Fundraising group member jobs in waltham forest, london

Reporting to: Director of Policy and Engagement 

Direct reports: 1 x Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager and Legislative Lead, 2 x Policy and Public Affairs Officers, 1 x England Policy and Public Affairs Manager 

Location of work: Home-based. The post holder must be easily and quickly commutable to London and will require frequent meetings in London. The role may involve some irregular travel throughout England and Scotland to attend events and meetings.

Contract type: Full-time, 35 hours per week,  flexible hours may be considered. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work 

Contract Length: Permanent 

Salary: £54,500 - £56,500 

BACKGROUND

Our work has never been more needed. The latest research suggesting that the number of children and young people at risk of hunger has rocketed to 2.6 million* means that one in five children don't have enough to eat.When a child is too hungry to learn, when they’re aching for something to eat, they can’t concentrate. They can’t absorb information. Big feelings and worries can be impossible to control. They fall behind in their studies.

Magic Breakfast provide a nutritious and filling breakfast to over 300,000 children and young people every school day. We work with schools in areas of high disadvantage, helping staff target the children most in need without barrier or stigma.  Magic Breakfast are ambitious to grow our impact to remove hunger as a barrier to learning for all children and young people in the UK.

 This is an exciting time to join Magic Breakfast if you wish to make a difference to the lives of children as we work to influence both policy implementation, with the national rollout of primary-aged universal school breakfast, and legislative change, through the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. There has also been commitment from the Scottish Government for a national breakfast scheme and we are seeking to expand our advocacy work into Wales. Magic Breakfast’s influence will be instrumental to ensuring school breakfasts are implemented in a way that is hunger-focused and barrier free.

In addition, thousands of secondary school children are at risk of losing their free school breakfasts from September next year. For many of these students, this is their only opportunity to have a nutritious meal before facing a demanding school day, including taking exams.  And for the very youngest, we know that the disadvantage gap begins before they even reach reception. With the Government commitment to another 100,000 places in school-based nurseries, early years is also a critical part of our advocacy work.

 Being part of the work of Magic Breakfast is your chance, together with parents, teachers and people across the UK, to demonstrate the power of school breakfasts and to shape the way forward to end morning hunger for good.

*Food Foundation Insecurity Tracker Jan 2025

JOB PURPOSE

The Head of Policy & Public Affairs will review, develop and implement our advocacy strategy and lead a team to influence the devolved legislatures across the UK to address child morning hunger, with a view to the underlying systemic causes of child poverty and hunger, by driving change through policy and legislation. The role operates at our ‘Head of level’ which is the most senior operational specialist level and provides both operational and strategic leadership.

This role will also provide wider leadership across the charity and input into organisational strategy development and planning as part of the Core Management Group. This role will ensure that the Policy and Public Affairs function is aligned to the wider strategic aims and outcomes of Magic Breakfast as well as the internal operational systems and delivery.

The strategic leadership will ensure an external and long term view, with an outward looking and forward thinking approach that builds thought leadership, relationships and partnerships, with positioning to anticipate and build on new opportunities to end child morning hunger for good.

It will require an experienced Policy and Public Affairs professional, with significant experience of high impact and demonstrable outcomes at a senior level in the field. The postholder will lead the policy and public affairs team to influence the Early Adopters Scheme, the national rollout of primary school breakfast provision in England and breakfast legislation in the Children’s Wellbeing Bill (CWB).

They will also develop, guide and lead plans to influence the Scottish government, particularly in the run up to the election in May 2026 and the influencing of manifestos; and will lead Magic Breakfast’s upcoming influencing work in Wales. 

In the external leadership that the role provides they will build relationships with politicians, political influencers, special advisors and civil servants to establish long-term, sustainable solutions to child morning hunger in the UK.

As a compassionate, people centric and inspiring leader they will work to enable their team to grow and develop in their skills ensuring they can step away from the detail whilst retaining accountability, build effective resource management and progression pathways. This role may manage external consultants where necessary, and work collaboratively with external organisations to amplify our voice and asks and strengthen our position as a thought leader. 

 KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

· Review and define the advocacy strategy for 25/26 in line both with moving political environment and Magic Breakfast’s influencing agenda, considering the systemic barriers to ending child morning hunger for good.

· Develop and maintain close relationships with the Department for Education and other key departments including Department for Health and Social Care and Treasury, to secure hunger and child focus as key priorities for breakfast provision.

· Develop, monitor and evaluate influencing plans for each devolved nation

· Support the development of influencing plans with coalition groups and organisations to influence school breakfast policy, commitments and implementation

· Review policy positions in Wales and Northern Ireland and define our advocacy approach, gaining external insights and analysing available research and data to shape the plan

· Develop a vision for advocacy beyond current demands, considering political appetite and gaining insight from lived experience communities and relevant sectors, to ensure that we are clear on future asks, and can build the foundation towards them.

· Work with Impact and Insights team to define future research needs to meet our longer-term advocacy plans

· Enhance and establish internal processes and ensure good internal information dissemination 

· Work closely with key internal stakeholders to shape advocacy work and support broader organisational objectives

· Embed learnings and develop a fail fast, learn fast culture in the team

· Coach, support and lead direct reports enabling increased professional development, strategic decision making, proactive project management and robust political influencing

· Contribute to and help shape the work of the Core Management Group to ensure ongoing alignment for in year implementation of the strategic plan and create integrated future year plans which meet organisational goals

· Monitor and review KPIs to monitor and measure both team and cross organisational performance, using the results to guide teams and surface learnings

· Assess areas of risk and escalate where necessary and according to policy

· Develop and monitor annual team budgets

General

• Work collaboratively across the organisation, building good working relations and providing ad-hoc support to other teams and members of staff

• Passion and commitment to Magic Breakfast’s aim of alleviating morning hunger as a barrier to learning for children in the UK.

• Help to maintain a positive working environment; keeping the vision of Magic Breakfast at the heart of everything we do. 

• Share Magic Breakfast’s commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

• Establish and ensure existing Ways of Working are adhered to across team

• Adhere to all Magic Breakfast policies and procedures and ensure that all activity is compliant with current legislation, GDPR, data protection and child safeguarding requirements

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role

 PERSON SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

· Strategy development, demonstrating a deep understanding of how to craft, implement, and evolve strategies that align to operational outcomes for the Policy and Advocacy function as well as enabling our organisation strategy in our aim to end child morning for good.

· Stakeholder management and partnership building with extensive experience of engaging, influencing, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders, including senior political figures, policymakers, funders and sector leaders.

· Ability to confidently and flexibly deal with volatile political environment, anticipating potential developments and adapting to emerging situations to meet aims

· Highly experienced in developing and shaping policy positions, using insights, research and data sets to inform and guide decision-making

· Understanding and experience of the role of the broader external environment to shape policy asks and political influencing, including the implications of a policy ask in one sector on another.

· Experience of influencing key political events such as budgets, national elections and the legislative process.

· Significant experience of coaching, supporting and managing the development of a team, with the ability to make difficult decisions and challenge where needed to deliver the organisational strategy.

Desirable

· Experience of education, food insecurity, child poverty or childcare sectors

Skills and Abilities

• Effective leadership mentality with confidence to step away from the detail and delegate responsibility, enabling others to use judgements, make decisions, learn from failures and continuously improve.

• Analytical and evidence based decision making, with the ability to turn data and analysis into policy and advocacy related recommendations or outcomes for action.

• Effective planning, prioritisation and project management skills. Able to organise self and team to meet planned objectives and strategic direction with the ability to pivot and manage the unexpected.

• Strong, influential and impactful interpersonal and communication skills and to advocate for own specialism, department and Magic Breakfast's mission, effectively conveying the organisation's impact and needs to a wide range of audiences.

• Operational and financial acumen and analysis: understanding and practical application of knowledge as required around funding considerations, budget development and management, risk management, and ensuring systems in place for efficiency by setting and maintaining policy and procedural frameworks.

• An outward looking and forward thinking approach that drives a sense of curiosity, innovation and continuous improvement. Always thinking what can we learn from others, what new developments can be explored and what are the opportunities for the function to improve and grow with others too.

WHAT WE OFFER

At Magic Breakfast we value our employees and work hard to develop offer a supportive, respectful culture which enables everyone to bring their whole self to work.

Please find attached our job pack

APPLICATION PROCCESS

Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team, recruitment @ magicbreakfast. com

Shortlisting - w/c 5th May

Interview 1 - 15th and 16th May

Interview 2 - w/c 21st May

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.

About you

Do you want to use your skills to make it possible for people with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer, to live longer and better lives?

Myeloma UK is looking for a motivated and highly proactive Senior Policy Officer to join our Patient Advocacy team within the wider Research and Advocacy directorate. 

You will have experience in analysing, developing, and communicating complex policy issues, strong communication skills, and the ability to prioritise a fast-moving and wide-ranging workload.

You will also have experience working collaboratively and building relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders. 

You will have the ability to present findings and recommendations to a range of audiences and produce high-quality succinct briefings in a timely fashion, underpinned by evidence.

Empathy and sensitivity are required to work closely with patients and their families and friends.

Experience in the health charity sector, public/patient engagement work, and working on the National Institute of Health Care Excellence (NICE) and Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) consultation processes would be beneficial but not essential.

About the role

As Senior Policy Officer you will be part of the Patient Advocacy team who work to ensure that the patient voice is heard and acted upon by UK and devolved nations healthcare policy decision makers. You will represent the charity externally including national meetings with senior healthcare decision makers.

Your role is vital to developing strategic approaches to health technology appraisals (HTA), regulatory pathways (MHRA), clinical development programmes (academic and industry clinical trials) and commissioning routes to broaden access to new myeloma drug therapies and diagnostic technologies.

You will apply your skills flexibly across key policy areas including access to treatment, patient voice, stakeholder engagement and general healthcare policy and work with colleagues in communications and fundraising to make sure our supporters and the wider myeloma community understand the positive impact we make.

About us

Myeloma UK is the only UK charity focused on myeloma and its related conditions.  We provide support and influence access to treatments, while researching a cure.  Thanks to life-extending treatments and support, today many people affected by myeloma are able to live longer and to live well.  Together, we support, so no one faces myeloma alone. 

We are committed to bringing together the best and brightest people to help us ensure that every patient has an empowered present and a hopeful future.

Our ultimate goal is to find a cure and make myeloma history. Until then, our mission is to help every patient live well with myeloma for as long as possible. We are committed to diagnosing myeloma earlier, discovering and sharing knowledge, transforming the patient experience and influencing positive change in care.

Our culture

Wellbeing and staff engagement are at the heart of our culture.  We offer our employees a range of benefits including a pension salary exchange scheme, flexitime, flexible working from home with hub-based office working, health plan, employee assistance plan and holiday purchase scheme and we are committed to providing learning and development opportunities for all our employees.

How to apply

If you think you would be a great fit for this role, get in touch and tell us more about yourself by sending the following:

1. A cover letter telling us more about you and what you think makes you a good fit for this role

2. A CV that sets out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements

Applications close on 12 May 2025 and interviews will be held w/c 19 May 2025.

Myeloma UK is an equal opportunities employer and always welcomes applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of:

· sex

· race

· disability

· age

· sexual orientation

· gender reassignment

· religion or belief

· marital status

· pregnancy and maternity

Please note, you will be asked to provide evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK prior to interview selection.

Hours: 35 hours per week. We are open to considering a job share arrangement for the right candidates.  

Salary: £39,000.  

Location: Homeworking.  

Reports to: Head of Programmes.   

Oversight of a delivery team: Yes (currently 30 plus self-employed coordinators).    

Travel: Travel across the country to visit our activities, including overnight stays, is part of this role. All related expenses will be covered by The Country Trust.  

Annual leave: 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (FTE).  

Benefits: Workplace pension. Homeworking, some flexibility on working hours.  

Are you passionate about connecting disadvantaged children with food, farming, and nature? 

We're looking for a dedicated and experienced Programme Manager—an inspiring, child-centred educator with a deep commitment to tackling poverty of opportunity. 

Through effective team management and leadership, and collaboration with colleagues, this role enables a large team of expert practitioners to deliver the charity’s mission of providing high quality, educational, relevant, safe and impactful Farm Discovery visits and related activities for disadvantaged children across England and North Wales.  

Could you:  

• Lead our dispersed Farm Discovery team of expert practitioners, ensuring all our processes - recruitment, training, administration, reporting, information management, communication, budgeting, evaluation and of course our delivery - enable us to achieve amazing things with primary school communities in disadvantaged areas around the country?  

• Work with others to grow and shape our programmes to achieve our vision?  

• As an inspiring advocate of our work, build our contribution to the national conversation around food, farming and nature education? 

 If so, would love to hear from you! 

 
Due to our safer recruitment process we are not able to accept CVs for this position. 

Applications close: noon 30th April  

First round interviews (held virtually) will be on Wednesday 7th May. Second round interviews will be held face-to-face in London on Wednesday 14th May.

About this role

At SPANA, we support a network of global partners working through both a short- term small grants and long- term programmes – known as our Senior Partners. Senior Partners represent key strategic investments in our mission to enhance working animal welfare. These programmes are established country offices, each led by dedicated Country Directors who oversee the implementation of our work. Our initiatives in these regions reflect a commitment to delivering holistic programming across a range of interventions to improve the welfare of working animals. 

As Programme Manager you will lead our critical relationships and day to day activities with SPANA Senior Partners in overseas country offices delivering our international programmes. You will be responsible for managing activities across SPANA’s international programme work including budget reporting, grant making and management as well as procurement. You are a key part of SPANA’s Global Programs Department (GPD) team and report to the Senior Programmes Manager.

For full details including a person specification please see the job descriptiom. 

Contract, location & salary

This is a full-time (34.5 hours per week) permanent role working remotely with regular attendance in our London office. The salary is approximately £40k per annumb subject to skills and experience. 

Deadline & how to apply

Please see the job description for full information including details on how to apply. The deadline for applications is 23:59 BST on Sunday 18 May 2025. 

Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.

Job Title: Duty Independent Gender Violence Advocate (Duty IGVA)

Location: Lambeth, London
Salary: £23,085.69 per annum, inclusive of London weighting allowance 
Contract type: Part Time, Permanent 

Hours: 30 hours per week (days to be discussed). Please note that the the operating hours of the service are 8AM- 6PM Monday- Friday with the expectation to work on some days 8- 4pm or 10- 6pm to cover. 

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Duty Independent Domestic Violence Advocate to be the first point of contact for women who are impacted by domestic violence. You will work closely with victims of domestic abuse from the point of crisis and other gender-based abuse to provide high quality independent support to survivors all risk levels and their children..

In this role you will be part of a busy team. You will be the first point of contact for survivors who have been referred to the Gaia Centre. The duty IGVA will be responding to daily enquiries (specify from whom- public, agencies, individuals? over the phone and email as well as contacting survivors, assessing their risks and needs.

The duty IGVA will be responsible for carrying out and implementing safety plans and needs and will ensure an effective handover to the over to the relevant GAIA team for ongoing support. The post holder will also empower survivors by providing them with emotional, practical and personal welfare support. You will ensure that survivors are provided with a safe, supportive and welcoming environment, enabling them to access their rights, make decisions and increase their life options. The job involves working within a multi-agency framework consisting of the MARAC and local partnership protocols and procedures that prioritise the safety of survivors.

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

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

For this role we pay a Recruitment and Retention Allowance to external candidates of £1500 (pro rata for part time roles). This is paid in two payments – half on commencement in the role and the other half following the successful completion of probation. The allowance is subject to deduction for tax and NI.

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

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

We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Community Hub Co-ordinator to lead the development and day-to-day running of our exciting new Community Hub, made possible thanks to five years of National Lottery funding. This is an incredible opportunity to be part of a member-led organisation that supports people with a learning disability and autistic people to thrive.

You’ll shape a vibrant, inclusive and accessible community space at the heart of Bexley—one that offers a range of activities, support, and services. The exact shape of the Hub is still to come—because we’re co-creating it with our community. From creative workshops and peer-led support, to potential social enterprises like a community café—your ideas, energy and leadership will help make it happen.

You’ll lead a team that includes staff with learning disabilities or autism, and you’ll work closely with our partners and other charities to open up new opportunities for local people.

This role is ideal for someone who is dynamic, compassionate, and organised—with experience of coordinating projects, working with people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people, and a strong belief in inclusive community-led change.

About Us

Bexley Mencap is a small but growing local charity working exclusively with people with a learning disability and their families. Our vision is a world where everyone is valued, respected, and empowered to live life to the full.

We provide support, activities and opportunities for people to thrive. We’re proudly member-led, passionate about inclusion, and committed to creating spaces that feel welcoming and safe for all.

We’ve just secured five years of National Lottery funding to create a brand-new Community Hub in Bexley. This will be a truly shared space—designed with and for our members—where people with a learning disability, autistic people, and the wider community can come together, connect, and grow.

About the role

 As Community Hub Co-ordinator, you’ll lead the launch and development of this exciting new space. You’ll manage the day-to-day running of the Hub, support and line-manage a small team (including staff with lived experience of learning disability or autism), and co-design a wide variety of services, events, and partnerships with our members and community.

You’ll also work with other local organisations and charities to expand the support on offer—exploring exciting ideas like social enterprises, creative groups, advice drop-ins or a community café. This is a hands-on role. Some days you’ll be welcoming people and helping with a session, other days you’ll be planning future activities, liaising with partners, or exploring funding ideas. No two days will be the same.

We’re a growing organisation with big ambitions—so this is a great time to join and shape something truly special.

About You

 You’re proactive, passionate, and organised. You love bringing people together, creating welcoming spaces, and making things happen.

You’ll have experience of managing community-facing services, working with diverse groups (ideally including people with learning disabilities or autistic people), and leading a team.

You’re happy rolling up your sleeves to get things done—and you’re confident developing new ideas, building partnerships, and planning activities.  Being a car driver is a plus (but not essential), and some evening or weekend working may be required. We’re happy to talk about flexible working, part-time options and job shares.

What we offer

 We offer a range of benefits including discounts at local shops and restaurants (through a Blue Light Card), training and development opportunities and flexible working.  We also offer 22 days holiday plus all English bank holidays, as well as a variety of other leave such as volunteering days and enhanced carers leave.

Person Specification

Our work is underpinned by our values and you will be expected to demonstrate these in your daily work:

Nurturing:  You work in a person-centred way supporting every individual to reach their full potential.  You empower people to take risks and develop their skills

Approachable:  You can communicate with a range of people with differing abilities and maintain a welcoming and friendly atmosphere for the people you support and their families.

Inclusive:  You involve people you support in all aspects of services.  You are able to communicate effectively with people with a learning disability and adapt your approach where need.

Passionate:  You are dedicated to improving the lives of the people that we support.  You will professionally challenge where necessary whilst maintain effective working relationships.

Respectful:  You treat everybody with compassion, dignity and respect ensuring privacy and confidentiality for the people we support.

You will also be able to demonstrate or tell us about the following areas in your application and at interview:

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

Essential

· Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to plan and prioritise a varied workload.

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to work effectively with a wide range of people including people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

· Ability to coordinate multiple projects or activities, ensuring smooth delivery and follow-up.

· Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, using initiative and sound judgment.

· Confident IT user, including Microsoft 365 (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel), Canva, and database/CRM systems.

· Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and how to implement them in a community setting.

· Good working knowledge of inclusion, accessibility and equality in service delivery.

 Desirable

· Understanding of the voluntary and community sector and the opportunities and challenges it faces 

· Understanding of the support needs of people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Experience

 Essential

· Proven experience of running or coordinating community-based services, hubs, or similar projects.

· Experience of working directly with people with a learning disability and/or autistic people (in either a paid or voluntary capacity).

· Experience of line managing or supervising staff and/or volunteers, including giving feedback and supporting development.

· Experience of organising and delivering events, activities or workshops.

· Experience of maintaining records and reporting on impact or outcomes.

Desirable

· Experience of working in partnership with other organisations or agencies.

· Experience supporting or delivering social enterprise or community business activity.

Values and Personal Qualities

 Essential

· A strong commitment to the rights, inclusion and empowerment of people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

· A values-led approach aligned with Bexley Mencap’s ethos: Nurturing, Approachable, Inclusive, Passionate, and Respectful.

· Calm and approachable under pressure, able to adapt to unexpected challenges and find practical solutions.

· Willingness to “muck in” and take a hands-on approach to running the Hub—including setting up rooms, greeting visitors or supporting a group activity.

· Creative, enthusiastic and pro-active—always looking for ways to improve what we offer and how we work.

· Commitment to learning, personal development and continuous improvement.

· Willing to work occasional evenings or weekends and travel locally when required.

Desirable

· Lived experience of disability or of supporting someone with a disability.

· Holds a full driving licence and access to a vehicle (or equivalent ability to travel within the borough).

Operations Officer 

Location: Home-based, with a minimum of every other week travel into our London Office (Islington)

Responsible to: Governance, HR and Operations Manager 

Responsible for: N/A 

Salary: Point 27-30, £30,116- £33,083 (a London Allowance will be applied to employees who live in London) 

We are pleased to offer a starting salary at the beginning point of the salary band. This position offers opportunities for salary increases based on performance and tenure. 

Hours: 35 Hours per week 

Job type: Permanent, subject to funding.

Benefits:  

• Friendly and collaborative working environment

• Remote working 

• 25 to 30 days holidays per annum plus bank holidays (depending on length of service and pro-rata for part-time employees) 

• Contributory pension scheme including 6% employer’s contribution (subject to employee’s minimum 2% contribution) 

• Enhanced maternity, adoption and paternity pay 

• Occupational sick pay depending on length of service and pro-rata for part-time employees.

• Access to Employee Assistance Programme 

• Access to staff discounts

Closing date: 9th May 2025 

Interviews to take place: Monday 19th May 2025. These will be held via Microsoft Teams.

About the role:

Respect is looking to expand our Operations team with this new Operations Officer role. We’re looking for someone with demonstrable experience in scheduling meetings, HR administration, and coordinating internal and external correspondence with a variety of stakeholders. You must have a strong understanding of GDPR and Microsoft packages and be able to prioritise a busy workload in a fast-changing working environment. Ideally you will have some previous experience of minute-taking as well as inventory and supply management.

About you:

• Experience of administrative support in the above areas  

• Demonstrate a commitment to – and understanding of – the values, aims and objectives of Respect 

• Ability to handle sensitive information, and work with discretion 

• Commitment to policies that advance equity, diversity and inclusion practices 

• Ability to use your own initiative as well as part of a team 

• Be a problem solver, with an eye for efficiency and collaboration 

About Respect 

Respect is a pioneering UK membership organisation in the domestic abuse sector.  Founded in 2000, we have built our expertise over the last 25 years in what was then a fledgling sector and recently have seen significant and rapid growth.

How to apply 

Please visit our website for a full job description and person specification, where you can find and complete the application form and equalities monitoring form.

Please ensure that all application submissions are submitted in Word Document format only. 

Successful applicants must reside in the United Kingdom. 

We would particularly welcome applications from people from a wide range of backgrounds and across all protected characteristics1, particularly people from the following under-represented groups on our staff team:

• Black and minoritised people 

• Deaf and disabled people 

We would also warmly welcome an informal chat about the role, if you are interested but unsure whether you meet the requirements or would be suitable. 

Position: Director of External Affairs
Type: Full-time (35 hours a week), permanent
Location: Office-based in London with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: £73,653 per annum plus excellent benefits
Salary Band: Band 5

About us

We make sure people living with MS are at the centre of everything we do. And it’s this commitment that unites us across the UK.

Our strategy is based on what people affected by MS have told us is important to them. It gives us a clear and determined focus.

Our work is based on the hopes and aspirations of our MS community. Together we campaign at all levels, fund ground-breaking research and provide award winning support and information. 

Our people are our greatest asset and the key to our success. We offer a vibrant, progressive working environment where you'll be able to make a difference.

About this job

It is a very exciting time to join the MS Society as Director of External Affairs a brand-new role in the organisation. We are implementing an ambitious cross-organisational transformation programme. And we have just started a new 2025-29 strategy.

We’re looking for an experienced and focused leader who has the ability to drive forward our brilliant Policy & Evidence, Campaign & Public Affairs and PR teams. We’re looking for someone who can work collaboratively across the organisation to ensure our work has a positive impact for the MS community.

With the ability to provide strategic and thought leadership, you’ll act as the leading authority on matters relating to external affairs, providing advice across the organisation including to the Executive Group and Trustees.

You’ll have significant experience of developing and implementing relevant external affairs strategies and of successfully leading policy, communications or campaigning functions in an organisation of comparable size and complexity. You’ll also need to be influential both internally and externally, including representing the MS Society at a range of external meetings with a variety of audiences.

As well as leading on planning and budget setting for the external affairs functions, as a member of the leadership team, you will also contribute to the strategic leadership, planning and policy formulation of the MS Society as a whole.

We’re looking for someone who is committed to collaborative working, who is excellent at building relationships and trust with colleagues at all levels, and whose focus is on supporting high performing teams and enabling them to do their best for the MS community.

Closing date for applications: 9:00 am Monday 12 May 2025

Anticipated interview date:

First interviews: Friday 23 May 2025

Second interviews: Wednesday 28 May 2025 or Thursday 29 May 2025

Interested?

PLEASE PRESS THE 'HOW TO APPLY' BUTTON FOR MORE INFORMATION.

Equal Opportunities 
We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and or from ethnic minority backgrounds.

We’d be grateful if you downloaded and completed the equality and diversity monitoring form and submit it with your application. 

Disability Confident Employer 
We’re a Disability Confident Employer and we’re committed to promoting equality and diversity.

You can ask for reasonable adjustments as part of both our recruitment and new starter on-boarding processes.

If you need any help or adjustments to apply for this role, please contact us. You can also ask for the application materials to be sent to you in a different format. Such as for them to be sent to you by email or in a larger word format.

More about our employee benefits:
We have a wide range of employee benefits including (but not limited to): 

Encouraging work life balance

• 38 days paid annual leave (including bank holidays), pro-rata for part-time
• More annual leave entitlement, based on length of employment
• Smart working options (with the opportunity to work remotely and find a smart working pattern that suits both you and us) 
• Flexible working options 

Caring for you and your family 

• Generous sick pay entitlement
• More sick pay entitlement, based on length of employment 
• Opportunity to buy and sell annual leave in each calendar year 
• Free access to a GP virtually 24 hours a day/7 days a week allowing you unlimited advice, reassurance and where appropriate diagnosis 
• Enhanced leave for new parents 
• Free access to a confidential 24 hours a day/7 days a week helpline service for both you and your family with a specialist range of support and information
• Special leave options (such as up to 5 days paid leave for domestic or personal emergencies a year)
• 10 days paid disability leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• 10 days paid carers’ leave a year, pro-rata for part-time 
• Cycle to work scheme 
• Death in service scheme
• New family-friendly benefits, including paid leave:
  • In the event of miscarriage or still birth 
  • To support fertility treatments
  • For antenatal appointments for both parents

Thinking about your finances 

• Enhanced salary sacrifice pension scheme
• Discounted season ticket loan and interest-free emergency loans
• Give as you earn to support other charities of your choice before tax
• New employee portal including lifestyle savings vouchers and personal wellbeing

Enriching your life at work

• Personalised development plans with a wide range of training courses and opportunities to source additional training options with your line manager
• Yearly internal apprenticeship opportunities
• New, modern offices that embrace working together both in-person and remotely 
• Various opportunities to influence how we internally operate (including surveys, and focus and committee groups) 
• Active and supportive internal employee networking groups for collaboration and peer support 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering for MS Society activities during normal working hours (such as fundraising events, or campaigning in the local community) 
• 2 days paid leave a year for volunteering with other charities during normal

Safeguarding 
We’re committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of everyone who uses our services and we come into contact with.

This is regardless of Gender, Race, Disability, Sexual orientation, Religion or belief, Pregnancy, Gender reassignment.

We recognise our particular responsibility to make sure vulnerable adults and children are protected.

We have measures in place to protect everyone we come into contact with from abuse and maltreatment of all kinds.

Your right to work in the UK 
You must have the right to work in the UK to work in paid employment with us. You’ll need to share documents showing you’re eligible to work in the UK if we offer you employment.

You can find the UK visas and permits granting you the right to work in the UK on the UK Government website. We currently don’t have a Sponsor Licence agreement with the Home Office and aren’t able to support you with your visa applications.

No agencies please.

Our expert team of canine behaviourists provide behavioural support and advice to teams within Battersea, members of the public, and the rescue organisations we work with around the world. The team design and help implement behaviour modification and training plans for dogs whilst coaching members of the canine care groups through the practical day-to-day steps. They also assist with behavioural and welfare assessments of animals who come into our centres and are on hand to help manage and provide further support with dogs with more complex behavioural needs. The team provide support to dogs during their stay at Battersea, and are also available for continued advice after rehoming.

We are now looking to recruit a Canine Behaviour and Training Advisor for our team in London. Within this role, you will work with our operational teams in the assessment and welfare of the dogs in our care and in the provision of behavioural training and advice for staff, volunteers, customers and external organisations. You will be working as part of a care group to create behaviour modification plans, support with handling difficult dogs and make recommendations, along with the individual care group, for individual dog outcomes.

What we can offer you:

In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources
• Generous pension contributions – up to 10% employer contribution
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Working with our dogs and cats:

We are here for every dog and cat. Within our operational roles, this means providing the highest level of care and husbandry to our animals. Every day will be different and will sometimes involve emotionally challenging situations. Battersea has created an ethos of open conversations and carefully curated wellbeing initiatives to support our employees handling these scenarios. It is also important to note that the role is very physical and does involve a lot of manual tasks which are required to provide the exceptional standards of care to our animals. We ask you consider these aspects of the role carefully before applying.

Diversity and inclusion:

We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best. 

More about us:

At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Closing date: 11th May 2025
Interview date(s): 28th May 2025

For full details, please download our recruitment pack.

To apply for the role, please click the button below. All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Bring your charismatic drive and passion for environmental issues to lead CPRE London towards its vision and manage its strategic direction and delivery. This is a rare opportunity to lead an organisation at the cutting edge of policy regarding green spaces and the environment, housing and planning. You will manage a small but motivated team of staff and dedicated volunteers. We are looking for candidates with the confidence to pitch for new funding, coupled with achievements in lobbying and liaison work across the environmental space.

CPRE London is a leading environmental charity in the capital, an independent charity and the London regional branch (1 of 42) of the national CPRE organisation, ‘The Countryside Charity’.

The focus of our campaigning is to make London a well-planned, greener, climate-resilient and nature rich city, which benefits everyone.

Skills in leadership, communication, negotiation, and project management are needed to run our operations. In addition to leading CPRE London you will run our London-based urban projects with allies in the environmental sector.  You will also work closely with a supportive board of trustees. 

Currently at the exciting stage of developing the London Tree Ring project, additionally we are involved in many more initiatives such as Healthy Streets Scorecard and GoParks London.

Do you have a passion for supporting carers and making a real difference? Are you looking for a rewarding new role in a small, local charity?

Join the Carers’ Hub team and make a lasting difference to the lives of unpaid carers in Lambeth. This is an opportunity to manage a talented and dedicated team as we enter the next phase of our development.

The Adult Carers Team Leader reports directly to the Operations Manager and is responsible for leading and managing the Adult Carers team. 

You will provide leadership and stability to the Adult Carers staff team, by line managing, coaching and supporting employees to create a happy, productive work environment. You will work within the Adult Carers team to deliver an engaging, accessible range of peer support groups, social activities and one to one support, working to targets and budget, ensuring timely and accurate reporting to funders.

This role requires you to work collaboratively with carers and professionals to meet carers’ needs and shape the service, building and maintaining strong partnerships to do so. You will support our wider organisational objectives and help out with events, communications and other ad hoc work.

About us

Carers’ Hub plays a vital role in Lambeth, supporting the many unpaid carers across the borough with 1-1 and peer support, signposting, monthly forums, training, workshops and social activities. We are a charity with ambition, a big heart, and an outsized impact.

As the Adult Carers Team Leader you must be:

• Available to work between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday (with regular evening and occasional weekend work)

• Skilled at using IT, including Google Suite and Zoom.

• Experienced working with vulnerable adults and those with complex needs.

• Willing to travel within Lambeth

• Willing to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check
   

What can we offer you?

• Professional development, induction, ongoing training and support

• Hybrid working

• Permanent contract

• Holiday pay and pension

• Travel reimbursed

Closing date: 9am Friday 2nd May

Interviews: Thursday 8th May

About Respect  

Respect is a pioneering UK membership organisation in the domestic abuse sector.  Founded in 2000, we have built our expertise over the last 23 years in what was then a fledgling sector and recently have seen significant and rapid growth.     

Respect supports frontline organisations across the UK, so that together we can end domestic abuse.  Our work is wide ranging: we offer accreditation of specialist services; we provide training for individuals and organisations working in the sector; we work in partnership with others to innovate and develop practice;  we provide two helplines to enable service users to get the help and advice they need; we lobby influencers to improve policy and practice; we support up-to-date research undertaken by specialists in the field; and we fundraise to ensure important work continues to happen. 

Respect has seen rapid growth over the last few years, and we now have 60+ staff running a range of projects and core activities and have ambitious plans for further growth and influence. 

Our vision   

We want a world where everyone is free from domestic abuse. Where it is never ok to control, harm or cause fear. Where those who perpetrate domestic abuse are stopped, held to account and given the chance to change.    

Our mission   

We work with our members, partners and allies to stop the harms done by those who perpetrate domestic abuse.  With innovative practice, robust research and quality data, we build evidence of what works, promote safe, effective practice and drive high standards.  We use our voice, in collaboration with others, to call for a response to domestic abuse that matches the scale of the problem.  We will not stop, until domestic abuse stops.    

Our Focus   

Respect was founded to focus on perpetrators of domestic abuse and this, including our vital work with young people who cause harm, will remain our key priority.  Our work with male victims will continue as an important, distinct, project.    

Our Values   

• Pioneering - We explore innovative ideas and develop new approaches with curiosity and rigour.   
   

• Collaborative - We work in partnership with our members, partners and allies to bring about individual, societal and systems change.   
   

• Accountable- We listen to survivors and centre their needs in our work.  We hold perpetrators to account for their behaviour and hold ourselves and our members accountable for ours.   
   

• Respectful - We live up to our name.  We are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do.  We are honest, compassionate and boldly challenge injustice.    

Make a Change 

Make a Change is a community-wide, early response approach to people using abusive behaviours (or who are concerned that they might be) towards a current or ex-partner. The model has been developed by Respect in partnership with Women’s Aid Federation England, drawing inspiration from their Change that Lasts approach. It includes three strands: expert support programme for perpetrators with parallel support for survivors, workforce development and community outreach.

Improving the safety, freedom and wellbeing of adult and child survivors of domestic abuse is a key outcome for our work with perpetrators.  The Make a Change model is a multi-partner project offering local areas a framework for delivering perpetrator work. Where feasible, we aim to establish partnerships with local survivor domestic abuse service to deliver parallel support for survivors (referred to as Integrated Support Service) as part the expert support strand.

Purpose of the role: 

The Senior Communications and Policy Officer will work with the Make a Change team at Respect to advance the development of communication and policy activities for the Make a Change model in project sites and nationally to encourage uptake in new areas. They will also work with Respect’s Communications and Influence leads to ensure alignment with the organisation's broader messaging and advocacy efforts, maximising the impact of Make a Change initiatives. The postholder will lead on developing and implementing communication strategies and plans in partnership with our delivery partners across the sites.

We would particularly welcome applications from individuals from a wide range of backgrounds and across all protected characteristics1, particularly from people from the following under-represented groups: 

• Black and minoritised people 

• Disabled people 

We always welcome and support applications from those who have personal experience of domestic abuse. 

Please follow the link to find out more. 

Description

Location: London SE1

Contract: Permanent, full-time

Salary: £18k

Closing Date: 6th May 2025

Are you looking for an apprenticeship opportunity? We are national charity based in central London providing a range of services to the maritime sector. We are looking for someone to assist in the administration of all our services, from seafarer training courses to ship libraries. You will learn about this amazing industry and gain a broad range of skills working within our small team.

About the role

Responsibilities

• To support the Head of Seafarer Learning and Welfare in the effective administration and development of Marine Society training and mentoring programmes.
• To act as first line contact for all internal and external enquiries and to respond to these in a timely manner.
• To receive and process seafarer bursary applications and forward to the Head of Seafarer Learning and Welfare for assessment and approval.
• To accurately track and monitor beneficiaries of the Coming Ashore programme and to provide administrative support to programme mentors.
• To take minutes for team meetings and maintain records and files
• To work with the Digital Marketing Coordinator in the administration and promotion of all Marine Society services through social media and press publications
• To maintain the use of Google Classroom as a communication hub for programme users and bursary recipients and to track their progress and outcomes.
• To input data that will support the production of reports by the Head of Seafarer Learning and Welfare to funders and stakeholders as required.
• To assist the Apprenticeship Delivery Manager in all aspects of administering the apprentice and adult skills programmes.

Requirements

• Good general level of formal education (including English and mathematics GCSE Grade 4/C or above)
• Proficient user of Microsoft Office applications and virtual meetings software
• Good standard of written and spoken English

For further information, please download the Recruitment Pack. If you are interested in this role, please apply now!

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave per annum increasing with length of service
• Hybrid working for many roles
• Life assurance (4x salary)
• Private medical insurance
• Generous pension (employer contribution up to 10%)
• Cycle to work scheme
• Wellbeing portal and EAP with 121 counselling
• Employee development: We are investing in our employees' development and have an annual calendar of learning and development opportunities, designed to support employees to develop into their roles and stretch them to achieve their full potential.

For further information, please download the Recruitment Pack. If you are interested in this role, please apply now!

Additional Information

The Marine Society & Sea Cadets (MSSC) is the leading maritime charity for youth development and lifelong learning. We are a vibrant and growing charity inspiring young people to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure and also enabling seafarers and maritime professionals to realise their potential through learning and career development. Working with our employees, cadets, and volunteers, we have built a strong vision and five-year Future Ready strategy to meet the growing demand for what we provide, both for young people, seafarers and maritime professionals – and the thousands who aspire to be the sea cadets and marine professionals of the future. It is also about equipping them to achieve their potential and thrive in a rapidly changing world, while growing our charity to benefit even more people – including those from under-represented or marginalised groups.

MSSC positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. Equity, diversity, and inclusion really matters to us, so we can best serve our beneficiaries from every community. We work to ensure a fair and consistent recruitment process and aim to be a charity where diversity of experience, identity and skills are valued and welcomed. MSSC is an equal opportunities employer.

We recognise our responsibilities to safeguard and protect the young people and vulnerable adults with whom we work. We do all we can to promote their health, safety and wellbeing, and we expect our staff to share this commitment and work in line with safeguarding policy, the MSSC’s values and ethos of inclusivity. We adhere to safer recruitment practices and therefore employment is subject to detailed pre-employment checks for successful candidates, including references and criminal disclosure checks and the completion of a disclosure questionnaire. 

All successful applicants are required to attend safeguarding training and undergo pre-employment checks including a criminal record check.

Join the friendly Carers’ Hub team and make a vital difference to the lives of unpaid carers in Lambeth.

We are looking for a Hospital Carers' Lead to join our service supporting unpaid carers while the person they look after is in hospital and during the discharge process. We know that this can be a worrying and stressful time and that too often carers do not know where to turn to for information and support. Help us make sure that carers get the help and support they need, at this critical time. 

You will play a pivotal role in developing and delivering our offer for carers which seeks to increase the identification of carers within local hospitals, improve carer support during their cared for hospital stay and following their discharge from hospital. 

The Hospital Carers Lead will be responsible for: 

• Offering tailored short-term 1 to 1 support to unpaid carers, working together to develop and implement plans to help improve carers’ experiences during the hospital stay, prepare for discharge and to address carers’ own needs. 

• Supporting unpaid carers while the person they care for is in hospital via signposting to relevant support and information about their rights. 

• Working collaboratively with partners within the hospital, to raise awareness of carers and increase identification.

If you are a passionate individual looking for a fast paced, rewarding role that will make a real difference to carers, we would love to hear from you.

About us
Carers’ Hub plays a vital role in Lambeth, supporting the many unpaid carers across the borough. Our work stems from the fact that carers often go about their roles despite the toll it might take on their own wellbeing, often having to make sacrifices that hamper their own ability to lead a normal life. Whether financial, educational or otherwise, we seek to limit the challenges that carers face. We achieve this through four core workstreams: 

1. raising awareness of carers, 

2. Influencing local policy through community engagement activities, 

3. Improving carer wellbeing and

4. Connecting carers to each other and to support and training opportunities through our services. 

We welcome requests for informal chats to find out more about us as an organisation and the role. For more details, including how to get in touch, please see the Job Description.

Closing date: Friday 2nd May at 9 am. 

Interviews: Friday 9th May