Challenge Events Manager

Youth Adventure Trust
Challenge Events Manager
 Job Pack

Date: 12th January 2026

Prepared by: Louise Balaam, Director of Fundraising
Email: louise@youthadventuretrust.org.uk  Tel: 07904 037525

Summary

Home-based with easy access to South West

Events Fundraising Officer

Challenge Events Manager

Title:
Reports To:   Corporate Partnerships Manager
Reports:
Location:
Contract:
Salary:
Hours:
Holiday:
Application:   Application Form
Closing Date:  Sunday 8th February 2026 at 23:59

25 days plus public holidays

Permanent, full time

£28,000 - £30,000

35 hours per week, flexi-time available

The Role

If you are passionate about the outdoors, have a "roll up your sleeves" attitude and are looking for a
role where your event management skills will make a lasting impact on young lives, then this is the
job for you. We’re seeking a dynamic individual who can lead our exciting portfolio of outdoor
challenge events and help us take our fundraising to the next level.

Our outdoor challenge events are a vital source of funding for the charity, and the relationships we
build with our participants and corporate partners are more important than ever. This is where you
come in.

As our Challenge Events Manager, you'll be the driving force behind our exciting challenge events
portfolio.  You'll work on bespoke corporate team-building challenges, high-energy industry
networking events like the Hike Bike Paddle for the sports and outdoor sector and the Housebuilders
Challenge, and our popular open events like the Wiltshire 3 Peaks Challenge and the Somerset Cycle.

Challenge events not only enable people to raise amazing sums for the charity, but are also a
fantastic way to engage supporters with our work, giving them the opportunity to step outside their
comfort zones, embrace the outdoors and achieve things they never thought possible - similar to
our work with the young people on our programmes.

The Challenge Events Manager role is a varied position which would be perfect for somebody who
has event management experience. You will be responsible for the full event cycle, from the initial
planning, participant recruitment and stewardship to on the day event delivery and post event
follow ups. You will be somebody who can spot opportunities, take on a project and run with it.
You’ll be an excellent communicator, happy to pick up the phone to chat to event participants,
deliver pre-event webinars or create engaging participant emails. You’re self-motivated, well
organised, able to multi-task, a strong administrator, a fantastic team player, have excellent
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interpersonal skills and enjoy being outdoors.  You should also have some fundraising experience,
ideally in a paid capacity but in a voluntary capacity would also be considered.

You'll work closely with the Corporate Partnership Manager, who is highly experienced in delivering
our challenge events, but needs time to develop new corporate partnerships which is why we have
created this new role. You'll also line-manage our Events Fundraising Officer who plays a key support
role on the events.  You must live in or near the South West as there will be a semi-regular
requirement to attend in person staff meetings, visit programmes and join event planning sessions.

About You

You’re a people-person, self-motivated and highly organised. You are as comfortable managing a
budget and a CRM database as you are standing on a mountain side in your waterproofs! You’ll
have:

●  Event Expertise: A proven track record in delivering successful fundraising or challenge

events.

●  Fundraising Experience: You might be an existing fundraiser or somebody who has taken on

fundraising activities in a voluntary capacity. You will need to be able to relate to the
challenge participants and guide them on how to reach their fundraising targets.

●  Agility: The ability to think on your feet and adapt plans dynamically when situations change

on the ground.

●  Leadership Skills: Experience managing staff or volunteers and the ability to motivate a team.
●  A Passion for Adventure: A genuine love for the outdoors, comfortable in wellies and

waterproofs with an understanding of 'the power of the outdoors'.

The Charity

At the Youth Adventure Trust, we use outdoor adventure to empower vulnerable young people from
Swindon, Wiltshire and Somerset to fulfil their potential and lead positive lives in the future. We
work with them to build resilience, develop confidence and learn skills that will last a lifetime,
helping them to face the challenges in their lives. Dedicated support, guidance and mentoring from
our staff and volunteers ensures young people receive the maximum benefit from our long-term
intervention. Our aim is to make a lasting improvement to the lives of vulnerable young people. All
our services are provided completely free of charge to the young people who are nominated by
schools and other youth organisations to take part.

We’re proud to offer our programmes completely free of charge to participants, and with ambitious
plans to help more young people over the coming years, our fundraising challenge events are more
important than ever.

Why Join Us?

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This is a unique opportunity to make a direct and lasting impact on young lives through your passion
for the outdoors. You’ll be part of a small fundraising team with a big heart, with plenty of
opportunities to visit our camps and see the tangible impact of your work.

Job Description

Key responsibilities include:

●  Delivering our portfolio of challenge events, working under the guidance of the Corporate
Partnerships Manager to ensure we build long-lasting and meaningful relationships with
event sponsors and participants;

●  End-to-end management of the full event lifecycle, including participant recruitment,

communications, event logistics  and participant stewardship;

●  Ensuring all events are delivered on time, on budget and meet ambitious fundraising targets;
●  Developing a comprehensive event communications schedule and engaging event materials
to promote events, drive recruitment and ensure participants are well-informed about the
challenge and the charity;

●  On-the-day event management, calmly responding to changing and potentially challenging

situations and  ensuring event volunteers, participants and staff are well-supported and have
an enjoyable, memorable and safe challenge event experience;

●  Line-manage the Events Fundraising Officer, providing guidance and delegating tasks

effectively;

●  Oversee key event personnel, ensuring volunteers and paid staff are well-briefed and

supported throughout the event process;

●  Oversee event administration, including online giving and CRM (Salesforce) updates, income

management and accurate record-keeping;

●  Regular reporting against recruitment, income and relationship management KPIs;
●  To always give consideration to the long term development of individual and corporate
relationships for the maximum benefit of the charity and ensure the smooth flow of
information within the team;

●  Contributing to the fundraising team’s annual targets and the wider charity objectives;
●  Acting as an ambassador for the Youth Adventure Trust.

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Person Specification
We are looking for somebody who fits most of the following criteria. We have a well-established
portfolio of in-house events and need somebody who can ‘hit the ground running’ when it comes to
delivery as well as bring ideas and experience they can draw on to help us develop that portfolio.

1. Professional Experience & Fundraising Track Record

●  Experience and a proven track record working on fundraising events.
●  Experience of achieving fundraising targets and working to key performance indicators.
●  A knowledge of fundraising best practice.
●  Experience managing staff or volunteers and the ability to motivate a team.

2. Event Management & Operational Skills

●  An understanding of event management procedures and the need for accurate

record-keeping.

●  Calm under pressure, a “roll your sleeves up” attitude, expects the unexpected, thinks on

your feet and adapts quickly when situations change on events.

●  Highly organised, with exceptional time management skills and able to juggle multiple event

deadlines simultaneously.

●  Excellent administrative skills and an eye for detail.

3. Communication, Marketing & IT

●  Excellent verbal and written communication skills across all channels, including telephone,

video calls, email and social media.

●  Skilled in the art of writing and delivering engaging presentations, social media posts,

newsletter articles and fundraising materials.

●  An understanding of marketing, communications and social media, with an ability to use

those skills to promote opportunities effectively.

●  Experience in using a CRM database, strong IT skills, experience of using tools like Canva,

Loom and WordPress (advantageous).

4. Personal Attributes & Working Style

●  Self-motivated with an understanding of best working practices when working from home.
●  A full driving licence and own vehicle, with easy access to the South West for team meetings,

training and programme visits.

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●  Willingness to work variable hours, flexibility to travel as required for meetings and events

with occasional overnight stays.

5. Values, Mission & Safeguarding

●  A genuine passion for the outdoors, a willingness to be outside whatever the weather, and

an understanding of how our events lead to so much more than just an income line.
●  A good understanding of the positive impact outdoor adventure can have on vulnerable

young people and a desire to help the Youth Adventure Trust change more lives.

●  Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people.

Safer Recruitment

The Youth Adventure Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people
and requires all employees to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees
will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment and in compliance
with current employment legislation, and relevant safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.

Please be advised;
●  a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Disclosure will be required for this post;
●  we will seek references on shortlisted candidates before a second interview, and may approach

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previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications;
if the applicant is shortlisted, any relevant issues arising from his or her references or application
will be taken up at interview;
in accordance with due diligence checks, online searches may be conducted as part of the
selection process on shortlisted candidates;
if the applicant is currently working with children, on either a paid or voluntary basis, his or her
current employer will be asked about disciplinary offences relating to children, including any in
which the penalty is “time expired” (e.g. where a warning could no longer be taken into account
in any new disciplinary hearing), and whether the applicant has been the subject of any child
protection concerns, and if so, the outcome of any enquiry or disciplinary procedure. If the
applicant is not currently working with children but has done so in the past, then contact will be
made with that employer who will be asked about these issues; and

●  applicants should note that providing false information is an offence and could result in the

application being rejected, or dismissal if the applicant has been selected, and possible referral
to the police.

Please review our Safeguarding Policy available at www.youthadventuretrust.org.uk/policies

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How to Apply

Please complete the Application Form which includes the opportunity to outline why you think you
are suitable for this role, making specific reference to the Job Description and Person Specification
above.

The Application Form should be returned to:

Louise Balaam, Director of Fundraising by email: louise@youthadventuretrust.org.uk

Applicants are welcome to call Louise on 07904 037525 if they would like to discuss the role or the
application process before applying.

Applications Closing Date:

Sunday 8th February 2026 at 23:59
Shortlisted candidates will be notified by Wednesday 11th February 2026

Interview Date:

Tuesday 17th February (in person, Bristol)
Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a written task before the interview.
Unfortunately we are unable to reimburse interview expenditure incurred.
The Youth Adventure Trust sincerely thanks all those who apply, however only those considered for
an interview will be contacted.

Data Protection Statement

For information about how we use your data, please see the Privacy Policy on our website
www.youthadventuretrust.org.uk/privacy, or request a hard copy by calling 0330 123 2446.

Equal Opportunities and Diversity Statement

The Youth Adventure Trust is an equal opportunities employer, values diversity and is strongly
committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and all applicants for
employment.

Additional documentation with this Job Pack:

●  Application form
●  Recruitment of Ex-offenders Policy

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