Job Vacancies
MertonVision is pleased to be offering the following jobs:
Communications Intern
Join us at MertonVision
Thomas Pocklington Trust (TPT) and RNIB are collaborating with organisations from both the sight loss and wider charity sector, as well as corporate organisations, to create new opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to find employment through the Get Set Progress (GSP) Internship programme. MertonVision is delighted to be offering an internship as part of the Get Set Progress scheme.
About MertonVision
MertonVision was established to grant assistance to all blind and partially sighted persons ordinarily resident in the London Borough of Merton. We visit blind and partially sighted persons in their own homes, hospitals or elsewhere with a view to affording them comfort and encouragement and assistance in the solution of domestic and other problems. We provide every other service and assistance necessary for the benefit, health and comfort of blind and partially sighted persons in relation to their visual impairment and any other impairment they may have.
MertonVision offers both professional and volunteer services to blind and partially sighted adults and children and organises a variety of social and leisure activities. All our activities and centre-based services are now available to all people living with hearing loss.
What are the benefits of a Get Set Progress internship for me?
As part of your 9-month internship, you will be part of a large cohort of fellow interns and gain the following:
- Obtain valuable work experience within the charity sector
- Technology support (including Microsoft Office) and upskilling opportunities
- Online and in-person training and development opportunities
- Opportunity to present and network with Senior leaders within the Sight Loss Sector
- Opportunities to build relationships with fellow interns
- A personal mentor offering support, advice and guidance throughout your internship
- Help deliver positive changes for people with sight loss
- As part of the GSP Internship programme, you will also be enrolled on the TPT Works For Me Employment Programme, where you will gain bespoke employment support, guidance and advice from the TPT Employment Team. The skills that you will receive support and guidance around include CV writing, job searching, writing cover letters and speculative letters, completing application forms, and interview techniques.
Job Description
Role: Communications Intern
Department: Outreach Team
Reporting to: Nina Mitchell, Office Manager
Location: Office based at the Guardian Centre, 67 Clarendon Road, Colliers Wood, SW19 2DX
Salary: Based on the Real Living Wage
Contract type: Fixed-term, 9-month full-time (35 hours per week) contract.
Job Specification Information
Overview of the Role:
The chosen candidate will showcase the work of MertonVision and communicate the stories of change in people’s lives through a variety of channels, including our print newsletter, website, and social media channels.
Social Media
- Manage and provide engaging content for all our social media platforms
- Seek out new social media opportunities for MertonVision to engage with new audiences
Website
- Manage and update our website, keeping it fresh and relevant
- Provide regular updates via our news and blog pages
- Ensure calendars are kept up to date
- Provide regular e-news bulletins and increase engagement
Print Communications
- Manage our quarterly newsletter
- Provide interesting and meaningful content
- Support our digital fundraising through our website, JustGiving and other digital platforms
- Support our community fundraising, ensuring events and campaigns are widely advertised
Other duties:
- Attend all meetings associated with your internship with Thomas Pocklington Trust
- Attend and contribute to team meetings.
- Attend relevant training and networking events.
- Be an ambassador for MertonVision and help us to reach out, grow, and continue to support visually impaired people across Merton and southwest London.
- Other reasonable duties set out by your line manager and the Chief Executive.
- There may, on occasion, be a need to work outside normal hours, e.g. weekends and evenings.
Personal Specification – Essential Criteria:
This post has a Genuine Occupational Requirement that the successful applicant must be a person who is blind or partially sighted, in line with the Equality Act 2010.
- Lived experience of visual impairment
- High level of literacy and IT skills
- Knowledge of accessibility relating to web content and social media.
- Willingness to travel to and work at MertonVision’s premises.
- Willingness to travel to the TPT Hub in London for intern development events throughout the course of the internship programme (costs covered by TPT).
- Having not previously undertaken the Get Set Progress internship programme.
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience in digital communications.
- Experience of web content management systems (CMS), for example WordPress.
- Experience of promoting activities and events through digital and print communications.
- Knowledge of using Canva, InDesign and or other digital media platforms.
Personal Qualities:
- The ability to work under own initiative.
- High level of organisation
- A passion for communicating.
- A supportive team player.
- Empathy and willingness to understand different people’s needs.
- The ability to communicate with staff, volunteers, clients, and supporters of MertonVision.
What To Do Next – How To Apply
To apply, please email your CV with a covering letter to Kevin Gregory, the CEO, at kevin.gregory@mertonvision.org.uk
Closing Date: 1st September 2025.
Interview Date: Week commencing 8th September 2025.
MertonVision, The Guardian Centre, 67 Clarendon Road, Colliers Wood, SW19 2DX.
Telephone: 020 8540 5446.
Email: info@mertonvision.org.uk
Please note, an enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) and reference check will be obtained for the successful candidate.
Community Outreach Activities Worker
Salary: Up to £29,715 to £32,000 per annum, depending on experience.
Full time – 35 hours per week
Fixed term contract 3 years
Benefits: Government pension scheme, flexible working hours, holiday entitlement 25 days pro rata.
We are looking for an enthusiastic person to develop social and peer support activities and to promote the take up of statutory and voluntary services for older people with impaired vision in Merton. The post will involve working with community and minority ethnic groups. You must have excellent communication and people skills. You will work as part of an outreach team.
We can offer you a challenging, developing and rewarding environment, and a competitive salary depending on experience.
This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
MertonVision is committed to being an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.
Basic objectives of post
To develop social and peer support activities, and to promote the take-up of statutory and voluntary services for people in Merton with impaired vision. This project will focus on older people and those from Black and Minority Ethnic groups.
Duties and responsibilities
- To identify people in Merton with impaired vision who are not accessing services. Through person-centred assessment, identify needs and create an actions plans specific to individual’s needs.
- To identify and organize community support groups and activities for people with a visual impairment around the London Borough of Merton (and Wandsworth). This will complement current activities at MertonVision and create new and current activities in new venues in the local community.
- To develop links with statutory and voluntary agencies to raise awareness of the needs of people with a visual impairment and provide them with information about services available.
- Encourage peer interaction with other local sight loss organisations across the southwest London area.
- Support volunteers to ensure activities are fully supervised and supported.
- Provide referral pathway to in-house or external support services.
- Facilitate clients to access activities from local organisations, including sight loss awareness training for staff and Centre users. Provide route and orientation support to local Centre.
Person Specification
This post requires excellent interpersonal skills.
Skills
Essential
Experience of working closely with people from all sectors of the community, but in particular to have an understanding of the cultural needs of people from Black and Minority Ethnic groups.
Experience of setting up activities and/or support groups.
Ability to communicate well verbally and in writing.
Good organisational skills.
Basic computer skills such as word processing, data input, file storage and retrieval.
Desirable
Knowledge of the impact of visual impairment.
Personal
Able to understand and make a commitment to a code of confidentiality.
A mature self-motivated and confident person able to relate well to people with a visual impairment, older people and those from diverse cultures.
To participate in all aspects of the job to meet the needs of people with a visual impairment.
The ability to work well and proactively within a small team.
Ability to handle difficult situations calmly.
Special requirements
The post holder will be expected to work flexible hours according to the needs of the service. This will include some evenings and weekends.
The post involves a good knowledge of the borough and the ability to travel around the borough independently.
This post is subject to an enhanced CRB check.
Please send your CV and cover letter info@mertonvision.org.uk
If you have any queries, please contact 020 8540 5446.
Closing date for applications: 23rd September 2025.
Interview Date: Week Commencing 6th October 2025.
Volunteer Services Manager
Salary: Up to £36,000 to £39,000 per annum (depending on experience).
Full time – 35 hours per week, fixed term contract 3 years
Benefits: Government pension scheme, flexible working hours, holiday entitlement 25 days pro rata.
An exciting opportunity has opened up for a Volunteer Services Manager to join MertonVision’s management team. The role is responsible for the engagement/recruitment/support of our valued Volunteers and Operations functions.
We have successfully gained a Big Lottery Win and are looking to grow our volunteers and operational capacity and require the right person with drive and vision to help us be successful. This post offers a varied, challenging and rewarding position.
You will be responsible for our volunteering service recruitment and support. Having the ability to influence and encourage others is key to this role. Good communication is important, as well as a passion and understanding for MertonVision’s work. So is being flexible and agile in approach with a positive attitude.
You will be confident in speaking to individuals and groups of people, both face-to-face and using online platforms. You must be experienced with volunteering programmes, as well as having a good understanding of recruitment and supporting outreach work. This role would suit someone looking to step into a management role.
This role is unique and will give you a wide knowledge of MertonVision’s services, as well as building good working relations with the team, clients, and board members.
MertonVision is committed to being an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.
Job Description
- Support the implementation of the Volunteer Engagement workstreams within MertonVision’s Volunteering strategy, working as part of a team and in line with MertonVision’s behaviours.
- Implement best practice facing coordination to volunteers, including for recruitment and onboarding stages of a volunteer’s journey to ensure all volunteers feel confident and understand their roles, with clear and supportive communication.
- Support the delivery of reporting and data capture to understand the picture of volunteering and areas for growth and improvement.
- Be an ambassador for volunteering at MertonVision, promoting and championing the benefits of volunteering both internally and with external partner organisations and members of the public.
- Effectively coordinate and monitor all channels of communication and correspondence to the team, acting as a first point of contact, responding to enquiries from volunteers and signposting where appropriate.
- Maintain databases of stakeholder contacts, ensuring we maintain accurate contact and engagement information to support our activity.
- Be responsible for developing and overseeing volunteering compliance (e.g., safeguarding, health & safety, DBS checks, GDPR). Ensure that volunteers receive consistent quality training. and are aware of MertonVision policies.
- Support the day-to-day delivery of Volunteer Engagement plans, ensuring meaningful involvement opportunities and volunteer experience.
- Take personal responsibility to demonstrate inclusive practice in all areas of work, to ensure that volunteering at Merton Vision is fully inclusive and embraces all diversity. Be committed to EDI, by creating volunteer roles that are open to all who wish to volunteer for MertonVision.
- Deal with volunteer feedback in a respectful and solution-focused manner. Be responsible for the development and implementation of a volunteering problem-solving (complaints) policy and procedure, and ensure staff are trained to understand the process.
- Oversee volunteering events, supporting fundraising and awareness raising of MertonVision’s services.
- Develop a volunteer reward and recognition programme.
- And any other reasonable requirements to ensure the volunteering department runs in a safe, effective, consistent way so that standards and values are maintained at all times.
Person Specification
Personal Attributes / Criteria:
Friendly, welcoming and professional
Able to build relationships but maintain boundaries
Excellent communication skills
Proven track record of implementing new services/projects
An organised person who can manage the workload effectively
Able to inspire and motivate others
Experience Criteria:
Experience of managing or coordinating volunteers (paid or unpaid)
Experience of sourcing and recruiting volunteers (paid or unpaid)
Previous monitoring and evaluation experience, HR and recruitment practices (Desirable)
Experience in development of volunteering policy and practice
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Criteria:
Ability to work autonomously
Ability to inspire and motivate others
Administrative and IT skills, and an ability to maintain records
Knowledge of local and national volunteering schemes and initiatives
Knowledge of current trends, resources and information related to volunteer management
Experience of initiating and managing volunteer projects (Desirable)
Experienced in managing budgets with good financial awareness (Desirable)
Empathy with volunteers and an understanding of their needs
Capacity to inspire, influence and motivate others
Ability to deal with information in a confidential manner and respond with sensitivity
Good organisational skills and the ability to manage a variety of tasks
Ability to maintain records and produce reports
Experience of working across different sectors and developing links with other agencies.
Other:
- Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to deal with a diverse range of people
A team player
A flexible and non-judgmental approach
Able to understand and make a commitment to a code of confidentiality.
A self-motivated and confident person, able to relate well to people with a visual impairment, older people and those from diverse cultures.
Able to meet the needs of people with a visual impairment.
Good team-working skills.
Able to handle difficult situations calmly.
Skills
Essential
- Experience of working closely with people from all sectors of the community.
- Ability to use own initiative.
- Ability to plan and prioritize workload.
- Confident and proficient with I.T. packages including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access and Outlook and the Internet.
- Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal and communication skills. The ability to effectively and diplomatically communicate with Local Authority, NHS and DWP staff.
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in the voluntary or sight loss sector
- Knowledge of the impact of visual impairment.
Please send your CV and cover letter to info@mertonvision.org.uk
If you have any queries, please contact 020 8540 5446.
Closing date for applications: 23rd September 2025.
Interview Date: week commencing 6th October 2025.
Hearing Loss Outreach Worker
Salary: Up to £29,715 to £32,000 per annum pro-rata (depending on experience).
Part time – 21 hours per week, fixed term contract 3 years.
Benefits: Government pension scheme, flexible working hours, holiday entitlement 25 days pro rata.
We are looking for an enthusiastic person to develop social and peer support activities, and promote the uptake of statutory and voluntary services for older people with hearing loss in Merton. The post will involve working with community and minority ethnic groups. You must have excellent communication and people skills. You will work as part of an outreach team.
We can offer you a challenging, developing and rewarding environment, and a competitive salary depending on experience.
This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.
MertonVision is committed to being an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We will be pleased to consider applications from candidates seeking flexible working arrangements. We guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the advertised role.
Basic objectives of post
To develop social and peer support activities, and to promote the uptake of statutory and voluntary services for people in Merton with hearing loss. This project will focus on older people and those from Black and Minority Ethnic groups.
Duties and responsibilities
- To identify people in Merton with hearing loss who are not accessing services. Through person-centred assessment, identify needs and create action plans specific to individual’s needs.
- To identify and organize community support groups and activities for people with a hearing loss around the London Borough of Merton (and Wandsworth). This will complement current activities at MertonVision, and create new and current activities in new venues in the local community.
- To develop links with statutory and voluntary agencies to raise awareness of the needs of people with a hearing loss and provide them with information about services available.
- Encourage peer interaction with other local sensory loss organisations across the southwest London area.
- Support volunteers to ensure activities are fully supervised and supported.
- Provide referral pathway to in-house or external support services.
- Facilitate clients to access activities from local organisations, including hearing loss awareness training for staff and Centre users, and provide route and orientation support to the local Centre.
Person Specification
Skills
Essential
- Experience of working closely with people from all sectors of the community, but in particular to have an understanding of the cultural needs of people from Black and Minority Ethnic groups.
- Experience of setting up activities and/or support groups.
- Ability to communicate well verbally and in writing.
- Good organisational skills.
- Basic computer skills such as word processing, data input, file storage and retrieval.
Desirable
- Knowledge of the impact of hearing loss.
Personal
- Able to understand and make a commitment to a code of confidentiality.
- A mature self-motivated and confident person, able to relate well to people with hearing loss, older people, and those from diverse cultures.
- Able to meet the needs of people with a hearing loss.
- Able to work well and proactively within a small team.
- Able to handle difficult situations calmly.
Special requirements
- The post holder will be expected to work flexible hours according to the needs of the service. This will include some evenings and weekends.
- The post involves a good knowledge of the borough and the ability to travel around the borough independently.
- This post is subject to an enhanced CRB check.
Please send your CV and cover letter to info@mertonvision.org.uk
If you have any queries, please contact 020 8540 5446.
Closing date for applications: 23rd September 2025.
Interview Date: week commencing 6th October 2025.
MertonVision Trustee
Do you have the skills we’re looking for?
MertonVision is looking for new trustees who can bring new skills, perspectives and experience to its management board.
We are a long-established, highly-regarded local sight-loss charity offering much needed support to visually impaired children and adults living in Merton. We are now excited to announce we are now opening our services and support to people living with hearing loss residents in Merton. We are keen to expand our reach and impact for those with Sensory Loss by increasing the diversity of the board with additional experience in income generation and commercial performance.
You would be joining a forward-looking team whose aim is to help more Sensory Loss people fulfill their potential. The position is voluntary and unpaid. We are looking for trustees who can offer experience in:
• Fundraising
• Law
• Visual impairment sector especially with younger people
• Strategic planning
• Marketing
• Commercial experience
Please contact Kevin Gregory, the CEO, on 020 8540 5446 or email kevin.gregory@mertonvision.org.uk for further details and to request a Trustee information and application pack.
Closing Date: 31st August 2025
Interview Date: w/c 8th September 2025
MertonVision, The Guardian Centre, 67 Clarendon Road, Colliers Wood, SW19 2DX
Tel: 020 8540 5446
Email: info@mertonvision.org.uk