Help tackle loneliness among older people in care homes
Thousands of older people living in care homes receive few or no visitors. Friends for Life Bedfordshire exists to change that.
Through our befriending and group activities, we bring companionship, connection and meaningful relationships to care home residents across Bedford and the surrounding area.
We are now looking for a Fundraiser to help secure and grow the income that makes this work possible.
About Friends for Life Bedfordshire
We are a Bedford-based charity working to address the social isolation of older residents in Bedfordshire’s care homes.
Founded in 2007, we have grown from a small local initiative to a registered charity with c90 volunteers supporting more than 30 care homes across Bedford Borough. In the last year, over 1,100 care home residents received our services.
The Role
This is a pivotal role for the charity. It is key to the delivery of our business plan and growth aspirations.
You will take ownership of fundraising and income generation, ensuring we have the resources to sustain and grow our impact.
You will lead on grant fundraising whilst also developing community and individual giving, and delivering engaging fundraising events.
This is a hands-on role in a small organisation, so you will have real ownership and visibility. You will shape our fundraising strategy and directly influence how many residents we can reach.
This role is suited to someone who is both strategic and practical — someone who can develop the fundraising strategy and the plan to deliver this, but is equally comfortable writing applications, building relationships and making things happen.
Key Responsibilities
Grant Fundraising
- Identify and secure funding from trusts, foundations and statutory bodies
- Write high-quality, compelling funding applications
- Build and manage a strong pipeline of funding opportunities
- Maintain relationships with funders, including reporting and stewardship
Community & Individual Fundraising
- Grow income through local partnerships, supporters and community initiatives
- Engage schools, businesses and individuals to generate support
- Work with Marketing, Partnerships & Activities Lead to develop campaigns that drive regular and one-off donations
- Strengthen our local supporter base and visibility
Fundraising Events
- Plan and deliver fundraising events (community and corporate), managing logistics, budgets and stakeholder coordination
- Work with Marketing, Partnerships & Activities Lead to promote events through social media and marketing platforms
- Ensure events are engaging, effective and financially successful
- Evaluate performance and improve future activity
Strategy, Compliance & Reporting
- Develop and deliver a clear fundraising strategy aligned to organisational goals
- Track performance against targets and provide insight
- Ensure all fundraising is compliant with regulations and best practice
- Represent the charity externally with confidence and credibility
Fundraiser (part-time) in Bedford employer: Friends For Life Bedford
Friends for Life Bedfordshire is an exceptional employer, offering a meaningful opportunity for legal professionals to contribute to the well-being of vulnerable elderly residents in Bedford. With a strong commitment to community service, our inclusive work culture fosters personal growth and development through comprehensive induction and training programmes. Join us in making a tangible difference while enjoying the flexibility of remote involvement and the chance to collaborate with a diverse board dedicated to tackling social isolation.
