Lecture 18 - Charity sector Flashcards
What else is the charity sector referred to as?
third sector, not-for-profit sector, community sector, civic sector or voluntary sector
What do jobs in the charity sector involve?
- working for organisations where the aim is positive social change as opposed to monetary gain
- individual charities typically have a specific focus such as housing
- working for a smaller charity means that you are likely to have to take on multiple responsibilities, whereas you are more likely to have a more specific professional role in a larger charity
What are the 15 different roles you can have in the charity sector?
- advice worker
- campaigns assistant
- celebrity manager
- charity director
- charity fundraiser
- charity officer
- community arts worker
- community development worker
- community education officer
- grants assistant
- housing officer
- international aid/ development worker
- policy / research assistant
- volunteer coordinator
- youth worker
Advice worker?
provide free, impartial, confidential advice and information to clients on a range of issues
Campaigns assistant?
- you’ll help with developing material to be used in the charity’s fundraising activities
- can involve writing press releases, emails and letters, producing e-campaign materials and general admin tasks
Celebrity manager?
responsible for developing a portfolio of VIP supporters and managing these relationships across the organisation
Charity director?
have to develop a charity’s services, generate income and raise awareness for the cause
Charity fundraiser?
involves increasing the contributions of individuals and groups to a charity by building relationships and exploring new fundraising opportunities
Charity officer?
focus on a specific area, such as business development, marketing, public relations, fundraising or volunteer management
Community arts worker?
collaborate with local groups and individuals, encouraging the use of artistic activities to support their development and improve their quality of life
Community development worker?
helping communities to bring about social change and improve the quality of life in their local area
Community education officer?
organise and promote participation in local education or training opportunities, including skills in literacy and numeracy
Grants assistant?
provide administrative support to funding/fundraising departments and help to research and make new grant applications
Housing officer?
assess the needs of people applying for housing, carry out inspections, deal with anti-social behaviour and broken tenancy agreements, set rents, attend meetings and work with other agencies such as social services
International aid/ development officer?
role is all about meeting the needs of people and communities in the developing world
Policy/ research assistant?
provide general support to the policy and research teams and will need a high level of written and verbal communication skills, as well as the ability to gather, understand and analyse complex information
Volunteer coordinator?
manage volunteers and their relationships with those they come into contact with, including employees and service users of a charity
Youth worker?
guide and support young people in their personal, social and educational development to help them reach their full potential
What are some pros of working in the charity sector?
- have a job with a ‘feel good factor’
- good work flexibility
What are some cons of working in the charity sector?
- low salaries
- less job security
- work related stress
Graduate employers and schemes?
- Charityworks is the primary talent and leadership programme for the UK charity sector
- Roles will vary depending on specific placements but the aim is to find a suitable match all round
- Some of their partner charities include Mind, NSPCC, Age UK, and Marie Curie Cancer Care for instance
- A similar graduate scheme is also available with Worthwhile
- Some charities also host their own paid trainee schemes, including Oxfam, Cancer Research UK, and Welcome Trust
What are the 3 sector challenges?
- service demand
- finances
- digital competence
Service demand?
- One of the consequences of the covid pandemic has been an increase in the demand for charity services
- This is putting a strain on charities trying to meet the increase in demand
Finances?
- The Charity Commission reported that 60% of charities have seen a loss of income during the pandemic
- Therefore charities need to work to increase their financial income and stability
Digital competence?
- there has been rapid technological growth within the charity sector
- charities are seeking employees with digital skills
