Garden Jobs

This is an exciting time and opportunity for someone with a background in the charity sector. This role offers a chance to make a real impact within our team, especially as we prepare for a series of high-profile fundraising and awareness initiatives for our 25th birthday in 2026. Alongside celebrating this milestone, we’re eager to support the launch of the new Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex University Hospital. This development opens up new opportunities for collaboration with our local NHS provider, driving us towards more integrated services and preparing us for the increased patient volume we expect in the coming years.

The Mulberry Centre is an award-winning cancer information and support charity, based on the grounds of West Middlesex University Hospital in Isleworth, West London. Since 2001, we have provided services to more than 18,000 people, and we’re committed to expanding our reach. With an annual income now exceeding £700k and having doubled over the past five years, we’re on track for continued growth and diversification, aiming to extend our impact in the community.

As Head of Fundraising & Engagement, you will play a key role in developing a cohesive fundraising, communications, and engagement strategy to secure sustainable income and elevate our profile. This role will see you working closely with the Chief Executive and the Fundraising Committee to lead initiatives with trusts and foundations, the National Lottery, high-net-worth individuals, and corporate partners.

You’ll oversee a dynamic team of four:

• Philanthropy and Partnerships Lead: Managing a portfolio of trusts and assisting with corporate and high-net-worth fundraising.
• Marketing & Communications Lead: Responsible for boosting our profile across various media.
• Supporter Engagement Lead: Driving individual and community group fundraising.
• Community Engagement Lead: Raising awareness of cancer prevention, early detection, and our support services in the community.

This role requires a skilled multi-tasker with strong project management and interpersonal skills, capable of meeting bid deadlines and managing key partnerships. If you’re detail-oriented with a knack for crafting compelling applications and budgets, we’d love to hear from you.

Dandelion Time’s pioneering nature-based therapy seeks to rebuild the confidence and self-belief of children and families impacted by trauma, enabling them to take the necessary steps to move forward.  To support our expansion across Kent, we have an exciting opportunity to join our close knit and hugely supportive team as the Bid Manager.  We have just launched our five-year plan and need an experienced, confident and collaborative individual who will be able to hit the ground running.

Reporting to the Director of Finance and supported by an experienced part-time Bid Writer you will be lead on the development and implementation of the income generation strategy for bids, primarily from Trusts and Foundations. Your focus will be to identify a diverse range of high value opportunities to build a pipeline of sustainable income.

To excel in this role you will demonstrate significant experience of researching and writing detailed and compelling proposals for trusts.  You will have a proven track record of meeting and exceeding income targets, securing one-off or multi-year grants of five-figure sums or above and multi-year funding.  

Your excellent communication skills will enable you to cultivate and manage relationships with key decision-makers, including the day-to-day management of both new and existing funders.

Please be aware that your cover letter will be assessed as part of your application and should clearly set out how and why you meet the person specification for this job.

What can we offer you?

At Dandelion Time we always strive to achieve a happy and healthy work-life balance for all.  Where practicable we offer flexible working arrangements to allow you to work in a way that suits your individual lifestyle. 

• Hybrid working and flexibility in work patterns
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time staff) with the opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
• Generous enhanced sick pay
• Excellent communication and technology processes
• Skilled, supportive, collaborative and caring colleagues
• Working in and with nature and animals at our rural based settings
• Opportunity to enjoy be actively involved in our beautiful sites

You will be based at our West Farleigh (Maidstone) site but will on occasion visit our other sites including Shadoxhurst (Ashford) and Shorne (Gravesend) and new ones as we grow. Please note that public transport is limited at all our sites so you will need your own transport.

Safeguarding

Dandelion Time is committed to a culture that safeguards and promotes the welfare of children and their families with robust recruitment procedures that deter and prevent people who are unsuitable to work with children from applying for or securing employment within the charity.  All individuals working in any capacity at Dandelion Time will be subject to safeguarding checks in line with the statutory guidance Keeping Children Safe in Education.  This will include a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check against both the Adult and Child Barred List service.  Evidence of ID, your right to work in the UK, your relevant qualifications, current address and satisfactory references are also a requirement.

Equality and Diversity

Dandelion Time is committed to creating a more inclusive organisation which benefits from a variety of perspectives and better reflects the communities we serve, to make smarter decisions and better support our families.  We expect all our people to be accountable for equality, diversity and inclusion at Dandelion Time. It is only by working together in unity that we can ensure that everyone can perform at their best. We warmly welcome applications from all sectors of the community and from a diverse range of genders, backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations and physical abilities.

As part of our Safer Recruitment procedures, we proactively remove bias by ensuring whenever possible, the recruiting panel only receive anonymised applications to complete the shortlisting process.

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