Visitor Engagement Jobs
Fifty years ago, Home-Start began with a simple yet powerful idea: parents supporting each other can transform lives. Today, we are a national movement of volunteers, staff, and partners, standing alongside families to ensure every child has the best possible start in life.
The last few years have placed increasing pressure on families. The cost-of-living crisis is forcing parents to make impossible trade-offs. The erosion of public services, the NHS and social care can leave little support around the earliest moment of a child’s life. The need for our support has never been greater.
With a network of 177 independently governed local Home-Starts across the UK and a central supporting team at Home-Start UK, we are united in our mission to provide compassionate, non-judgemental support to families facing challenges such as isolation, poor mental health and financial pressures. Last year, the network supported 75,500 children in 58,850 families across the UK and British armed forces in Cyprus, with the help of our dedicated staff and nearly 8,000 volunteers.
While we are proud of the impact we make, the need for early years support remains vast, and we currently reach only a fraction of the families we aim to help. Our network is aligned by an ambitious federation-wide strategy to expand our reach and drive meaningful change. With this shared commitment, we aim to double the number of families we support and leverage innovative approaches to scale our impact, reaching 200,000 families a year.
About the role:
As the central organisation in the Home-Start federation, Home-Start UK exists to aid the Home-Start network, providing leadership, voice and quality assurance support to ensure the network has the capacity and resilience to sustainably stand alongside families and communities in times of challenge.
With our current Chief Executive moving on after a successful tenure, we are looking for an exceptional leader to take Home-Start UK into its next chapter. As Chief Executive, you will work collaboratively with our federated network, partners, and funders to enhance our profile, strengthen our voice, expand our reach and deepen our impact. You will help secure bold and sustainable growth and influence policy to ensure early years support remains a national priority.
This is a unique opportunity to lead a dynamic, values-driven organisation at a critical time for UK families. We seek a visionary, highly collaborative leader passionate about social change— someone who excels at uniting people around a shared vision. You will be an inspiring advocate, strategic thinker, and skilled influencer and partnership builder, adept at navigating complexity and championing our movement. A personal commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusive relationships and work cultures is essential.
Diversity and Inclusion at Home-Start UK and in this recruitment:
Home-Start UK are committed to increasing the diversity of our leadership and creating an inclusive recruitment process that attracts a broad pool of talent, including candidates with lived experience relevant to Home-Start’s mission. We appreciate this is an important role with a significant mandate, so are keen to consider how a mix of skills and intersectional insights can contribute to our mission - we are open to exploring new models of leadership structure to achieve this aim, including exploring Co-CEO models. So, if you think you have what it takes, but don’t necessarily meet every single aspect of the person specification, please still apply – we would love to explore the role further with you! For further details on EEDI in our organisation and in this recruitment, please see the full Appointment Brief.
If you are energised by the power of communities and committed to making a lasting difference for children and families, we would love to hear from you. For more information about the organisation, role and how to apply, please download the full appointment brief below.
Closing Date: 6 April 2025
People Beyond Screening Conversations: 10 April - 28 April 2025
Home-Start UK Panel Interviews:
First Stage: 7 May 2025
Second Stage: 16 May 2025
Position: Project Coordinator (Breathing Space Project)
Hours: Part-time (21 hours)
Contract: Fixed-Term contract until 28th November 2025
Location: Office based in Cardiff with flexibility to work hybrid/remotely in Wales
Salary: Starting from £15,830 (FTE £26,384) per annum plus excellent benefits
Salary Band and Job Family: Band 1, Charity
*you’ll start at our entry point salary of £15,830 (FTE £26,384) per annum, increasing to £16,819 (FTE £28,033) after 6 months service and satisfactory performance and to £17,809 (FTE £29,682) after a further 6 months.
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
This role will coordinate our Breathing Space project in Wales, which supports unpaid carers who support people living with MS to access short breaks. We are looking for an enthusiastic, experienced individual who loves working on short-term funded projects and who also loves working directly with the people we support and our volunteers. The ability to communicate to a wide range of audiences and deliver our project objectives will be essential for this role.
Working closely with people affected by MS, Key external partners, the Service and Support Team, the Cymru Director, and the wider MS Society teams. You will be outcome-focused and deliver tangible results. You will need to forge strong partnerships with key stakeholders and represent the MS Society at key meetings and events in the area relating to promoting the project to carers.
This role can be based anywhere in Wales but there will be occasional expectation of travel throughout Wales.
This is a part-time (21 hours) fixed-term role until 28th November 2025 with the possibility of an extension to March 2026.
The ability to speak Welsh is desirable for this role.
Closing date for applications: 9:00 on Monday 7th April 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.
To fund world-leading research, share the latest information and campaign for everyone's rights. Together we are a community. Together we can stop MS
The vacancy
We are seeking to appoint seven Advisory panel members for the following committees:
Companies Committee (one dispensing optician, one optometrist and one business registrant)
Education Committee (one dispensing optician and one registered medical practitioner)
Registration Committee (one dispensing optician and one lay member)
Please note that applicants cannot be appointed to more than one committee.
About the GOC
We are the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. Our purpose is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance and conduct.
About the Advisory Panel
The Advisory Panel is a meeting of the four Council’s committees (Companies, Education, Registration and Standards) in plenary session. They are established by statute for the purpose of giving advice and assistance to Council (whether or not in response to a request from them) on:
· matters relating to business registrants other than matters required by the Opticians Act to be referred to the Investigation Committee, the Registration Appeals Committee or the Fitness to Practise Committee;
· matters relating to optical training, education and assessment;
· matters relating to registration, other than matters required by the Opticians Act to be considered by the Registration Appeals Committee; and
· matters relating to the standards of conduct and performance expected of registrants or those seeking admission to the register.
The committees and the Advisory Panel meet about twice a year. You can read the current terms of reference for the Advisory Panel, Education Committee, Registration Committee and Standards Committee.
Remuneration and time commitment
A daily fee of £319 will be paid. This is in line with our member fees policy and member fee schedule. This is taxable and subject to Class 1 National Insurance (NI) contributions. It is not pensionable.
Members can claim expenses for travel and subsistence costs incurred on Council business as set out in our expenses policy.
This role is part time with a commitment of approximately 2-3 days per year, including time spent preparing for meetings. Meetings will usually take place via MS Teams but may on occasion be held at the GOC Offices in London or other suitable venues.
We would welcome applications from individuals who are disabled and from diverse ethnic backgrounds as these are currently under-represented on our council and committees.
For more information about these roles please see the attached candidate information pack.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: midnight Sunday 06 April 2025.
Online interviews will be held on either week commencing 02 June 2025 and 09 June 2025.
We strive to be as diverse as the public we protect and welcome applications from everyone, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, maternity and geographical locations outside of London.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Position: Special Events Administrator
Hours: Full-time (35 hours a week)
Contract: Fixed Term until 24th December 2025
Location: Office-based in London office with flexibility to work remotely
Salary: Starting from £26,384 per annum plus excellent benefits
Salary Band and Job Family: Band 1*, Charity
*you’ll start at our entry point salary of £26,384 per annum, increasing to £28,033 after 6 months service and satisfactory performance and to £29,682 after a further 6 months.
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
The Special Events Officer will play a crucial role in supporting the delivery of a busy and varied schedule of events in the final year of the Stop MS Appeal. This position provides administrative and logistical support to ensure the smooth execution of events, contributing to the achievement of the £100m target for MS research. You’ll be working with major donors and collaborating with many teams including philanthropy, corporates and trust.
The role requires a proactive, detail-oriented individual with strong organisational skills to assist with the preparation, coordination, and post-event follow-up.
Please note this is a fixed term contract until the 24th December 2025.
Closing date for applications: 9:00 on Monday 7th April 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.
To fund world-leading research, share the latest information and campaign for everyone's rights. Together we are a community. Together we can stop MS