Role overview
Interested in making a making a real difference to mental health and educational inequality?
Our friendly team are seeking an experienced fundraising volunteer at an exciting time for the organisation where you can have a real stake in the future and growth of our small non-profit turned charity! We are on the cusp of launching a new strategic vision where we will need creative, imaginative fundraising talent to support the next stage in the development of the organisation where we have ambitious dreams to reach even more vulnerable young people and families impacted by mental health and SEN needs.
This is a brilliant opportunity for someone with excellent written communication skills to support our small charity and make a real, tangible difference to the work we do.
We are looking for someone with fluent and persuasive communication skills who can support us with bid/grant writing, contacting corporate businesses, finding new funding streams and opportunities, including supporting donation drives, events and community fundraising. This funding is still critically needed for project resources and to expand the programme. This might cover anything from a new book club for socially isolated teens to additional mentoring groups – we have lots of exciting projects in the pipeline that need funding support!
A Bit About Us
Leading Lights is a not-for-profit that works with children, young people and families impacted by social, emotional and mental health. It offers imaginative expert support for children and young people at both primary and secondary school age, and their families who are disadvantaged because of social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) difficulties. We run a range of specialist services and projects to support children and young people who might be feeling anxious, stressed or suffering in silence. These range from small group therapeutic projects to mentoring to advice and advocacy. Our approach is holistic and is about sensitive joined up working where we really listen to what the young people need.
We work with children and young people at both primary and secondary school age who are disadvantaged because of social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) difficulties. They often have a diagnosed mental health condition or are waiting for a diagnosis, and it is often correlated with a history of trauma or psychological distress, or another disability, learning need, or physical illness. Many of the children we work with are also affected by issues such as domestic violence, abuse, identity issues, bullying and many are young carers.
Whilst each child is affected differently, common issues that we see are: Problems accessing school either through non-attendance, or difficulty focusing and thriving at school, difficulties making friends leading to significant social isolation, issues with confidence and self-esteem which can lead to difficulties leaving the house or even their rooms for days at a time, panic attacks, suicidal attempts or ideation, self-harm, and difficulties accessing support and help from statutory services.
We want to make three key differences:
- Improved mental health.
- Reduced social isolation
- Increased ability to thrive at school
Ideally, you will have:
- An interest in education, mental health, families and young people.
- A belief in and commitment to our values.
- Ability to use initiative and be able to work without supervision.
- A positive attitude and flexible approach to tasks.
- Good written and verbal communication
- Ability to commit to at least 6 months with us.
- Experience of corporate fundraising or working in the charity sector is desirable but not essential.
Role details
All we ask is that you commit to a minimum of 4 hrs a week/16hrs per month.
What you will gain:
- Opportunity to turn your passion for supporting young people into real positive change for a small not for profit, where every person is capable of having profound impact.
- Opportunity to develop into a decision-making role.
- Valuable experience for your CV.
- First-hand experience of working in the charity sector.
- A detailed reference.
- Chance to be part of a lovely warm and supportive team.
- We want our volunteers to get the most out of their experience with us both personally and professionally. Let us know what you are after and we’ll see if we can support you.
How to apply:
Please email team@leadinglightseducationandwellbeing.org.uk with a short paragraph on why you are interested for the role, as well as any relevant/related experience and we'll go from there.
We welcome applicants from diverse members of the community and those who do not always get their voices heard.