Communications Assistant and Content Creator Apprentice

St Luke’s offers a wide range of services to support people living with life limiting illnesses in mid and south Cheshire.

Since 1988, St Luke’s has been providing palliative care to local people, supporting them in ways which go beyond the scope and funding of the NHS. Last year they supported over 1,000 local people with a vast range of support from end-of-life care on their ward to supporting carers, and from helping children cope with grief to assisting patients to return to work after an illness.

They are a charity and were established following a fundraising campaign in the mid 1980’s which local people championed, and 35 years later they continue to be supported in this way. Nearly 85% of their care is funded by donations.

They are now looking for a Communications Assistant Apprentice to help support the charity, while working towards their level 3 Content Creator apprenticeship qualification.

**Job Purpose**
- To play a key role within the Communications Team and support the effective delivery of the Hospice’s communications, PR and marketing.
- To raise awareness of, and engagement with, the Hospice through innovative marketing/communications campaigns to build income.
- To communicate with a range of Hospice audiences across a variety of different communication platforms including websites and social media.

**Key working relationships**
- Internal - Staff and volunteers with specific support to Events, Community and Corporate teams within Income Generation.
- External - External PR and Marketing agencies, web design agencies, printing firms, local press and stakeholders.

**Key Tasks and Responsibilities**
- To support the Income Generation team (including Community, Corporate, Events and Lottery fundraising teams) and the wider Hospice teams to maximise communications in a timely and effective way to build income, ensuring brand consistency and tone of voice across all content.
- To work with the Communications Team to generate creative ideas for campaigns, marketing activity, press and other communications activity.
- Work with colleagues in the Communications Team and across the organisation to deliver marketing materials and promotional activity on time, including:

- Writing, editing or proof reading copy for publication
- developing website content and creating webpages
- the creation of artwork, leaflets, posters and other printed materials
- photography and video creation
- liaising with suppliers and arranging distribution of marketing materials.
- Creation of social media content to drive engagement including photographic, video and written content.
- To support the Communications Team with content for the bi-annual Hospice newsletters.
- Write and send engaging weekly e-newsletters.
- Actively seeking, writing and sharing fundraiser stories.
- Write press releases and other content for news items and websites, and contacting editors, journalists and community groups to arrange for this content to be distributed.
- Contribute to the maintenance of photography and the photo library.
- Support ad hoc projects and national awareness days and weeks.
- Regularly report on and share analysis with the Income Generation team on a range of activities including, press coverage and e-newsletters.
- Maintain knowledge of the organisation to include its work, personnel, finances, policies, developments, key messages and events.
- Ensure all communications are consistent with our values, sensitive to the circumstances of our patients, their families and our supporters.
- Use best practice and judgement to ensure communications are inclusive.

**General**
- To keep up to date with the latest communications platforms, market trends and best practice.
- To adapt to any new technology that may be introduced and help to train others in its use.
- To adhere to all St Luke’s Hospice policies and procedures at all times and ensure that staff and volunteers under supervision do the same.
- To have an understanding of the ethos and work of the hospice in order to act as an effective spokesperson to the general public and in the local community as and when required.
- To undertake any other reasonable tasks as may be requested from time to time.

This role is fully 'office' based within the charity in Winsford.

**Skills, Experience and Qualifications Required**
- Full driving license is highly desirable due to location
- Graphic design qualification/ experience is essential (Adobe, InDesign, Canva etc)
- Relevant degree (PR/ graphic design/ English etc) highly desirable but not essential
- A mature and level-headed outlook is required due to the sensitive nature of the work environment
- Understanding of writing for/ communicating with a more mature audience
- Ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines with keen attention to detail
- Ability to use your own initiative, and to work in a team to achieve shared goals
- Creative and able to contribute ideas
- Excellent oral and written communication skil