Job Description

Are you organised, with excellent communication skills, attention to detail and passionate about making a difference?

Stories and impact sit at the heart of what we do at Horatio's Garden. After the devastating blow of a spinal injury, the future can seem bleak. Horatio's Garden creates beautiful vibrant gardens outside the starkness of NHS spinal injury centres. Places where people can begin to find connection, enjoyment and peace. We are here to open up the possibility that, in spite of everything, life can go on.

We are looking for a Stories and Impact Assistant to help us share the transformative difference our work makes for people with spinal injuries, their families and NHS staff.

This new role will be responsible for how we create and maintain the best processes to manage the powerful stories from people in our gardens and the impact data we collect. You will create a new stories and impact hub to effectively support our communications and fundraising work. You will also help to organise, input, collect and create content and evidence that can be adapted for different uses.

This role would suit someone looking to start or build their career in the communications or impact field or charity sector. It is a one-year fixed term role with training and development opportunities funded by philanthropic organisation the Rank Foundation.

Key details

Based near Salisbury, Wiltshire (some hybrid working possible) Salary 24,479 Full time, fixed term Reporting to Communications Manager Application deadline: Monday 19 January Initial interviews: W/C 2 February Start date: April 2026

Purpose of role

Stories and impact sit at the heart of what we do at Horatio's Garden.

This pivotal new role will help us maximise these pillars to support the ambitious fundraising and brand growth in our five-year plan to complete gardens at all NHS spinal injury centres so we can be there for everyone who needs us.

The Stories and Impact Assistant will be responsible for how we create and manage the best processes to amplify powerful stories of people with spinal injuries, their families and NHS staff across our fundraising and communications work.

The role will create a new stories and impact evidence hub that will support how our impact and data gathering evidence is best used for funders, supporters and other key stakeholders to understand what life is like after a spinal injury and the transformative effect of our gardens.

You will have some opportunity to travel to the charity's gardens and meet people with spinal injuries, volunteers and staff.

Funding

This is a one-year fixed term role funded by the Rank Foundation, a philanthropic organisation which encourages and develops leadership and promotes enterprise and innovation. It is part of the Rank Foundation's Time to Shine, a leadership programme which offers a 12-month role alongside training and development opportunities. The role includes mandatory training days held by the Rank Foundation that will require travel and possible overnight stays.

It would suit someone looking to start or build their career in the communications or impact field or charity sector. The final job offer is subject to approval of the chosen candidate by the Rank Foundation.

Main duties

Liaise with organisational teams across fundraising and communications to best understand how stories, impact data and published evidence are needed and used across the organisation. Design and maintain robust systems and processes to manage our complex database of stories and impact data from each of the gardens and track their use to ensure we're making the best of their potential across our fundraising, channels and events. Make sure all content is accessible and adapted for different written and digital platforms. Comply with GDPR regulations, safeguarding and best practice (training is provided as needed) to make sure our system is safe but also supportive to individual needs. Help to manage the library of our digital assets like photos and videos, ensuring the team have access to the most impactful content for their needs. Work closely with the Senior Impact Researcher to support the organisation and management of data and scientific evidence, for example patient questionnaires and counting garden use. Respond to briefs from the team to gather impact reports featuring individual stories to share with internal and external stakeholders.

General duties

Support the wider team with administrative duties that support the smooth running of the organisation. Actively contribute to team and all staff meetings.

Skills required

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with attention to detail. Discretion in dealing with sensitive and confidential information. Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage a diverse workload. Good IT and software skills and willingness to learn. Ability to work as a self-starter, using your own initiative. Flexible, can-do attitude, with the ability to remain calm and professional when under pressure. Basic digital software knowledge including design and film editing would be desirable - and we can support this with additional training.

We are looking for someone who has:

The ability to take initiative and be a self-starter, working independently as well as part of a team. Strong administrative skills and organisational abilities.? Ability to engage and build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders. A willingness to learn new skills and to develop existing skills. A positive, can-do and resilient attitude. Passion for the charity sector. Understanding of best practice with relation to consent processes and data protection - and we can support this with additional training.
Horatio's Garden is keen to promote training and opportunities, and we will support the candidate to attend relevant training courses where a need can be demonstrated and to make the most of any opportunities to learn additional skills.

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).

How to apply

Please read the full job description before applying. Please send your CV and cover letter (no more than two sides of A4) outlining why you are suited to the role to alex@horatiosgarden.org.uk. Please note that applications will not be considered without a cover letter.

The closing date for applications is Monday 19 January 2026. Interviews will take place w/c 2 February, with the role starting in April 2026. We may close the applications earlier if a suitable candidate is found. We look forward to receiving your application.

Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 24,479.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Salisbury SP5 4LN