Community Engagement and Fundraising Officer

Job Title: Community Engagement and Fundraising Officer

Hours of work: 22-28 hours (some weekend and evening work required)

Work location: Merlin Neuro Therapy Centre, St Austell, Cornwall (Onsite)

Salary scale: £16,500 - £19,500 (Part-time 22-28hrs per week)

Contract length: One year fixed term contract with possible extension subject to funding

Job purpose

This role is about connecting people with a cause, turning that connection into financial income. You'll build relationships with community groups, businesses, networks, supporters and volunteers, helping them find ways to champion the Merlin Neuro Therapy Centre (the Merlin Centre) through fundraising, partnerships, events and advocacy.

Working in the Income Generation Team, you'll take ownership of developing community fundraising opportunities, growing supporter relationships and identifying new ways to generate sustainable income for the charity. You will play a key role in delivering fundraising targets through community fundraising, supporter stewardship, challenge events, local partnerships and supporter-led activity, helping to grow our unrestricted income.

Key Responsibilities

You will be responsible for helping us reach our fundraising targets and ensure more people can access the life-changing services we provide. This will include working towards agreed monthly targets, tracking progress and taking proactive steps to turn relationships, opportunities and activity into sustainable income growth for the Merlin Neuro Therapy Centre's unrestricted income.

• Build and maintain relationships with local communities to grow fundraising income.
• Inspire individuals, clubs, community groups, schools, and organisations to support the Merlin Centre through fundraising activities and events.
• Act as the key point of contact for community groups such as Rotary Clubs, Freemasons, Women's Institutes, Inner Wheel, Soroptimists and similar organisations.
• Identify, develop and maintain a pipeline of prospective supporters, community groups, fundraising opportunities and partnerships to support future income growth.
• Identify opportunities to attract new supporters and convert interest into active fundraising, volunteering or donation opportunities.
• Provide outstanding stewardship, ensuring supporters feel valued, informed and connected to the difference their support makes.
• Support fundraisers from initial enquiry through to achievement of their fundraising goals.
• Build long-term relationships that encourage repeat giving, increased fundraising activity and long-term support for the Merlin Centre.
• Advocate for the charity's causes through public speaking engagements, social media platforms, and local media to raise awareness and increase community engagement.
• Organise and attend community meetings, workshops, and other events to connect with individuals and local organisations interested in supporting or partnering with us.
• Assist with local businesses, corporate partnerships, business engagement, communications, and fundraising initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for partnerships, sponsorship, Charity of the Year support and other fundraising collaborations.
• Represent the Merlin Centre professionally at community meetings, networking events and supporter engagements.
• Plan and deliver an annual programme of community fundraising activity, including challenge events, supporter-led fundraising
• Work with colleagues to promote community fundraising opportunities across Merlin Centre networks and communication channels.
• Support community fundraising campaigns, appeals and activities that contribute towards agreed income targets.
• Help develop new fundraising products, events and supporter opportunities that encourage participation and grow income.
• Support both external and centre-led events, ensuring supporters have an excellent experience throughout their journey.
• Identify opportunities to maximise the Merlin Centre’s presence at community events and festivals throughout Cornwall.
• Support with planning, organising and managing fundraising events, both virtual and in-person, internal and external. Support with coordinate all logistics, including venue selection, permits, budget management, and public relations.
• Recruit, support and motivate community fundraising volunteers.
• Provide volunteers and supporters with the resources, guidance and encouragement they need to be successful.
• Develop a network of community advocates who help raise awareness and funding for the Merlin Centre.
• Ensure every supporter receives exceptional care and recognition.

Planning, Monitoring & Reporting

• Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and supporter data in compliance with GDPR requirements.
• Monitor, report on and take action to achieve agreed income targets, fundraising KPIs and supporter engagement objectives.
• Track income across community fundraising streams and provide monthly updates on progress, trends and opportunities.
• Use fundraising data, supporter insights and performance reporting to identify opportunities for growth and continuous improvement.
• Maintain accurate records of fundraising activity, supporter information, income, expenditure and fundraising merchandise.

Digital and Technical Skills

• Confidence using Microsoft Office, CRM systems and digital tools such as Canva, WordPress, email marketing platforms, and social media.
• Ensure accurate supporter records and communications are recorded and maintained in adherence to Data Protection and GDPR.
• Knowledge of charity law and fundraising regulations (desirable).

Additional Requirements

• Driver's licence and access to a car is essential for this role to maximise our reach and availability to each community in Cornwall.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends to support fundraising and community activity.
• This job description is not exhaustive and may be amended as necessary. You may be asked to undertake other duties within the general level and scope of the post.

About You

We're looking for a relationship-builder with a results-focused mindset. You'll be someone who enjoys meeting new people, opening doors and creating opportunities that generate support for a cause you believe in. Comfortable working towards targets, you'll understand how to develop relationships, nurture supporters and translate conversations into fundraising opportunities, partnerships and long-term support.

You'll be motivated by achieving meaningful outcomes, whether that's securing a new community partnership, supporting a fundraiser to exceed their target, growing a fundraising campaign or identifying a new source of income. The post holder will contribute to agreed fundraising income targets and key performance indicators, taking responsibility for delivering activity that supports sustainable income growth.

Whether your experience comes from fundraising, business development, account management, sales, partnerships or community engagement, you'll bring energy, initiative and a determination to deliver results. You'll be highly organised, confident working independently and motivated by the knowledge that the income you generate will directly support people living with neurological conditions and neurodiversity across Cornwall.

Most importantly, you'll enjoy building relationships, spotting opportunities and making things happen. You'll understand that successful fundraising starts with people, but you'll also be driven by achieving targets, growing income and delivering measurable results that help Merlin Centre reach more people across Cornwall.

Success in this role will look like:

• Growing community fundraising income and making a measurable contribution towards the Merlin Centre's annual fundraising targets.
• Building a strong pipeline of community fundraising opportunities, supporters and partnerships that deliver sustainable income.
• Developing long-term relationships with supporters, community groups and local businesses that lead to repeat fundraising and ongoing engagement.
• Increasing the number of active community fundraisers, challenge event participants and supporter-led fundraising activities.
• Delivering successful fundraising campaigns and events that achieve participation, engagement and income objectives.

About Merlin Neuro Therapy Centre

The Merlin Neuro Therapy Centre ( Merlin Centre) , located in mid-Cornwall, is a Cornish charity providing a place of support, therapy, information, and community for people living with a long-term neurological condition and/or those who are neurodiverse. We give financial assistance to our beneficiaries in the form of subsidised specialist therapies. Our purpose built, fully accessible Centre, opened in 2009 and offers physiotherapy; exercise classes; Ayres’ Sensory Integration (ASI) therapy (a discipline of Occupational Therapy), and oxygen therapy. The Primrose Hydrotherapy Pool facility, which was built in the grounds, opened in 2019, providing both individual and group hydrotherapy sessions.

Living with a long-term health condition brings many challenges, not just for those diagnosed, but also for family members. Symptoms can affect physical, cognitive, emotional, and psychological health. For our clients who have sensory processing difficulties, due to being neurodivergent, everyday situations and relationships can be perplexing and taxing.

Our main aims are to improve the health and well-being of our community; help people manage their symptoms and situations; and support their main care giver, often a family member. Services are delivered by a highly experienced team, with a broad range of skills and experience in delivering specialist therapies.

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