Charity work and social care

Resources to help you explore career options, find jobs and employers, and access specialist advice and support.

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Charity/Third sector

How do I get into it?


  • Includes role profiles, skills assessment, jobsearch tips, advice for career starters and changers, and more.
  • Prospects
    Graduate careers site with information on:

    An overview of the sector and links to detailed profiles for graduate jobs.

Jobs and employers


  • Searchable directory organised by specialism.

  • Advertises paid and voluntary roles.

  • Recruitment consultants specialising in the third sector.

  • Opportunities nationwide and some international.
  • Voluntary sector jobs
    Charity and third sector jobs across the UK.

Further information


  • Government body which regulates and supports charities in England and Wales.

  • Includes news and think pieces from the sector.

  • Business and management magazine for non-profit professionals.

  • News from the voluntary sector. Sign up for news summary email alerts.

International aid/development

How do I get into it?

  • ELRHA (Enhancing Learning & Research for Humanitarian Assistance)
    Information on humanitarian careers including how to get a job in the sector.
  • Prospects
    Graduate careers site with information on:

    Detailed profile with routes into the career, sources of vacancies and more.

Jobs and employers


  • Jobs, internships and volunteering in the UK and internationally.

  • Paid and voluntary opportunities in the UK and overseas.

  • Opportunities with DIFD, including their graduate scheme.

  • Aggregates vacancies from development agencies worldwide.

  • Opportunities worldwide.

  • Includes a searchable directory of NGOs worldwide.

Further information


  • UK Government department working to promote sustainable development and eliminate world poverty.

  • Networking point for the development studies community in the UK and Ireland. Student membership available free for the first year.

  • The IDS guide to navigating international development resources online. Free to download at this link.

  • Free networking and information resource for people with an interest in international development. Hosted by the Royal Town Planning Institute.

  • Independent think tank on international development and humanitarian issues.

Social work and probation services

How do I get into it? 


  • Job hunting advice, interview tips and more.
  • Prospects
    A graduate careers website with information:
    Types of jobs


    Job sectors

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took time out from the 2018 Careers Fair to talk about their graduate and study/training opportunities, what they look for from applicants, and how to make your applications stand out from the crowd.

Jobs and employers

Probation service


  • Search for opportunities in HM Prison and Probation Service.

  • Links to online application forms for Probation Officer and Probation Service Officer roles.

Probation Officer roles are also advertised via external agencies. Use aggregator sites like  and to find these.

Social services


  • Paid jobs and voluntary opportunities in over 50 different charity sectors.

  • The leading recruitment events for the social work and social care sector.

  • The major magazine of the Social Care sector. Includes a jobs page.

  • Job vacancies UK-wide.

Further information

Publications


  • The magazine of the Probation Institute. Download pdf copies for free.

  • Published by the British Association of Social Workers (BASW). Available by subscription or free to members.

Regulatory bodies

  • (England)

  • Regulatory bodies register social service workers, set standards for their practice, conduct, training and education, and support their professional development.

Other links


  • The largest professional association for social work in the UK. Student membership available.

  • Information from central government on current policy and issues in the social care sector.

  • Working with individuals and the community to enable social inclusion and reduce crime.

  • The trade union, professional association and campaigning organisation for Probation and Family Court staff. Also offers professional development and networking opportunities.

  • A statutory criminal justice service that supervises high-risk offenders released into the community.

  • The NHSBSA administer bursaries for Social Work students.