Youth specialist jobs in Leeds

The National Youth Agency is looking for a Learning & Development Officer.

Learning and Development Officer
Contract: Fixed-term, 6 months
Hours: Full-time – 37 hours per week
Salary: £36,050 per annum
Location: Home-based in England with occasional travel for meetings, workshops, and team activities. Head Office is in Leicester.

What we do

As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.

We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work.

About the Role

This role sits within the team responsible for the professional, statutory and regulatory elements of youth work. You will support delivery of youth work curriculum projects, learning activity, and development of high-quality practical tools and materials that help create the conditions for great youth work.

The role exists to provide operational delivery and coordination, enabling the National Curriculum & Learning Manager to focus on strategic development, leadership and quality assurance.

You will be joining an agile, flexible, and collaborative team who work at pace, engaging partners and stakeholders to support youth work across England. Your role will contribute to the improvement and development of learning resources and approaches.

Key Responsibilities

As a Learning & Development Officer, you will support:

• Delivery of local youth work curriculum commissions, from inception to completion.
• Coordination of curriculum-related events and training, including train-the-trainer sessions and stakeholder workshops.
• Development, adaptation and refinement of learning and development tools, templates, and materials.
• Gathering and organising insight, learning and feedback to inform curriculum improvement.
• Drafting, adapting, and maintaining curriculum content aligned to national standards and local context.
• Preparing agendas, notes and follow-up actions for workshops, inception calls and meetings.
• Supporting approaches to demonstrating and evidencing impact.

Note: This role does not hold budget, strategic ownership, or line management responsibility.

Why Work for NYA?

• NYA operates as a people-focused organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
• NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
• A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
• NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
• We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.

Closing date: 11.59pm on Friday 20th March 2026
N.B. Please apply ASAP as we may close applications early once we have a substantial amount of suitable applicants.

Interested?

If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website. 

The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.

At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.

We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.

Please note: We use AI detector software, so applications or CV’s with high levels of AI generated content may be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance.

No agencies please.

You will be instrumental in the quality and impactful implementation, delivery and retention of our sites. You will oversee the delivery of exceptional outcomes in support of the charity's mission. You will work as part of a Regional team to deliver outstanding programmes across your geography, establishing and leading partnerships throughout the life of a programme.    

Regular travel throughout your geographical location will be required, with occasional travel to other areas of the UK.  Please stipulate where you are based when applying.

In addition, occasional international travel may be required, such as the opportunity to attend the annual conference in the United States.  

You will report to the Regional within the Delivery & Partnerships team or the Associate Director of Business Development.

• We will conduct selection throughout Thursday March 26th and Friday March 27th – with a multi-stage process taking place across the 2 days.

Key Responsibilities  

· You will be accountable for the retention and outcomes of your portfolio of programmes.  

· You will work closely with colleagues in both the Delivery & Partnership team and the Quality & Impact team to pursue quality delivery of programmes that adheres to model fidelity.  

· You will hold partners and stakeholders to account for their key responsibilities in the delivery of quality programmes.  

Application Instructions

• We will conduct selection throughout Thursday March 26th and Friday March 27th – with a multi-stage process taking place across the 2 days.

We will review applications as they come in and close when we have sufficient numbers

The National Youth Agency is looking for a Head of Business Development.

Head of Business Development
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time – 37 hours per week
Salary: £53,000 – £59,000 dependent on experience and qualifications
Location: Home-based in England with occasional travel for meetings, workshops, and team activities. Head Office is in Leicester.

What we do

As the national body for youth work, the NYA has a dual function. We are the professional statutory and regulatory body (PSRB) responsible for qualifications, quality standards, and safeguarding for youth work and services in England. In line with our charity mission and aims, we also champion youth work through research, advocacy, campaigns, and programmes.

We work in partnership and believe in collaborative leadership, listening to youth workers and the youth work sector so that we can understand their needs and respond to the challenges they face. We are ambitious for youth work and for young people and integrate youth voice and influence across our work

About the Role

The Head of Business Development will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering the organisation’s Business Development Strategy, leading the Business Development team to secure new opportunities, and ensuring the sustainability and growth of NYA’s income streams.

Key Responsibilities

As Head of Business Support, you will:

• Lead, motivate, and support the Business Development team to deliver ambitious growth targets.
• Develop and implement business development strategies to secure new commercial opportunities and funding from public, voluntary, and private sector partners.
• Spearhead new strategic initiatives for business development, identifying and pursuing innovative opportunities for growth and diversification.
• Build and maintain high-value relationships with clients, funders, and stakeholders, ensuring NYA’s offer is visible and compelling.
• Oversee the development and management of the sales pipeline, ensuring targets are met or exceeded.
• Work closely with the Director of Growth to align business development activities with NYA’s strategic objectives.
• Engage directly with trustees, including managing the relationship with the Finance and Growth Committee, preparing reports, and presenting business development performance and strategy.
• Lead on market research, business planning, and the development of commercial proposals and pitches.
• Represent NYA at meetings, events, and conferences, promoting the organisation’s reputation and offer.
• Support the Director of Growth in reporting to the CEO and Board on business development performance and strategy.

Why Work for NYA?

• NYA operates as a people-focused organisation, prioritising the well-being and needs of its employees.
• NYA offers an exceptional flexible working approach which encourages our team to balance professional responsibilities with their personal life.
• A remote based team, spread across England, fostering inclusivity and diverse talent. Despite geographical distances between team members, NYA maintains a highly motivated and connected team through the optimisation of digital tools.
• NYA is committed to supporting the continual personal and professional development of our team and helping them achieve their ambitions.
• We provide 25 days leave plus 8 days, life assurance scheme, 5% employer pension contribution and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme via Spectrum.life with unlimited specialist support available to all NYA employees.

Closing date: 5pm Wednesday 18th March
Interviews: Monday 23rd March (subject to change)

Interested?

If you would like to apply and find out more about this position, please click the apply button to be directed to our website. 

The National Youth Agency is an equal opportunities employer.

At NYA our inclusive culture means that we embrace individual differences and understand that we need a diverse team to achieve our organisations mission.

We wish to recruit candidates from all backgrounds to ensure our team reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve. We encourage applications from anyone regardless of disability, ethnicity, heritage, gender, sexuality, religion, socio-economic background and political beliefs but we particularly welcome applications from global majority candidates and those from other minoritised ethnic groups in the UK as they are currently underrepresented in our team.

Please note: We use AI detector software, so applications or CV’s with high levels of AI generated content may be disregarded. We understand that AI tools can offer support to candidates who have learning differences, which is why we will accept applications with some AI assistance.

No agencies please.

Salary: £25,630 - £28,000 per annum

Hours: 35 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Wakefield -Working flexibly across the county and home working

Job Reference Number: 1664

A unique and exciting opportunity to join Cranstoun’s team to deliver our specialist perpetrator interventions, in Wakefield.

Cranstoun provides a range of interventions to perpetrators and victim/survivors affected by domestic abuse.

We are looking for motivated and dynamic individual to be a part of the team. Experience of working within the health and social care sector, group work experience would be advantageous.

The successful applicant will be working as part of the Wakefield domestic abuse service (DASS). The service offers a range of interventions to perpetrators, victims and children and young people.

The postholder will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check against relevant barred lists.

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button.

Closing date: Sunday 15 March 2026.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work. 

Registered Charity No: 1061582

Safe to Learn is looking for a creatively driven graphic designer for a fixed-term contract of initially 12 months. We are looking for someone who has a passion for communicating everything from research reports to branding and storytelling for children and their families, in all types of media, including the website.

This role would suit a graphic designer who is confident working independently, enjoys working in an often fast-based but varied, working environment, where attention to detail, flexibility and pace are essential. All while working with and being supported by a team of specialists.

If you have the necessary skills and experience and want to affect real change then join Safe to Learn.

Job description

Safe to Learn is a newly established network of teachers, parents, researchers, policymakers, young people and child safeguarding practitioners, working together to end antisemitism in UK schools. We co-produce evidence-based child safeguarding resources, tools and standards to address antisemitism and improve the school environment for all children, educators and support staff.

Safe to Learn is seeking a graphic designer to build on the work in progress by providing engaging print and web design in line with our brand guidelines for all assets, including printed and digital resources, such as emails, leaflets, web banners, landing pages and advertising banners for the website and online marketing and dissemination campaigns. 

Responsibilities

1. Work collaboratively with the KCS Communications team to ensure all designed elements and communications have a consistent look and feel in line with existing style guides.

2. Work collaboratively with external partners and agencies.

3. Ensure all designed digital-based or printed communications are consistent with the brand guidelines.

4. Receive briefs from members of the KCS team and agree achievable deadlines.

5. Manage workload and prioritise briefs in line with agreed deadlines advising of any potential slippage.

6. Ensure designs meet the brief prior to handover for sign off.

7. Progress to final design following amends and final sign-off in agreed format (s) or implementation online where appropriate.

8. Provide support and cover for other design colleagues.

9. Keep up to date with new technology, software and systems.

10. Anything else that might be reasonably required.

Person Specification

Candidates with the following experience and commitment are encouraged to apply:

1. A demonstrable alignment with our mission and values.

2. A clear commitment to ending antisemitism and understanding of antisemitism, child rights, and child safeguarding and their underlying principles.

3. Demonstrable experience in graphic design, preferably in the charity sector.

4. Knowledge and proficient use of Adobe Creative Suite, especially Adobe Illustrator, Mailchimp.

5. Creative flair, demonstrable through extensive portfolio.

6. Enthusiastic, conscientious and motivated, with a high-level of attention to detail.

7. Experience of dealing with competing priorities and able to multi-task.

8. Use design skills in areas such as colour, composition, layout and typography to work on a variety of products and activities. These could include:

· websites, apps and social media channels

· advertisements

· reports and publications

· posters, flyers and banners

· exhibitions and displays

· corporate communications and campaigns in our brand identity.

9. The work demands creative flair, up-to-date knowledge of industry standards and a professional approach to time, workload and deadlines.

10. A commitment to inclusive design principles and designing for accessibility.

11. Experience of developing high-quality resources and educational materials for children and educators.

12. A positive, flexible, participatory and consultative approach.

13. Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to engage audiences at all levels.

Application Instructions

To apply, please send a CV, a portfolio of your recent work and a cover letter addressing each point in the person specification.

Should you need further information please contact:us.

About Advantage Mentoring

We are specialists in partnering The NHS with the charitable arms of professional football clubs: known as Club Community Organisations (CCO).

We harness the power of professional football club’s community organisations to deliver mental health mentoring programmes which provide solutions to key community challenges. 

Our vision is to create a transformative network where anchor institutions and CCOs collaborate seamlessly to deliver sustainable, impactful mental health and well-being support to local communities.

We aim to fill the gaps in existing healthcare and wellbeing services by harnessing the unique position that CCOs have in local communities and providing effective programmes that meet people at their point and place of need.

Our goals are to continue tackling and reducing health inequalities, increase equal access to mental health support and provide better experiences and outcomes for our participants.

About the role and its purpose

· You will be responsible for Advantage’s income and business development activity

· You will lead a broad range of income generating activities and manage relationships with stakeholders

· You will be responsible for growing income from a variety of sources, income streams and relationships

· You will have a clear priority focus on converting pilot and seed-funded contracts to longer-term sustainable contracts and developing donations and project funding

Key tasks & responsibilities

Income generation

· Use your skills, creativity and experience to develop our income generation strategy

· Develop ideas for creative sponsorship and funding opportunities, putting together and submitting proposal and tender documents; identifying suitable partners; presenting proposals and closing deals

· Converting pilot and seed-funded contracts to longer-term sustainable contracts e.g. current Postcode Lottery agreement in the North-East converting to a long-term contract with North-East and North Cumbria ICB (more information to this can be given at interview stage)

· Support drawing up and negotiating contracts and ensuring delivery

· Work with stakeholders and our internal team to scope and develop exciting new opportunities

· Develop and steward fundraising and donor relationships in order to increase income

· Deliver on agreed income targets

Partnerships and Networks

· Build and maintain a network of strategic key external contacts that can support Advantage Mentoring’s work. Stakeholders will be from private, public and third sector groups. Take an active role in representing Advantage Mentoring to appropriate Trusts and Foundations

· Develop a work plan for private sector and philanthropic engagement to achieve a joined up and coherent approach to engaging with commercial organisations across multiple outcomes (financial, brand awareness, influencing policy and support-in-kind)

Communication, marketing and external relations

· Work with Communications colleagues to create materials that will attract new strategic partners, for example highly targeted work aimed at specific sectors being clear about the value of partnering with Advantage Mentoring

· Represent Advantage Mentoring with external audiences (in the media, at events, in meetings with senior stakeholders)

Strategic Leadership

· Develop and implement Advantage’s income generation strategy and policies, as a part of the Leadership Team

· Ensure that partner organisations understand and commit to our values

Management

· Oversee the business development pipeline and ensure that enough proposals are being submitted to make the achievement of income targets probable

· Provide income generation information to the Managing Director and participate in Executive Team meetings and Board meetings

· Report to the Board on income generation as required.

· Maintain a thorough understanding of financial targets and progress

· Work alongside the Head of Operations & Projects to make sure projects are properly initiated and well managed to ensure all contractual obligations are achieved

· Work closely with the PR/Comms Manager to support the awareness of the organisation’s work on a national and local level

Reporting

· Utilise the project bids pipeline spreadsheet and capacity spreadsheet to inform planning and resourcing

· Maintain an effective database of Grants, Trust and Foundation contacts

· Monitor digital income streams to ensure they are effective and opportunities are secured

· Work in collaboration with the communications team to build brand awareness, and promote income generation and impact developing content for key messaging, PR, and branding materials to support effective marketing of the organisation

· Design and develop key income generation materials to enhance our external visibility including extending our profile via submissions for awards and recognition programmes

· Plan and support events for awareness raising and dissemination of our work

· Ensure systems and processes for managing data comply with the organisation’s data protection obligations, charity law and GDPR

· Develop robust systems for the effective stewardship and reporting to supporters of our work

Essential Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Personal Qualities

Experience

· Substantial experience of income generation and development activity, including

• Handling key clients

• Preparing, costing, pitching and closing proposals

• Completing tender documents for submission

• Ensuring delivery of initiatives on time and within budget to the satisfaction of all parties

· Experience of working with corporate partners, establishing and delivering impactful, strategic partnerships with the commercial sector 

· Experience in developing and stewarding fundraising and donor relationships

· Experience of building and sustaining relationships and partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders

· Understanding of impact measurement frameworks

Knowledge & Skills

· Skilled in working with a wide range of organisations and stakeholders

· Excellent communication and influencing skills

· Good knowledge of the public, private and third sector

· Excellent organisational and planning skills

· Ability to set and meet deadlines

· Excellent written communications skills, including ability to write persuasive and engaging content

· IT skills (able to use Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and databases)

· Ability to work in a pressured environment and work to deadlines. 

Personal Qualities

· Gets things done, delivers to highest of standards and takes responsibility

· Entrepreneurial, innovative, personable, collaborative and good at working both in a team and under your own initiative 

· Able to represent Advantage Mentoring, reflecting its values and priorities

· Able to encourage contributions and involvement from a broad and diverse range of staff by being visible and accessible

· Flexible and dynamic, with an ability to adapt and respond quickly to a fast-changing environment

· Ability to negotiate and influence others in a positive manner and confidence to deal with different priorities and differing views.

· Ability to manage expectations.

· Diplomacy and ability to deal with difficult situations.

· Strong delivery focus, with the ability to drive progress forward and a concern for results and achieving goals.

· Confident communicator

· Ability to quickly build credibility internally and externally

· Ability to work in partnership and with flexibility

· Excellent attention to detail

· Proactive, thinks ahead, generates innovative ideas

Other

· Ability to undertake travel around England if/as needed with possible overnight stays

Values & Behaviours

Collaborative

Advantage collaborates with anchor institutions and CCOs to deliver preventative, engaging, and accessible healthcare to those in the community who need it. Our programmes are co-designed and tailored to local needs whilst building sustainable local and national networks.

Inclusive

Advantage aims to give people the opportunity to access our programmes regardless of their race, gender, or socioeconomic class. We believe in creating equal opportunities and breaking down barriers to ensure everyone can benefit from our services.

Supportive

Our mental health programmes increase equal access to care, delivering better experiences and outcomes through evidence-based practices and continuous improvement. Advantage widens access to services closer to home, reduces unnecessary delays, and unburdens other anchor institutions by building capacity to support people.

Impactful

We specialise in creating sustainable partnerships between CCOs and anchor institutions harnessing each entity’s strengths to form a unified support network. Our tailored project and performance management packages ensure ongoing quality assurance, improvement, and responsive adaptations to meet the evolving needs of our partners and their communities.

Advantage Mentoring CIC positively encourages applications from suitable qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity.

This is a home-based role, working Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Applications are welcome from candidates based outside Belfast, provided they are resident in Northern Ireland and able to commute to the Belfast office if required.

The External Affairs Manager plays a pivotal role in empowering people with sight loss to live the life they choose. This position leads the development of policy and campaigns within the country, aligning with Guide Dogs’ strategic objectives. Working collaboratively with the central policy, public affairs, and campaigns team, as well as the country leadership team, the role builds strategic partnerships with government bodies, local authorities, societies, and other key organisations. This ensures Guide Dogs remains informed and influential on all policy initiatives affecting the organisation and its stakeholders.

The post holder will be responsible for the day‑to‑day leadership, management and oversight of a team.

The post-holder is responsible for shaping policy positions, drafting responses to consultations from councils, combined authorities, and devolved governments, and driving impactful campaigns at a regional level. A key focus is increasing the involvement of blind and partially sighted people in advocacy and campaigning.

Additionally, the role leads the implementation of Guide Dogs’ regional marketing and communications strategy across the Devolved Nations. This includes raising brand awareness, engaging diverse audiences—service users, families, volunteers, donors, and the public—and delivering integrated communications plans that strengthen Guide Dogs’ presence and impact.

Key Responsibilities

Policy Development

• Lead the creation of country-specific policy and position papers, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy.
• Prepare responses to consultation papers from devolved administrations, local government, and regional bodies.
• Represent Guide Dogs on committees, working groups, and forums, staying informed on policy issues impacting the organisation and its service users.

Public Affairs

• Build and influence relationships with key stakeholders, including elected representatives and senior officials.
• Represent Guide Dogs at Government Scrutiny Committees and cross-party groups.
• Act as the primary liaison with local government and statutory agencies.

Campaigns & Influence

• Strategically lead and coordinate campaigns at a country level, ensuring alignment with devolved policy priorities.
• Develop and deliver campaigns addressing local needs of the visually impaired community.
• Foster partnerships within the Third Sector to build consensus and amplify Guide Dogs’ strategic aims. 

Leadership & People Management

• Provide strong leadership to local staff and volunteers, promoting best practice and knowledge-sharing.
• Oversee recruitment, performance management, and compliance with safeguarding policies.
• Ensure high levels of engagement through effective communication and leadership.

Financial Accountability

• Support fundraising initiatives and monitor operational budgets to ensure efficiency and compliance.

Diversity & Inclusion

• Champion Guide Dogs’ diversity agenda, ensuring services are inclusive and accessible.
• Work with external partners to create a more inclusive environment for people with sight loss.

How to apply 

Further details on the full role are attached below. When you are ready to apply, submit an online application form via this page.

If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role before applying, or require any accessibility support to apply, our friendly recruitment team is ready and waiting to help.

As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description. You will also be asked to complete a few job-specific questions as part of this application process, so please be prepared to write your answers to these questions.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. 

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are proud, whenever possible, to offer an interview to all candidates that meet our selection criteria, and who indicate they wish their application to be considered under our Disability Confident interview commitment. For more details, visit our careers site.

If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK via our digital ID checking supplier; in addition, we cannot offer visa sponsorship at this time.

Safeguarding

Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.

At Guide Dogs, we believe in fair and equitable hiring practices. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for a position. Each case will be evaluated individually, taking into account the nature of the offense, its relevance to the role, and the time that has passed since the incident. We encourage all candidates to disclose relevant information, and we assure you that it will be handled confidentially and fairly.

Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If you are applying for a disclosure role, please note that you will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and sign up to the DBS update service.

For high volumes of applications, we reserve the right to close adverts earlier than advertised.

Salary: £35,882 (outside London) - £37,778 (London)
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Location: Hybrid – Bristol or London office, or home-based with monthly travel to Bristol
Closing date: 1^st March
Benefits: 27 days Annual leave (excluding Bank Holidays), up to 8% pension contribution, enhanced maternity & adoption pay

We’re delighted to be working with Young Lives vs Cancer, a leading charity supporting children and young people facing cancer, as they look for a Sports and Challenges Manager (DIY Sports) — a pivotal & brand new role within their high-performing Mass Participation team.

This is an exciting opportunity to shape and deliver a compelling portfolio of sports and challenge events, including DIY and open challenges, Ultra Challenges, and Run for Charity events. You’ll help drive the charity’s ambitious objectives for growth, supporter engagement and long-term value, ensuring every participant receives an outstanding experience as part of Team Young Lives vs Cancer.

In this role, you will strategically manage a diverse events portfolio, lead on multichannel stewardship journeys, and collaborate with colleagues across Digital Marketing, Brand, Regional Engagement, Fundraising Operations and external suppliers. You’ll play a key part in positioning Young Lives vs Cancer as a stand-out, sector-leading events brand — ensuring excellent supporter journeys, impactful marketing, and seamless operational delivery.

To be successful as Sports and Challenges Manager, you will need:

• Strong strategic and operational experience within mass participation events
• Experience delivering effective, data-driven multichannel stewardship journeys
• Strong relationship?building skills, with experience working with suppliers, organisers and internal teams

If you would like to have an informal discussion, please contact Ashby Jenkins Recruitment and ask to speak to Jake.

Ashby Jenkins Recruitment is a specialist charity recruitment agency. We are committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion and take a relationship-led approach to recruitment in the sector. You can read more about our commitment to diversity on our website.

If enough applications are received, we reserve the right to close the application period early.

Job reference: 2871JP
 

We’re recruiting an experienced, creative and hands-on communications specialist to work with Platform Places and Footwork over the next 10 months – to develop our bold narratives and inspiring content that help drive locally-led neighbourhood transformation.

• Target start date: 11th May 2026 
• Time input: 3 days per week (0.6 full-time equivalent), with flexibility for up to 4 days per week in certain busy periods, by mutual agreement
• Remuneration: £55,000-£61,500 per year (pro rata) depending on experience
• Flexible working: Work hours can be flexible as long as role objectives are met
• Location: Hybrid, remote or in-person (option to work from our London office). Monthly in-person team days in London, plus occasional trips to partners in Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool, Bristol and London and learning gatherings (expenses covered). 
• Contract type: PAYE employment contract. 10 months fixed term.
• Eligibility: Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK.

About us

In 2025, Platform Places integrated with Footwork Trust, becoming what we call ‘civic partners’. Together we facilitate locally-led neighbourhood transformation – so people have the power to live affordably, sustainably and together. 

About Platform Places

Platform Places is a national cross-sector collaboration and not-for-profit social enterprise with a mission to unlock town centre buildings for amazing ideas that help us live affordably, sustainably and together. We convene councils, community leaders and asset owners around the country to build powerful partnerships, to unlock buildings for local benefit. We support these Partnerships with access to funding, technical expertise and networks.

Our deeper intention is to localise and democratise who owns, controls and transforms town centre and neighbourhood buildings, so that communities can:

• design spaces to meet local needs – whether affordable space for arts, music, healthcare, local food, housing, nature connection, reuse & repair, childcare etc
• retain and reinvest the wealth generated by these buildings.

We’re inspired by pioneers like Hastings Commons, Stour Trust, SAFE Regen, Civic Square, Nudge Community Builders, Makespace Oxford and other members of the Mycelial Network.

About Footwork Trust 

Footwork (UK charity Footwork Trust) supports local people to transform their neighbourhoods for the better and builds alliances to make this possible.

Since 2022, Footwork’s ‘People and Place’ programme has supported over 50 community innovators to turn their bold ideas into lasting positive change, in response to a local social or environmental challenge. Often reviving land and buildings for community use, they are part of a growing force for fairer, locally-led regeneration, making the places they call home more resilient and equitable. 

Through national and local events, Footwork creates spaces for peer support and shared learning, showcases inspiring examples, and convenes built environment practitioners to enable true collaboration with community partners. 

Together, Footwork and Platform Places co-facilitate the Mycelial Network for Community Asset Developers.

About the Local Property Partnerships pilot, 2024-2027

Thanks to National Lottery players, Platform Places and partners have received almost £2.5 million over three years from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest community funder in the UK. The funding is being used to enable communities to come together and secure long-term spaces for the activities and services that they need the most.

This fund and programme resources local leaders in neighbourhoods in Newcastle, Sheffield, Liverpool City Region, Bristol and London – working towards shifting multiple buildings into long-term local ownership. We’re also supported by our national partner organisations Architectural Heritage Fund, Power to Change and Social Investment Business. Our intention is that this work will lay the groundwork for a larger follow-on funding programme, which catalyses England-wide adoption of this approach.

The role

We’re looking for an experienced, creative and hands-on communications specialist to join our small team and network of local and national partners.

The Communications Lead will focus on our key programmes, with the below time distribution. The challenge and opportunity is to hit the ground running and drive communications across our key channels – to help attract allies, funding and support, and inspire replication of these approaches in neighbourhoods around England.

2 days per week, ‘Local Property Partnerships’: 

• You’ll lead on promoting, and sharing learnings from, Platform Places’ exciting pilot programme (funded by National Lottery Community Fund) – which is localising and democratising who owns, controls and transforms town centre buildings in five neighbourhoods across England. 

0.75 days per week, ‘People and Place’: 

• You’ll promote, and share learnings from, Footwork Trust’s ‘People and Place’ programme – which supports community innovators to turn their bold ideas into lasting positive change for their place. 

0.25 days per week, Wider movement building: 

• You’ll work on ad hoc broader communications opportunities that support our mission and the programmes – for example, creating a content piece with local or national partners from our wider network, or pitching a media story that cuts across all our programmes.

This involves the following areas of responsibility: 

1. Build on our working communications strategy
2. Work with co-directors to develop our bold, inspiring core messaging, and update our boilerplate narratives
3. Manage digital channels for Platform Places and Footwork: a) plan and create regular social media content; b) write newsletters (approx. quarterly); c) upload and edit website content, on Squarespace (drag-and-drop editor) and occasionally Wix (guidance available).
4. Strategic media relations: build journalist relationships and pitch stories (local or national), op-eds and comments
5. Work with local and national partners to share inspiring and compelling stories
6. Develop practical how-tos and templates, together with partners (you'll have support initiating partner relationships)
7. Provide comms guidance to local programme partners
8. Support co-directors and partners with speaking engagements and event opportunities

You’ll start from a strong foundation of communications activities, along with our established tone, visual identity and branded templates – with lots of freedom for new ideas. 

About you

• You’re as comfortable with creative storytelling as you are with practical resources
• You’re a campaigner for systems change – experienced in attracting allies and creating communications for diverse audiences
• You make it sing – you turn dense or complicated materials into clear and effective narratives to shift opinion and action
• You’re a collaborator – you can effectively hold relationships with local and national partners to plan and deliver coordinated communications 
• You can ‘wear all the hats’: you get stuck in on strategy and roll up your sleeves on delivery; you know when to pitch to media and when the tactic is digital; you can knock up great copy or quick Canva graphics without aiming for perfection
• You’re efficient and resourceful, comfortable leading on comms in a small (and collaborative) team, and know how to make things happen on a small budget (and when to seek external specialists)
• You’re passionate about community-led places and social and environmental justice – and you’re knowledgeable about at least one of: high streets, property, retrofit, community business, heritage buildings, cultural venues, town planning, neighbourhood governance

We know you likely have a particular comms specialism, with more strengths and experience in some areas than others. We’d love to hear about this, and about your approach to getting stuck into the rest. 

Our team & culture 

You’ll be joining our small, agile team of six people across Platform Places and Footwork. We meet in-person on a monthly basis to have lunch together and plan ahead, and have weekly online huddles to check-in and discuss priorities.

We work flexibly around our needs, whether a caring responsibility or otherwise.

Our culture is driven by our values: generous sharing, diverse perspectives, active listening and curiosity, staying networked and joy.

We're looking for a motivated and proactive Training Account Manager to join the Business Development and Fundraising team working from home, 37.5 hours a week.

Can you build strong client relationships? Are you confident generating new business while delivering excellent customer service? Do you want a role where your commercial skills directly support a charity's mission?

If yes, then we'd love to hear from you…

What we offer

At Victim Support, we are committed to attracting and retaining the best talent. Our competitive rewards and benefits package includes:

• Flexible Working Options: Including hybrid working.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 33 days plus Bank Holidays, with options to buy or sell annual leave.
• Birthday Leave: An extra day off for your birthday.
• Pension Plan: 5% employer contribution.
• Enhanced Allowances: Enhanced sick pay, maternity, and paternity payments.
• Exclusive Discounts: High Street, retail, holiday, gym, entertainment, and leisure discounts.
• Financial Wellbeing: Access to our financial wellbeing hub and salary-deducted finance.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee assistance programme and wellbeing support.
• Inclusive Networks: Access to EDI networks and colleague cafes.
• Sustainable Travel: Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loans.
• Career Development: Ongoing training and support with opportunities for career progression.

About the role:

As our Training Account Manager, you'll play a key role in driving income and expanding our commercial training portfolio. You will:

• Develop and manage relationships with new and existing clients across England and Wales
• Proactively identify and secure new business opportunities
• Promote our specialist training that enhances outcomes for victims and improves professional practice
• Deliver high-quality customer service from initial enquiry through to post-delivery follow-up
• Manage a busy pipeline, prioritising leads and meeting income targets
• Work collaboratively with internal teams to ensure smooth delivery and exceptional client experiences.

This role requires confidence, adaptability and a strong balance of sales focus and client care. You'll be comfortable working independently, managing competing deadlines and keeping a clear focus on results that directly benefit victims and the wider organisation.

The role is home-based with some national travel.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further details.

About Us:

Victim Support is an independent charity dedicated to supporting people affected by crime and traumatic incidents in England and Wales. We put them at the heart of our organisation and our support and campaigns are informed and shaped by them and their experiences.

Victim Support are committed to recruiting with care and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Background checks and Disclosed Barring Service checks may be required.

At Victim Support, we're proud to celebrate diversity and create a workplace where everyone feels they belong. We're committed to being an antiracist organisation, and we actively welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, including those from Black and Asian and other minoritised communities.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we will offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet all essential criteria for a job where it is practicable to do so. We are also happy to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment and selection process.

How to apply:

To apply for this role please follow the link below to the Jobs page on our website and complete the application form demonstrating how you meet the essential shortlisting criteria.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if we receive enough suitable applications to take forward to interview prior to the published closing date. If you have already registered & started an application, then we will contact you to advise of the amended closing date wherever possible.