Support officer jobs

We have an opportunity for a Supported Housing Officer - Extra Care to join our team in Newbury.

You'll be covering our two Extra Care Schemes in Abingdon and Hungerford and will be based in either our Newbury or Basingstoke office.

This is a hybrid role where you'll be working from the Extra Care Schemes 3-4 days a week, with a mix of home and office for the other days.

The role

Our Supported Housing team provide a wide range of services, including temporary accommodation for adults, young people and families at risk of homelessness, Housing First tenancies, housing for adults and young people with disabilities or mental illness, those experiencing domestic abuse, extra care housing and individual properties for customers with identified support needs.

As a Supported Housing Officer - Extra Care you'll use your knowledge and skills to provide a comprehensive and effective tenancy and estate management function for customers in our Extra Care schemes.

It's an intensive and varied housing management role where you'll be dealing with a range of tasks including tenancy management, safeguarding and low level ASB concerns, property inspections and compliance activities, managing lettings and local authority teams. You will be working closely with our care providers based at each scheme.

As a Supported Housing Officer - Extra Care you will be the main point of contact for customers and will be providing advice and signposting. You'll also arrange and encourage engagement in activities, helping people to live independently, safely and confidently.

To be successful in this role you will have:

· Experience in a Housing or Housing related role

· An understanding of supporting vulnerable people

· Experience of working with internal and external partners

· Empathy and resilience

· The ability to be self-motivated and highly organised

· Excellent collaboration and communication skills

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now!

Fundraising Officer

Salary: £28,360 per annum

Letchworth Garden City/ home working (hybrid)

Full time (35 hours a week)

Permanent

Flexible working considered

Are you a people person with a can-do attitude? Do you have some experience of fundraising, or are you looking to start your fundraising career? We have the perfect role for you!

Join our friendly team
We are looking for someone with strong communication and relationship building skills, who will enjoy enthusing others to support our cause. Ideally you will have some community or events fundraising experience, but for the right person, relevant transferable skills and an enthusiastic approach are just as important. We encourage you to apply, even if you feel you may not meet all the criteria listed.

Our charity
MS Trust brings together expertise from every angle to help everyone feel more in control of their MS today and every day. Through trusted information and compassionate support, the training of new MS healthcare professionals, and research rooted in real experience – we’re here for every MS. Every day.

The role
This is an exciting role, where you will look after a variety of fundraising events and initiatives. You will work within the Events and Community Fundraising Team to ensure we are offering a wide mix of fundraising opportunities for our supporters. This includes taking part in third party events, fundraising in their own community, or taking on a virtual challenge. You will encourage new and existing supporters to take part in these activities and support them on their fundraising journey.

What we can offer

· 25 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays, which increases with length of service to 30 days.

· Company pension with enhanced employer contribution. Salary Sacrifice scheme available.

· Death in Service benefit.

· Sick pay.

· Hybrid working.

· Employee assistance Programme

· Fantastic office location with free parking, local to town centre and train station. Good transport links to London and   Cambridge.

· Learning and development policy to develop all staff.

· Cycle to work scheme, Volunteering Day and Season ticket loans.

Find out more and apply

Please visit our website to download a job pack and application form (CVs will not be considered).

As part of our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), we appreciate your time completing the form, as this allows us to keep our recruitment process fair and neutral.

Closing date: Monday 14 September 2026 at 9am

First Interviews: Tuesday 22 or Wednesday 23 September 2026

We have an opportunity for a Supported Housing Officer - Extra Care to join our team in Bournemouth.

You'll be covering our two Extra Care Schemes in Andover and Bournemouth and will be based in either our Hurn or Blandford office.

This is a hybrid role where you'll be working from the Extra Care Schemes 3-4 days a week, with a mix of home and office for the other days.

The role

Our Supported Housing team provide a wide range of services, including temporary accommodation for adults, young people and families at risk of homelessness, Housing First tenancies, housing for adults and young people with disabilities or mental illness, those experiencing domestic abuse, extra care housing and individual properties for customers with identified support needs.

As a Supported Housing Officer - Extra Care you'll use your knowledge and skills to provide a comprehensive and effective tenancy and estate management function for customers in our Extra Care schemes.

It's an intensive and varied housing management role where you'll be dealing with a range of tasks including tenancy management, safeguarding and low level ASB concerns, property inspections and compliance activities, managing lettings and local authority teams. You will be working closely with our care providers based at each scheme.

As a Supported Housing Officer - Extra Care you will be the main point of contact for customers and will be providing advice and signposting. You'll also arrange and encourage engagement in activities, helping people to live independently, safely and confidently.

To be successful in this role you will have:

· Experience in a Housing or Housing related role

· An understanding of supporting vulnerable people

· Experience of working with internal and external partners

· Empathy and resilience

· The ability to be self-motivated and highly organised

· Excellent collaboration and communication skills

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you, we'd love to hear from you. Apply now!

Earliest Start Date: 2nd November 2026

Contract: 12 Months with Potential for Exentension

Job Title: Known internally as "Key Work Manager (Maternity Cover)"

Location: 30 Petworth Street, Battersea, SW11 4QW. The post will also involve working in the community so some local travel will be required.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, including some evening & occasional weekend work

About the Role

As Key Work Manager you will lead on and oversee all Key Work activity at Carney’s Community. This includes undertaking key work yourself on a one to one basis with young people involved in the criminal justice system as well as managing a small team of key workers.

You will provide advice, practical support and befriending to a caseload of participants, aged 11-30, who are at risk of/involved in offending; to encourage and enable them to participate in Carney’s Community’s personal development opportunities and to access the wider services and support they may need in order to give them the best chances of being “the best they can be”. This will involve supporting young people to engage in positive and constructive activities, attend Youth Justice Service or Probation appointments and creating opportunities for their personal, social and emotional development

You will work alongside the employment support manager to plan and deliver the employment group, supporting participants that attend this group and leading specific employment programmes. As manager of the key work project you will oversee the small team of key workers, provide support, guidance and supervision. You will be involved in monitoring and reporting for the project, collecting feedback from participants. You will manage referrals to the project from other organisations including schools, social services, probation and the youth justice service.

About You:

You must have proven experience of working directly with young people in a youth work or key work setting, providing one to one support. You will have the ability to empathise and mediate for young people, a strong understanding of the local area, barriers facing young people, the interplay between material disadvantage, vulnerability and social exclusion and be highly skilled in diplomacy, professional distance, demonstrating empathy, boundaries and sound judgement. You will have experience managing other staff or volunteers.

About Carney’s Community

We support young people living in and around Wandsworth, targeting ages 11-30 facing extreme challenges including criminal justice system involvement or care experience. Carney’s works differently by providing long-term, consistent, unconditional support with empathy; a safe space and activities including boxing, bike workshops, employment support, studio sessions, mentoring and key work. Inspired by boxing legend Mick Carney, the charity was founded in his name after his passing in 2011, building on work led by our co-founders. We aim to create a “virtuous cycle”: while support is free of charge, we ask that when young people are ready, they channel the positivity they have received into others. As a result, many go on to volunteer, mentor, join our staff team or even set up their own community initiatives. Former participants make up the majority of our workforce. They provide the most authentic role models, people who genuinely understand the challenges our young people face and who show what is possible. For our young people we strive for equality and aim to: Improve Physical and Mental Health; Improve Education, Skills and Employability; Improve Community Engagement; Reduce Offending and Reoffending.

Are you passionate about criminal justice and want the flexibility of homeworking for a small charity where you can make a real difference? Are you experienced in operations and/ or administration? Then we would love to hear from you! 

The Welcome Directory is a multi-faith charity working to empower faith and belief communities to offer safe and lasting welcome to prison leavers. Our national directory is a list of faith/belief communities who are committed to welcoming prison leavers – the directory is used in all prisons across England and Wales. This resource is a lifeline for those leaving prison and seeking to find connection and community where they can belong and practice their faith/belief.

We are currently recruiting for an Operations Officer to lead on administrative support to the charity under the direction of the Project Manager, supporting on engagement with various stakeholders and networks. The goal of the post is to ensure that The Welcome Directory can effectively develop the reach of our work and achieve exponential growth, by maximising administrative efficiency.

Whilst this is a 6-month contract, there is the potential to extend where funding permits.

This will include, but may not be limited to:

Operations

• Engaging with interested faith/ belief communities/ networks, processing registrations and maintaining directory records
• Leading the co-ordination and delivery of the annual Affiliates Scheme
• Supporting the production and logistics of annual resource mail-outs
• Engaging in periodical team email campaigns for intentional growth
• Supporting the annual data refresh and survey, including follow-up, in collaboration with the Monitoring & Evaluation Officer

Events

• Provide administrative support in preparation for the online Prison Awareness Course (PAC) and other webinar events
• Provide technical support (e.g. Zoom hosting etc) for the delivery of the PAC and other webinar events
• Planning bi-annual team days and any one-off events, in consultation with the Project Manager
• Representing The Welcome Directory at selected events (as required)

Administration

• Answering email enquiries
• Editing recordings/ videos and updating resources in Canva
• Collating routine data and creating/ updating trackers (as required)
• Supporting processing expenses and issuing internal invoices
• Paying-in cheques and sending thank you cards
• Obtaining Gift Aid declarations and submitting claims
• Purchasing stationery supplies and dispatching resources
• Leading on quarterly team password management

Other benefits include:

• Flexible, remote working
• Small and supportive team
• Team days and opportunities for learning
• 5% employer contribution to pension scheme
• Contribution towards internet and phone costs, and provision of laptop and relevant equipment
• Opportunity to gain experience with a well-respected organisation in the criminal justice sector, including a prison visit

Please download the Job Description and Person Specification for further information.

Should you have any questions about the role, please get in touch by email.

The Welcome Directory will be scheduling interviews as applications come in. Please note we reserve the right to close vacancies early should we receive sufficient applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application, via CharityJob, as soon as possible. 

‘Fair AI usage’ requires that all applicants declare at the point of submitting, that all information provided is an accurate, authentic representation of their personal background, skills, and work experience. Failure to transparently or honestly represent oneself - including over-reliance on unedited AI-generated text, including cover letters, personal statements or application answers without personal review, may result in an application being withdrawn or disqualified.

We’re looking for a Training Officer to help us develop and deliver high quality learning and professional development for people working with and for young people across the North West.

This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys creating and delivering engaging training and supporting others to learn and grow.

Working with our Learning, Workforce Development & Equality Manager, you’ll help shape our learning offer and support a skilled, confident and connected youth sector workforce.

What you’ll be doing

• Design and deliver engaging training and workshops (online and in person)

• Build relationships with learners, partners and organisations

• Support learning events, networks and Communities of Practice

• Use feedback and evaluation to improve what we do

We’re looking for someone who has:

• experience of training, facilitation or learning and development

• confidence delivering engaging sessions to different audiences

• good communication and organisational skills

• an understanding of youth work or the issues affecting young people

• a commitment to equality, inclusion and safeguarding

More information in attached recruitment pack - closing date Monday 21 Sep 2026 @ 12 pm

Interviews will be held in person on Tuesday 29 September 2026.

About Us

For over 21 years, The Pickering Cancer Drop-In Centre has offered free, holistic support to anyone in our community affected by cancer through complementary therapies, talking therapies, art, and our supportive community.

In 2025 alone, we had 1,911 individual visits and 1,021 therapy sessions - entirely through the dedication of our volunteer team. We are currently renovating our new centre, and we want to use it to reach further into our community than ever before. This is the first paid role in our history.

About the Role

As our first Executive Director, you will be the single point of accountability between our Board of Trustees and the day-to-day operation of the Centre - working alongside our (voluntary) Centre Manager and (voluntary) Volunteer Manager to support their roles, not duplicate them. You'll lead our strategy delivery, guide the charity's move into its new home, and oversee a service redesign informed by a fresh programme of visitor, volunteer and community research.

About You

You already know how to do this job - you've held a senior, accountable position in a charity or comparable organisation and can bring that experience from day one. You're confident reporting to a board of trustees, comfortable getting things done, and able to win the trust of a highly experienced, long-standing volunteer team through competence and credibility, not authority alone.

Key Activity Areas

• Financial management – budgeting, financial controls, and reporting to the Board and Treasurer

• Governance & best practice – supporting trustees to discharge their statutory duties; maintaining the policy suite and risk register

• HR & people leadership – supporting our entire volunteer and therapist team; communication is key to our volunteers

• Fundraising – write and lead on a fundraising strategy, implement new funding streams and be the ‘face of Pickering’ – local networking will be essential

• Change management – leading the transition to our new centre and evolving service model with care and consultation

• Compliance – safeguarding, health and safety, GDPR, and other regulatory requirements

Qualifications - Desirable

All the below are not necessary qualifications but would assist with this role:

• CIPD qualification, or equivalent hands-on HR experience

• A recognised governance qualification (e.g. Chartered Governance Institute) or completion of a charity leadership programme or similar

• Financial management experience – a qualification would be useful but not essential

• Safeguarding lead training

Experience and Competencies — Essential

• Senior leadership experience with genuine authority and accountability in a charity or comparable mission-led organisation

• A track record of reporting to and working with a board of trustees or non-executive directors

• A track record of leading organisational change, with evidence it was genuinely adopted

• Sound financial literacy - budgets, management accounts, financial controls, dealing with auditors

• Working knowledge of safeguarding, risk management and regulatory compliance

• Excellent written and verbal communication, including board-level reporting as well as the ability to speak in public

• Experience making a leadership role pay for itself, through income generation, cost savings, or both

• A genuine, demonstrable commitment to Pickering's mission

Experience and Competencies — Desirable

• Fundraising experience across grants, trusts, community fundraising and corporate partnerships

• Experience within the cancer support, wider healthcare, or hospice sector

• Lived experience of cancer, personally or through supporting someone close to you

• Experience leading a refresh of a brand or a rebrand, service redesign, or physical relocation of services

• Familiarity with Tunbridge Wells and the surrounding local community

Safeguarding

This role involves working with adults who may be vulnerable by virtue of serious illness. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory reference checks before appointment, and will act as, or oversee, the charity's designated safeguarding lead.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Pickering is committed to equal opportunity for all and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. A copy of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policy is available on request.

How to Apply

Please apply by Sunday 6 September 2026. Interviews are expected to take place w/c 14 September 2026.

Job Title: Support worker

Location: London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Salary: £30,784.00 per annum 

Hours: Hours: 40 hours per week, including weekends

Contract: Permanent

PRHA is a great place to work – Our award-winning teams work together to improve the lives of our residents and make a real contribution to ending homelessness. As an IIP Gold standard employer, we value our staff and commit to develop their skills and support them in their important work.

We have an exciting opportunity for Support Workers within two of our specialist services. We are looking for self-starters with a passion for sparking change in people’s lives. You will have the necessary skillset to empower people and support residents to achieve their goals.

PRHA hostels guarantee a fast-paced, challenging and dynamic environment where no two days are ever the same. We are seeking motivated and energetic individuals to join our teams and help our residents to change their lives for the better.

We are looking for:

Competencies

Please refer to job description. 

What we offer

We offer our staff a generous benefits package, which includes:

• Pension Scheme – We offer a group stakeholder pension scheme with 3% employer's contribution, employee contribution is 5%
• Holidays - Employees receive up to 22 days annual leave plus bank holidays rising with long service
• Medical – we provide a “Cash Back" Scheme for a range of services such as dental, physio, chiropody, health& wellbeing
• Training Programmes – We provide comprehensive training to our employees to enable them to grow in their career and achieve their professional aspirations.
• Season Ticket Loans – We offer interest-free season ticket loans after successful probation
• Life Assurance - Upon death whilst in service, a Death in Service payment may be made according to the scheme rules. The payment covers 3 times of the employee’s annual salary.

How to apply

Please read the full Job Description & Person Specification which can be found on our website. To apply, please send your CV and Supporting Statement outlining your interest in working for PRHA and explaining how you meet the criteria set out in the Job Description & Person Specification. Please send your CV and Supporting Statement by clicking the Apply Now button. Furthermore, applications with no attached personal statement explaining how you meet the job description will not be considered.

It is required for this post that the successful candidates will have to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.

IPS Grow Support Lead

We are recruiting for an experienced IPS professional to join the IPS Grow team, supporting services across London and the South East.

This role is ideal for a current or recent Employment Specialist or Senior Employment Specialist looking to develop their IPS expertise and support services to improve quality, fidelity and employment outcomes.

Position: IPS Grow Support Lead - London & South East
Location: London & South East/Hybrid, with a mix of remote and onsite working
Hours: Full-time
Salary: £39,000 plus £5,000 London Market Premium
Contract: Permanent
Closing date for applications: 4 September 2026 at 9am
First stage interviews: 23 September 2026, via Zoom
Second stage interviews: 7 October 2026, face to face in London Bridge

About the Role

You will work alongside experienced IPS Grow colleagues to develop your skills and knowledge while providing practical, hands-on support to IPS services across London and the South East.

A key focus will be training to become an IPS fidelity reviewer, initially working as a co-reviewer alongside Regional Leads. You will also support services to overcome barriers to successful IPS delivery, improve performance and achieve strong employment outcomes.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Training to become an IPS fidelity reviewer and supporting fidelity reviews and guided self-assessments
• Producing clear and accurate fidelity reports and action plans
• Supporting services to implement and monitor fidelity and race equity action plans
• Providing in-field mentoring and modelling IPS best practice
• Coaching IPS staff in employer engagement, race equity and performance management
• Supporting the development of training materials and resources
• Building relationships with IPS services and regional stakeholders
• Supporting Regional Leads with performance and quality conversations
• Helping services improve data quality and use of national reporting systems
• Supporting learning networks, communities of practice, workshops and webinars
• Producing reports and case studies demonstrating impact

The role involves significant travel across London and the South East, with occasional travel outside the region. You will also attend regular team days and quarterly organisational events.

About the Team

IPS Grow is a national programme supporting the expansion of Individual Placement and Support services across mental health, primary care and drug and alcohol teams throughout England.

The programme is led by a not for profit organisation in partnership with a leading mental health charity and is funded by national health, employment and public health bodies.

A core element of IPS Grow is the expert support provided by a team of IPS professionals who work directly with providers to improve fidelity to the IPS model and achieve better employment outcomes.

As a Support Lead, you will work closely with Regional Leads, Workforce Leads and other Support Leads, developing your own IPS expertise while providing practical support to services across the region.

About You

This role suits an IPS professional with current or recent experience at Employment Specialist or Senior Employment Specialist level who is ready to build on their frontline experience and develop their knowledge of IPS quality and service improvement.

Skills, experience and qualifications we are looking for include:

• Current or recent experience as an IPS Employment Specialist or Senior Employment Specialist
• A good foundational understanding of the IPS model, fidelity scale and practical application
• A track record of achieving good employment outcomes for people accessing IPS
• Strong experience of employer engagement and integration within clinical teams
• The ability to support positive change and improvements within IPS services
• Strong planning and organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities
• A structured and practical approach to problem solving
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Commitment to race equity and evidence-based employment support
• High levels of integrity, empathy, initiative and personal leadership
• Commitment to your own professional development and keeping up to date with IPS practice
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly across London and the South East

About the Organisation

Join an ambitious not for profit organisation that works with governments, service providers, the voluntary sector and the financial community to find better ways of tackling complex social problems.

The organisation combines expertise in financial analysis, data, service design and social research to understand the needs of people and communities and develop practical solutions capable of creating systemic change.

Its work addresses issues including homelessness, domestic abuse, mental health, learning difficulties, employment, loneliness and support for vulnerable children and families.

The multi-skilled team brings together people from diverse backgrounds who share a commitment to creating meaningful social change. The organisation's work is guided by three core values: curious, empathetic and pioneering.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Applications are actively encouraged from under-represented and minoritised groups, including people with lived experience of the social issues the organisation is working to address.

The organisation is an equal opportunities employer and supports a range of flexible working options.

Reasonable adjustments can be provided throughout the recruitment process.

Other roles you may have experience with could include: IPS Employment Specialist, Senior Employment Specialist, Employment Specialist, Employment Adviser, Employment Support Adviser, Supported Employment Adviser, IPS Practitioner, Employment Coach, Employment Support Officer, IPS Support Officer.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client, Not For Profit People. #INDNFP

We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated Chief Executive to assume overall responsibility for the management of HMC. The purpose of this senior leadership role is to lead the organisation in fulfilling its purpose of supporting migrants in Hackney and the wider London community, ensuring they can access their rights and overcome injustices in the immigration and social welfare system.

We're looking for a hardworking and resilient Support Worker to join our Homelessness Service located in Brent. No experience or personal care required, just the right values.

£30,784.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply)
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

A Support Worker will help to enable vulnerable people with complex support needs to manage their licences and move towards greater independence within the community by providing a flexible and individually tailored support package.

This role will be based at for Pound Lane, which is a high complex needs 24-hour service with same shift pattern.

The working pattern for this role is: - 5 days a week, working over a seven day pattern, weekends included. Shift pattern 8am-4am and late shift 1.30pm-9.30pm

What you'll do:

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead.

• Undertake key-working responsibilities for a caseload assigned by the Team Leader / Manager
• Oversee the daily running of the service ensuring all health and safety responsibilities are met
• Raise safeguarding alerts and complete incident reports within specified timeframe
• Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs and potential risks and agree levels of support and actions
• Create support/action plans for providing appropriate support based on the assessment and reflecting the services and resources available
• Support customers to undertake domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of living standards
• Support customers to move on from the service through their identified move on pathway liaising with our Resettlement Officer and Brent Housing team.

About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
• Approachable and open behaviour

What you'll bring:

Desirable:

• Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent.

About us:

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

• We focus on Excellence and innovation.
• We are Caring and Compassionate.
• We are Inclusive and Trusted.
• We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

We’re looking for an experienced fundraising leader who can combine strategic thinking with hands-on delivery and take the next step into a broad senior leadership role.

As Head of Income Generation and Communications, you will lead Cosmic’s fundraising, marketing and communications function, with responsibility for sustainable income growth, team leadership and strengthening our profile. You will oversee a varied portfolio spanning community and challenge fundraising, corporate partnerships, major donors, events, volunteering and supporter stewardship, while also setting the direction for our communications, brand and digital activity.

This is a role with real scope to shape our future. You will work closely with the CEO and Trustees, lead a small team and external communications support, and develop a three-to-five-year strategy that turns ambition into clear plans, targets and results.

We are looking for someone with a strong track record in fundraising and income generation, experience of managing people and performance, and the confidence to oversee communications and volunteering strategically. You do not need to be a communications specialist, but you should understand how strong storytelling, supporter engagement and volunteer involvement can help drive income and impact.

Salary: £45,000–£50,000 | Full-time | Permanent | Hybrid, primarily based near St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington

Who we are:

Chefs in Schools exists to improve children’s health and futures through improving school food and food literacy.

We work alongside schools and catering teams to transform what children eat every day, particularly in communities facing the greatest barriers to good health. We combine practical support, training, operational expertise and sector influence to help schools serve fresh, nutritious food that children want to eat.

We are ambitious about both impact and scale. We want every child to have access to excellent school food and a real food education, regardless of background.

We are a values-led organisation. We are bold, honest, collaborative, innovative and focused on solutions.

About you and the role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Fundraising Officer to join our Partnerships and Engagement team. This is a brilliant opportunity to support a broad portfolio across income streams including Trusts and Foundations, Corporate Partnerships, and Major Donors.

You will play a crucial role in our fundraising efforts by leading prospect research to identify new funding opportunities to build a strong pipeline. You will support the Senior Partnership Manager and Philanthropy Manager to grow a portfolio of trusts, corporate partners and philanthropists. You will also be responsible for maintaining the CRM database (Beacon) and administrative tasks. This varied role is perfect for someone who enjoys building relationships and coordinating meaningful supporter engagement opportunities. You will work with colleagues across Chefs in Schools to gather compelling stories and impact data that demonstrate the difference our funders make.

The responsibilities, skills and experience listed below are intended to give you an idea of what we need for this role. If you don’t meet every requirement but feel you would be able to work with us to deliver the majority of them, we urge you to apply anyway. We’re dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and for us the most important ‘experience’ is passion for our mission. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

You will have excellent organisation skills, with good attention to detail and the ability to prioritise a varied workload. You will have strong communication skills and be able to build relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.

We want to get to know you at the interview and understand we can do this best if you’re at ease. We’re an inclusive employer and are passionate about creating a welcoming working environment for everyone. We’re continually updating our DEI policy and have a neurodiversity champion. If you need adjustments to the interview process please let us know.

As we work with children and young people, an offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and DBS clearance, in line with our safeguarding policy.

Key responsibilities

• Lead prospect research to build a strong pipeline of trusts, corporates and major donors which align with our mission. This includes network mapping to identify existing connections and relationships.

• Act as the CRM champion for fundraising, ensuring all donor interactions and details are accurately recorded and updated.

• Support in developing and maintaining inspiring stewardship and engagement plans for funders and supporters.

• Provide events support; logistics, guestlist management and other duties where required.

• Prepare insightful briefings for the Senior Leadership Team ahead of key funder meetings.

• Work with the communications team to create engaging end of term/ annual reports for key funders and donors.

• Monitor sector trends and newly launched funding rounds to ensure we never miss an opportunity.

• Work with the finance team to process donations and Gift Aid declarations, ensuring thank-yous are sent out promptly.

• Pull regular financial and pipeline reports from the database to assist with team forecasting and planning.

• Provide warm supporter care as the first point of contact for public fundraising inquiries.

• Support the delivery of digital appeals, regular giving, and community fundraising initiatives.

Essential skills & experience

• You have at least 1–2 years of experience in a charity fundraising environment.

• You have interest and belief in our mission, to improve child health through improving food and food education in schools.

• You are an excellent writer and communicator with strong presentation and communication skills.

• You have experience of using CRM software.

• You have strong research skills and experience synthesizing complex information into succinct and accessible copy.

• You are highly organised and can juggle multiple deadlines while maintaining a sharp eye for detail.

• You are a natural relationship builder, comfortable interacting with a diverse range of stakeholders.

• You demonstrate self-motivation, flexibility and the ability to adapt to an ever-changing, growing organisation.

Desirable skills & experience

• Experience using tools like Canva or Mailchimp to create engaging fundraising content.

• Experience in planning and delivering fundraising events.

• Familiarity with fundraising regulations and data protection laws regarding donor privacy.

What success looks like

Within the first 12 to 18 months, success in this role is likely to include a comprehensive knowledge of our existing fundraising model and key funders, taking the lead in prospect research, leading on account management of restaurant partners, small to medium scale fundraising campaigns, and supporting with event organisation. You will also have gained a comprehensive knowledge of the organisational strategy and the wider school food system. 

Our commitment to inclusion

We know that strong candidates may not meet every single requirement listed in this job description.

If this role excites you and you believe you could make a strong contribution to our mission, we would encourage you to apply.

We are committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive organisation where people from different backgrounds, experiences and communities can thrive. If you require assistance or reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process please let us know.

Benefits

You would be joining a friendly, supportive team who works hard but believe in a healthy work/life balance. We were voted one of CODE Hospitality's happiest places to work in 2024. We seek a diverse range of perspectives, skills, experience and knowledge. Joining a small, collaborative team means you'll be able to contribute to and draw on various projects and strategic insights.

We offer 33 days of holiday per year including bank holidays, 3 additional office closure days over the Christmas period as well as wellbeing days over the summer school holidays. We also have a Cycle to Work scheme, hybrid working, enhanced parental leave, and free access to the CODE app for discounted restaurants & hospitality venues. We are committed to developing our team and will support you with relevant training opportunities including £250 towards elective training and development of your choice.

We also offer Bupa Dental Insurance, Income Protection Insurance, as well as access to the Aviva Smart Health Platform which offers health benefits including free rapid access online GP appointments, free counselling and wellbeing support.

Application process

In line with our commitment to ensuring a fair and unbiased recruitment process, we invite candidates to answer a series of questions related to their day-to-day job. 

Each question has a 250-word limit. We recommend that you develop your answers offline and copy them in when you're ready, to make sure you don't lose your work if interrupted.

All communication about your application, other than a verbal job offer, will be sent through the Applied platform - please check your Applied account regularly (as well as your spam folder) for updates.

Your answers will go through our sifting process: all answers are anonymised, randomised and then reviewed by a panel of reviewers. A longlist of candidates will then additionally have their CVs reviewed. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a 30 minute online interview. Successful candidates will be invited to attend a second, in-person interview at our office in Brixton, London.

Expected duration of this application process: 4-6 weeks

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online 30-minute competency based interview, held in the week commencing 7th September. 

Successful candidates will be invited to an in-person second interview at our office in Brixton, London w/c 14th September. The interview overall will take a maximum of one hour.

Role Purpose 

The Chief Executive Officer will provide strategic, operational and values-led leadership for Home-Start Norfolk, ensuring the charity delivers its mission, supports its families effectively and remains financially sustainable. Working closely with the Board of Trustees, the CEO will lead the organisation’s strategy, people, services, partnerships, governance, income generation and volunteer strategy, while acting as an ambassador for the charity and its work. 

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership 

• Lead the development and delivery of the charity’s strategic plan in partnership with the Board of Trustees. 

• Translate the charity’s vision, mission and values into clear priorities, measurable objectives and effective operational plans. 

• Identify opportunities for growth, innovation, collaboration and improved impact. 

• Ensure services and activities remain responsive to beneficiary needs and changing external circumstances. 

Governance, Compliance and Risk 

• Support the Board of Trustees to fulfil its governance responsibilities through clear reporting, sound advice and timely information. 

• Ensure the charity complies with charity law, company law where applicable, employment law, fundraising regulation, data protection requirements, safeguarding duties and all relevant regulatory obligations. 

• Maintain a robust approach to risk management, internal controls, policies and procedures. 

• Promote transparency, accountability and ethical decision-making across the organisation. 

Financial Leadership and Income Generation 

• Provide overall leadership for financial planning, budgeting, forecasting and long-term sustainability. 

• Work with trustees and senior colleagues to ensure resources are used effectively and in line with charitable objectives. 

• Lead the development of a diverse and resilient income strategy, including grants, trusts and foundations, individual giving, corporate partnerships, contracts and other appropriate income streams. 

• Maintain strong relationships with funders, commissioners, donors and supporters, ensuring excellent stewardship and reporting. 

Service Delivery, Quality and Impact 

• Ensure the charity delivers high-quality, safe and effective services that achieve positive outcomes for families. 

• Embed continuous improvement, evidence-based practice and meaningful beneficiary involvement. 

• Oversee monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting to demonstrate the value and effectiveness of the charity’s work. 

• Champion safeguarding, inclusion, accessibility and dignity in all areas of service delivery. 

• Comply with Home-Start UK’s Quality Audit Policies and Process, to ensure the charity maintains a high standard of quality assurance. 

People, Culture and Organisational Development 

• Lead, support and develop the senior leadership team and staff, creating a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture. 

• Ensure the charity has the right structures, systems, skills and capacity to deliver its strategy. 

• Promote wellbeing, learning, accountability and collaboration across the organisation. 

• Ensure effective HR, performance management and recruitment practices are in place. 

Volunteer Leadership 

• Provide strategic leadership for the development and delivery of the charity’s volunteer strategy, ensuring it supports organisational priorities and beneficiary needs. 

• Oversee effective volunteer recruitment, induction, training, supervision, support, retention and recognition. 

• Ensure volunteers are valued, well-supported, appropriately deployed and able to contribute safely and confidently to the charity’s work. 

• Develop a sustainable volunteer workforce plan, identifying current and future volunteer capacity, skills and support requirements. 

• Promote a positive volunteering culture that reflects the charity’s values and strengthens engagement, inclusion and community connection. 

External Relations, Partnerships and Advocacy 

• Act as the public face and senior ambassador for the charity, representing it with credibility and confidence. 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with beneficiaries, partners, funders, commissioners, local communities, statutory bodies and sector networks. 

• Raise the charity’s profile and influence through effective communications, thought leadership and advocacy. 

• Promote collaboration and partnership working to extend reach, improve outcomes and strengthen sustainability.