Birth Companions is a charity that supports women experiencing multiple disadvantage during the perinatal period in the community in London and the southeast, and in prisons across the country.
Our work aims to improve the lives of mothers and babies by:
- improving the mental health and well-being of pregnant women and new mother
- enabling new mothers to give their babies the best possible start in life
- empowering women to fulfil their potential through engagement
- driving improvements in the local and national policy and practice that impacts on mothers and their babies.
By working towards these aims, we hope that all women who face disadvantage and inequality during this crucial point in their lives will have the support they need to give their baby the best possible start, and to fulfil their own potential, whatever their circumstances.
Birth Companions’ values have shaped the organisation’s approach from the outset and are still as important to us as ever. We are a women’s organisation built on feminist principles, delivering woman-to-woman support. Choice, empowerment and protecting women’s rights have always been central to the way we work. Through the work of our staff and trained volunteers we offer practical and emotional support before, during and after birth. We work in a woman-centred way that is trauma-informed, flexible and non-judgemental, basing our support on what a woman tells us she needs.
Work across our frontline services shows us what matters to women, and where things can and should be better in the care they receive from others. Based on these insights, we commission academic and peer-led research and direct the attention of local and national policy-makers, commissioners and service providers to what needs to change, and how. Everyone at Birth Companions plays a role in this. Communication and collaboration between our frontline practitioners, policy and engagement staff and the women in our Lived Experience Team means we are able to identify and monitor issues and themes and draw on learning in order to feed them into conversations with senior stakeholders across maternity, criminal justice, social services and immigration. In this way we ensure our policy and influencing work is rooted in the day-to-day experiences of women and what will make most difference to them and their babies.
The Criminal Justice Services Manager will manage and develop all aspects of Birth Companions’ criminal justice-based services and line-manage the criminal justice services Coordinators, (currently three staff members but this likely to increase as we expand our services).
They will develop and maintain strategic partnerships with other relevant agencies and ensure the successful delivery of services through internal monitoring and evaluation, external evaluation and the charity’s governance structures.
The Criminal Justice Services Manager will be responsible for contributing to the development and implementation of new prison and wider criminal justice system-based services through stakeholder engagement and service design where opportunities are identified.
The Criminal Justice Services Manager will also contribute to the policy, engagement and strategic work of the organisation where appropriate.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
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About Chapter One
Chapter One is a dynamic, growing charity with a vision of a world in which all children have the literacy skills needed to thrive. Our mission is to close the reading gap by providing children with one-to-one support at the time they need it most.
Our unique Online Reading Volunteer programme currently supports over 3,200 children a year. It pairs disadvantaged, struggling five to eight-year old (KS1) readers with reading support volunteers who come from over 160 local and national businesses. The volunteer ask is very focused: readers commit 30 minutes a week to read with a child using a bespoke digital platform for an entire academic year. The results are transformative, boosting children's reading confidence and ability.
For more information about our programmes please visit our website. Please also take some time to visit our social media channels and watch our videos.
About the Role
The Finance Assistant has responsibility for a variety of finance functions including the purchase and sales ledger, making payments to suppliers, invoicing Corporate Partners and Schools and reconciling bank accounts. They support the day to day running of the Finance Team ensuring that tasks such as posting invoices, reconciling customer accounts, supporting credit control and chasing non-payments are carried out in a timely and accurate fashion.
The Finance Assistant reports to and works closely with the Head of Finance and plays a critical role in resolving finance queries from Chapter One colleagues, maintaining accurate financial records, supporting internal processes and contributing to the effective financial management of Chapter One.
This role is ideal for someone who has experience in a similar position within a finance team and has good working knowledge of accounting principles and a basic understanding of income for charities. They will work remotely and will need to have access to a reliable internet connection. This role is subject to an Enhanced DBS check, and the post-holder must be permanently based in the UK at the time of applying and for the duration of their employment.
All Chapter One employees are required to attend quarterly in-person staff meetings held in various locations across the UK (all expenses covered) as well as monthly all staff virtual meetings which are held on the first Wednesday of each month from 12:00 - 13:00; participation is mandatory.
How to Apply
Please read the full job description for details of the responsibilities of the role, and our employee recruitment pack to learn more about Chapter One. Application instructions included below.
Interview Dates
First Round Interviews: w/c Monday 8th September
Second Round Interviews: w/c Monday 15th September
Chapter One is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and celebrate diversity in backgrounds and experience and are deliberate about the kind of teams we are building. Literacy is a universal concern, and we need people from all backgrounds to maximise our innovation, creativity and impact. We especially welcome applications from individuals who have experienced disadvantage and/or from those who are of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities who are currently underrepresented in the organisation
Please send your CV (maximum 2 A4 sides) and a covering letter via CharityJob. Your covering letter (maximum 1 side of A4) should include:
1) A summary of your relevant experience, including clear examples
2) Tell us about a time when you identified an opportunity to improve a financial process or system
3) Tell us about your journey of continuing professional development
4) Tell us about how our organisational mission is in line with your values
Applications that fail to meet these criteria will automatically be discounted. We want you to have every opportunity to shine and to show us your talents - please let us know if there is anything we can do to make sure the assessment process works for you.
At Chapter One, we want to create a world where all children have the literacy skills needed to thrive.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are seeking an energetic, enthusiastic, eye-for-detail person to join us as the new Parish Administrator.
The successful candidate will be responsible for the smooth running of the parish office and will be the first point of contact for all those wishing to access any business of the Parish.
This position requires proficiency in various clerical tasks, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities efficiently.
Main Responsibilities:
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- To be the friendly welcoming face of the church
- Provide administrative support to the church and its activities
- Manage the church office, including handling phone and email enquiries
- Maintain church records, service rotas, and church calendar
- Oversee hall bookings and liaise with hirers
- Assist with preparation of weekly notice sheets and service materials
- Coordinate church communications (newsletters, website updates, social media)
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding and data protection requirements
We’re Looking For Someone Who:
- Is highly organised, efficient, and self-motivated
- Has excellent communication and IT skills
- Can work well independently and as part of a team
- Understands and supports the values and mission of our Church
- Has previous administrative experience (experience in a church or charity setting is desirable)
What We Offer:
- A welcoming and supportive church environment
- Flexible working hours across the week (exact pattern negotiable, some hybrid working possible by arrangemnt)
- Opportunities for training and development
- A meaningful role at the heart of a growing church community
Hours: The role is part-time (20 hours per week) working on site in the church office
Salary: £14 to £16 per hour (depending on experience and qualifications)
Please note: There is a requirement for applicants to fully support the ethos of this Anglican parish.This post involves is subject to a DBS check. The successful applicant will be required to undertake Rochester Diocesan safeguarding training at an appropriate level.
The information pack and application form can be downloaded below
Closing date for applications: 12th September 2025.
Interviews: Week beginning 29th September 2025
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.