Welfare jobs

About SPANA

SPANA (The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad) 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

The Programmes Quality and Delivery department is a key unit within SPANA’s Global Programmes Directorate (GPD). The team ensures effective oversight of the design and delivery of working animal health and welfare interventions in collaboration with a range of national NGO partners across more than 20 countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Central and South America. SPANA is strengthening the GPD to support partners to develop and deliver transformational and sustainable improvements in working animal welfare. 

Reporting to a Senior Programmes Manager, the Programmes Officer provides essential grant administration and project management support to a portfolio of partners, ensuring effective oversight across the lifecycle of grants. This involves developing effective working partnerships remotely and identifying risks and issues that need to be escalated. The Programmes Officer works closely with technical colleagues responsible for Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL), animal health and welfare, education and behaviour change and the wider organisation (e.g., communications, fundraising, advocacy and policy). 

Contract, location and salary

This role is a full-time (34.5 hours per week), permanent role. This is a UK based position, with 1-2 days per month (or more if preferred) worked from SPANA's office in London. 

The salary for this role is c.£32,000 subject to skills and experience. Applicants must have the current right to work in the UK.

Further information and how to apply

Please review the job description for full details including a person specification and information on how to apply. The deadline for applications is 23:59 GTM on Sunday 8 February 2026. 

Are you an experienced Public Affairs professional with a passion for dogs?

We’re looking for a Public Affairs Officer to support the important work we do to ensure policy makers consider dog welfare in their decision making.

What does this role do?

As Public Affairs Officer, you’ll:

• contribute to the delivery of our ambitious public affairs programme across Westminster and Whitehall, the devolved administrations and in the EU,
• support and occasionally lead on the organisation and coordination of political events, meetings, and project visits, as part of our programme of engagement with policy makers,
• support the management of the Pet Advertising Advisory Group (PAAG) and the EU Dog & Cat Alliance,
• establish and maintain positive relationships with key external stakeholders, including parliamentarians and civil servants.

Please note, this role is available as a fixed term contract until January 2027. Interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for week commencing 9th February 2026, and will take place on Teams.

Could this be you?

To be successful in this role, you’ll need experience in parliamentary or public affairs, with a good understanding of the political landscape in the UK. You’ll also need excellent communication skills, with the ability to listen actively, negotiate and influence decision makers and strong written English, to draft clear and concise professional correspondence and communications. Above all, an interest in the aims and values of Dogs Trust is essential.

To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
 
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.

Please note, Dogs Trust is a wholly independent organisation, free of association with any political party. Our independence is critical, as it allows us to pursue our mission to campaign on dog welfare issues, on behalf of the UK’s dogs and their owners. For our public affairs roles, the ability to display political neutrality in the public eye or when working with MPs is essential.

At Ambitious about Autism, we're currently looking for an IT Systems Engineer to join our team.

You'll ensure the delivery of a robust, secure, and high-performing IT environment by installing, developing, monitoring, maintaining, supporting, and optimising all network hardware, software, and infrastructure across all Ambitious about Autism (AaA) locations. You'll provide IT support services to users across the organisation in person, online and via telephone as required, ensuring issues are appropriately logged and resolved.

You'll administer, monitor, and develop Microsoft 365 services, security and compliance policies, and organisational intranet processes, whilst collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to explore and develop new technologies that support the Charity and all Education Services.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Excellent working knowledge and application of best practices around management, control, and monitoring of server infrastructure and virtualisation technologies, especially Microsoft Hyper-V server
• Strong hands-on experience in networking, routing and switching in a multi-site environment
• Excellent working knowledge and application of: Firewalls, Internet VPN's remote implementation, troubleshooting, and problem resolution
• Experience of MS Cloud Services – Azure, Microsoft 365

In return, we offer great benefits including a generous holiday allowance and commitment to continued professional development (CPD), flexible working and more!

This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisation and make a real impact to the young people we work with. Please find our full recruitment pack on the link below.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to have a confidential chat, please contact James Axford, Recruitment Officer.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion at every level of our organisation. We warmly welcome applications from all qualified candidates, valuing the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives they bring. We encourage applications from individuals regardless of race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or parental status, disability, or age.

Our recruitment process promotes equal opportunities, and we are committed to providing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities or additional needs throughout the recruitment process. Please contact our Recruitment Team for accommodations. We recognise disability as a physical or mental impairment that significantly and long-term affects a person's ability to perform day-to-day activities, as defined by the UK Equality Act 2010. All applications will be considered solely on merit, aligned with our mission to support autistic children and young people.

Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. As part of our Safer Recruitment checks, an online search maybe carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.

The Safeguarding responsibilities of the post as per the job description and personal specification.
Whether the post is exempt from the rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendment to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2021. This means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected', so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS Filter Guidance.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic marketing specialist to join our ambitious team of experienced fundraisers as World Horse Welfare approaches its centenary anniversary. You will be part of the Individual Giving team who is responsible for driving sustainable growth through donor engagement, stewardship and acquisition.

The role is based in Norfolk and is currently a hybrid split of 2 days in our head office in Snetterton and 3 days at home. You may be required to attend events around the UK, so the ability to travel occasionally is necessary.

Key responsibilities:

• Assist the Head of Individual Giving with the delivery of the annual fundraising and marketing strategy, focusing on regular giving products and the online shop.
• Plan and implement fundraising campaigns, ensuring alignment with KPIs and budgets.
• Create compelling marketing content and manage approvals across teams.
• Monitor donor recruitment and retention, producing reports for leadership and Trustees.
• Optimise the online shop and collaborate with corporate partners on new product lines.
• Work with Supporter Services and Finance to manage stock and analyse donor journeys.
• Coordinate fundraising activities at events and gather digital content for storytelling.
• Work collaboratively across teams to promote fundraising initiatives and drive income growth.

About you:
You’ll bring experience in marketing, ideally within charity fundraising, with a proven ability to grow income and deliver successful campaigns across multiple channels. You are skilled at crafting persuasive copy, using data to drive decisions and confident in managing projects, analysing trends, and leveraging social media for fundraising. Highly organised and solutions-focused, you thrive in a busy environment, collaborate effectively, and communicate clearly. Creativity, attention to detail, and proficiency with Microsoft Office and donor databases are essential in this role. A passion for our mission is key and knowledge of equines would be desirable.

What we offer:

• Generous pension scheme and cash health plan.
• Paid employee sickness absence scheme and compassionate leave.
• Death in service benefit of 4x annual salary.
• Minimum of 31 days holiday pro rata (including bank holidays and a Christmas shutdown)

World Horse Welfare takes great pride in being realistic, compassionate and forward-thinking and the successful applicant for any of our vacancies will be expected to share these values.

World Horse Welfare is committed to championing equality and diversity in all aspects of employment and in the services that it provides. We encourage applications for all of our vacancies from under-represented groups, particularly ethnically diverse communities, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. 

About us

Sheffield ME & Fibromyalgia Group is a small charity providing information and support to people affected by Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia and long Covid in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. We are a member-led charity that offers a range of support and services including peer support, drop ins, activities and events, benefits and social care advocacy and more; you can find more about what we do on our website. 

About the role

We are looking for a Welfare Benefits Adviser to work alongside the Senior Benefits Adviser, providing welfare benefits advice to people affected by ME/CFS, fibromyalgia and long Covid; this includes those living with these illnesses, carers and their families.

We endeavour to improve people’s financial situation more widely, especially due to the cost of living crisis, so you will be offered the opportunity to create resources and host drop-in sessions for members. 

Main duties and responsibilities 

• Provide a full welfare benefits casework service for people affected by ME, fibromyalgia and long Covid, including disability benefits and other sources of financial support, such as grants. This will cover benefits check, first claims, mandatory reconsiderations and appeals; supporting clients to understand their options and making informed choices.

• Act for the client where necessary; drafting letters, obtaining medical evidence and researching case law as appropriate.

• Maintain detailed case records for the purpose of continuity of casework, and information retrieval, using the IT software provided.

• Liaise and negotiate with other statutory and voluntary organisations to progress the client’s case and ensure they receive all assistance available. (DWP, NHS, local authorities, other charities)

• Form effective working relationships with outreach agencies and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that good service is being provided and awareness of the illnesses is raised.

• Refer clients to colleagues or other agencies as appropriate for specialist help with major issues that fall outside the remit of the service, including debt and employment.

• Support the promotion and marketing of the advice services of Sheffield ME & Fibromyalgia Group

• Collect feedback from members for service improvement and for our funders

• Contribute to team meetings, reflective practice sessions and work with colleagues to ensure members access support from across our offering (befriending, activities, support groups)

• Any other duties within the scope of the post as deemed appropriate

We are seeking a collaborative and purpose-driven leader with a strong commitment to the welfare of livestock animals to lead and coordinate our technical operations and service delivery.

The ideal candidate will be highly organised, people-focused, able to inspire, manage and develop teams while delivering high-quality training, education, and advice services. 

The Technical Lead will manage the Humane Slaughter Association’s (HSA) operational and practical work to promote humane slaughter and transport of livestock (including farmed and wild-caught aquatic species) worldwide. They will lead a small team who undertake the operational work in the field, promoting humane methods for the transport and slaughter of animals killed for food and other products.

The successful candidate will join at an exciting period of growth and reorganisation for the HSA as we introduce online learning, grow and broaden our training and advice services and become an increasingly strong voice for practical improvements to the welfare of animals at slaughter. This is an ideal role for someone who is passionate about making real-world improvements to animal welfare using their technical knowledge and organisational skills.

About the HSA 

The Humane Slaughter Association is a unique charity which promotes the welfare of farmed animals ‘Beyond the Farm Gate’; at markets, during transport, at slaughter, and when animals must be killed in emergencies.

Our vision: A world where all farmed animals are transported and killed humanely.

Our mission: To advance and promote the use of humane methods for the slaughter, transport and killing of farmed animals through research and education. 

We do this by offering practical advice, training, and education to all those involved in transport, slaughter, or emergency killing of livestock animals, by funding scientific research to develop more humane approaches and advocating for evidenced-based change. Although we are based in the UK, the charity works worldwide to maximise animal welfare.

Job Description and Person Specification

Before applying, please read the HSA Technical Lead Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role, criteria, application process.

The HSA requests no contact from agencies or media sales. 

We’re looking for someone with compassion and insight to lead our animal welfare strategy. Using our rescue and rehoming centre and our outreach work to deliver the greatest impact for cats and dogs in need and aligning our work within the framework provided through our partnership with the RSPCA. 

Our aim is to provide care for high welfare cats and dogs at our centre, prevent neglect through intervention in our communities, support struggling pet owners and to help all pet owners be kind and compassionate to their pets. 

You will have the animal welfare experience necessary to set and meet targets with confidence, inspiring your team to deliver the greatest impact for cats and dogs at risk. 

As a senior leader, your strategic mindset, focus, and enthusiasm will foster a strong and collaborative culture throughout the charity.

You’ll find that we’re a kind and dedicated team, who are all committed to transforming the lives of the animals that we care for. If you’re the person to help us, please consider applying.

Permanent, Full Time

Circa £32,000 plus competitive benefits

Do you want to make a difference?

Every year we make a real difference to over 40,000 people who benefit from our services. Working at the Fund is more than sitting at your desk and in this role you will have the opportunity to be part of our RAF Family. Every day you will make a difference and play your part in changing the lives of others and helping people in the RAF Family get through the toughest of times.

It doesn’t matter how long someone served or when. If they were part of the RAF, they and their family are part of our RAF Family. We will always be here to support them when they need it most.

Join the RAF Family and play your part in making a difference.

Do you want to play a part in what we do?

People are at the heart of what we do. Together we:

· Help reduce social isolation and loneliness among veterans. 

· We support ill or injured men and women to have a safe place to call home, a home that meets their specific needs.

· We fund youth services on stations to provide clubs and activities for the children of serving personnel who move every few years.

· We provide grants to help with the cost of living. But this is just a few of the ways we help.

We are looking for a compassionate and adaptable individual with a background in welfare delivery. The ideal candidate will be highly organised, analytically minded, and an effective communicator.

As a Welfare Services Navigator, you will be on the front line of the organisation, providing essential support to beneficiaries through our helpline, email, and web chat services. You will advise members of the RAF family on the financial assistance and support services available through the RAF Benevolent Fund, guiding them on how to access these resources when needed.

The successful candidate will be proactive, with experience of working with people in a supportive capacity. They must be able to engage sensitively and professionally with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. A solid level of administrative experience is essential, ideally gained within a welfare or support-focused environment, along with confidence in using CRM IT systems.

The role will be office based at our London HQ, with a minimum of three days working in the office per week. The successful candidate for this role will need to be Basic DBS checked and prove they have the right to work in the UK.

To apply, please click on the link and send your CV, together with a cover letter detailing why you believe you are suitable for this role, providing examples of how you meet the job profile when you apply through our recruitment portal.

The closing date for applications is Friday 23rd January 2025, 5.00pm.

A copy of the Fund’s Candidate Privacy Notice can be found on our website. As an equal opportunities employer, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. The Fund takes safeguarding seriously, and appropriate background checks will be completed. You can find out more about our commitment to safeguarding on our website. The RAF Benevolent Fund follows Safer Recruitment practices as it strives to ensure that everyone who comes into contact with the Fund will be protected from harm. The successful candidate for this role will need to be Basic DBS checked and prove they have the right to work in the UK. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join the Fund.

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is a Registered Charity (No. 1081009).

Contract: Fixed Term: Six Months

Hours: 21 per week

Location: London centre: Finsbury Park

Starting salary:  £31,111

Closing date: 16 January 2026

Expected date of interviews: 22 January 2026

Job ref: CS 42

Freedom from Torture is the Winner of the Overall Award for Excellence and the top prize for Campaigns and Advocacy at the 2023 Charity Awards.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Administrator to join our Legal Advice and Welfare Service.

Would you like to join our award-winning organisation?

About the role

The post holder will be responsible for developing and maintaining effective administrative systems and supporting the successful running of Freedom from Torture’s Legal Advice and Welfare Service.

The LAWs team has immigration and welfare advisors in Freedom from Torture’s London and Glasgow. Whilst this role is based in the London centre, the post-holder will provide support to LAWS advisors in both centres.

About you

You will have experience of working in an administrative role, and experience of developing and maintaining effective administrative systems. You will have excellent attention to detail and effectively proof-read reports, manage spreadsheets and collate and report on complex data. As well as effective communication skills, you will be proactive, organised and able to prioritise. An understanding of the issues affecting asylum seekers, refugees and/or survivors of torture, and experience in working in a legal, clinical or medical setting would be an advantage.

In return, we offer a competitive package, with a generous 30-day annual leave entitlement (pro-rata), and 6% employer pension contribution (minimum 1% employee contribution).

Freedom from Torture is committed to showing the salary for all advertised roles and not negotiating salaries for roles, in light of evidence that this contributes to structural inequality.

Our policy is that all appointments will be at the start of the salary range but successful candidates will have the opportunity to move up the scale over time. The progression up the salary range is reviewed on an annual basis and subject to affordability. For this role, the salary range is £31,111 - £36,089.

To view the Job Description and Person Specification, please find the attached JD. 

Please note a CV and a cover letter addressing the job description and person specification of the role are mandatory to be considered for the position.

Freedom from Torture is dedicated to healing and protecting people who have survived torture. We provide therapies to improve physical and mental health, we medically document torture, and we provide legal and welfare help. We expose torture globally, we fight to hold torturing states to account and we campaign for fairer treatment of torture survivors in the UK.

We campaign for national and global change, using evidence from our services and survivor voices to protect and promote survivors' rights and hold torturing states to account. We are proud to play a significant role in the global anti-torture movement. Survivors, active and empowered, are at the centre of all of our work.

Freedom from Torture is committed to its responsibilities under safeguarding, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS/PVG disclosure, as well as a need for full employment history and up to date employment references.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.)

Freedom from Torture is an equal opportunity employer. People with lived experience of torture or asylum, from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ individuals and people with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications.

No agencies please.

Racing Welfare is the charity that looks after all horse racing’s people, other than jockeys, from the beginnings of their careers through and beyond into retirement.

As Digital Marketing Manager, you will be a key member of Racing Welfare’s Communications team, playing an important role in how the charity communicates with, engages and supports the racing industry.

This is an exciting time to join Racing Welfare as its communications and digital activity continue to evolve. With increasing focus on digital channels, campaigns and content, this role offers the opportunity to shape how Racing Welfare engages its audiences, promotes its services and delivers effective awareness and fundraising communications.

What you’ll do 

• Lead the planning, delivery and evaluation of Racing Welfare’s digital marketing and communications activity across owned digital channels.

• Support the Head of Communications in strengthening engagement, consistency, impact and growth across Racing Welfare’s digital communications.

• Line manage and support the Digital Marketing Assistant, providing development support in a fast-paced communications environment.

• Create and deliver clear, engaging digital content across social media, websites and email, working collaboratively with colleagues across all Racing Welfare's departments.

• Produce high quality marketing materials in house, including campaign assets, promotional materials and event programmes, using Adobe Creative Cloud, InDesign and Canva.

• Manage and develop Racing Welfare’s websites and digital platforms.

• Support awareness campaigns and fundraising activity through well planned, effective digital communications.

• Use insight and performance data to analysis and improve engagement over time.

• Attend welfare, fundraising and industry events where required, to capture content for digital channels.

What you’ll bring 

• Proven experience delivering high quality digital marketing and communications activity across multiple platforms.

• Strong creative and design capability, with experience producing marketing materials and publications.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong copywriting ability and attention to detail.

• Experience managing websites, with a good understanding of HTML, plus a working knowledge of SEO and content optimisation.

• Strong knowledge of digital analytics, reporting and performance measurement.

• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, prioritising competing demands, managing deadlines and adapting to changing priorities.

• Experience of line managing and/or supporting an assistant team member.

• Confidence using Adobe Creative Cloud, ideally including InDesign and Canva.

• Knowledge of, or experience working with, mobile or web-based app platforms is desirable, as is an interest in horseracing and or social welfare.

Racing Welfare is committed to creating a supportive working environment where people feel valued, connected, and able to thrive.

This is an office-based role located in Newmarket, with some travel within the UK required.

The closing date is Friday 30th January. We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date if we receive a large number of suitable applications. Interviews will be held during the week following the closing date.

Salary: £38,000 to £41,500 DOE

You will be offered a competitive salary, employer pension scheme, 25 days annual leave (rising to 28 with long-service) plus bank holidays, flexible working patterns to ensure a healthy work-life balance, life assurance, tickets to almost all race meetings at Jockey Club racecourses, twice-yearly two-day staff training and team building events along with a range of other employee wellbeing initiatives. 

As a group, wellbeing is at the forefront of all we do. We aim to be a leading employer in the industry and make sure everyone at Racing Welfare has the opportunity to thrive.

We strongly believe in being an innovative, diverse, and inclusive organisation and recognise that diversity in all our people will help achieve that purpose and our mission more effectively. We actively encourage and seek applications from a wide diversity of candidates.

Racing Welfare is committed to safeguarding and will always recruit all personnel in line with government guidelines, relevant legislation, and the Charity Commission's best practice guidance.

This post is not exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. We only ask applicants to disclose convictions which are not yet spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

Racing Welfare’s Safeguarding Statement of Intent can be found on our website.

Racing Welfare is an equal opportunities employer.

About the role

Our Welfare Officers provide direct and impactful welfare support to RAF personnel and their immediate family. As a trusted and confidential source of support, you will assist our service users with challenges they are facing, from mental ill-health, difficult relationships, domestic abuse, financial and cost-of-living concerns, resettlement, housing, childcare, equality issues, bereavement, military discharge or deployment and many more - no day will be the same, as such this is a great opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills within the Welfare sector.

Our intervention is provided with consent on a non-statutory basis, and you will work with and engage our service users to develop appropriate interventions for individual outcomes.

Our service is transitioning to become more accessible and inclusive, digital technology plays a key role in this, as such you will use digital technologies to complement and enhance processes and service user experience.

You will play an active role within the community, promoting the service through the delivery of presentations and representing the service at public engagement events. You will also work closely with RAF welfare teams, local authorities, health, education, civilian agencies, charities and other military organisations to ensure the best outcome for the service user.

About the Team

2024 marked 34 years since SSAFA began delivering an independent non-statutory, and confidential service, for the Royal Air Force community across the UK, and this is an exciting time to be joining as we were successful in our bid to continue delivering this service.

We are transforming our ways of working to be innovative, to ensure our service is even more inclusive and accessible to meet the needs of a modern RAF.

We are a hard-working team from diverse professional backgrounds.  Although we all have our own area of responsibility, we support each other in delivering the best possible service to our military community.

Find out more about the Personal Support & Social Work Service on our website.

About you

To thrive in this role you will have relevant experience of supporting adults, families and children/young people. You will be able to take a flexible and creative approach to problem solving. You will have excellent communication skills and be able to deliver presentations with confidence.

You will have used Microsoft Office 365 to a high standard. It is important that you have experience of planning and managing your own workload, with minimal supervision.

It would be advantageous if you have experience of carrying out assessments, preparing plans, monitoring and reviewing outcomes.

There will be some travel required and therefore you will need to be able to drive and have access to your own car.

About SSAFA 

SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for the Armed Forces community in their time of need. In 2024 our trained teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 53,000 people, including veterans, serving personnel (regulars and reserves) and their families.

SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person and their family, any time they need us and in any way they need us.

Diversity and Inclusion at SSAFA 

SSAFA exists to support a diverse range of beneficiaries within the armed forces community, and we believe diversity within our teams is key to ensuring we can deliver our services effectively. We thrive on differences and believe it is critical to our success as a worldwide charity. SSAFA is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace that seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We therefore encourage applications from all genders, races, religions, ages and sexual orientations, as well as parents, veterans, people living with disabilities, and any other groups that could bring diverse perspectives to our business. 

SSAFA is committed to using the Disclosure & Barring Service to ensure we, as an employer, safeguard those we serve.

Further information about the role can be found via the Apply button.

If you have any queries or would like to speak to someone about this role, please contact Jayne Whitcher, Social Work Team Lead for an informal discussion.

No agencies please. Any unsolicited submissions from agencies will be accepted as a direct application from the candidate and no fees will be payable. 

How to apply 

For more informaion and to apply, please click on the Apply button.

If you need any adjustments to support you with the application process, please contact us.

Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 25 January 2026. SSAFA reserves the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. 

Interviews: Face to Face, week commencing 02 February 2026

Contract length: Permanent

Location: North West London

Hours per week: 35, working Sunday - Thursday, 9am-5pm

Salary:  £28k-£34k pa depending on experience and knowledge

Closing date for applications: Saturday 31st January 2026. First round interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams; interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible

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Every dog and cat in need deserves expert, personalised care and support, and to be loved. When you work for Mayhew, you understand that better than ever.

We’re a passionate, committed and diverse team of c80 staff and c150 volunteers, here for dogs, cats and communities in the UK, in Afghanistan and in Georgia. We offer expert veterinary care, rescue and rehoming services, programmes in the community and guidance and support to improve the lives of dogs and cats in need.

We do our best for dogs and cats in need every day, working with colleague across the sector to improve their lives and to give them the care, support and love they deserve. But it’s our warmth, creativity and care that touch lives. Here, we take the time to really get to know the dogs and cats we care for and those who love them.

At our North West London Home, we are recruiting a Head of Kennels who will share our compassion and commitment for animal welfare to provide front line leadership to our team of Kennel and Animal Care staff and volunteers. We care for up to fifteen dogs on site, in addition to dogs placed into foster homes. Our Head of Kennels is responsible for managing the day-to-day smooth running of our kennels and maintaining the wellbeing of all dogs in our care, so that their individual physical and psychological needs are catered for adequately, and in line with our standards and ethics.

This is a high profile and hugely important role for Mayhew as our Head of Kennels oversees each dog's journey through Mayhew from in-take to assessment and then to rehoming. Working with staff and volunteers across the Home, foster carers, adopters, other charities and rescues and members of the public, our Head of Kennels is instrumental in ensuring that our dogs have all they need - from feeding, exercising, cleaning, and socialising to finding their perfect forever home. This role can be physically and emotionally demanding but is also hugely rewarding; you can view some of our amazing rescue stories here.

Leading a small team, our Head of Kennels is responsible for managing all aspects of our dog in-takes, adoptions, fostering and Pet Refuge (read more here), managing our capacity to ensure we help as many dogs as we can and ensuring our dogs are rehomed to a home suited to their individual needs as soon as possible.

We offer a caring and supportive team and the chance to make a lasting difference to the lives of dogs who rely on us.

Generally, you will:

• Lead and manage our kennels and ensure the very best care and support is given to each of our dogs
• Proactively, collaboratively and resourcefully maintain relationships with volunteers, foster carers, adopters, other rescue managers and other colleagues in the wider Mayhew community
• Manage your team in an inclusive and collaborative way, enabling and empowering them
• Engage and collaborate with senior staff to ensure effective delivery of our strategic and operational goals

To be successful in this role, you need relevant experience in:

• Experience working with dogs, preferably in a shelter environment
• Knowledge of dog behaviour, training and welfare
• Experience of successfully motivating, managing, and developing a high performing team and managing performance
• Experience of effectively managing competing and changeable priorities, a high workload and multiple complex issues and tasks

Please note that successful candidate(s) will be asked to evidence of their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor licence therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.

This role sits within our Connecting Communities service, which is an element of the larger Mental Health and Wellbeing Service in Tower Hamlets. The post holder will be committed to supporting our clients through their recovery and developing greater resilience and wellbeing. This role will offer a personalised approach to accessing welfare and housing-related advice and information, through casework, workshops and advice surgeries.

What you’ll do 

• Provide welfare benefits and housing advice to support people with mental health challenges to live independently in the community.
• Help clients understand and resolve issues related to welfare benefits and ensure they receive their correct entitlements.
• Run workshops, groups, and advice surgeries on welfare benefits and related topics, such as money management.
• Work collaboratively with the Connecting Communities team, mental health services, housing associations, and other providers to support welfare benefits enquiries, referrals, and training needs.

The Head of Finance is a key member of the Senior Management Team responsible for the Trust’s financial management including; financial and management accounts, financial planning and budget submissions, forecasting and cashflow management, compliance and financial governance and the statutory accounts and audit. The produces group accounts comprising the GWT charity and the wholly owned trading subsidiary, GWT Trading Ltd. The GWT charity includes the UK based headquarters, fundraising team and two welfare advice centres, and GWT (Nepal), which is responsible for delivering the majority of charitable activities directly in Nepal. Supported by the Finance Director GWT (Nepal), Head of Finance is responsible for reporting on the financial performance of the Trust to the CEO and the Audit and Finance Committees.

Secretary of the Investment Committee and the key interface between the two Investment Managers and the Investment Committee Chair and members.

Head of profession, providing leadership and professional mentoring and development to the finance teams in the UK and Nepal.

The Trust is looking to introduce a new finance system within the next 12 months, under the direction of Head of Finance.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This role’s primary responsibilities will be as follows:

 1. Financial Leadership and Control

•  Day to day responsibility for the Trust’s finance function ensuring robust financial control, accurate reporting, and effective systems that underpin the charity’s strategic ambitions and operational delivery.
• Advising Trustees on all aspects of the Trust’s financial performance and position including that of GWT(N).
• Provide financial advice in support of the strategic direction of the Trust.

2. Financial Management and Control

• Preparation of the quarterly management accounts with supporting commentary for the Finance Committee and Trustees.
• Monthly Group consolidation, including Balance Sheet and P&L revaluations and review of completeness of management accounts.
• Payroll management for all GWT UK staff including salaries, pension contributions and medical insurance. Ensuring the correct application and reporting of statutory allowances to HMRC through monthly RTI reports.
• Cashflow management.
•  Investments: key interface with Investment Managers (Sarasin & Partners LLP and CCLA), and ensuring the correct accounting and reporting of in-period movements within PS Financials.
• Constructive Obligation: Review annual assumptions and options for agreement by the Audit Committee. Liaise with the actuary (located in India) for annual valuation.

 3. Financial Reporting and Audit

• Preparation of the Trust’s annual budget and 10-year income & expenditure and investment assessment with supporting schedules for submission to the Finance Committee and Trustees.
• In liaison with HR, evaluate and present options for UK staff annual salary awards.
• Monitor Trust’s financial performance, identifying risks and opportunities for performance improvement.
• Prepare GWT and GWT Trading Ltd statutory accounts in accordance with Charities SORP and Charity Commission requirements and with supporting schedules for audit purposes. Maintain reserve policies, presenting changes for Audit Committee approval.
• Lead for ensuring the correct adoption of SORP 26, with specific focus on the changes in lease accounting.
• In liaison with Comms & Digital Manager, oversee the preparation of the Annual Report for Trustee approval.

4. Compliance and Governance

• Responsibility for maintaining an appropriate system of internal control within the Trust.  Lead for the contracted UK Internal Audit capability and provide advice and support to GWT(N) Internal Auditor.
• Lead for Counter Fraud Policy and fraud awareness.
• Responsibility for accounting policies and procedures throughout the Trust, ensuring they are up to date and in accordance with current best practice and regulatory and Charity Commission requirements.

5. Financial Guidance and Stakeholder Engagement

• Maintain regular liaison with the Treasurer and Auditor.
• Liaise with HMRC as required on all aspects of the Trust’s accounts.
• Providing an external interface with banks, auditors, pension funds, investment managers, consultants and charity finance specialists.
• Lead for negotiating the annual Support and Medical Grant-in-Aid (GIA) with MOD and providing quarterly performance reporting.
• Provide financial advice and support to all members of staff within their areas of responsibility including assisting with the financial aspects of grant applications, contract negotiations and project proposals and to provide guidance on HMRC, Charity Commission and other regulations.

 6. Leadership and Line Management

• Line management responsibility of Financial Accountant who has day-to-day responsibility for financial transactions and input to PS Financials.
• Provide financial advice and support to Finance Director GWT(N).
• Ensuring the continued profession development of all finance staff.
• Secretary to Audit Committee and Investment Committee.

KEY SKILLS, QUALIFICATIONS AND KNOWLEDGE, AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Applicants for this position should be able to satisfy the following criteria:

Essential:

• Qualified Accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA or equivalent)
• Track record in financial management at a senior level
• Experience of working in the charity or third sector at a senior level
• Understanding of how an organisation’s strategic direction is supported by its financial framework
• Experience of accounting data processing and report generation using current business intelligence (BI) and reporting packages in addition to Excel
• Ability to work both strategically and operationally
• Track record in managing direct reports including effective delegation, coaching and performance management
• Attention to detail while being able to see the big picture
• Leading a team

Desirable:

• PS Financials
• Experience of implementing a new finance system within an organisation

QUERIES

If you have any questions over the job description or terms and conditions, please get in touch with us.  Please note we may close this vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.