Programme Intern, BELIEVE Project (East of England only)

Important update: Please note that, following the application deadline of 17 June at 12 noon, applications are now only being accepted for the East of England area. Please only apply if you are genuinely interested in this region. Applications for other areas will not be considered.

Location, Time Commitment and Working Hours

• Each intern will be based in one of the following English regions: London, East of England, West Midlands, North West.

• Interns will primarily work remotely (without a central office), and will travel around their regions, and to London and Cambridge for training and occasional meetings (expenses will be paid).

• Part-time internship contract, working 2 days per week – Working pattern to be agreed with line manager

• Fixed-term internship contact for 12 months, starting August 2026 and ending August 2027

• Internship paid at the Real Living Wage (£14.80/hour in London and £13.45/hour elsewhere in the UK). This is equivalent to an annual gross salary of £11,544 in London or £10,491 elsewhere in the UK (based on 2 days per week).

• Internship will begin on W/C 17 August, with a three day in person induction on Tues 25, Wed 26, Thurs 27 August. There will also be follow-on training in Cambridge on Monday 28th September 2026 – interns must be available.

Overview

For nearly 30 years, the Faith & Belief Forum has worked to build connected communities, a society that celebrates diversity, and to tackle faith and belief based hate, discrimination, division and polarisation.

Thanks to National Lottery players, the BELIEVE in Climate Action project (BELIEVE) led by the Faith & Belief Forum has received £1,452,709.20 from the Climate Action Fund, a long-term commitment from The National Lottery Community Fund to support communities across the UK to act on climate change and involve more people in positive environmental action.

We are pleased to be offering four paid internships to support the running of the first year of the BELIEVE project. Each intern will be based in one of the following English regions: London, East of England, West Midlands, North West.

BELIEVE is an ambitious and innovative national programme led by the Faith & Belief Forum in partnership with the Cambridge Interfaith Programme. Together, we are building a bold new model for climate action, one that connects grassroots 1 communities, young leaders, researchers and policymakers through collaboration, co learning and shared purpose.

This is an exciting opportunity to support the development of a new interfaith climate project, whilst getting hands-on experience in the charity sector, specifically in interfaith, community engagement, and events/project coordination.

The role offers valuable skills development, alongside training and mentorship to help kickstart your career. It provides a unique opportunity to make a real impact on community work across England by amplifying and celebrating the voices of young people and grassroots interfaith initiatives around the country.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a highly organised and proactive individual, who is early in their career and has a passion for interfaith and/or climate work in the UK.

Job Description

Interns are primarily responsible for co-leading school-based projects in their regions.

To enable this, they will receive considerable training, mentorship and access to regional and national networking opportunities, to, build skills, confidence and knowledge as they begin their careers.

All activities will be undertaken with the support of the BELIEVE Project Manager and Project Coordinator.

Events/Project Support

• In each school, conduct a consultation process designed to discern local climate concerns, needs and capacities

• In each school, establish a climate action project co-designed with the school community to respond to those needs

• Assisting with various administrative and logistical tasks (e.g. scheduling meetings, creating Eventbrite forms, arranging speakers and performers, and updating databases)

• Maintaining stakeholder communications through newsletters • Responding to enquiries and signposting support

• Editing and updating websites

• Creating and publishing comms materials (e.g. podcast, social media posts, flyers, short videos, resources)

• Supporting the preparation and planning for events

• Providing on-the day support at events (including helping with setup, registration, and coordination)

• Capturing data on project progress, including through stakeholder interviews and self-reflection

• Supporting post-project administration and follow-up (including debriefs, capturing stories and measuring impact).

General

• Support F&BF’s aims and contribute to a positive, inclusive working environment, including upholding our values of inclusion, fairness and a commitment to diversity and justice in all tasks

• Suggest ideas for improving work and strengthening relationships with faith groups and community partners.

Person Specification

BELIEVE involves many moving parts, so the role calls for someone who is very organised and efficient, who can pick up new tasks quickly, adapt to changing circumstances, and prioritise effectively – all the while communicating proactively with team members. A calm approach and a positive, ‘can-do’ attitude will be essential.

Essential

• Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills – able to manage time, tasks, and work independently, completing tasks and initiating next steps efficiently and in line with expectations

• Excellent communication skills – clear, confident, and supportive to people from all backgrounds

• Team player – collaborative, flexible, and proactive

• Confident with digital tools including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, SharePoint, Outlook, Teams), Zoom, Canva, and social media

Desirable

• Experience of event or project management

• Understanding of safeguarding and creating inclusive spaces

• Knowledge of climate, faith, interfaith, community work

Benefits include

• £1,000 budget for training and development

• Dedicated mentor from a leading national environmental organisation to offer support and guidance

• Flexibility around working hours and schedule

• Opportunity to work mainly remotely from home

• 25 days annual leave (pro rata)

• 2 days paid volunteer leave (pro rata)

• Interfaith and intercultural learning opportunities

• Regular support and coaching to help develop your skills

• Access to internal learning sessions on topics relevant to our sector

Who we encourage to apply

We value sensitivity to the issues at the heart of our work and a strong commitment to The Faith & Belief Forum’s goals. This internship is particularly suited to those at an early stage in their careers.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences, and especially encourage those from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds, and from faith or belief communities currently underrepresented in our organisation – including Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, and Zoroastrian.

Non-native speakers are expected to speak at the B2 language level. Applicants may be asked to complete a language test as part of the recruitment process.

Unfortunately, we can only consider applications from individuals who have the right to work in the UK, as we are unable to offer visa sponsorship.

How To Apply

If you're interested in applying for this internship position, please complete the application form on our website. As part of the form, you'll be asked to upload your CV and a cover letter. In your cover letter, please answer the following:

• The Faith & Belief Forum brings together people of all faiths and beliefs, both religious and non-religious. What do you think could be gained in your community, or in society more broadly, by building deeper interfaith relations? What motivates you to engage in this work?

• The BELIEVE project focuses on building a new model for climate action, that connects grassroots communities, young leaders, researchers and policymakers. Why do you think this collaborative approach is important for tackling the climate crisis? What motivates you to engage in this work?

• What is an example of climate or interfaith action that inspires you to act? What did they do really well? Think about social movements, charities, grassroots projects in your local area, faith-based initiatives, and anything else that resonates with you.

Here are some tips to make your cover letter stand out:

• Use your cover letter to bring your experience to life: go beyond your CV by explaining what you did, how well you did it, and why you’re a strong fit for the role.

• Address the person specification clearly: don’t just state qualities, but demonstrate them with specific, real examples from work, study, or wider life.

• Show transferable skills if you lack direct interfaith experience: Use relevant examples from other contexts to evidence your ability to meet the role’s requirements.

• Use AI tools carefully: they can help you draft, but make sure your final application is personalised, specific to this role, and reflects your own voice. We will disqualify candidates if we suspect that they have used an AI tool during the interview stage.

The application form will close at midday on Wednesday 17 June.

If you have any questions before applying to the internship, please email us on recruitment@faithbeliefforum.org.