Community Engagement Officer

BENEFITS - What is in it for you?

· 34 days holiday (including Bank Holidays, for this financial year) , plus your birthday off after one year's service and additional leave for long service.

· A genuine commitment to work-life balance and staff wellbeing

· Learning & Development - We invest in our people. You'll have access to a personal training budget, our online learning platform and all the training needed to thrive in your role.

· Free Enhanced DBS check

· Pension & Health Care Cash Plan – All our staff have access to a NEST pension and Simply Health care plan.

· Career breaks after 3 years' service.

About Us

Challengers is a charity dedicated to transforming the lives of disabled children, young people and their families through the power of play. We provide safe and inclusive spaces across the South East where disabled children aged 4-18 can come together to have fun, make friends and learn valuable life skills, while giving their families essential respite from care responsibilities.

Your Role

As our Community Engagement Officer, you'll inspire communities, volunteers, and supporters to help transform the lives of disabled children, young people, and their families.

Working as part of our passionate Fundraising and Advocacy team, you'll build meaningful relationships, grow fundraising, raise awareness, and help expand Challengers' impact in local communities.

Duties and Responsibilities

· Build and maintain relationships with local communities to grow fundraising income.

· Represent Challengers at community events and fundraising activities.

· Support and steward third-party fundraisers to help them achieve successful outcomes.

· Provide outstanding stewardship and support to donors, supporters, and volunteers.

· Recruit, train, and support volunteers, ensuring a positive and rewarding experience.

· Assist with corporate partnerships, business engagement, communications, and fundraising initiatives.

· Maintain accurate CRM records and supporter data in compliance with GDPR requirements.

· Support occasional evening and weekend events as required.

· Undertake other duties appropriate to the role as needed.

About you

We're looking for someone who is passionate about building relationships and inspiring others to support a great cause. You'll bring:

· Experience in fundraising, community engagement, events, or volunteer management, ideally within the charity sector.

· A track record of achieving fundraising or income targets and building strong relationships with supporters and stakeholders.

· Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the confidence to engage a wide range of audiences.

· Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver successful campaigns and events.

· A good understanding of fundraising principles (or a willingness to learn) and a commitment to excellent supporter care.

· Confidence using Microsoft Office, CRM systems (ideally Salesforce), and digital tools such as Canva, WordPress, email marketing platforms, and social media.

Essential - A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential.

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. We know there's no such thing as the perfect candidate, and we're committed to helping people develop.

If this role excites you and you think you could make a difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Challengers is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.

Safeguarding Statement

Challengers is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to complete an Enhanced DBS check and provide satisfactory references.

We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis and may start meeting with people earlyif someone brilliant comes along – sodon’twait too long to apply!