Listed today
Mid-weight Copywriter
Now is an exciting time to Mercy Ships UK.
With a growing supporter base, a talented staff
team and ambitious targets to reach over the
next five years, we are looking for a talented
Midweight Copywriter to join our team.
Mercy Ships is a faith-based charity, bringing safe
surgery to people in Africa who have limited access
to healthcare and little or no money to pay for it. For
over 40 years, Mercy Ships has visited more than 55
developing nations. We are passionate to serve those
in need and to leave a lasting impact for the future by
working alongside governments, supporting health
systems and delivering training within the countries we
visit. Our volunteer crew represent our organisation
onboard our two ships through excellence and
diligence. Sixteen Mercy Ships offices around the world
collaborate on fundraising, recruitment and public
relations.
Mercy Ships UK
The UK currently raises circa £9 million a year to
support Mercy Ships’ operations, benefiting from a
diverse base of committed funders and partners.
As well as providing financial resources for surgeries,
healthcare, education and local partnerships, the UK
identifies over 400 professional volunteers
with medical, maritime and many other skills to
crew the world’s largest charitable hospital ships
‘Africa Mercy’ and ‘Global Mercy’, – bringing immediate
relief to thousands of individuals and leaving a
sustainable legacy of hope and healing
in every nation we visit.
Values
Mercy Ships was founded by Don and Deyon Stephens
in 1978, committed Christians with a vision to follow the
model of Jesus, who inspires action and guides us to
imitate God’s heart for those marginalised by poverty
and disease. Mercy Ships is a diverse community
made of people from all walks of life, practically
demonstrating love, integrity and excellence to make a
lasting impact. While not all of our staff are practising
Christians, they all align with and respect the Christian
values that underpin Mercy Ships’ work.
Approximately 90% of the population in sub-Saharan
Africa lacks access to safe and affordable surgical care.
On average, there are only 1.8 beds per 1,000 people,
and nearly 40% of healthcare settings lack hygiene
infrastructure. The need for Mercy Ships is clear – we
strive to provide safe and equitable healthcare for those
who need it most.
Shelley Pigott,
Executive Director, Mercy Ships UK
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Our Mission
Mercy Ships follows the 2,000 year-old model
of Jesus, bringing hope and healing to the
world’s forgotten poor.
Our Vision
Mercy Ships uses hospital ships to transform
individuals and partner with nations.
Our Values
Following the model of Jesus, we seek to:
Love God
Love and serve others
Be people of integrity
Strive for excellence in all we say and do
M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
Impact
Since 1978, Mercy Ships has brought hope and healing
to more than 2.88 million people through free,
life-changing healthcare and training. Our volunteer
professionals have performed over 122,000 surgical
procedures and provided more than 556,900 dental
procedures to those in desperate need. Alongside
this, we have trained more than 55,500 local
professionals in their area of expertise, equipping
them to go on and impact over 252,000 others within
their own communities.
Our commitment extends beyond the hospital
ship—we have completed over 1,110 community
development projects, including the reconstruction
of schools, clinics, orphanages, water wells, and
agricultural programmes. These initiatives ensure
sustainable transformation by strengthening local
infrastructure and skills for the future.
Today, we have proudly served across more than
55 of the world’s poorest nations, with two
remarkable hospital ships:
The Global Mercy: the world’s largest civilian
hospital ship, featuring 6 state-of-the-art operating
theatres, 199 patient beds, the capacity for 640 crew,
and a gross tonnage of 37,856.
The Africa Mercy: with 5 fully equipped operating
theatres, 85 patient beds, space for 470 crew, and a
gross tonnage of 16,572.
Together, these ships represent a unique and powerful
force for good, bringing hope, healing, and lasting
change to those who need it most.
Our work
Mariama’s story
Mariama is a lively and healthy baby, but a severe facial
cleft strained her joyful smile. This facial cleft affected
7-month-old Mariama’s lip and nose, making it difficult
for her to eat and causing her parents to worry about
their child’s future.
Since paediatric services capable of treating baby
Mariama’s condition were not available near the family,
local doctors directed her father to Senegal’s capital city
in hopes of finding help.
It was there that he heard about a hospital ship capable
of providing healing for his little girl.
Soon after, Mariama received an operation onboard
the Africa Mercy that repaired her cleft lip. After surgery,
Mariama and her family stayed at the HOPE Centre,
where her mother learned how to make nutritional baby
formula and learned about the importance of nutrition
for her child. Now, Mariama is home with her family,
happy and healthy!
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M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
History of
Mercy Ships
Founded in 1978 by Don and
Deyon Stephens, Mercy Ships
has worked in more than 55
countries, providing services
valued at more than £1.3 billion.
By improving healthcare delivery in
every country visited, Mercy Ships
is working to eradicate the diseases
of poverty. Mercy Ships follows the
model of Jesus by “bringing hope
and healing to the forgotten poor”,
helping people of any faith or none.
Mercy Ships delivers a customised
five-year partnership model with
every country it is invited to support.
Relationships are built with the
national government and ministry
of health, so that the specific needs
of each country are met; we work to
strengthen the country’s healthcare
systems and drive policy change.
The aim is to tackle the root causes
of the problems rather than just the
consequences.
Mercy Ships UK (a key member of
the Mercy Ships global partnership)
was founded in 1996. We run the
two largest charity hospital ships in
the world: the Global Mercy and the
Africa Mercy.
Behaviours
We put beneficiaries first
Our performance impacts lives, so we
strive for the very best results.
We are open to challenge
We challenge current norms, ideate,
create and develop.
We expect the best
We consistently seek the best in
and for others.
Together in everything
We are a relationally-driven team.
Effective interaction
We communicate with clarity
and purpose.
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M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
Role Description
Main Workbase: 12 Meadway Court, Stevenage SG1 2EF
Hours of Work: Full-time
Contract: Permanent
Line Manager: Creative Lead
Salary: £38,000 - £42,000 per annum
Benefits:
25 days annual leave + bank holidays, increasing + 1 day
with each year of service, up to 30 days annual leave
Up to 7% Employer pension contribution
Travel and training loans
Free parking onsite
Access to a personal Learning & Development budget
of £1,000 per year (pro rata), supporting professional
growth and skills development
Main Purpose
Are you ready to use your writing skills to help change
lives for the better? Do you enjoy coming up with creative
ideas that will inspire audiences and elevate a brand?
Can you truly collaborate with other people to deliver
content that will engage our audiences?
If your answer to these questions is a resounding
‘yes’, then apply to join Mercy Ships UK today as our
Copywriter. If successful, you’ll be joining a small but
mighty Communications Team that’s supportive,
friendly, and passionate about our cause.
We’d love to hear from you! But please, remember to
submit a writing portfolio with your application, so you
can show off your skills.
Main Responsibilities
Use your writing to drive real-world impact. As our
Copywriter, you will create compelling, insight-led
content that inspires people to give, volunteer, and
engage with Mercy Ships’ life-changing work
Writing and content creation
Drive supporter engagement, volunteer recruitment
and income generation.
Collaborate with the Creative Lead and Head of Brand
and Communications to develop integrated
campaigns, and be confident presenting creative
concepts to stakeholders and influencing direction
Write and edit a variety of copy for digital
and print, including direct mail letters, adverts,
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magazines, brochures, key messages, reports, blogs,
webpages, emails, social media and other marketing
materials. With the Designer, ensure that copy and
design work together to tell a clear and emotive story.
Play a key role in shaping and evolving Mercy Ships
UK’s tone of voice across all channels.
Develop and strengthen the Mercy Ships UK brand,
highlighting the dignity and agency of those we serve
in sub-Saharan Africa. Keep brand tone and values
central in all communications.
Contribute to key brand guides, especially the tone of
voice guidelines.
Use data, insight and testing to continuously improve
content performance and audience to vary and target
copy for individual givers, major donors, volunteers,
and others.
Source and shape powerful, ethically told stories that
amplify the voices of patients, crew and supporters.”.
Use your knowledge of sector trends and research to
shape your writing.
Create content for emergencies, as needed.
Collaborating with others
Work closely with the Communications Team to
brainstorm ideas and ensure a consistent message
across digital and print.
Work collaboratively with the Comms Coordinator,
Engagement, Fundraising, and Volunteering Teams to
clarify briefs and align content with organisational
goals, audience needs, and key messages.
Build positive relationships with global and
National Office colleagues to foster
collaborative opportunities.
Collaborate with a roster of freelancers or agency
partners, as needed.
Contribute to the team culture of creativity and
continual improvement.
In addition
Other duties as are within the scope, spirit and
purpose of the job as requested by the line manager
or Director of Communications and Engagement.
Post holder will actively follow
Mercy Ships UK policies.
Maintain confidentiality in all areas of work at Mercy
Ships UK and International.
As duties and responsibilities change,
the job description will be reviewed and
amended in consultation with the post holder.
M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
Person Specification
Attribute
Essential
Desirable
Education/
qualification
Degree in communications or copywriting,
or the equivalent experience.
Experience,
skills and
abilities.
5+ years as a writer and/or communicator,
with proven ability to create engaging,
story-led comms.
Experience of comms in the
charity sector, particularly
international development.
Experience of nuanced writing for faith
Experience of creating
inclusive, respectful and
culturally sensitive content
that reflects the dignity of all
people.
Understanding of SEO and
website content production.
Experience with WordPress.
Comfortable working with
senior stakeholders
audiences
Able to balance creative ambition with
organisational priorities”
Targeting comms for a variety of audiences,
across print and digital.
Creating content aligned to brand and tone
of voice guidelines.
Working closely with other creatives and
communicators.
Able to generate and pitch creative ideas.
Able to write with empathy, understanding
and power.
Able to adopt and evolve a brand tone
of voice.
Proofreading.
Able to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-
paced environment”
Personal
qualities
Open, kind and interested in the well-being
of others.
Highly creative.
An awareness of and passion for
international development work
in sub-Saharan Africa.
A willingness to learn and an ambition for
excellence.
Highly organised and able to set clear
boundaries around jobs.
Genuine interest in being collaborative.
Please submit a writing portfolio with your application. We’re particularly
interested in campaign,fundraising, or storytelling work.
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M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
M E R C Y S H I P S A P P O I N T M E N T B R I E F
How to apply
to join us in transforming lives:
Please send a CV and cover letter detailing your
relevant experience and why you want to work for
Mercy Ships to:
careers@mercyships.org.uk
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and
the vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.
Salary : £38,000-£42,000 (D.O.E)
Don’t delay applying as we screen applications on
receipt and reserve the right to close early.
Equal opportunities
Mercy Ships UK is an equal opportunities employer.
We welcome applications from all individuals and
value diversity in our workforce.
DBS check
Candidates will be asked to declare any ‘unspent
convictions.’ Further information can be found here.
Eligible roles may require a Disclosure Barring Service
(DBS) check.
Hope.
Healing.
Transforming Lives.
Registered Charity No: 1053055. Registered Charity in Scotland No. SC039743.
Company No: 3147724 (England and Wales)