Admin Support Officer
About Play for Progress
This is an exciting moment for Play for Progress (PFP) as we celebrate our 10th anniversary and reflect on a decade of creative, therapeutic and community-building work with young people navigating the asylum system. Play for Progress is a Croydon-based charity dedicated to supporting unaccompanied young people seeking asylum, aged between 14 and 25. Through creative engagement, education, therapeutic support and community-building, we provide a space where young people can access opportunities, develop their skills, and find the support they need to navigate the challenges of displacement.
Our mission is simple but profound: to ensure that every young person who comes to us has the community to survive, the space to heal, and the stability to thrive. We are a small, close-knit team driven by a deep commitment to the young people we serve — and we are looking for an Admin Support Officer who shares that commitment.
The Role
This is a vital role at the heart of our organisation. As Admin Support Officer, you will be the operational backbone of Play for Progress — keeping our systems running smoothly, supporting our team to do their best work, and ensuring that the young people and partners who engage with us experience a professional, warm and well-organised charity.
The role is hands-on, varied and touches every part of the organisation. You will need to be highly organised, proactive and adaptable — someone who takes real pride in getting the details right and who understands that good administration is what makes good work possible. A genuine commitment to our mission and values is essential.
Key Responsibilities
General Administration
Provide day-to-day administrative support across the organisation, ensuring smooth and efficient operations
Manage and maintain organisational filing systems — both digital and physical — ensuring documents are accurate, accessible and up to date
Draft, proof-read and format a range of documents including letters, reports, meeting papers and internal communications
Handle incoming and outgoing correspondence professionally and promptly, including post, email enquiries and phone calls
Support the scheduling and coordination of internal meetings and workshops, including preparing agendas and taking minutes
Support HR administration, including contracts, onboarding, and maintaining records.
Oversee the DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) process for staff, ensuring compliance with safeguarding requirements.
Maintain staff training records and track compliance with mandatory training.
Assist in recruitment processes, including posting job descriptions, coordinating interviews, liaising with candidates and onboarding
Programme & Operations Support
Maintain and update databases and records relating to young people, sessions and outcomes, ensuring compliance with GDPR and data protection requirements
Assist with the collection and recording of monitoring and evaluation data to support impact reporting
Assist with the coordination of half-term projects, events and external activities as required
Communications & Stakeholder Support
Act as a friendly and professional first point of contact for enquiries from funders, partners and the public
Support the maintenance and updating of the charity’s website, social media channels and mailing lists
Assist with the production of newsletters, fundraising communications and external publications
Help to coordinate thank-you letters and donor acknowledgements
Governance & Compliance
Coordinate all aspects of quarterly Board meetings — scheduling, preparing and circulating papers, taking accurate minutes, and tracking follow-up actions
Maintain up- to – date governance records including trustee details, terms of reference and key policy documents
Support the implementation and review of organisational policies and procedures
Support the onboarding of new trustees and act as a point of contact for board members
Assist with annual returns and other compliance submissions to the Charity Commission as required
General
Work collaboratively and flexibly across the team, providing cover and support where needed
Represent Play for Progress professionally at all times, embodying its values of care, creativity and community
Carry out any other duties reasonably requested by the Executive Director
Lead some new initiatives as agreed with the Director. More than any other roles in the organisation, it is the Admin Support Officer and the Executive Director who between them pick up and pilot new tasks and projects. Some successful initiatives may later get assigned to other staff or contractors.
Who You Are
Highly Organised: You love keeping things running smoothly and efficiently.
Detail-Oriented: You ensure compliance, record-keeping, and processes are all in top shape.
Proactive & Reliable: You anticipate challenges and take initiative to solve them.
Social Media Savvy: You understand how to use digital platforms to communicate impact and engage audiences.
Compassionate & Aligned with Our Values: You believe in the power of creativity, community, and care to support young people who have faced adversity.
Tech-Savvy: Comfortable using administrative tools, HR platforms, and databases.
Essential Experience & Skills
Experience in office management, administration, or HR support roles.
Strong knowledge of HR processes, safeguarding, and compliance (DBS checks, training records, etc.).
Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Experience managing social media platforms for an organisation or project.
Comfortable working independently and as part of a hybrid team.
Desirable
Experience working in a charity, arts, or community organisation.
Understanding of trauma-informed practice.
Familiarity with Canva, Mailchimp, Square Space, InForm, scheduling tools, and content creation for social media.
What We Offer
A flexible, supportive and genuinely values-driven working environment
The chance to be part of an organisation doing vital and meaningful work with young people
20 days annual leave pro rata, plus bank holidays
Pension - 5% contributory pension scheme with 3% employer contribution
Hybrid and flexible working arrangements
Regular supervision and access to professional development opportunities
A warm, diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve
Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Play for Progress is an equal opportunities employer. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, and particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic communities and from people with lived experience of the refugee or asylum journey. We believe that a team which reflects the diversity of the young people we support makes us stronger and more effective in our work.
If you require any adjustments to support you through the recruitment process, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
How to Apply
To apply, please complete our application form and submit with CV to recruitment@playforprogress.com by 25 March 2026 at 11:59pm.
For an informal conversation about the role before applying, please contact Bridget Banda at b.banda@playforprogress.com. We would love to hear from you.
We look forward to receiving your application.