JOBS

Role Briefing: Fundraising Manager

Location: London SE13 (Lewisham) based

Salary: £33,000 – £42,000 (FTE) dependent on experience

Start Date: As soon as possible

Job type: Full-time or Part-time (0.5-1.0 FTE) – flexible working with time spent in office every week

Reports to: Managing Director

INTRODUCING ONWARDS & UPWARDS

Onwards and Upwards (O&U) is a charity created to directly tackle the cycle of reoffending driven by the barriers to employment faced by those with a criminal record; our purpose is clear, and our plan is simple. We break the cycle of reoffending by starting sustainable businesses which train and employ ex-offenders. These must be organisations that people are proud to work for, provide personal and professional development, that operate in high demand sectors, and that showcase the talents and potential of ex-offenders as employees to businesses and society at large.

Our plan in the long-term is to launch, test, and grow a range of businesses that all follow this model – of training, supporting and employing ex-offenders in positive environments that are part of a community, with aspirational brands, and with full support for people to grow and move on with their lives.

Our first commercial venture is XO Bikes – where we train people to become qualified bike mechanics and then work with them to find them meaningful jobs in the cycling sector and beyond. Our second venture is XO Barbers, we are currently building our first in-prison training barbershop and will begin training in it soon. Then we move on to launching our XO Barbers Finishing School in the community…

We have been training mechanics for two years and have supported people into employment in the cycling sector, into roles in other sectors ranging from hospitality to construction, and have helped many find a positive path forward. For us to be able to deliver our work we rely on a secure fundraising pipeline that is diverse and sustainable. We have been achieving this well but have reached a point where more capacity is needed.

THE ROLE

We have a good track record in fundraising and a strong network, which together have helped us grow to our current position. We have reached a point where we no longer have the capacity within the team to maintain and grow our four main funding pillars. We now need an experienced fundraiser to build a well organised grant application, management and reporting function, and to support the wider fundraising strategy and its implementation. We have some brilliant assets, fabulous people, and a good stock of relevant expertise – this is not an outpost of a role; it is a chance for someone to build a structure fit for growth, to bring order and organisation that creates clarity and space, and for a passionate individual to share our mission, approach and impact with those that might just be interested in supporting us. For the right person, it’s a total dream.

The major responsibilities for this role are as follows. It is a bit of a wish list, and we don’t expect an expert in every area, but a pro-active approach, and willingness to learn is essential:

Writing and submitting grant applications – with a range of relevant trusts and foundations
Grant management – refreshing our pipeline, setting up a simple management and application process, monitoring submissions, and managing grant acceptance processes
Events and fundraiser support – where we have people fundraising on our behalf, making sure they have all they need to optimise their efforts
Funder Management – maintaining good communication with funders including engagement during and beyond any grants
Monitoring and reporting – to funders throughout the year both with specific requirements and more general updates
Team player – we are a small and committed team and there are often times when it is all hands on deck. We work to people’s strengths, but being a part of the team, and having a laser focus on our mission is much needed throughout!

This is the first dedicated fundraising role we have had at Onwards and Upwards. As such there is scope to create something bespoke that enables us to continue to expand the work we are doing and grow the impact we have. We need someone with enough experience to be comfortable creating the systems, as well as running them.

The vital skillset for this role is being a persuasive and adaptable communicator. We have a great story that needs telling in different ways, with varied tone and format, but always the same character. In a competitive funding environment we need someone who can represent our energy, who can describe the hope we create, and who can condense our passion into 20 words (or sometimes 25). Writing is the keystone skill, but ideally well supported all round.

We have an entrepreneurial approach in all that we do. What this means practically is learning by doing, testing ideas, using data to understand results, and moving forward. We hope you will bring new ideas, new approaches, and be grounded by an ability to work independently and effectively within the really lovely working environment and culture we have created.

It is really important that what we do matters to you. We are a small, highly effective, and passionate team with a supportive culture and the humility that means we roll our sleeves up whenever needed, and whatever the task at hand. We like to think this brings a bit of variety and colour to the working week.

You’ll be joining the team at an exciting time; as prison and prison–leavers appear increasingly in the media amid a change of Government and a national prison capacity crisis. We want to be a positive part of the story, an exemplar that solutions exist, and a firm nudge that inspires others to change their own behaviour. Fundraising is inextricably linked with awareness raising and being loud is baked into our core.

THE PERSON – if the above hasn’t scared you off…

We would like to meet someone with at least a few years of experience as a fundraiser, and specifically in grant writing with a demonstrable track record of success. In a perfect world this would be within the criminal justice sector or near to it – but we know the skillset is a transferable one.

It is also essential that all candidates are self-motivated and embrace responsibility and trust; ready to take ownership of their function. There will always be support and help available, but all candidates need to have all of the core skills required to be an effective fundraiser and work with the SLT to build for growth.

Our hope is to find someone with breadth of experience across the responsibilities above, with strong general fluency in grant writing, fundraising, and grant management. There are many things that can easily be learnt, but the culture and values fit is really important to us, as is the resilience, energy, and spirit with which we approach our work.

We are looking for someone who shares our belief that individuals who commit crimes should be given the opportunity to build themselves a positive and productive life atop the foundations of secure employment. The cycle of reoffending is an enormous issue, but one we can start to solve.

HOW TO APPLY

If you would like an informal conversation before applying, have any specific questions, or would like the chance to come and visit us in person please do contact Will at will@onwardsandupwards.uk

To then apply please send an up-to-date CV and one page cover letter to Maria at maria@onwardsandupwards.uk We will be reviewing applications as they come in so do please register your interest with us as soon as possible.

All applicants need to have the right to work in the UK and be able to provide two references.

We believe we'll work better if our employees come from different backgrounds and if we create an environment of inclusion and belonging for them.

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Role Briefing: Employment and Talent Lead

Location: London SE13 (Lewisham) based

Salary: £34,000 - £39,000 dependent on experience

Start Date: As soon as possible

Job type: Full time, fixed term (maternity cover) – on-site in person

Reports to: Director of Impact, Strategy, and Development

INTRODUCING ONWARDS & UPWARDS

Onwards and Upwards (O&U) is a charity created to directly tackle the cycle of reoffending driven by the barriers to unemployment faced; our purpose is clear, and our plan is simple. We will break the cycle of reoffending by starting sustainable businesses which train and employ ex-offenders. These must be organisations that people are proud to work for, provide personal and professional development, that operate in high demand sectors, and that showcase the talents and potential of ex-offenders as employees to businesses and society at large.

Our first commercial venture is XO Bikes – where we train people to become qualified bike mechanics and then aim to find them meaningful jobs in the cycling sector and beyond. Our second venture is in development.

We have been training mechanics for two years and have supported people into employment in the cycling sector, into roles in other sectors ranging from hospitality to construction and have now reached the point where we want to develop and formalise this function. It is a magnificent opportunity to build an effective process at the heart of our mission, and as such we are thrilled to have created a new role to own and lead this work.

THE ROLE

The Talent & Employment Lead is key to helping our trainees move into meaningful, long-term work. They do this by offering personalised support, building strong relationships with employers, and delivering engaging sessions. This maternity cover role is all about keeping that momentum going—making sure trainees feel supported, opportunities keep flowing, and partnerships stay strong.

This role sits within a small, agile team, where everyone contributes beyond their core responsibilities. As such, it carries significant involvement in the wider programme, with opportunities to shape, improve, and expand how we support prison leavers into employment. We are a charity that actively embraces improvement and development—so part of this role is to identify ways we can do better and take the lead in making those improvements happen.

Excitingly, while based within XO Bikes, this role will also span our second venture, XO Barbers, supporting employment across both projects. It's a unique opportunity to be part of something growing and innovative from the inside. We’re looking for someone who’s a confident facilitator, experienced in coaching, and great at building relationships—with a good sense of the bigger picture.

There are three main functions, all of which are vital in achieving the positive outcomes for individuals we support – sustained meaningful employment. The three key responsibilities are as follows:

1. Trainee Support

Weekly 1:1s during the training course (seven weeks course, 6 times a year)

Provide structured weekly check-ins to support trainees' progress, confidence, and engagement.

Caseload management (XO onwards)

Conduct regular 1:1s and informal check-ins with trainees who have completed training in the last 12 months to monitor progress, troubleshoot barriers, and offer guidance.

Practical employment support
Assist with CV writing and refinement
Provide tailored guidance on disclosure letters
Conduct mock interviews and offer constructive feedback
Interview coordination

Facilitate the logistics and preparation for employer interviews, ensuring trainees feel confident and ready.

2. Employer Engagement

Outreach and relationship building

Proactively connect with new employers to explore partnership opportunities.

Ongoing engagement with partners

Maintain regular contact with existing employer partners to update on trainee progress, employment outcomes, and upcoming opportunities.

Work experience day coordination

Plan and deliver meaningful ‘work experience days’ that reflect real workplace environments and expectations.

Employer participation in programme milestones

Extend invitations and coordinate employer involvement in graduation events ensuring strong employer presence to celebrate trainee success and build connections

Interview facilitation

Work closely with employer partners to schedule and facilitate interviews for live job opportunities.

3. Session Facilitation

Thursday Masterclasses: Deliver weekly coaching sessions focused on developing core employability and life skills, including communication, goal setting, teamwork, positivity, and professionalism.
Wednesday Wellbeing Sessions: Group-based sessions that prioritise mental health, self-awareness, and personal development—all aimed at supporting sustainable employment outcomes.

THE PERSON

Our hope is to find an energetic, organised, and positive team player, similarly comfortable working independently. It is a very varied role and one that needs calm focus as well as spontaneity and initiative – things change fast here, and this allows us to progress towards our mission rapidly.

Success in this role will depend on a combination of organisation, structure, and rigour, alongside confidence and comfort in generating and building new relationships. Initiative and dynamism much sought after, together with a genuine delight found in working with a wide range of people.

Most importantly, we want someone who cares as much as we do about why we exist – the people we aim to help. Bikes are an end to a means, and that means is giving people ready to turn away from crime the platform on which to launch a successful and rewarding career.

We are looking for someone with at least a few years of relevant experience ideally spanning more than one of the three functions above. There will always be support and help available, but this role will own responsibility for the design and delivery of this function.

The role would be ideal for someone with an understanding of the challenges faced within the prison system and the difficulties faced after release. We are looking for:

Essential skills

Personable, approachable, and confident engaging with both trainees and external partners
Delivery of employability sessions to a range of people at different distances from employment
Comfortable developing and adapting content and sessions as needed
Programme design and development through continuous improvement – monitoring, reporting, review
Structured and able to manage multiple priorities with a clear overview of the programme
Empathy and a supportive approach even when the road is long
Employer engagement and relationship building and management – we must be reliable, honest, and responsive to support organisations through cultural change
Generating opportunities and leads through networking – to grow our network of employers
Strong admin and IT skills to effectively manage the recruitment process and monitor our efficacy
High levels of professionalism and energy in all interactions with trainees and employers
High motivation and pro-active initiative, able to adapt quickly when priorities change
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Desirable skills

Experience working within a recruitment function

Experience of working with diverse communities
Experienced in coaching or mentoring prison leavers and/or job seekers

How to apply

If you would like an informal conversation before applying, have any specific questions, or would like the chance to come and visit us in person please do contact Will at will@onwardsandupwards.uk

To then apply please send an up-to-date CV and one page cover letter to Maria at maria@onwardsandupwards.uk. We will be reviewing applications as they come in so do please register your interest with us as soon as possible.

All applicants need to have the right to work in the UK and be able to provide two references.

We believe we'll work better if our employees come from different backgrounds and if we create an environment of inclusion and belonging for them.

If you'd like to email us your CV to keep on file, please do so here

If you'd like to enquire about a voluntary role in either our Wandsworth or Lewisham shops please email us here

JOBS

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If you'd like to email us your CV to keep on file, please do so here

If you'd like to enquire about a voluntary role in either our Wandsworth or Lewisham shops please email us here