Shape the future of high-value fundraising at the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability.
Who we are
The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability. Our purpose is to support children, young people and their families so they can live the best life possible.
With a clear vision for the future, we are positioned to lead innovation in childhood brain injury and neurodisability rehabilitation. We have an ambitious new strategic direction focusing on innovative rehabilitation approaches that will help more children rebuild their lives after brain injury and neurodisability.
Our aim
Every year, 40,000 children in the UK are left with a brain injury. About 350 children sustain a severe acquired brain injury needing rehabilitation. Only one in four of those children can currently come to The Children’s Trust. We aim to increase our impact and reach through enhancing and expanding our neurorehabilitation services over the next five years, and we are committed to supporting as many children and their families as we possibly can.
What we believe in
We believe that all children have the right to be children, regardless of health conditions, physical challenges or life circumstances. They have the right to play, to laugh, and to learn. They have the right to make connections with each other, with their families, and with the world around them. The Children’s Trust exists to create these opportunities, specifically for children with brain injury and neurodisability.
What we do
Every year, we provide rehabilitation, education, care and community services to thousands of children, young people and their families across the UK.
Our national specialist centre in Tadworth, Surrey, is home to the largest children’s neurorehabilitation service of its kind in the UK.
We help children through play, exploration, laughter and having fun; things that are often absent when a child has limited mobility or has had a challenging time. When therapy, healthcare and education are combined with music, arts and crafts, day trips and other fun activities, children are encouraged to focus not on their limitations, but on the goals that matter to them – and to enjoy themselves along the way.
About the role
As Head of High Value Philanthropy, you will lead The Children’s Trust’s efforts to secure major gifts, grants and long-term funding, reporting to the Director of Fundraising & Communications. This is a high-impact role, central to delivering six- and seven-figure contributions that directly transform the lives of children with brain injury and neurodisability.
You will lead and inspire a specialist team, shape strategic fundraising plans and personally manage key high-value relationships. As a visible member of the Fundraising, Retail and Communications Leadership Team, you will drive innovation, collaboration and a culture of philanthropy across the organisation.
What you’ll do:
- Lead the strategy and delivery of high-value philanthropy, including appeals, stewardship and income targets.
- Inspire, manage, and develop a team of specialists across major donors, trusts & foundations and statutory grants.
- Personally cultivate and secure transformational gifts and long-term funding relationships.
- Represent The Children’s Trust externally with donors, trustees, senior volunteers and partners.
This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic, relationship-driven leader to strengthen the charity’s long-term financial sustainability and help ensure every child we support has the opportunity to thrive.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking an exceptional leader with a proven track record in high-value fundraising. You’ll be an inspiring, confident, and results-driven professional who thrives on building relationships, motivating teams and achieving ambitious goals.
The ideal candidate will bring:
- Proven fundraising expertise: Extensive experience across multiple major income streams, with a track record of securing six-figure or higher gifts and meeting ambitious targets.
- Leadership and team management: Skilled at leading, motivating and developing high-performing teams, with senior-level experience.
- Relationship and stakeholder skills: Exceptional ability to build and influence relationships with donors, trustees, senior volunteers and colleagues.
- Strategic mindset: Able to see the big picture, develop effective plans and budgets and manage projects to deliver results.
- Resilience and adaptability: Flexible, resourceful and able to overcome challenges while fostering collaboration across teams.
- Commitment and values: Highly motivated, reliable and aligned with the mission and values of The Children’s Trust.
If you are an ambitious fundraising leader who wants to make a tangible difference, this is a rare opportunity to shape the future of high-value philanthropy at the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability.
For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Katie Booth | katie@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07399 749956
Simon Callaghan | simon@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07702 678658
About The Children’s Trust
The Children’s Trust is the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability, transforming lives through innovative rehabilitation, education and community services. For over four decades, we have been pioneering new approaches to help children rebuild their skills, confidence and futures after life-changing injuries.
Supporting more children to get home, and back to what matters
Every year, children’s lives – and the lives of their families – are turned upside down by a sudden brain injury. The impact can be devastating – suddenly, they may no longer be able to walk, talk, stand, sit, or feed themselves.
We help give them their futures back – restoring lost skills, developing new ways of doing things, and supporting children to rebuild their confidence, independence and joy.
In 2024/25, we supported 406 children and young people through our national specialist centre, school, therapy and community programmes. There were 65 children on average at our Tadworth site per day across both our school and rehabilitation service.
With personalised support, we help children learn to walk again, find their voice, eat independently, and adjust to a new way of life. Together with families, we focus on real-life progress and meaningful outcomes.
Our Services
Residential Neurorehabilitation: Our national specialist centre in Tadworth, Surrey, provides the UK’s largest residential rehabilitation service for children with brain injury and neurodisability. Here, multidisciplinary teams work intensively with children and their families to restore lost skills or develop new ways of achieving independence.
The Children’s Trust School: Our residential, non-maintained special school welcomes residential and day pupils aged 2-19, offering a unique educational environment where learning is seamlessly integrated with therapy and healthcare. From our early years provision through to preparing young people for adult life, we ensure every child reaches their full potential.
Our Community Rehabilitation Service: We offer digital resources, national virtual advice and consultation, and community rehabilitation and outpatient packages for children with acquired brain injury. The service offers a range of support through a tiered model, with escalating levels of support based on the level of need and identified goals.
Aiming high
We aim to run our charity to the highest standards and to always work in an open and transparent way. Our continued progress on improving the quality of our work is subject to internal audit, external regulatory inspection from both OFSTED Care and the Care Quality Commission, and multi-agency oversight.
Our most recent inspections from OFSTED CARE rated a ‘Good Rating’, and The Children’s Trust School is rated by Ofsted Education as ‘Outstanding’. We are also regulated by the Charity Commission, the Fundraising Regulator and the Gambling Commission.
Our site at Tadworth Court, nestled in the Surrey countryside yet easily accessible from London, provides a therapeutic environment where children can focus on achieving the goals that matter to them.
Our Values: The Five Promises
Everything we do is guided by our Five Promises, developed in partnership with the children, young people and families we serve:
- Child first: The child is at the heart of everything we do
- Aim high: We believe in potential and strive for excellence
- Own it: We take responsibility and are accountable
- Be open: We are honest, transparent and inclusive
- Care deeply: We act with compassion and empathy
Our Promises help ensure The Children’s Trust remains a place where people are proud to work, volunteer and receive care.
Learn more about The Children’s Trust
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Role Description and Person Specification.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “The Children’s Trust – Head of High Value Philanthropy” into the subject field.
If shortlisted to interview, please note that there will be a short application form to complete.
For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Katie Booth | katie@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07399 749956
Simon Callaghan | simon@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07702 678658
As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive, and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.
If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please contact Katie Booth or Simon Callaghan. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Friday 14th November 2025
Candidates informed of outcome: by 5pm Tuesday 18th November 2025
First stage Interviews: Thursday 20th November 2025 (online)
Second stage Interviews: Monday 24th November 2025 (in person)
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and The Children’s Trust are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.
The information provided does not form part of the decision-making process and will not affect your application. Learn more about why we collect this data here.
Data Processing, Protection and Privacy Policy
By completing the form to view, or if you have access to this page from an email invitation, Peridot Partners will have processed your personal information. For more information about Peridot Partners’ data processing activities and your rights, please read our Privacy Policy.
