Are you enthusiastic, collaborative, with excellent communication skills and an eye for a story? Our charity team is looking for a dynamic self-starter to join our team as Communications Assistant. Through making social media posts, creating engaging content or writing stories, you’ll play an integral role in communicating our impact and stories to our key audiences.
At Horatio’s Garden, we build and look after extraordinary gardens in the heart of NHS spinal injury centres. These gardens are a critical part of rehabilitation and offer reflection and adjustment, privacy and solace, joy and companionship to all who need it. We lead regular gardening sessions to grow and cultivate plants, arts workshops to offer new skills, and a programme of live music and events. Designed to be enjoyed all year round, these gardens offer a warm, welcoming place for family and friends who may have travelled hours for a visit.
Our vision is for everyone with a spinal injury to have a Horatio’s Garden as part of their rehabilitation care.
The charity is growing. With seven garden projects open, we have an eighth garden under construction in Sheffield. A smaller version of this garden won ‘Best in Show’ at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May 2023 as the first show garden designed for people with mobility needs, which significantly increased our profile.
Following a strategic digital review, you will be responsible for supporting the rollout of the new digital strategy to place storytelling and impact at the heart of our communications.
This role will assist with the content creation of engaging written, film and visual content across different platforms, scheduling and moderating our social channels and helping us report on our digital activity.
The position would suit someone looking to start or build their career in the communications field or charity sector or for experience in developing content, writing and charity campaigning. There will be opportunities for training and development and you will travel between the charity’s UK-wide gardens and meet patients, volunteers and staff.
This is a full-time role (37.5 hours a week) based in the charity’s office in Salisbury. You will be reporting to the Communications Manager.
Main duties
- Help manage the day-to-day running of the charity’s social media (Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook). Schedule content and respond to comments and messages to foster positive engagement and add value to the supporter experience
- Work closely with the team to produce subscriber, campaign-led and post-event newsletter content and manage the subscriber database
- Contribute to the charity’s content calendar and work creatively and collaboratively with the communications and wider charity team to proactively seek and develop story ideas in line with the charity’s recently updated digital strategy
- Create engaging written, photographic, design and video content in support of charity objectives and reflecting our brand and tone guidelines
- Assist with internal communications to communicate key updates to staff on the charity’s WhatsApp group
- Assist in maintaining and updating Horatio’s Garden’s main website
- Help to manage the charity’s digital assets, ensuring the team have access to the most impactful photos and videos for their needs
- Collate, analyse and present monthly reports on social media, newsletter and website activity and engagement across key performance metrics
- Assist with the planning and promotion of campaigns and tracking press activity
- Keep up to date with the latest digital marketing trends and technologies
General duties
- Support the wider team with administrative duties that support the smooth running of the charity
- Actively contribute to team and organisation meetings
We are looking for someone who has:
- Strong interest/experience in creating content for digital channels
- Good understanding of the digital landscape, including trends
- Excellent writing and editorial skills with attention to detail
- The ability to create accessible, engaging content
- Strong administrative and organisational skills
- Good IT and software skills and a willingness to learn – you will be using Microsoft Suite, Hootsuite and Mailchimp
- Video editing experience/interest – experience with or willingness to learn Adobe Creative Suite, Canva or similar
- A flexible, can-do attitude, with the ability to remain calm and professional when under pressure
- The ability to take initiative and be a self-starter, working independently as well as part of a team
- An ability to manage a varied workload and work to deadlines
- A willingness to learn new skills and to develop existing skills
- An empathic personality
- A positive, can-do and resilient attitude
- Passion for the charity sector
The charity is keen to promote training and opportunities and we will support the candidate to attend relevant training courses where a need can be demonstrated . We will also aim to make the most of any opportunities for the candidate to learn additional skills, such as involvement with filming and photoshoots by professional contractors hired by the charity.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sectors of society. Please note that this role will involve occasional out-of-hours working (including evenings and weekends) as part of a rota to ensure the charity’s social media channels are active and monitored at peak times and during events.
See the full job description here.
To apply, please send a cover letter and CV to alex@horatiosgarden.org.uk.
Salary: £23,500-£25,000 (dependent on experience)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, over five days (Mon-Fri)
Reporting to: Communications Manager
Job type: Full time, permanent
Work location: Head Office near Salisbury, Wiltshire (SP5 4LN)
Application deadline: Monday 11 November. We may close the applications earlier if a suitable candidate is found.
Interviews: W/C 18 November
