Work for us

SpecialEffect is an award-winning UK charity that exists to help people with severe physical challenges to get more out of life by giving them access to video games and technology. Known as The Gamers’ Charity, the games industry and gaming communities are at the heart of both our work and those who make that work possible – our invaluable supporters.

Join our dedicated team that’s putting inclusion and confidence back into the lives of people with severe physical disabilities.

Events and Community Fundraiser

Role: Events and Community Fundraiser
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday – Friday (Full Time)
Contract: Permanent (4 month probation period)
Salary and Benefits: £30,000 – £35,000 per annum dependant on experience, 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, health cashback plan and EAP, group life insurance, salary sacrifice pension
Location: Hybrid working – SpecialEffect Office in Charlbury, max. 2 days WFH per week (after probation)
Closing Date: Open ended – this vacancy will remain open until the position is filled and we will interview as suitable applications are received

This is a truly exciting time to join SpecialEffect as we prepare to celebrate our 20th anniversary. Working closely with our Events and Community Fundraising Manager, this role will help nurture and grow our events programme, inspire supporters and raise vital income for and awareness of our life-changing work. It is also an exciting opportunity to be the driving force behind our community fundraising at SpecialEffect.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and dynamic fundraiser who will help develop and implement a community fundraising strategy, and become the face of SpecialEffect in the local area – building relationships with supporters, mobilising volunteers, and working on creative fundraising initiatives.
This role will form strong and lasting relationships with our existing community and local business supporters, with a focus on sustained engagement, retention and growth. They will also be involved in identifying and developing new community partners to ensure a reliable source of income for the future.

What you’ll be doing:

Help organise and deliver SpecialEffect’s annual events programme
Lead and grow our challenge events programme
Help shape and deliver a new community fundraising strategy
Build strong relationships with community supporters, groups and volunteers
Promote events to local businesses and community audiences
Develop and deliver engaging community fundraising activities and events
Represent SpecialEffect at networking and community opportunities
Design and implement donor journeys that inspire long-term engagement
Work with Marketing and Communications to promote campaigns and fundraising activities
Collaborate with the Partnerships team to identify local business opportunities and manage key handovers
Ensure all activity reflects fundraising regulations, best practice, SpecialEffect’s values and internal policies

What you’ll need:

We’re looking for someone who brings:
Proven fundraising experience, with the ability to organise events and grow support from community groups and local businesses
Excellent relationship-building skills and confidence engaging with a wide range of people
The ability to build trusted relationships with colleagues, supporters and key stakeholders
A collaborative, adaptable approach and the confidence to support change
A good understanding of the Code of Fundraising Practice
Genuine enthusiasm for SpecialEffect’s mission and the impact of our work

The full job description and person specification can be downloaded here

Next steps

To apply, please email your CV and a cover letter telling us why you are the ideal candidate for this role to recruitment@specialeffect.org.uk

If you need further information or wish to discuss your suitability before applying, please get in touch with Fran at recruitment@specialeffect.org.uk

SpecialEffect is committed to valuing diversity and inclusion through seeking to embrace and celebrate the unique differences employees offer. We have zero tolerance towards any form of discrimination against any person on any grounds, including all candidates that apply to our vacancies.

We are a disability confident employer; please let us know if you need to make your application in a different format. If you are selected to attend an interview, we will ask you if we need to make reasonable adjustments as part of the interview process.

SpecialEffect permits reviewing the social media profiles of candidates for recruitment purposes. Checks will be carried out in accordance with the Charity’s policies.

NB. SpecialEffect will start interviewing applicants immediately and reserves the right to close this vacancy early should the right candidate be found, so we encourage anyone interested in the role to apply as soon as possible to be considered for shortlisting.

Staff benefits

We realise it’s a competitive world, so we work hard to make you feel valued in your role and receive more practical, tangible benefits.

Find out more about our staff benefits

A note about opportunities at SpecialEffect

Please don’t send us requests for employment, an internship or work experience unless in response to a specific job which is advertised on this page. If and when the charity’s Trustees are looking to employ new staff, they will invite applications from people with a specific combination of skills, qualifications and experience to match a detailed job description.