Youth advocacy manager jobs in edinburgh

Policy Specialist (Children and Young People)

Are you interested in improving the lives of children and young people with a learning disability? Can you turn complex ideas into evidence-based policy? Are you a skilled communicator able to influence decision-makers? If so, we would love to hear from you!

We are currently looking for a Policy Specialist to join Mencap. This position sits within the Policy and Public Affairs teams of Mencap’s Campaigns, Advocacy and Activism Directorate (CAA). You will work closely with our influencing, information and advice, campaigning, and research work, as well as sector partners like the Disabled Children's Partnership. 

This is an exciting new role to deliver policy change and enhance the rights of children and young people with a learning disability. At a key time to influence Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) education reform, we are seeking a policy specialist to shape policy work that reflects the needs and experiences of children, young people, and their families. Working within the policy team, you will be responsible for developing evidence-based policy work and influencing decision-makers.

This is a full time position (37.5 hours per week). We are flexible with your work location, but there may be some occasional travel needed to our London office or Westminster.

You will: 

• Translate complex work into clear and persuasive policy briefings, consultation responses and reports.
• Work within wider coalitions of charities, building collaborative relationships and ensuring that the needs and priorities of our community are addressed.
• Develop and expand Mencap’s ‘Policy Shapers’ work, ensuring our work reflects the experiences of children and young people with a learning disability and their families.
• Support our information and advice team, briefing them on important developments, inputting into casework discussions relevant to your areas of work, and supporting the creation of public information resources.
• Represent Mencap at meetings and events, with MPs, civil servants, and sector partners.
• Identify and analyse relevant research to develop evidence-based policy recommendations.

You will bring to this role:

• Experience of working on public policy issues.
• Strong communication skills: experience tailoring your messaging to a variety of different audiences and representing an organisation.
• Experience building positive relationships and working collaboratively to achieve outcomes; able to positively challenge, negotiate and compromise.
• The ability to work on your own initiative while contributing to team priorities and sustain enthusiasm under pressure.
• Experience analysing evidence to develop recommendations.
• Knowledge the issues facing children and young people with a learning disability and/or the SEND system, as well as the wider parliamentary system. 
• Passion about making the world a better place for people with a learning disability. 

If you're passionate about driving meaningful change for children and young people with a learning disability and you're ready to use your policy expertise to make a real impact, please apply now with an up-to-date CV. This role will close on Monday 27th October. Interviews will be held via Microsoft Teams during the week commencing 3rd November.

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.

• Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.
• Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes
• Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

Amala’s mission is to use the power of education to transform the lives of young refugees, their communities and the world. We are a UK-registered charity delivering innovative educational programmes for displaced youth globally. We have developed the first accredited secondary level programme and qualification for out of school refugee and crisis affected youth, and we also offer Changemaker Courses in areas such as Peace-building, Ethical Leadership, and Social Entrepreneurship. 

Our approach to education is conveyed through our  human-centred, context-inclusive curricula and learning programmes that are relevant to the lives that our students lead today and will lead in the future.

We’re looking for an organised and detail-oriented Governance Clerk to support our Board of Trustees and committees. In this flexible, remote role, you’ll ensure the smooth running of meetings, maintain accurate documentation, and compliance with governance requirements.

Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinating and minuting Board and committee meetings

• Managing agendas, papers, and governance records

• Ensuring compliance with internal governance requirements and charity regulations

• Supporting trustee onboarding and development
   

Skills and experience

• Demonstrable experience of having successfully worked with charity boards and committees including writing agendas and concise and accurate minute taking

• Experience of maintaining systems and records in a governance or committee environment

• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with excellent written English

• Familiarity with charity governance requirements and the UK Charity Governance Code

• Professionalism, discretion, and sound judgement in handling sensitive information

• Comfort working independently and remotely; able to meet deadlines with minimal supervision

• Company Secretary Experience desirable

• Experience with Google Workspace and basic formatting tools for paper packs preferred

You must have the legal right to work in the UK, and be available to attend one in-person meeting per year in or around London.

At Amala, we are committed to building an inclusive and equitable team. If you share our belief in the transformative power of education, we’d love to hear from you.

Learn more and apply: For detailed information on this role, including the full list of responsibilities, experience, and instructions on how to apply, please refer to the job description.

Closing date: Friday 21 November 2025, 12:00 GMT

The Soldiers' and Aviators' Scripture Readers Association (known as SASRA) is one of the longest-established Christian charities supporting the British Armed Forces. Under Royal patronage and working with over 70,000 soldiers, 30,000 RAF personnel and some 10,000 supporters of various types, we look to introduce members of the British Armed Forces to a practical experience of the Christian faith. 

We are now looking for home-based Regional Managers to help us engage with the Christian public across the UK.

The main function of Regional Managers is to bring before the Christian public the work we do taking the gospel of Jesus Christ and bringing a practical experience of the Christian faith to the young people of the British Army and Royal Air Force.

The Regional Manager will present in churches, manage a team of volunteers, establish and maintain strategic partnerships across their region, lead regional projects and events, and produce and curate a wide variety of content.

The aim is to stimulate and encourage prayer, financial support and volunteering in support and furtherance of the work of SASRA, always respecting the interdenominational nature of our ministry. You will shape and grow the fundraising activities in the region and meet with supporters.

You will have excellent organisational, verbal and written communication skills. You’ll also have experience of managing and motivating individuals or groups. Critically, you will possess the spiritual endowment to promote prayer and missionary interest for the Lord's work through the Association in HM Forces.

You will be home-based, but expected to travel inside your region on a regular basis, meeting with supporters and supporting organisations that are raising funds for SASRA

You will be responsible for raising our profile among the Christian community and generating significant levels of engagement with potential supporters of SASRA (both individuals and churches)

Some aptitude for, and experience of, pastoral work is desirable.

The role comprises:

· Engaging with the Christian public and speaking in churches to raise SASRA’s profile

· Liaising and co-operating with HQ staff, Scripture Readers, Advocates, Representatives, Members, Chaplains and Commanding Officers.

· Recruiting and organising teams of volunteers

· Arranging events for local supporters

· Leading the flagship event and other projects in your region

· Maintaining good relationships with all stakeholders

· Handling money and overseeing the accounting, costing, and billing of your activities

· Visiting and supporting Scripture Readers

· Staying in touch with veterans and members

· Producing and curating written, photo and video content.

Technical Capabilities:

You'll need some basic IT skills and a familiarity with social media, but training will be provided. Good spreadsheet or project management skills would be an advantage, as would any experience with producing marketing material and/or infographics.

Personal qualities required:

· Adept bible knowledge

· Appetite for travel

· Likes people

· Enjoys advocacy

· Self-motivated, disciplined

We can offer a competitive salary and entry into our generous stakeholder pension scheme. You should expect significant amounts of travel within the U.K. and therefore you'll need a full U.K driving license. A company car can be provided at advantageous rates, if required.

We welcome applications from veterans, and there is an occupational requirement for the job holder to be an evangelical Christian

We Are Family is hiring!

We Are Family is an extraordinary peer support community for adopters and prospective adopters. We’re there for parents throughout their adoption journey. Online and in person, our parents’ groups, events, resources, podcasts and talks offer mutual support, information and inspiration to adopters and those considering adoption. We are the leading peer support community for adopters  across Greater London and the Home Counties, and offer digital-membership nationally; we have ambitions to scale our in-person services provision significantly over the coming years. You can find out more about us here.

As Community Programme Manager, you’ll join our independent adoption support charity, oversee our volunteer, peer support and event provision.

This is an excellent opportunity for a highly organised ‘self-starting’ individual with experience of working with user-run communities. You will use your strong relationship-building skills to proactively engage WAF members and volunteers, to continue providing peer-led support and to create new opportunities for adopters to connect across the UK.

Key Details:

Role type: Permanent

Reports to: Head of Operations

Direct Reports: You will work closely in partnership with our Associates & Volunteers

Working Pattern:  2.5 days / 18.75 hours per week, including occasional evening and on-site work.

Salary: £30-35K FTE

Location: Remote / Home-working; this role can be based anywhere within the UK with periodic meetings and visits, mainly to London / South East, at least quarterly.

Perks of Working at WAF:

· Become a part of a personable, visionary team creating positive impact on a daily basis

· Flexible working

· Home Working Allowance

· Occasional in-person working in London; travel and lunch expenses covered

· Competitive salaries with room for growth

· Professional development opportunities

· Seasonal socials

ROLE DESCRIPTION:

Key responsibilities include: 

• Engagement with our Members
• Supporting our Volunteers
• Managing our Peer-led Groups and In-Person Activities
• Overseeing our Peer Support Training and Supervision
• Nurturing Partnerships
• Delivering Impact
• Contributing to Communications
• Championing our Advocacy efforts
• Collaborating with our Board and Committees

Person Specification: 

ESSENTIAL

• Demonstrable experience coordinating / managing multiple projects or programmes
• Experience of working with beneficiaries and / or volunteers
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Skills in identifying and prioritising workload with the ability to work to deadlines and budget
• Comfortable working independently, operating good judgement on when to seek guidance and support
• Strong IT and / or aptitude to learn software skills (see below)
• Resourceful and adaptable
• Empathetic and supportive
• A ‘hands-on’ and collaborative mindset

DESIRABLE

• Lived experience / interest in supporting those connected with any of the following: early trauma, adoption, the care system, advocating for people from underserved communities.
• Lived experience / interest in supporting families
• Experience of working within a peer support network
• Experience of co-producing projects with beneficiaries / volunteers
• Experience with using multiple software packages (We work across the following software – training provided as necessary: G Suite, MS Office, Zoom, Trello, WordPress, Mailchimp, Canva, Buzzsprout, Google Analytics).

To Apply:

If the opportunity to join an exciting, rapidly growing charity appeals to you as someone able to make a valuable contribution, we would love to hear from you!

Please download our full application pack for further details and instructions on how to apply.

Deadline to apply: Midnight at Sunday 23rd November 2025
Start Date: ASAP

Please note that applications are received and reviewed on an ongoing basis, therefore an early application is advised.

Further information can be found via our website.

One of the great strengths of We Are Family is that we are volunteer and member driven, and we represent a diverse community of adoptive parents. We particularly welcome applicants from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds to ensure that the organisation can benefit from this diversity of experience.

About the role:

Green New Deal Rising is looking for a skilled and switched-on Organiser to grow and activate our movement, and deliver campaigns that build the case for a Green New Deal.

Green New Deal Rising is building a movement of young people from every part of the UK to fight for a response to the climate crisis that totally transforms our economy to deliver a safe climate and fairer society. We believe in people power, and through a combination of disrupting the political system and reaching into our communities, we plan to make the Green New Deal an era-defining issue. 

We have ambitious plans to mobilise young people, and disrupt politics to make sure this government delivers transformative policies to tackle the climate crisis and make our country more equal. 

The Organiser will be responsible for supporting and training volunteers, organising on-the-ground actions and building and delivering campaigns that change the political weather through people power.

We are committed to providing equal opportunities for everyone regardless of their background. We acknowledge that people from certain backgrounds are under-represented in progressive movements and we’re committed to doing what we can to correct this. We are particularly keen to receive applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic people; people with disabilities; people who identify as being LGTBQIA; people who have a mental health condition; and people who identify as working-class or have done so in the past.

CLOSING DATE: This is a rolling job advertisement, we will actively be checking applications and organising interviews. The advert will be closed once we find the right candidate.

This role provides expert, strategic advice to BSPD on national policy and system-level issues affecting children’s oral health. The Special Advisor will support the Executive and Council through horizon scanning, policy analysis, and strategic guidance on relationships with government, NHS England, and other external stakeholders.

This is a non-trustee, non-media-facing advisory position, working behind the scenes to inform BSPD’s policy priorities and strengthen its evidence-based advocacy.

About us

The Lucy Faithfull Foundation (LFF) is a UK-wide charity that exists to prevent child sexual abuse and exploitation. We’re here for everyone who needs us. We protect children by working with people who pose a risk and diverting them from causing harm. We support individuals and families who have been affected by abuse. And we help professionals who work with families to create safer environments for children through delivering risk assessments, interventions, training and consultancy.

About the role and you

We are looking for a data professional to support and manage significant changes in the way our charity uses, processes and manages data. Our teams pride themselves on evidence-informed practice, using research and data to enhance their work at every stage. There are elements of our charity’s work which are unique to our field, making our data highly valuable in contributing to the future of preventing child sexual abuse. We collect data all the time: on the individual progress of our clients, the reach of our campaigns and the demand for our support. As part of our new Tech and Data Strategy, we are taking the next stage in our use of data analysis and data science, ensuring that we use our data more effectively and efficiently to support our teams in preventing child sexual abuse.

We are looking for a Data Scientist/Analyst to help us make this change. You will be based in the LFF Research Team, reporting to our Director of Research and Impact.

This role will facilitate better use, processing and management of data across the organisation. It will focus on four areas:

• Data systems and structures
• Data analysis
• Data visualisation
• Data security and compliance

The postholder will work alongside experienced researchers to develop a new portfolio of priority projects to enhance our work. With no fixed task list or assigned service, this role offers the freedom to explore and innovate, identifying where data, data science, and data systems can drive real change.

This role will be remote or hybrid - we have offices in Bromsgrove, Epsom and Edinburgh.

What you’ll get from us

We offer the following benefits:

• Hybrid working (with a minimum of 2 days in the office per week; we ask for 3 days in the office per week for the first month)
• NEST pension
• 33 days’ annual leave rising to 38 days (inclusive of statutory bank holidays following qualifying period)
• Up to 5 days’ learning and development per year
• Flu jabs & eye tests
• Season ticket loans
• Charity discounts
• Employee assistance programme
• Option of private healthcare with Benenden

How to apply

We really welcome informal conversations with prospective candidates about the role and the charity in advance of the deadline.

To apply, please download the job pack and return your completed documents by Monday 24th November at 5:00pm. Stage 1 interviews are scheduled to take place on 4th December and stage 2 interviews are scheduled to take place on 10th December for shortlisted candidates.

If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date you have been unsuccessful with your application. Please note the successful candidate will be required to undergo a DBS check for this position.

#data #research #datascientist #dataanalyst #dataanalysis #datasecurity #datacompliance #datavisulisation

We’re excited to recruit our first Major Donors and Partnerships Coordinator to lead on securing and managing key relationships with corporate partners and major donors. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone with proven experience in corporate fundraising and major donor engagement to help shape CLAPA’s high value fundraising strategy from the ground up. If you're passionate about building meaningful partnerships and making a lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you.

You will play an active part in shaping and delivering corporate fundraising campaigns and stewardship activities, with a good level of ownership balanced by the support of an experienced income generation team. 

As Major Donors and Partnerships Coordinator, you will contribute significantly to diversifying and sustaining CLAPA’s income. With an ambitious Income Generation Strategy in place, this is a timely opportunity to help strengthen CLAPA’s profile in corporate fundraising and partnerships. Building and maintaining strong, long-term relationships with donors and partners will be a core part of your role.

Working in a small and collaborative income generation team, you will need to be organised, proactive, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. This position offers a supportive environment where you can grow your skills while making a meaningful contribution.

The Link to apply is listed in the attached Recruitment Pack or can be accessed via the Redirect to recruiter button.