Careers

About Us

SportsAid is the only national charity of its kind - helping young British sportsmen and women aspiring to be the country's next Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth and world champions.

SportsAid supports over 1,000 athletes each year – the vast majority aged 12 to 18 – by providing them with a financial award to help towards training and competition costs. This acts as a real motivational boost as it is often the first recognition they receive outside of their support network. Most of them rely heavily on their parents as they have no other funding.

These athletes are Great Britain's brightest sporting prospects. They are nominated to SportsAid by the national governing bodies of more than 60 sports based on set criteria from each. The typical value of a SportsAid award is £1,000 with money generated through a combination of commercial partnerships, trust and charitable funds, and fundraising activities.

The charity delivers personal development opportunities to many athletes through workshop sessions. This sees them offered mentoring by Olympians and Paralympians while gaining advice from industry experts on performance lifestyle management, mental wellbeing, practical nutrition, restful sleep and telling your story through the media to help with their profile and further sponsorship.  

SportsAid also manages the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) and Backing The Best programme on behalf of Sport England. TASS helps athletes (16-plus) balance their sporting and academic careers, while Backing The Best supports the most financially challenged young sports stars looking to overcome cost barriers to fulfil their potential.

About The Role

We are looking to appoint a Community and Alumni Engagement Manager to work with our community of supporters and alumni and deliver income, impact and memorable experiences for athletes, parents and supporters.

• Develop and nurture relationships with potential funders and fundraisers eg local schools, community groups, parents etc. and deliver a range of fundraising activities across the country.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with former athletes who can contribute to our mission in a variety of ways, eg mentoring, advocacy and storytelling, fundraising and programme/initiative participation.
• Take responsibility for identifying and developing fundraising opportunities
• Organise and manage events, including networking gatherings, to stimulate and develop fundraising and alumni engagement. 

About You

• A minimum of two years’ experience of working in a community fundraising and/or an alumni engagement role in a charity or university setting
• A passion for sport and strong understanding of the sports industry and the unique experiences of athletes.
• Solid understanding of the principles and practices of relationship fundraising
• Excellent organisational skills, comfortable managing several different projects and activities in parallel.
• Familiarity with social media and digital marketing strategies.
• Proven event planning and project management skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.

Further Information

Serena, the Head of Fundraising, would be more than happy to have an informal chat to help you decide if this is for you. Feel free to email her to arrange a good time to do it: serena@sportsaid.org.uk. 

SportsAid recognises that certain sections of the community have been affected by structural inequities and may be denied the opportunity to participate equally and fully in sport at all levels. SportsAid as an organisation believes our role is to remove the barriers that our most underserved, at risk and minoritised groups of young people experience when trying to access sport and physical activities.

SportsAid therefore positively welcomes, and seeks to achieve, diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants, volunteers and employees receive equal and fair treatment. We positively encourage applications from all candidates regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, disability, marriage and civil partnership status, gender identity, background, religion, faith, sexual orientation, maternity status, pregnancy, belief or nationality.

Please apply by 10th October by emailing serena@sportsaid.org.uk with your CV and one page outlining:

1. Tell us about the community fundraising or alumni engagement activity you are most proud of and why?

2. Your thoughts on what you consider the most difficult aspect of relationship fundraising

3. If you could change something you did in a previous fundraising or alumni engagement role, what would that be?

On receipt of your application you will be sent a confidential equal opportunities form which all applicants will be asked to complete.

Apply for role

Closing date: 18th October 2024