Project Support & Community Engagement Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE Project Support & Community Engagement Officer

REPORTS TO Head of Operations

PURPOSE OF ROLE Responsible for the coordination of the Charity’s representation at community events and interaction with the community, fundraisers, and volunteers, as well as working closely with the Project Manager to provide support with the Charity’s Life Chances Programme and Youth Council.

The first year of this role will include some enhanced responsibilities, providing maternity cover for the Project Manager role from October 2025.

The role will involve attendance at events around the UK, the post holder will work out of the main office in Castaway House and remotely. Training in the internal systems of the Naval Children’s Charity will be provided and access to other relevant training as required.

This is a full time role of 35 hours per week which may need to be worked over 7 days/weekends to accommodate attendance at events as required. There is local and long-distance travel by appropriate means to support volunteers and community activities/events across the UK. This role involves a significant number of weekend events.

Specifics of Role

• Reports to the Head of Operations

• Works closely with:

  • Project Manager

  • The Head of Operations and case working team

  • Admin Support Officer

  • Naval Children’s Charity Youth Council

  • Individual donors and supporters

  • Royal Navy Ships/Units and Community groups

  • Volunteers

PROJECT MANAGER SUPPORT (TO INLCUDE INTITIAL MATERNITY COVER RESPONSIBILITIES)

Life Chances

• Liaise with partners to secure 2026 delivery dates for some project areas

• Promotion of opportunities and processing of applications for key periods (February, Easter and Summer 2026)

• Evaluation of any opportunities taking place during the cover period

• Liaising with partners of the Charity’s Tier 2 projects and delivery of events

• Reporting data to CEO/SLT for Greenwich funding

Youth Council

• Monthly online meetings with group and related administrative tasks to schedule dates/attendance and meeting focus

• Work with the Youth council to raise awareness of the support and recruitment of young people

• In person delivery of annual events

Wellbeing Packs

• Oversight of requests for wellbeing packs, liaison with Office Administrator and Database Administrator for processing

• Monthly/regular stock checks and reorders

• Review of the process and packs toward the end of the financial year, ready for refresh and/or development

COMMUNITY EVENTS / OUTREACH

• Plan and implement a programme of attendance at external events such as Naval Charity Days

  • Maintaining and updating an events calendar for assessment of attendance by the Charity

  • Ensure event checklist is completed for approval of costs involved with each event and signed off by HOO or CEO.

  • Arrange site for charity gazebo.

  • Ensure manned throughout event by postholder and volunteers.

  • Put together all items required for event.

  • Ensure appropriate risk assessments/licences in place.

  • Ensure compliance with health & safety throughout the event.

  • Publicise events using Social Media and website

• Children’s competitions (such as Art or seasonal) to be run to increase awareness into schools

• Source raffle and auction prizes

• Branded charity items

  • maintain stocks to be used as giveaways at events and given to fundraisers

  • source and price new items as required (as authorised by Line manager)

• Work with Project Manager on events relating to Life Chances, Youth Council, promotion of the Charity at a senior level as requested by CEO

• Support the caseworking team in their community outreach programme with resources and liaison with areas as required. This programme focuses on areas containing a high population of Naval personnel to include (but not limited to) Culdrose, Yeovilton, Plymouth and Devon.

• Reach out to families through attendance at community events, presentations to schools and other organisations.

VOLUNTEERS & FUNDRAISING

• Develop, manage, train and steward a network of regional volunteers and individual fundraisers, particularly in areas with strong Naval presence.

  • To support at events

  • To fundraise within their community

    • To distribute collection tins around their community which are regularly checked and the contents banked

  • To support in the office

    • With distribution of resources

    • Office admin support

• Reach out to community local and national to recruit volunteers / individual fundraisers

  • Through Naval community centres

  • Through Aggie’s Pastoral workers

  • Using Social Media

• Ensure volunteer and fundraising handbooks are kept up to date and all volunteers inducted using Volunteer Role Description, Volunteer Handbook and relevant guidance

• Maintain regular contact with volunteers, keeping them informed and engaged with the activities of the Charity

• Support Knitting volunteers across the UK, research new groups and organisations. This includes sending out patters on request, creating requests to send to the social media team and maintaining records of knitters.

• Send timely thank you letters

OTHER

Responsible for personal learning and professional development

Such other relevant duties as may be assigned from time to time.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Knowledge and skills commensurate with role to include:

Essential

• Educated to A Level or equivalent standard or above

• Experience of working with a charity or not-for-profit organisation including

  • recruiting and managing volunteers

  • proven track record of community fundraising including Fundraising Regulations and Gift Aid

• Excellent time management stills, ability to work on own initiative, manage competing priorities and maintain high standards

• IT literate and with knowledge of MS Office 365 and database recording systems

• In possession of a full UK driving licence with access to own vehicle.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the Royal Navy

• Experience of working with a charity or nor-for-profit organisation including:

  • project management with skills to coordinate a diverse range of people/projects with vital deadlines

  • experience of public speaking and delivering presentations

Personal qualities

• Willing to embrace the Mission and Vision of the Naval Children’s Charity

• Be a constructive member of the team and work cooperatively with other staff members. Take part and contribute to team meetings.

• Effective collaboration with colleagues and contribute to a positive team culture

• Excellent communication skills with colleagues, stakeholders and Trustees

• Attention to detail

• Empathetic nature

• Flexible, calm, proactive attitude

• Cooperate with the NCC on health and safety matters, taking reasonable care of own and other people’s health and safety within the workplace.