Volunteer Development Officer / Bid Writer

What will you be doing?

We need funding experts who can help direct our efforts to suitable sources of funding and can support our writing of applications. Working remotely, but closely with our SMT, match funding opportunities with our wish-list of projects and craft successful applications. This will be reciprocal, with the opportunity to feedback and help shape our projects so that they are what funders, stakeholders and communities are looking for. We have delivered large projects in the past with national presence: Deaf Education conference, Deaf Careers Fair, Deaf Model UN, Deaf Role Models - but what we need is funding to make these sustainable and multifaceted projects rather than just one-off large events so we can provide a stable platform of support and empowerment to this disenfranchised and underemployed community.  We are looking for someone to work flexibly to targets - you decide your hours and working time - focused on achieving a series of attainable funding sources. This would suit someone who is working on other projects and is able to consistently further our objectives.  We are looking for someone who is sensitive to the Deaf and disabled experience and understands that as a Deaf organisation, we lack some of the skills that are needed to push forward independently. We are eager to learn and value the support of someone who sees this as an investment in empowering a minority in the UK.  Projects we are looking to roll out revolve around Education and Training for Deaf People for work and education as well as wellbeing and creating a Community platform.  

What are we looking for?

We need funding experts who can help direct our efforts to suitable sources of funding and can support our writing of applications. We would appreciate someone who understands the community we seek to support - it doesn't have to be a direct understanding of deafness, but an appreciation of being disenfranchised, maligned, frustrated and overlooked.  We are looking for a person who has impactful and purposeful writing abilities to convey our vision to potential funders. We are looking for someone who can work flexibly and consistently. We all work remotely and have volunteers in other countries - we would welcome anyone, anywhere.  We are looking for someone who is open to sharing their knowledge and expertise and can work collaboratively to ensure our proposals are competitive and meeting the objectives of funders.  Someone who understands the work of a charity and its restraints and benefits.

What difference will you make?

Our organisation brings a wealth of lived experience, project management, backgrounds in education and training and event management - however, we do not have expertise in funding or bid writing. For many, English is not our first language and for others whilst we are able to put together descriptions and outlines, we don't even know where to look for suitable funding or how to craft bids with the buzz words and phrases that hit their buttons, or are innovative enough to stand out from the crowd.  Receiving support in this area would allow us to roll out projects that will have direct impact in deaf people's lives - those in education, those looking for work, those wanting to transition to higher education and those who are feeling isolated, along with families and professionals who have direct contact with Deaf people.