Employer – The North of England Refugee Service (NERS)

Contract type - Freelance/ consultancy

Hours – Negotiable over an initial period of up to 6 months

Remuneration – Negotiable – we have an initial budget of £5,000

Location – North East Region but reporting to the Director in Newcastle

About NERS:

Set up in 1989, we are the North East’s leading refugee support charity. We aim to be an agent ofpositive change, improving the life conditions of asylum seekers and refugees and also promoting social inclusion, integration and participation within British society. We are independent and secular. We do things with refugees not for them – many of our staff and volunteers are refugees. Currently we provide asylum advice, integration, interpreting and supported housing services from various locations in Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside. And we are active in advocating for positive policy developments both locally and nationally. We have provided services to over 6000 clients in the past year.

Why this role?

We have been re-organising our work and business model in response to growing service demands and to changes to the funding environment. To ensure longer term viability we need to diversify our funding streams. Our current major sources of income are charitable grants, contracts and social enterprise. We want to appoint a fundraiser with specialist skills and knowledge to increase our income from individual and corporate donors. The appointment in the first instance will be for a pilot period. If successful it is likely to be developed.

The role:

The overall purpose is to help us to develop – and then to play a lead role in delivering - a coordinated strategy in relation to donations from members of the public, community and corporate benefactors over an initial period of up to 6 months.

The main duties will be to -

1.  Identify most appropriate fundraising techniques and strategies for NERS, including innovative ideas where appropriate

2.  Research and prioritise prospective donors

3.  Create strong fundraising messages that appeal to potential donors and prepare fundraising marketing materials

4.  Pilot fundraising from agreed target donors

5.  Maintain records of donors and other information for future use

6.  Support the Director to deliver the organisation’s overall fundraising strategy and brief other staff as required

7.  Monitor, evaluate and report on the work during the pilot period.

Person specification

1.  Proven experience in fundraising of this nature for comparable organisations

2.  Excellent written and spoken communications skills

3.  Experience of the use of social media for fundraising purposes

4.  Self-motivating and able to work without detailed supervision

5.  Also able to work cooperatively with varied other staff, trustees and volunteers

6.  Supportive of the aims and values of NERS

7.  A good understanding of the legal and ethical framework surrounding charity fundraising.

To apply

Please write to the Director on NERS as below, outlining in not more than 2 sides A4 - a) how you would approach the commission and b) How you meet the person specification. You may also attach a CV.

Closing date – Wednesday 30th November 2016

Apply to -

Dr Mohamed Nasreldin

Director

North of England Refugee Service

2 Friars Street

Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4XA

Telephone: (0191) 245 7301

Web Site: www.refugee.org.uk