Trusts and Grants Officer

Purpose of the job

At UK Youth, we believe every young person should have access to the opportunities they need to thrive and be empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. This role provides an exciting opportunity to join UK Youth and play a key role in driving forward our new strategy to 2025 ‘Unlocking Youth Work’. As a Trusts & Grants Officer, you will be joining a supportive and highly ambitious Partnerships and Trusts Team sitting within the wider External Relations Department. You will be leading on the relationship management of a portfolio of low to mid value Trusts & Foundations partnerships, building on your knowledge and expertise across relationship management and proactively spotting opportunities to build new relationships with other Trusts & Foundations.

You will split your time between relationship management of existing partnerships and new opportunities, supporting this team to conduct thorough prospect research into our priority sectors, make approaches to prospective partners and supporting with the development of bids.

Key responsibilities

• Leading on the relationship management and stewardship of a portfolio of UK Youth’s low to mid value Trusts & Foundations, maximising income and other mutually beneficial opportunities across in-kind.

• Championing existing partnerships internally to ensure the partnership’s expectations are delivered and exceeded. This includes working to secure engagement from Senior Leadership and relevant colleagues across Communications and Engagement.

• Coordinate with internal groups and senior colleagues across the Impact and Network Delivery teams to write applications and reports.

• Conduct and support colleagues on the Trusts & Foundations team with prospect research, helping to build a strong pipeline of new, well-researched opportunities that have strong alignment with UK Youth’s funding priorities.

• Support the Trusts & Foundations team in making approaches to a list of high value Trust & Foundation prospects, delivering high quality bids to secure new partnerships.

• Support the Partnerships & Trusts Team with ad hoc administrative duties including pipeline reporting, database (CRM) management, and inbox management.

Experience we're after

• Experience of undertaking research/prospecting 

• Experience of leading a funding bid and/or relationship management of a Trust and Foundation 

• Experience of working in a busy team across multiple projects  

• Experience of working within a fundraising or similar team 

Who we are

UK Youth is a leading charity that exists to ensure all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. We work with others to ensure that the youth sector is strengthened, supported, and that provision is youth-led, evidence-informed and delivers high-quality outcomes.

UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing; the lack of investment in the youth sector, the lack of cross sector understanding in how youth work makes a difference and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. These factors lead to mass inequality of access to youth services for young people. To find more about us and how we make an impact, please visit UK Youth Website.

Why work at UK Youth?

We are a value-based, passionate and committed organisation offering a friendly working environment with lots of opportunities for professional development and socialising (even for those working remotely!) from lunch and learn sessions, staff quizzes to virtual coffee meet ups.

UK Youth prides itself on being an Equal Opportunity employer and we would particularly welcome applications for this role from those who identify under one of the protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010.

We value the differences that a diverse workforce brings and are committed to inclusivity, and to employing and supporting a diverse workforce. Our selection procedures ensure that people are treated on the basis of their relevant merits, experience, skills and abilities and that no individual receives more or less favourable treatment.

We welcome applications from groups currently under-represented in our organisation including BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and persons with disabilities. We are also currently underrepresented by men, and so are seeking applications from different backgrounds, cultures, age, experience and identity to bring a wide range of experience, ideas, views and insights to UK Youth.

What we can offer you

We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• CycleScheme and TechScheme

How to apply

If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all.

Closing date: Monday 2nd December 2024 at 8:00am

Provisional Interview Dates: 5th-13th December 2024.

As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.