Volunteering jobs

About SPANA

SPANA is the global charity for the working animals of the world. Since our foundation in 1923, we have worked where they work, to support the welfare of working animals, including horses, donkeys, mules, oxen, dogs and camels.

About this role

SPANA’s mission is to transform the welfare of working animals in a world where animals, people and the environment are respected and thrive. This is an exciting time to join us, as we grow and expand our global programmatic work and team.

The Head of Programmes will lead SPANA’s development of a high quality, innovative partnership programme portfolio that delivers immediate and lasting change for working animals.

This is a pivotal leadership role at the heart of SPANA’s global impact. You will be responsible for ensuring that SPANA programmes are designed and delivered in alignment with the organisation’s 2023-2027 strategy, mission and vision. With a focus on driving operational, programmatic and technical excellence, you will provide high-level oversight across our diverse programme portfolio. The role also strategically balances programming across the nexus of animal welfare, the environment and sustainable development and embraces the One Health approach, fostering impactful and sustainable outcomes. 

Salary, contract and location

This is a full-time (34.5 hours per week) permanent role. This role is UK based, with regular attendance (approximately 1-2 times per month) in our London office. The salary for this role is approximately £55,000-£60,000, dependent on expereiunce. SPANA is also pleased to offer employees benefits including a generous company pension scheme and health care cash plan. 

Further details and how to apply

Please review the job description for full details. To apply, please email a CV and cover letter outlining how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role. Applicants must have the current right to work in the UK.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling deadline until the role is filled. 

Salary range £27,000 – £30,000 per annum | 35 hours per week (Full-time) | Fixed term contract to March 2026 with possibility of extension

Hybrid work model involving home and weekly office-based working in Bethnal Green

Do you want to be at the forefront of national reforms improving access to justice for sexual violence survivors?  

 Women and Girls Network (WGN) and Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) are seeking a committed paralegal with feminist values to join its Legal team and play a part in this ground-breaking new work.    

 The successful applicant will work as part of WGN, supporting survivors of sexual violence to access high quality legal advice relating to their rights as survivors of sexual violence within the criminal justice system.  

About the role

We are seeking a motivated and empathetic Sexual Violence Paralegal to join our Sexual Violence Legal team and support the delivery of our pioneering Sexual Violence Legal Pilot. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic, survivor-centred legal service committed to improving access to justice for those affected by sexual violence.

As a key member of the legal team, you will assist lawyers with casework, support client care, and ensure the smooth operation of our legal advice service. Your role will be integral to ensuring survivors receive high-quality, compassionate, and informed legal support.

About you

You are highly organised, detail-oriented, and committed to working in a trauma-informed, survivor-focused manner. You bring a strong interest in legal issues affecting survivors of sexual violence and are eager to learn and contribute meaningfully to the work of the team. Experience working in a legal or support services setting is desirable.

About us

Women and Girls Network (WGN) was established in 1987 and has spent over 30 years supporting women and girls across London affected by gendered violence. This includes childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, rape, prostitution (including trafficking and sexual exploitation), female genital mutilation (FGM), and so-called ‘honour’ based crimes such as forced marriage. Our goal is to promote, preserve, and restore the mental health and wellbeing of women and girls, to empower them to make a total and sustainable recovery from the experiences of violence. 

The Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) aims to help women and girls who are subject to male violence get better access to legal remedies to defend and enhance their rights; CWJ’s mission is to hold the state to account and challenge discrimination in the justice system around male violence against women and girls. 

How to apply

Please visit our website for more information and to download an application form. Completed application forms and equal opportunities monitoring forms should be submitted by 9am on Tuesday 27th May 2025.

Interview details

Interviews are expected to take place on 17th June 2025, however, please note that dates may be subject to change.

Further information

We welcome and encourage applications from women of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and Ethnic communities.

WGN’s employee benefits include: 3% pension contribution, enhanced leave entitlement and an Employee Assistance Programme, as well as the opportunity to work with a leading multi-cultural, women-led feminist charity. 

This post is subject to satisfactory references, DBS check, and social media check. 

WGN is an equal opportunities employer. 

The above post is exempt under the Equality Act 2010, Schedule 9, Part 1 

Do you want to contribute to bringing hope across London? 

Our vision is to bring hope to every one of our patients across London, when they need us most, where they need us most. When patients in London suffer life-threatening traumatic injury, only our teams can provide them with the help they need, performing innovative medical procedures to save lives. 

This role supports the day-to-day facilities, administration and reception tasks across our busy central London office. You will become a key figure in ensuring a smooth and efficient office is maintained at all times. 

London’s Air Ambulance Charity continues to develop a supportive and enabling environment that gets the best out of our people. We promote a culture of progression and professional advancement offering a range of learning and development opportunities. In addition, we offer flexible working options, wellbeing packages and family friendly employment policies. 

Head of Fundraising and Communications (Maternity cover, fixed term contract)

At least 25-37 hours per week

Salary £45,000 - £55,000 pa, pro rata if part time

The Rose Road Association is a Registered Charity in Southampton providing essential care and support services for children and young people with complex physical and learning disabilities, and their families. Join our team today and help us work towards our vision of a community where disabled people and their families can thrive, feel a sense of belonging and achieve their aspirations.

We are looking for someone to cover maternity leave for our Head of Fundraising and Communications. The post holder will lead the strategic direction for our fundraised income and deliver this alongside our ambitious Communications Strategy. We are recruiting for a 13 month contract beginning in mid September 2025.

We are looking for an excellent relationship builder, who can inspire and motivate our fundraising team and guide our senior leadership team and trustees in navigating a changing fundraising landscape. You will have in depth knowledge of a range of fundraising income sources and already be an established team leader with excellent fundraising sector insight. We need someone who can support and guide our team through this period.

Beyond the necessary qualifications and skills, what truly matters to us is finding someone who shares our values: We are Trustworthy; We are Kind; We are Open & Honest; We are Forward Thinking; and We are Professional 

 We welcome candidates from all sectors and backgrounds, if you believe you can make a difference in this role to the families, we support at Rose Road we would love to hear from you. The job is offered at 25- 37 hours per week (part time and job share requests considered). We would love to hear from you about how you could work flexibility to make this role work for you and us.

 We offer:

• 25 days annual leave per annum, rising to 28 days after five years continuous service.
• Contributory pension scheme
• Training and Development
• Employee Benefit Programme

 Closing date: 9th June 2025

Interviews: 18th June 2025

 Interested? Please apply via the link below with attached CV and cover letter.

Successful applicants will have a DBS check and have a responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We are committed to equality of opportunity in both the provision of our services and the employment of staff to provide these services.

Registered Charity No. 276172. 

The Service

Newham Together Café is a high paced, out-of-hours mental health service provided by MindTHNR, in collaboration with NHS East London Foundation Trust (NEFLT). It provides a safe space for people who may be experiencing or moving towards a mental health crisis. The service will offer a range of psychotherapeutic interventions including 1-1 support and safety plans, wellness & recovery action plans and therapeutic groups. 

Newham Together Cafe has an asset-based approach, focusing on the strengths and coping skills of people using the service, helping them to understand how they could use these strengths to decrease their own distress and promote their wellbeing.

The service at the Café will be co-produced with those who use it as well as with local voluntary, statutory and community-based organisations. The Café strives to be a warm, welcoming and non-stigmatising environment, offering a range of therapeutic activities and a quiet, low sensory space to cater for individual needs and aspirations.

Purpose of the role

The main purpose of this role is to draw upon personal experiences of mental health issues and use these experiences in a positive and enlightening way to support others who are at a crisis point in their recovery journey. You will provide quality support and interventions to those at crisis point or likely to experience a mental health crisis, as an alternative to using statutory crisis services.

This service is open every day, so we have variable schedules Monday to Sunday including weekends and Bank Holidays [2:00PM-9:30PM]. You must be able to work these shift patterns to be considered for this role.

*Please note - interviews for this role will be held on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th June

Job specification

Team: Fundraising

Location: Hybrid – at our office (Argon House, Argon Mews, London SW6 1BJ) and remotely at home. Required to be in the office at least 2 days per week, including Wednesdays (all-staff office day)

Duration: Permanent (with six months’ probation)

Reporting to: Senior Fundraising Manager

Hours of work: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Salary: £29,060 - £32,700 depending on experience

Overview of the role

As the Fundraising Officer, you will play a key role in delivering a range of fundraising appeals and our individual and regular giving programmes. This position also provides plenty of variety and the opportunity to support and develop skills across several income streams. The Fundraising Officer will work collaboratively with the Fundraising and Communications teams and closely with the Senior Fundraising Managers.

 What you will do as part of our team

Fundraising activities

Individual Giving

· Manage the regular giving programme by implementing a rolling 12-month plan of meaningful touchpoints to deepen relationships

· Develop and implement a plan to encourage increased giving and recruit new regular donors with personalised cultivation and stewardship

· Maximise engagement and retention of individual supporters (giving at a lower to mid level) by prompt thanking, excellent stewardship and building effective donor journeys

Fundraising Appeals

· Manage Glass Door’s direct marketing appeals including our flagship annual Christmas appeal – taking the lead on the direct mail and email campaign

· Lead on content development, and implementation of donor segmentation based on giving history, preferences, and engagement levels

· Work closely with the Communications Team to deliver a robust communication plan – actively taking part in the case studies, content creation and digital campaign plans (social media and website)

· Create and implement a follow-up communication plan to thank donors and provide updates on the impact of their contributions

· Undertake evaluations of each appeal’s performance metrics and donor responses to refine future appeals

Fundraising support

· Monitor the Fundraising inbox and respond promptly to ad-hoc queries from individual donors or prospects

· Support the Senior Fundraising Managers with research into current and prospective donors, and compile information to support funding applications and reports

· Thank and steward in-memoriam gifts

· Support the wider team at events e.g. Sleep Out, Christmas Carols and other supporter events

· Opportunity in due course to work towards managing a small portfolio of trusts, foundations and other grant-making bodies which would involve drafting applications and meeting reporting requirements (depending on interest and aptitude)

Fundraising Administration

· Create and update donor records as required on Access Charity CRM database , ensuring relevant records are kept up to date, accurate and consistent at all times.

· Work with Finance and the Income Processing Assistant to ensure accurate and timely processing of donations, including scanning cheques, coding bank transfers and web donations, entering details in the CRM database, banking cash, setting up Direct Debits and acknowledging/thanking donors via email or post.

· Ensure all fundraising activity is compliant with relevant charity and statutory legislation, and the Fundraising Code of Practice

Person specification

Essential

Knowledge and Experience

· Demonstrable experience in a fundraising role

· Understanding and experience of developing and stewarding supporter relationships

· Experience of project management

· Experience of using a fundraising database to segment and select data, produce reports and analyse information

· Experience of copywriting to produce fundraising letters and other materials

Skills and aptitudes

· Strong research, analysis and numeracy skills

· Excellent attention to detail, taking pride in work at all times

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a professional telephone manner and the ability to adapt style appropriately

· Ability to work under pressure, manage time effectively and prioritise a varied workload

· Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with a wide range of people from a variety of different backgrounds

· Competent IT skills in standard Microsoft packages (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and CRM/supporter databases

Personal attributes

· A confident self-starter with a positive approach who takes the initiative to get things done

· Highly organised with an ability to prioritise and work independently through a calendar of deadlines and goals

· Able to work collaboratively within a team, as well as with different colleagues from across an organisation

· Being compassionate, insightful and sympathetic to the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness with a passion to help improve their lives

· Willingness to work flexible hours occasionally, for example at evenings and weekends

Desirable

· Experience of project managing direct marketing activities and campaigns.

· Experience of working with Mailchimp and Access Charity CRM

· An interest in developing skills and securing income from trusts and foundations

Job Purpose

To manage the day-to-day operations of a portfolio of teams, ensuring the delivery of high quality services to clients. The Team Manager will be responsible for leading a team of practitioners, ensuring they meet performance targets, and providing guidance and support to ensure the team delivers effective, client-focused support. The role focuses on managing caseloads, overseeing operational delivery, and supporting the continuous professional development of staff.

Base: To be agreed. There will be regular travels across West Mercia so access to a vehicle is essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Management
• Service Delivery
• Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement
• Operational Management
• Strategic Input
• Safeguarding Responsibility

​Essential Person Specification

• Proven experience in leading and delivering services ideally within a charity, care, or community services setting.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding principles and risk management practices.
• Excellent communication & interpersonal skills
• Experience in working with diverse groups

Why work for YSS?

• Annual leave entitlement of 35 days (including Bank Holidays).
• Additional Company Holidays.
• Pension Scheme.
• Employee Health & wellbeing plan.
• Occupational sick pay.
• Flexible working / hybrid working.
• Monthly supervision for support / personal development.
• Robust induction and training programme with an organisational commitment to ongoing training and personal development.

This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified and passionate counsellor to join a trauma-informed, inclusive charity known for its community focus.

You will provide short-term counselling to LGBTQ+ adults and people living with or affected by HIV. Your approach will be empowerment-based, culturally sensitive, and in line with BACP standards.

You will work both independently and as part of our wider services team. We will support your development through regular supervision, reflective practice, and relevant training opportunities.

We welcome and encourage applications from people with lived experience, and from communities who are often underrepresented in the charity sector. We’re especially keen to hear from applicants who identify as LGBTQ+ and/or are living with HIV. However, all applications will be considered fairly, and appointment will be based on merit.

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Lambeth, London
Salary: £28,857.12 per annum (Inclusive of London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement)

Contract type: Full Time, Permanent

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Refuge Worker – Supporting Survivors of Domestic Abuse

We are looking for a Refuge Worker to work within our culturally specific refuge to provide specialist, high-quality support to women and children escaping domestic abuse. Based in Lambeth, London, this role involves delivering practical and emotional support to survivors, ensuring their safety, and helping them rebuild their lives. Working 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, you will create a safe and welcoming environment in line with Refuge’s values and commitment to ending violence against women and girls.

As a Refuge Worker, you will support women through crisis, providing keywork sessions, safety planning, and advocacy. You will assist with accessing housing, welfare, legal support, and other essential services while maintaining accurate case records. You will also play a vital role in ensuring the effective operation of the refuge, managing referrals, and working collaboratively with partner agencies. The ideal candidate will be a compassionate and resilient individual with strong communication and organisational skills. While experience in the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) sector is beneficial, we also welcome applications from those with transferable skills and a commitment to supporting survivors. Above all, we value individuals who are dedicated to making a difference, thrive in an inclusive environment, and are committed to their own personal development while supporting others.

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause while developing valuable frontline support and advocacy experience. Refuge offers ongoing training, professional development, and a comprehensive benefits package, ensuring that our staff are valued and supported in their roles. If you are passionate about empowering survivors and want to be part of a dedicated, compassionate organisation, we encourage you to apply.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call Rota.

Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 5 June 2025

Interview Date: 10 June 2025

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development. 

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

Job Purpose: The Senior Programme Development Officer is responsible for identifying and securing funding and managing relationships with Peace Direct’s funders

Reporting to: Programme Development Manager

Location: The position will be based at Peace Direct’s office in London.

Peace Direct does not currently hold a sponsorship license and therefore if you do not have the right to work in the UK, we cannot accept your application.

The Role

Working within our International Partnerships, Programmes and Research (IPPR) team, the Senior Programme Development Officer will secure income for Peace Direct through research, development and management of relationships with new and existing funders. The post holder will proactively identify new funders, write proposals and reports and steward relationships to secure and maintain the funding necessary for Peace Direct to achieve its organisational goals. This includes programmatic, research, advocacy and strategic funding, working with restricted and unrestricted grants from institutional and trust and foundation funders ranging from £1,000 to £1m+. In collaboration with others, the post holder will also accompany advise and support local partners to diversify their funding.

The role is for someone with an enthusiasm for working with funders, with a strong track record of successfully securing grants from trusts, foundations and/or institutional donors. You will have strong writing skills, exceptional attention to detail and be capable of working effectively and efficiently to tight deadlines. A strong affinity with peacebuilding and an interest in challenging the way the international cooperation and peacebuilding sectors works would be beneficial, as would language skills in French, Spanish and/or Arabic.

This permanent position is based in our small, friendly Central London office, working alongside a highly committed and diverse team.

Who we are 

Peace Direct is an international charity with a vision for a just world, free from violent conflict. Working in partnership with local peacebuilders in some of the world’s most conflict-affected places, we want to change the international system so that it better supports the role that local people and communities play in preventing violence and building and sustaining peace. More than that, we want to change the international system so that it better supports the role that local people and communities play in preventing violence and building and sustaining peace.

Still interested? Take a look at the job description to see full details about the role and whether it matches your skills, career goals and experience.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and a cover letter detailing relevant experience and why you are interested in the role via Charity Jobs.

Your covering letter should be no longer than two sides of A4. Please indicate in your cover letter, should you choose to, whether you are applying through the Disability Confident Scheme.

We also offer candidates the choice of submitting a video clip (i.e. a video cover letter) if this is preferable to a written cover letter. To ensure fairness we suggest you turn the camera off so that we only hear your voice. The video should be no more than 2 minutes in length. You should email it as a video link via WeTransfer or any other file sharing tool, to our recruitment inbox, the address of which you will find on the jobs page of our website as unfortunately the Charity Jobs website does not permit a url to be inserted here.

For the video cover letter, the following should guide your speaking points:

- Your name;

- The job you are applying for;

- Describe your overall skills and abilities (as they relate to the post being advertised);

- A brief description of your work experience (in relation to the post being advertised);

- What makes you qualified for the new position;

- Any additional details that help introduce yourself

You should choose either a written cover letter or a video cover letter, but we request that you please DO NOT submit both.

Closing deadline for CV and cover letter is 11:30pm on Sunday 15th June 2025.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a short supplementary information form.

Interviews will be held online between 23rd – 26th June 2025.

Peace Direct strives to be a diverse and inclusive employer, with equality of opportunities regardless of personal identity, and we are committed to improving our systems and ways of working to support this, including creating a Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) working group, DEI strategy and recruitment guidelines. We strongly encourage individuals from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds to apply, including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME), LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and people with mental health challenges.

We welcome people from all backgrounds and strongly advocate our DEI policy and commitment to maintain an inclusive workplace culture; we take pride in being inclusive, fair, equitable and transparent, so we welcome a conversation about any DEI concerns you may have. Please contact our HR Manager, Lesley Agbarakwe. What’s important isn’t your level of education or the opportunities which you have had; it’s about your passion and how you seize the opportunities ahead of you to use your skills and knowledge in this field of work.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which includes criminal records (DBS) checks. Peace Direct also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme (MDS). In line with this Scheme, we will ask your consent to request information from previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation after having left previous employment.

By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Peace Direct is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Peace Direct engages. Peace Direct expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

Peace Direct is committed to preventing and protecting all people from harm in their interactions with us. We expect all those that act in our name to uphold our approach to doing no harm and to sign up to our Safeguarding policy and Code of Conduct.

As part of being a Disability Confident Committed employer, we welcome people with disabilities or health challenges to apply and those who meet our Essential requirements as laid out in the job specification will be guaranteed an interview for the job for which you are applying, through our Disability Confident scheme (formerly known as the Guaranteed Interview Scheme).

Networks for Nature Project Manager

40 hours per week, temporary contract until December 2028

We are Chester Zoo

We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to 20,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

The Role

We now have an exciting new role for a Networks for Nature (NFN) Project Manager. This role is part of the Networks for Nature project team.

Networks for Nature spans c60 square miles from the River Dee to the River Mersey, including Chester and Ellesmere Port. This is a collaborative partnership project working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Land Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust, and Sustrans with the aim to drive nature recovery in a mixed-use landscape, creating diverse habitats for species to thrive now and for years to come. We will empower communities to have an active role in conservation action and stewardship and will focus on making nature more accessible to and inclusive for everyone to enable connection and improve wellbeing. To find out more about Networks for Nature visit Networks For Nature | Conservation at Chester Zoo.

The NFN Project Manager will be responsible for leading the project delivery team, maintaining good communication with and consulting with the project partners, ensuring adherence to and delivery against the project activity and action plan, record keeping and reporting to project governance bodies and multiple project funders.

The NFN Project Manager will be accountable to the internal Chester Zoo Project Board and a Steering Group comprised of project partners, who have oversight of the project. The NFN Project Manager will track and monitor project budget (c.£5million) and ensure that all spending is in line with the agreed budget. The NFN Project Manager will be supported in these tasks by the Senior Community Participation and Engagement Manager and will line manage a Project Administrator who will help with the day-to-day administration of the project.

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Matrix manage the project delivery team to ensure adherence to and delivery of the project activity plan throughout the delivery phase.
• Influence project partners to ensure that planned conservation action and engagement activities are taking place according to timescale and budget detailed in NFN project activity plan.
• Provide regular reports to Project Board, and the Project Steering Group, ensuring that internal and external stakeholders are kept appraised of project progress and any areas of risk.
• Work with the Trusts and Foundations Manager to manage relationships with National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and other funders for the project. Lead on reporting to the NLHF, ensuring compliance with all reporting requirements to ensure successful drawdown of the c.£4million grant.
• Manage the allocated budget for the delivery phase c.£5million working within the agreed budget and proactively seeking approvals and reporting variances to the Senior Community Participation and Engagement Manager, Director of Conservation Education and Project Board as needed.
• Work with Chester Zoo Science Department and external contractors to evaluate the impact of the project, including gathering evidence and case studies.
• Advocate for the project at internal and external forums, conferences and networks, ensuring widespread community, conservation sector and stakeholder buy-in to Networks for Nature.
• Ensure that all project activities are safe and appropriately risk assessed, liaising with specialist staff and Health and Safety Advisors as appropriate. Ensure all project activities are compliant with all legislation and best practice guidance, including safeguarding, Construction and Design Management, GDPR, Health and Safety and Copyright.
   

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes…

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

The Package

• Fixed term contract until December 2028
• 40 hours per week, generally Monday-Friday with occasional need for evening or weekend work
• Salary £39,833.82 per annum pro rata
• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days (pro rota)
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%

Our Requirements

• An understanding & affinity to the organisation’s mission, vision & values, with a strong interest in the conservation of UK nature and in community-based conservation work.
• Substantial experience planning, leading and managing large-scale, multi-year projects with demonstrable project management skills and knowledge, experience of working collaboratively with project partners, matrix managing project teams and tracking project progress, ideally in a conservation, community engagement and/or education environment.
• Experience leading partnership management, facilitating meetings and coordinating events to ensure partners and key stakeholders are well informed and engaged.
• Experience of managing and influencing the work of others, with and without authority. The post holder may reasonably be required to direct activity to achieve the project’s goals across multiple internal teams, volunteer groups and external partner organisations.
• Good working knowledge of the protection and restoration of nature – ideally within the context of terrestrial UK habitats and species.
• Understanding of community work and insight into the challenges and benefits of working with community groups, schools and the general public to achieve conservation goals.
• Attention to detail and critical thinking skills are essential.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, demonstrated through a wide range of experience presenting to different audiences, in meetings and at events, and experience of report writing.
• IT skills: Skilled in the use of all key Microsoft packages.
• Organisational skills: Excellent time management, administration and planning skills. Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects, meeting deadlines and ensuring appropriate quality control.
• Interpersonal skills: Excellent diplomacy and interpersonal skills. Ability to work effectively under own initiative and as part of a team, to work under pressure with positive attitude and also to enthuse and engage others. The role requires the post holder to work extensively across different departments and with external colleagues.

Although not essential, the following would be desirable:

• Full driving licence

Due to the nature of the organisation and the role, this post is subject to a DBS check.

The closing date for applications is midnight 25th May 2025

Shortlisting of applications and interviews for the role will take place while the advert is live; the advert will close once the successful candidate is found and it is possible this will be prior to the advertised end date. Candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

Networks for Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Job Title: Refuge Worker

Location: Warwickshire
Salary: £13,445.70 per annum 
Contract type: Part-time, Fixed Term (12 Month Maternity Cover)

Hours: 19.5 hours per week, must include Tuesday's

This is an exciting opportunity to join Refuge as a domestic abuse refuge worker, providing high quality practical and emotional support to survivors of domestic abuse and their children living in our refuge accommodation in Warwickshire.

The post holder will work closely with survivors from the point of crisis and admission to the refuge, through to move on from the emergency accommodation. This involves providing a personalised, holistic support and safety plan, enabling survivors to access housing, welfare, benefits and legal advice.  

You will also work in partnership with both statutory and voluntary sector partners to ensure that the whole range of survivors’ needs are met.

A key requirement is to ensure that survivors are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming environment in accordance with Refuge’s philosophical principles.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

As part of this role, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call rota. This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role.

Closing Date: 09:00am 9 June 2025

Interview Date: 17 June 2025 

Refuge is the UK’s largest provider of specialist services, and we are proud to be a leader in our field and an employer of choice, with leading edge systems for supervision, quality management and development. 

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

About Us

Hibiscus Initiatives is a feminist and anti-racist, women’s organisation, delivering high impact advocacy and advice services for more than 35 years to women in contact with the Criminal Justice and Immigration systems. As an organisation, we have distinct expertise in working with Black and minoritised migrant women in prison, in the community and in immigration removals centres.

Our holistic and trauma informed approach makes a real and lasting impact on women's lives. We aim to make a difference within the criminal justice and immigration systems too by working with Black and minoritised migrant women to make sure their expertise is recognised by those making policy decisions.

We are particularly keen to attract talent from Black and minoritised communities and those with lived experience of immigration, the criminal justice systems, and/or violence against women and girls. 

Hibiscus adopts anti-racist; anti-oppression, and feminist principles and believes in the importance of nurturing a diverse team who can embody these principles. 

We are committed to the wellbeing and development of our staff. We provide regular training and other learning opportunities, an Employee Assistance Program and other benefits to support staff wellbeing.

About the Role

We are now recruiting for a talented Services Manager to manage a team of project/case workers providing individual advice, specialist support and advocacy to Black and minoritised migrant women, overseeing all aspects of our needs-led casework as well as the delivery of our women’s centre activities, as required.

The post holder will work collaboratively with our Director of Services and Operations (DSO) and other Service Managers in the development of an annual service plan, tailoring this to meet the needs of the team and ensure all funder requirements are met.

This role will provide comprehensive team management and support, effectively managing performance and providing trauma informed mentoring to the team. The Services Manager will be responsible for overseeing referrals to Hibiscus’ services internally and externally, working closely with the teams to ensure prioritisation of Black and racially minoritised women. The postholder will be responsible for responding to service user feedback, complaints and safeguarding concerns using a trauma-informed approach. This will inform the development and improvement of policies and processes for managing service user casework.

The post holder will also be responsible for ensuring that their team maintains accurate data and records to ensure effective service user support, monitoring, reporting and evaluation. As part of this monitoring and evaluation work, the Services Manager will play a key role in improving data recording and reporting. The post holder will be responsible for the financial management of their projects, including service contract budgets and the monitoring of team expenditure. Clear communication and a commitment to professional learning and development are key aspects of this role.

[This post is restricted to women only as a genuine occupational requirement under Schedule 9 paragraph 1, Equality Act 2010.]

Salary 
£35,000 (FTE)

Team
Services

Duration 
Permanent  

Hours
Full-time (35 hours per week)

Location
Hibiscus London office at least three days a week including Fridays, with regular visits to other locations where staff deliver services, e.g. detention, prisons, local areas.

Reporting to
Director of Services and Operations

About you

We are particularly keen to attract talent from Black and minoritised communities and those with lived experience of immigration, the criminal justice systems, and/or violence against women and girls.

The successful candidate will have significant experience providing casework support to migrant and/or Black and minoritised women with a range of complex needs. They will have line management experience, including effective staff supervision and development, supporting the staff team to effectively deliver team workplans to deadlines and achieve performance targets.

The candidate will have experience maintaining and developing effective working relationships with partner agencies and delivering services in line with funder contracts and contributing to funder reports. They will have an understanding and experience of delivering services in a trauma-informed, anti-racist and empowering manner from a feminist, intersectional perspective and will demonstrate knowledge of the needs of Black and minoritised migrant women who have been involved in the criminal justice system, are affected by immigration restrictions, violence against women and survivors of human trafficking

They will be able to to identify issues across teams and provide positive, effective solutions to support overall delivery of the work, demonstrating leadership whilst working effectively as part of a team. The candidate will be confident in their ability to maintain personal and professional boundaries, and have a clear understanding and demonstrable experience of managing safeguarding issues in line with policies and procedures.

The candidate will also have an understanding of one of more of Hibiscus’ key work areas – criminal justice, immigration and migrants’ rights, racial justice, and/or violence against women and girls and gender justice.

Your Application

Please follow the 'How to Apply' link indicated below.

You should download the Job Description and carefully read through the application form and information provided regarding the role and person specification.

Please note we will not accept CVs or Cover Letters.

Closing date 
5pm, 16 June 2025

Please note that we may close vacancies early if suitable candidates are found and/or a sufficient number of candidates have applied. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.

Wildlife and Wellbeing Officer

35 hours per week, temporary contract until September 2028

We are Chester Zoo

We’re not just an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction that’s home to over 37,000 incredible animals inside 128 acres of stunning gardens. We’re not just the UK’s most popular zoo. We’re a major wildlife charity that’s committed to the recovery of endangered species, globally. And, as the world faces an extinction crisis, we’re making a hugely significant contribution to conservation at a time when it’s needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

The Role

We now have an exciting new role for a Wildlife and Wellbeing Officer to join our Conservation Education and Engagement Directorate. This role is part of the Networks for Nature project team.

Networks for Nature spans c60 square miles from the River Dee to the River Mersey, including Chester and Ellesmere Port. This is a collaborative partnership project working with Cheshire West and Chester Council, The Land Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Canal and River Trust, and Sustrans with the aim to drive nature recovery in a mixed-use landscape, creating diverse habitats for species to thrive now and for years to come. We will empower communities to have an active role in conservation action and stewardship and will focus on making nature more accessible to and inclusive for everyone to enable connection and improve wellbeing. To find out more about Networks for Nature visit Networks For Nature | Conservation at Chester Zoo.

As a Wildlife and Wellbeing Officer, you’ll work closely with the Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager and Networks for Nature project staff to engage and empower communities to make a real impact on conservation efforts and to improve access to nature. You will support with maintaining and establishing community relationships, supporting the development and delivery of a programme of wildlife and wellbeing activities and supporting in building the capacity of community groups, community leaders and other stakeholders within the Networks for Nature project area. You will deliver a broad range of activities, including Family Wildlife Clubs, Wildlife and Wellbeing Clubs, Community Action Days, activities linked to Green Social Prescribing and activity stands within community settings.

Due to the working rota of 10 days in 14 and working every other weekend, there will be some cross-over between the activities delivered within this role and the Community Volunteer Officer role.
 

We’re looking for someone who can:

• Activity Planning & Delivery: Help plan and run a broad programme of wildlife and wellbeing activities to community groups, including Family Wildlife Clubs, Wildlife and Wellbeing Clubs, Conservation Action Days, activities linked to Green Social Prescribing and activity stands at community events. Effectively adapting each activity to meet the needs of each group.
• Community Relationships: Develop and maintain relationships with community groups to support their continued participation in the project and commitment to creating habitats for UK Wildlife. Including administrative support, dealing with queries via email and telephone and attending meetings, consultations and networking events.
• Content Creation: Research and contribute to the development of resources and new engagement activities designed to support participation in the Networks for Nature project.
• Measuring Impact: Work closely with the Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager to support in the delivery of an evaluation programme for the Networks for Nature project, including collection and collation of data from project participants, initial analysis of results and presenting findings to key stakeholders.
• Safety & Risk Assessments: With support from the Wildlife and Wellbeing Assistant Manager, ensure that all activities are safe and appropriately risk assessed.
• Developing Expertise: Proactively develop own expertise as a conservation educator, focused on community engagement, UK wildlife and nature and wellbeing.

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes…

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.

As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

The Package

• Fixed term contract until September 2028
• 35 hours per week
• Salary £23,893.59 per annum pro rata
• The postholder will work 10 days over 14, working every other weekend and with two regular days off in the week
• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days (pro rota)
• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family
• Cycle to work scheme
• Healthcare plan and employee assistance programme
• Discounted gym membership
• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks
• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions up to 9%

Our Requirements

• An understanding & affinity to the organisation’s mission, vision & values, with a strong interest in the conservation of UK nature.
• Experience delivering educational and wellbeing focused activities with a range of different audiences, preferably within an environmental education or conservation focused organisation.
• Experience developing quality resources for learning.
• Experience of delivering activities/training with a range of audiences.
• Sound working knowledge of computer software systems e.g. Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication and literacy skills including by phone, face to face and via email/online discussion boards
• Excellent time management, administration and planning skills.
• Experience of working in a busy office environment as part of a team & on own initiative
• Full driving licence

Although not essential, the following would be desirable:

• Knowledge and understanding of the health and wellbeing benefits of accessing nature and the models used to deliver these benefits.
• Experience working with audiences with special educational needs and/or mental health challenges and/or socio economically deprived.
• Experience working collaboratively with community partners.
• Experience monitoring and evaluating engagement activities in a community context.

Due to the nature of the organisation and the role, this post is subject to a DBS check.

The closing date for applications is midnight 1st June 2025

Shortlisting of applications and interviews for the role will take place while the advert is live; the advert will close once the successful candidate is found and it is possible this will be prior to the advertised end date. Candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.

Networks for Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.