Headstart Programme Manager Jobs

Are you passionate and self-motivated? Do you have excellent written and verbal communication skills? If you would like to use your abilities to raise funds for charities, Chell Perkins Ltd's Grant Fundraising Traineeships will teach you everything you need to know and you’ll get the chance to join our team of trained consultants.

Chell Perkins Ltd are looking for FOUR people who are passionate about bringing positive change through fundraising. We want to nurture a new generation of fundraisers to provide charities with access to exceptional fundraising support.

We offer a four-month/16-week fully paid traineeship (approx £1,733pm gross) working with real clients in a fundraising consultancy and gaining a recognised certificate with education credits towards CFRE to give you a real headstart in working in the charity sector. There are a number of vacancies at Chell Perkins, and at the end of the course trainees will be eligible to apply for a permanent position.

This immersive programme starts on 1st September 2025 and is home-based, with high-quality training and plenty of support from our experienced fundraising team.

Why Chell Perkins?

At the end of our Grant Fundraising Traineeship, you will be a confident and capable grant fundraiser. But there’s much more to the scheme than that. The Chell Perkins team are a great bunch of people to work with. We really care about our partner charities and YOUR future. Our supportive and empowering work culture will enable you to realise your own potential.

“This programme is truly unique and rewarding. I recommend it to anyone thinking of beginning a fundraising career.” Junior Fundraiser, 2020

“The traineeship was an amazing opportunity, and I learnt so much about fundraising and the charity sector in such an engaging way. Everyone in the team is so friendly and supportive, you couldn't work with or learn from anyone better.” Class of 2023 and now a Fundraising Officer with Chell Perkins

“This traineeship has given me a headstart in my fundraising career and I couldn’t be more grateful! I left university with a love for charity work but little idea as to how I could use that passion in my everyday life, but this traineeship has helped me develop the skills and knowledge I need to make a real difference in the charity sector.” Class of 2023 and now a Fundraising Officer with Chell Perkins

Client mix

Candidates should be aware that at present 70% of our partner charities come from a Christian background (churches or Christian charities). While it is not a requirement to be Christian, candidates must be happy to write for a faith-based audience.

Further information

This role is home-based; however, we hold quarterly in-person team days, and you may occasionally be required to work from client sites (nationally, with a North West focus).

The traineeship will start on 1 September and will run until 19 December 2024. Candidates must be available to start on the first day of the traineeship. Interviews and offers will take place from March onwards.

For more details, download a copy of the Job Description and Person Specification document.

How to apply

If our Grant Fundraising Traineeship sounds like it could be a perfect fit for you, why not apply?

Email a completed application form, a recent CV and a covering letter to our Office Manager (see 'How to apply' below).

In your covering letter, we are looking for:
● Evidence of strong written communication skills, and ability to write persuasively
● Passion for the third sector, and in particular fundraising
● Evidence that you have carefully researched the role and our organisation.

Using AI

We recognise that many applicants use AI tools like ChatGPT for drafting applications. Whilst these tools can be helpful, we advise you to first write your application personally and then use AI to refine it. This approach ensures your application remains original and truly reflective of your unique experiences. Last year, we noticed a trend of AI-generated applications lacking individuality, which hindered our ability to connect with applicants. Remember, it's your personal story, passions and motivations that make you stand out. Let AI assist you, but let your own voice lead the way.