Charity & Voluntary Work

If you'd like a job where you can make real, positive change, explore your options within the rewarding charity and voluntary sector

The charity and voluntary sector often referred to as the 'third sector', 'not-for-profit sector', 'community sector' or 'civic sector', aims to create social rather than material wealth. This doesn't mean that all jobs are unpaid, as charities are still organisations that require employees and talent to operate effectively. According to the UK Civil Society Almanac 2020 the voluntary sector contributed £18.2billion to the UK economy in 2017/18. The 166,592 voluntary organisations in the UK employed 909,088 people in 2019.

Getting Started

There's more to the charity sector than raising money, but one thing is for certain - you'll need a genuine passion to improve and enrich society to succeed. If you'd like to make the world a better place the charity and voluntary sector gives you plenty of opportunity to do so. The industry needs a range of skills and you could find work in:
  • accountancy and finance
  • administration
  • advice and counselling
  • business development and project management
  • campaigning, lobbying and fundraising
  • corporate social responsibility (CSR)
  • human resources (HR)
  • information technology (IT)
  • marketing and public relations (PR)
  • research and policy
  • retail
  • social care
  • support services
  • teaching, education and training
  • volunteer management and co-ordination
When researching potential careers in charity, it's likely you’ll discover some overlap with a number of other sectors such as:
  • accountancy
  • business
  • HR
  • IT
  • marketing
  • retail
  • social care
  • teaching

This is because charity employers still need accountants, project managers, IT support officers, marketing executives, HR officers, retail managers and social workers. In a small organisation, you may need to be a jack-of-all-trades, while larger charities look for employees with specific professional skills and experience.

Check out this video about the what it is like to work for the national charity Friends of the Earth.

Jobs

Employers in the third sector include small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), social enterprises, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and large charities such as:
  • Age UK
  • Alzheimer's Society
  • Barnardo's
  • British Heart Foundation
  • Childline
  • Macmillan Cancer Support
  • MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières)
  • RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
  • The Princes Trust
  • The Salvation Army
  • UNICEF
  • Welcome Trust.
Many charities focus on issues surrounding social services, housing, education, human rights, community development, international development, health and medicine, and conservation and environment.

Popular graduate charity employers include:
  • Amnesty International
  • British Red Cross
  • Cancer Research UK
  • Mind
  • National Trust
  • NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children)
  • Oxfam
  • Save the Children
  • WaterAid
  • WWF (World Wildlife Fund for Nature)
As an employee in this industry, you can expect:
  • the majority of jobs to take place in office environments
  • a lower salary and reduced job security compared with the private sector
  • to work on temporary contracts due to short-term funding
  • a predominantly female workforce
  • flexible working conditions, including the opportunity for part-time work and home working
  • to travel during the working day for some roles.
  • international travel is also possible if the charity you work for has an international agenda
  • work to be stressful when resources are low
  • huge job satisfaction and career progression opportunities
  • strong competition for paid employment

Qualifications

Entry-level jobs in charity work are often open to non-graduates and do not specify that a particular degree subject is required. Typical roles could include working as a finance, administration or fundraising assistant. However, while a degree may not be necessary to get into the sector, it may be an advantage when it comes to applying for jobs, and is likely to help you progress further and faster.


You will still need the same experience and qualifications to carry out more senior roles in various departments such as HR, Management, IT, Accounting & Finance etc. Check out those areas on the job listing page for more information.

Sources & Useful Links

Practice applying for an entry level job

So you know what you are up against, practice applying for an entry level job as a Charity Officer and see if you get an interview

The opportunity

We are a national charity based in Wigan. We take action against the effects of childhood diseases, providing information, support, research funds and a voice for all affected. 


We need to become our supporters’ charity of choice, maximise our opportunities, work proactively and engage more donors to ensure that we are here when people need us most.


We have an exciting opportunity for a supporter focused individual to join our busy, small but dynamic charity. 2020 has been a hard year for all of us, as we move into 2021 we want to ensure our supporter care and communications around fundraising are the best they can be. 


As the Charity Officer you’ll be central to the smooth working of the fundraising function and ensuring that we can maximise our stewardship of donors and fundraising opportunities.


What we look for:

You’ll also need to be proactive, with real time management capability and thrive in a busy small team.


Could this be the role you are looking for? For more information please continue to read!

Includes, but not limited to:

Carry out marketing and public relations activities to raise the profile of the organisation's services and campaigns


Design fundraising materials such as leaflets and flyers


Create and organise fundraising initiatives and events


Approach potential donors and maintain donor lists


Liaise with external agencies, including voluntary sector organisations, the media, local authorities, business contacts, trustees and other stakeholders or clients


Recruit and coordinate the work of volunteers


Carry out administrative tasks, such as applying for grants and other sources of funding, managing budgets, gathering data, preparing reports, database management and clerical work to meet the charity's needs

Desired, Skills, Knowledge & Qualifications

You'll need to show:


Excellent oral and written communication skills


Well-developed interpersonal skills and the ability to build successful partnerships


Flexibility and time management


Commitment to, passion for and belief in the organisation's aims


Good understanding of the charity and voluntary work sector, and its relationship with other sectors appreciation of marketing and PR methods along with commercial understanding


Strong administrative skills, including numeracy initiative, creativity and good forward thinking

research, analysis and planning skills


The ability to multi-task and prioritise 


Understanding of the important role of volunteers the ability to learn quickly and adapt


Proficient in Microsoft Office


QUALIFICATIONS


A minimum of a GCSE grade 4 or C in Maths and English


Relevant qualifications to A-Level or equivelent and/or considerable work experience

Location, Salary, Hours & Benefits

Monday to Friday 8.30 AM – 5.30 PM at our offices in Wigan

£14,495 - £15,995 Per Annum

20 days holiday + bank holidays

Free parking

Flexible working arrangements considered

Apply Now Back to Careers