will work with mailchimp, hootesuite and other platforms to ensure supporters are kept informed via a channel which suits them. You’ll work with our Salesforce Administrator to ensure we capture all relevant data, segment our communications and monitor impact. Don’t be afraid to rethink how we do things.  Take a look at Facebook Support Group, Twitter and Insta – how do we use these channels to convert people into members?

A portion of our supporters have been with us for up to 40 years, others are fresh in.  We’ve enquiries in from parents, from students, from those struggling at work and from rebels keen to campaign.  You will need to be systematic and structured in your approach if we are to provide consistent care for all of our supporters.

While your communications will capture and inspire, this needs to be backed up with good structured admin and planning skills.  You’ll design the pathways for fundraisers and runners – from the info packs through to the certificates and thank yous; you’ll have your sights set on high volume recruiting during International Stammering Awareness Day; have a plan for students; have the welcome email off pat.  And because you are ambitious, keen to demonstrate the value you bring and show your achievements, you’ll set up monitoring and tracking from the start.

If this is you, come and join the team.

The Post holder will have day-to-day responsibility for the organisation’s finances and in providing timely financial

information to the CEO, staff team and Trustees whilst ensuring all financial and compliance requirements are met.

You will have appropriate finance qualifications (ACCA, CIMA, AAT) and experience and be confident leading the

finance function and a number of income sources.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

This post is intended for candidates that wish to work part time for 7hrs per week, with flexibility when hours are worked.

1. Attend relevant business forums/events to promote the work of the youth centre and to obtain annual sponsorship or support in kind.
2. Approach local businesses (including retail businesses) in the vicinity, (to include Brixton, Tulse Hill, Herne Hill, Streatham Hill, Balham, Clapham) to obtain regular financial support/sponsorship or support in kind.
3. Make approaches to businesses within 10 miles radius of Youth Centre with ‘Knights’ in their company name to create a group of like minded/named businesses willing to sponsor the work of the centre.
4. Where relevant facilitate interested individuals signing up to making a regular monthly donation. (KYC 900 scheme)
5. Work as part of the Centre’s Fundraising Team (meets annually) to deliver agreed priorities.
6. Develop and maintain a simple log indicating the progress of approaches made and forums attended.
7. Deliver brief progress/activity update reports to the Lead Trustee. (Two per annum).
8. Undertake on going research relating to potential local business events or initiatives to support the voluntary sector and small charitable organisations.
9. Utilise the role and expertise of other Youth Centre Lead trustees as necessary, i.e. Head of Youth Work, Finance, PR/Comms, Fundraising.
10. Develop and maintain a log of all companies/businesses signed up to sponsor, support or regularly donate.
11. Provide a simple email update/briefing/newsletter to all businesses providing support, reporting on the Centre’s work  (two per annum, one will be the Centre’s  published in annual review)
12. Contribute towards any KYC fundraising strategy review.
13. To undertake any other tasks relevant to the post contained within individual work plan.
14. Utilise materials provided by Knights to support CPM work activity. Namely:

• a) Annual review report
• b) ‘Partnership Pack’ outlining key Knights activities/provision, which might be of interest for any business to sponsor or support
• c) Attractive web site
• d) Reports to the board by Head of Youth work services outlining service performance and new initiatives.
• e) Agreed annual fundraising priorities to meet identified need

The Corporate Partnership Manager will work under the direction and is accountable to the designated Trustee/Director responsible for resources. Working independently, the CPM is responsible for building relationships with relevant business consortia, local businesses and retailers to raise funds for the centre.

Finance Director

RC Archdiocese of Southwark

£70,000

Initial 2 year contract, full-time

Southwark

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark covers the geographical area of the whole of London south of the Thames, all of Kent and the eastern parts of Surrey.  With currently 169 schools, 175 Parishes, and 400 diocesan employees it is one of the largest dioceses in the UK.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an outstanding, experienced finance professional who is values-driven and an inspirational leader to contribute at a senior level in the life of the Archdiocese.

We are looking for someone who can bring intellect and emotional intelligence to leading in a complex environment.  You will have a successful track record in financial leadership at a senior board level and have the personal touch to innovate and drive sustainable change. You will be an exceptional communicator who can quickly develop strong relationships internally and externally with a wide range of external stakeholders.

This wide-ranging role will support the Archbishop, the Chief Operating Officer, Clergy and Trustees of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Southwark in all aspects of the Charity including development of a financial strategy with supporting forecasting, investment management, capital expenditure, financial aspects of property management, the identification of opportunities for income generation  and making best use of the assets of the Charitable trust.  You will ensure compliance with regulatory and accounting practices.

CCAB qualified, you will have experience of operating at board level in a complex organisation with a significant interest in property, ideally also with experience of working in the charitable sector.  Your ability to contribute to the development of a small director level team will be critical, as will your leadership and team-building skills.  You need to demonstrate that, working with clergy and others, you can influence and shape our strategies and plans.  You must be able to balance the provision of strategic financial advice to the Trust Board with a willingness to be hands on and directly lead on operational matters and you will be expected to role model the Trust values and behaviours. 

Empathy with the religious nature of the organisation is essential and a working knowledge of the Catholic Church would be highly desirable.

How to apply

Applications by CV with a covering letter explaining how you meet our person specification and why you are interested in working with us.

Do you want to be part of an organisation that fights for children every single day? Then join us as the Chief Financial Officer, reporting to the CEO and working closely with the other Executive Directors, you will be responsible for ensuring that SCUK has a forward-looking financial business model, a budget which aligns resources to strategy, effective finance business partnering for programming and fundraising activities, and strong systems for financial management and control.

In Support Services we provide leadership and direction in the business of running an efficient organisation. We ensure our resources are used to maximum effect. We go the extra mile - and we don't rest until the work is done.

As Chief Financial Officer you will provide effective leadership to the finance team and drive increased staff engagement through effective communications and strong line management. You will develop and implement a forward-looking financial strategy that addresses the changing constraints and opportunities within the sector, aligns resources to our organisational strategy, and optimises the allocation of resources for maximum impact. You will also be responsible for managing SCUK’s financial relationships with the wider Save the Children movement. In addition you will: 

• Ensure effective financial management and control, including through strong systems of budgeting, forecasting, control and reporting; and effective Treasury and finance operations functions

• Ensure effective financial reporting

• Ensure strong financial business partnering – using clearly communicated financial information, and strong commercial and impact analysis to support good decision making

• Drive progress towards a more efficient organisational operating model, working closely with the Executive Director of Transformation to develop and deliver key initiatives, and plan the changes needed to meet budgetary and headcount targets.

• Support the Board of Trustees to provide effective supervision of financial management

To be successful you will be a qualified accountant, or equivalent, with substantial senior level financial experience in a major organisation – covering budgeting and forecasting, reporting, financial control and business partnering. With strong influencing skills, you should have the ability to provide effective leadership through vision, engagement and accountable delivery. In addition you will have:

• Substantial senior level management experience in a complex organisation.

• A  proven ability to work confidently and competently at Executive Director and Board level, with experience in communicating to and influencing senior leaders.

• The ability to be an excellent team player and team builder, who nurtures, develops and unleashes the full potential of peers and reports behind inspirational goals.

• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills, with an ability to use numbers to paint pictures and tell stories that drive action.

At Save the Children we are committed to the safeguarding and protection of children in our work. We will do 

everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work with children are recruited to work for us. 

If you share our belief in the power of children, join the fight. It takes relentless determination, creativity and a real commitment to real change. Because every child should be able to make their mark on their world, and help to build a better future. We look forward to hearing from you. 

To apply please visit our website. 

Closing date:  4th October 2020 

Introduction:

Thank you for taking the time to consider the role of Investment Committee Member at Big Society Capital. 

The Investment Committee plays a crucial role at Big Society Capital. It approves all of our social investments, currently around £70-90m per year, and takes an overview of our investment strategy. The Committee includes Big Society Capital’s Chair, CEO, Chief Investment Officer and a mixture of other executive and non-executive members. 

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced non-profit sector professional to play a strategic role as part of Big Society Capital’s Investment Committee. 

Overall Purpose of the Role:

We are looking for a new non-executive member for the Committee, who can bring insight, rigour and new perspectives to our decision-making. We are particularly looking for someone with a strong understanding of and credibility within the non-profit sector.

Big Society Capital is committed to being a diverse organisation that is truly representative of the communities we serve. We are an equal opportunities employer with an inclusive environment where all employees can contribute to their fullest potential. We especially welcome those from groups that are under-represented in social investment.

Person Profile:

Essential

Experience of leadership or governance within the non-profit sector – charities, social enterprises or foundations (either UK or international)
Strong understanding of a range of social issues and the needs of the organisations that address them
Demonstrated ability to use complex financial information in decision-making
Ability to take a strategic view across competing priorities
Commitment to Big Society Capital’s mission to improve the lives of people in the UK through investment with a sustainable return
Ability to perform an advisory role, communicate complex issues clearly and to engage in challenge and debate in a constructive way.

Desirable

Experience of making and/or taking on investments, ideally investments with a social purpose
Experience of developing strategies to achieve social change at a systemic level
Familiarity with different types of investment product.

Terms of appointment:

The Investment Committee meets around 20 times a year, usually first thing on a Wednesday. There is a significant amount of information provided for each meeting to inform decisions

Members also need to be available for ad-hoc conversations with members of the investment team who are working on an issue on which the Member may have particular insights. Total time commitment is 7-8 hours per month on average
The role reports to the Chief Executive. The appointment is for an initial three-year term, with possibility of renewal

Remuneration: £5,635 per annum

All applicants must have an existing Right to Work in the UK

Big Society Capital is committed to being a diverse organisation that is truly representative of the communities we serve. We are an equal opportunities employer with an inclusive environment where all employees can contribute to their fullest potential

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced office administrator to take on a varied, demanding role in our national charity. Responsible for the effectiveness and efficiency of this busy office, you will be the ‘go to’ person for our staff and a key player in the success of the whole team.

You will be working closely with our CEO, Trustees and senior management team to ensure that we have effective administration, governance, HR and communication systems. This is a key role, overseeing the day to day running of our head office and supporting our staff teams across the UK. 

The role is offered on a 2 year fixed term contract, with the possibility of extension. 

About you

You will have a friendly and professional manner and will be equally happy dealing with unsolicited sales calls as being supportive when fielding calls to our helpline. You will be highly organised and confident in negotiating with other organisations and suppliers.

Your oral, written and digital communication skills will be excellent. You will be happy exploring new ideas and approaches, learning new skills and taking on new challenges. Experience of working with a board, knowledge of hepatitis C, affected populations and/or health and social care, and an understanding of the non-profit sector would be advantages.

About The Hepatitis C Trust

The Hepatitis C Trust is a national charity. We provide information, advocacy, services and individual support, working with prisons and health systems across the UK to increase awareness, diagnosis, treatment and care. Established in 2000, we are a patient-led and patient-run organisation and a key part of the UK’s strategy to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health problem by 2030.

The Hepatitis C Trust is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.
We welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We guarantee an interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria.
We are happy to discuss flexible working.

ABOUT ELEMENT

Element is a charity that runs creative arts projects with young people leaving the care system, and vulnerable students. Our projects support young people to build their confidence, improve their communication skills, increase their peer network, and take up further creative opportunities. Each project consists of group sessions that use visual art, performance art and creative writing to encourage participants to reflect positively on their identity. At the end of our projects, Element Young Creatives present their work at a showcase for family, support workers, friends and professionals from the creative industries. Once participants complete a project with us, they become part of the Element alumni network through which they expand their peer network, attend cultural events, and access opportunities through Element and our partners.

We are a small, dynamic team with a big mission: to create inclusive spaces where young people both learn and take the lead, recognising themselves as creatives in their own right, with their own ambitions. Since starting in 2016 we’ve worked with over 300 young people, through 13 school projects, and 23 projects for care leavers in partnership with 9 different local authorities.

Element is currently run by three full time executive staff with additional freelance support from our alumni Youth Champions. We have a six person strong board with a variety of expertise including a former Element participant. Element projects are commissioned and part-funded by local authorities and schools. We have also been supported by national grant-giving charities including the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, the Young Londoner’s Fund, London Community Foundation and Arts Council England.

Message from Ash, our Youth Trustee:

“I participated in one of the first Element projects, where I had the opportunity to grow, develop new skills and feel empowered on my Element journey. Now, I sit on the board and continue to be part of an amazing organisation. Whoever joins the team will become part of a life changing network helping to empower more young people!”

ABOUT THE ROLE

As our Programme Lead you’ll be managing and delivering both strands of our arts projects: with school students aged 11 - 14 and care leavers aged 16 - 25. This means everything from operations and logistics through to delivery.

This role sits at the heart of Element participants’ experiences. You will work behind the scenes to ensure our projects run smoothly, signing up new participants and facilitating Element session content to support Element Young Creatives to express themselves and build confidence. You will report to the CEO and the Head of Programmes and Network. Your responsibilities will be to:

Manage the different sections of the Element projects

You will manage the logistics of running a project: ensuring we have the right materials at the right time; organising venues; coordinating freelance facilitators; and planning exciting end of project events.

Liaise with local authority and school partners

You will coordinate with our partners to gather referrals for projects; presenting the project at team meetings, running structured referral collection sessions and keeping clients in the loop about how projects are going.

Engage participants in Element projects

Using your great communication skills, you will meet one-on-one with young people who have been referred, get to know them as individuals, promote Element, and support them to participate in the project. Post-project, you will support the young people to engage in the Element alumni network.

Facilitate Element group sessions

You will lead on delivery for Element’s creative session content with school and care leaver groups. You will keep our sessions upbeat and engaging, while remaining sensitive to the dynamics within the group. You will be encouraging and patient, maintaining high expectations for the young people we work with.

Support the Element team

As a small team, all members will be working closely together to ensure organisational priorities are met. You will support both the CEO and Head of Programmes and Network in operational tasks that keep the wheels rolling.

Evaluate impact and implement learnings

You will use our established evaluation strategy to measure the impact of our projects, collect feedback from young people and incorporate what we learn into future projects.

Safeguard the wellbeing of young people and staff

When running projects with young people, you will practice professional working boundaries at all times, upholding Element's safeguarding policy to ensure the emotional and physical security of Element young people. You will participate in team reflections and individual supervisions to look after yourself and promote the wellbeing of the team.

ABOUT YOU

Essential Criteria

You’re a great facilitator

You are confident and enthusiastic when running group activities. You are great at delivering a session plan while keeping the energy going, communicating ideas clearly, and listening and responding to the needs in the room.

You have experience working with vulnerable young people

You know that working with vulnerable young people - and the adults around them - can be challenging. You have the resilience and emotional intelligence to work in an informed and sensitive way, to turn these challenges into positive action. You have undertaken safeguarding training in a previous role and understand the importance of putting professional boundaries in place when working with young people who may have experienced trauma.

You are an experienced project lead

You’ve been in charge of projects, events or programmes before. You have the operational skills to ensure smooth delivery, and the experience of managing from beginning to end.

You are committed to listening and learning

You recognise the importance of reflectivity, and enjoy working in a team that prioritises sharing and learning. You commit to Element's journey towards practicing as a trauma-informed, inclusive and proactively anti-racist organisation.

You care about outcomes for young people

You believe that all young people should have access to positive and creative personal development opportunities regardless of their start in life. You recognise the value of the arts as a tool for social change and are passionate about making creativity inclusive and accessible.

You are excited to work in a small team

Element is currently run by 3 core members of staff (including the new Programme Lead), with plans to expand in the future. This role will be an opportunity to learn, test, and create, hold responsibility and collaborate closely.

Desirable Criteria

The following are by no means essential for your application. We have included them to give more of an idea of the day-to-day work that Element does.

You speak Arabic or Tigrinya

Some Element Young Creatives come into the country as unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and have varying levels of English language. Arabic and Tigrinya are two of the most commonly spoken languages amongst our care leaver participants.

You have budgeting experience

You can demonstrate experience managing budgets for projects, and you feel confident keeping a clear record of what has been spent.

You have your own artistic practice

You actively engage in your own creativity through practicing a specific art form(s). You are excited to bring your own creative ideas to fortnightly staff crafts sessions.

You’re familiar with partnership working

You have experience collaborating with other agencies and organisations to deliver projects.

BENEFITS

• £26,000 pro rata, 4 or 5 days a week to be decided with the successful candidate
• Scope to take real ownership in a small, ambitious team
• A strong commitment to personal and professional development with an individual training budget of £500 per year
• 25 days paid annual leave per year
• Monthly clinical supervision to support staff wellbeing and discuss best practice
• Flexi-time working with TOIL enforcement

SAFER RECRUITMENT

As an organisation working with vulnerable young people, Element is committed to safer recruitment practices. If you are offered the Programme Lead role you will be asked to provide two references, one of which must be from your most recent employer. You will also be asked to undertake an enhanced DBS check before you can commence your employment.

TO APPLY

Send us an email with the subject line “[Your Name] / Programme Lead Application”, attaching the following documents:

• Your CV in a format of your choice
• A cover letter of no more than 1 page telling us a bit about yourself, why you want the job and why you would be a great candidate, with clear reference to the essential criteria
• 200 words about an approach to youth engagement that you think works. We’re keen to hear your reflections on what you think is good! This example could be from direct previous experience, or from something that you have seen and admired from afar.

Send your application to Alex Sayers, with the email in the downloadable job description. If you have any questions or would prefer to send your application in a format other than written, please get in touch to discuss further.

The closing date to apply for this role is 28th September 2020.

There is a 4-stage selection process:

1. Submission of application as outlined above
2. An initial phone call with a member of the Element team (w/c 5th October)
3. A first round interview and activity with the Element team and Element alumni (w/c 19th October)
4. A final round interview with the Element team and an Element Trustee

The successful candidate will start early January 2021

Element is a GDPR compliant Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Our Registered Charity Number is 1190189.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

We are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to building a team with diverse voices and experiences. Whilst we are proud to be an Executive team led by women, we acknowledge that our team is not fully representative of the young people we serve. We believe our team and the work that we do would be enriched by staff with care experience and staff from Black and ethnic minority communities. As such we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities.

FIND OUT MORE

• On our website
• By reading our blog series on navigating the lockdown
• Further reading about the UK care system: “Children and young people in care and leaving care”, the National Audit Office (available online)
• Education Endowment Foundation blog ‘Why Arts Education Matters’ (available online)