Job Description

About the Role

Location & Contract:

This is a full-time, permanent role. The role is hybrid working, with travel required to our Reading hub at least twice per month.

Closing Date: Wednesday 23rd July 12PM Midday

We may close this role sooner than the closing date advertised if we receive a significant number of applications.

Make-A-Wish UK is looking for a Stories Officer who will work directly with children and their families to help them share their lived experience of critical illness and the life-changing impact of a wish.

As the Stories Officer you will lead the development of all story-based content for Make-A-Wish UK, ensuring alignment with the organisation's overarching strategy, annual objectives, and core content priorities with a particular emphasis on fundraising initiatives. This role is primarily focused on identifying, individually crafting, and refining compelling narratives that effectively convey the charity's impact, as well as the lived experiences of wish children, their families, volunteers, staff, and other key stakeholders. The position involves close collaboration with internal teams to proactively anticipate content requirements, manage projects efficiently to ensure timely delivery, and uphold consistency in brand voice and messaging across all communication channels and platforms.

To see the full job description please see our website.

Key Responsibilities

Identifying, interviewing, and writing up case study stories from wish families, volunteers and donors to support campaigns, digital and traditional media, and fundraising efforts across Make-A-Wish UK

Developing and manage relationships with individuals sharing their testimonials and case studies, ensuring they feel supported and informed about how their stories will be used.

Working closely with Wishgranting colleagues to source and gather stories from underrepresented audiences, ensuring diverse representation and engagement across the charity's communications.

Becoming an advocate for wish children and their families, working to amplify their voices whilst ensuring compliance with up-to-date safeguarding and GDPR policies. You should be an expert in consent, safeguarding, and ethical representation, ensuring stories are shared with sensitivity and transparency.

Supporting on the creation of wider organisational written content, from blogs posts on our website to scriptwriting for special events - with a focus on fundraising. Providing copywriting support to a range of teams during larger campaigns and projects.

Anticipating and actively seeking out the content needs of the organisation, ensuring all content we capture has intent and purpose behind it, and considers how we can maximise the value from the opportunity, so it goes beyond one-off story to drive optimal return on investment.

Role Criteria:

Demonstrable experience in producing written content with storytelling at its core -- crafting narratives that inspire and drive measurable outcomes such as income generation, sign-ups, or content sharing.

2-4 years of experience in creating storytelling-focused written content across a range of formats and platforms.

Proven experience conducting interviews in person, over the phone, and via email to gather authentic and impactful stories. The applicant should have excellent written and verbal communication skills (independently of machine learning tools), with the ability to authentically capture conversations and translate them into compelling stories that resonate with target audiences while preserving the voice of the interviewee.

Practical understanding of a range of communications channels, including social media, PR, email, and web, with knowledge of copywriting best practices tailored to each.

Awareness of what constitutes effective content, how to measure its impact, and how to apply insights to optimise future content creation.

Experience working collaboratively within cross-functional teams to deliver on diverse objectives.

Understanding of regulatory frameworks, ethical considerations, and best practices related to content capture and usage -- including the responsible use of AI and machine learning tools.

Knowledge of data protection legislation and compliance requirements in relation to content and permissions.

Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office tools, particularly Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, to support content planning and delivery.

At Make-A-Wish, we believe that agile working gives everyone an opportunity to have their own work pattern that suits their role and individual needs. We believe this is the most effective way to give our best to wish children and supporters, and as a result deliver our charitable mission in the most effective way; whilst ensuring we create a happy workplace.

The organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Relevant level of DBS check will be required for this role. Employment is subject to positive references and proof of the right to work in the UK.

Make-A-Wish is also committed to attracting and recruiting diverse people as it's vital that we strive towards ensuring that our trustees, employees, ambassadors and volunteers reflect the communities we seek to serve.

To apply for this role:

To apply for this role, please see our website for further details.

If you have any queries, please contact jobs@makeawish.org.uk.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 28,518.00 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Bereavement leave Casual dress Company events Company pension Cycle to work scheme Discounted or free food Employee discount Enhanced maternity leave Enhanced paternity leave Gym membership Health & wellbeing programme Life insurance Paid volunteer time Sick pay Store discount Work from home
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Application question(s):

When are you available to start this role? Do you require any reasonable adjustments for an interview?
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Reading RG1 1LX

Application deadline: 23/07/2025