Author: Molly Mayfield

Action East Devon is looking for a Finance Manager to take charge of our charity’s finances. We provide free emotional and mental health support to young people aged 11–18 across East Devon, funded by charitable trusts, local authorities, town councils and our local community. We’re bringing our finance function in-house and are looking for someone who can manage it with real ownership, from day-to-day bookkeeping through to budgeting, grant reporting and supporting our Board of Trustees.

About the Role

This is a chance to shape a finance function from the ground up, working closely with our Charity Manager and Board of Trustees. You’ll manage our accounting records, prepare management accounts and budgets, keep restricted and unrestricted funds on track, and make sure our reporting to funders is accurate and on time. You’ll also support year-end processes and liaise with our independent examiner.

It’s a role suited to someone who enjoys working independently, is comfortable explaining financial information to non-finance colleagues, and wants their work to have a direct, visible impact on a small, mission-driven team. To find out more about the role read the Finance Manager Job Description.

What We’re Looking For

• AAT qualified, or equivalent experience
• Solid experience of financial management, budgeting and reporting
• Comfortable working across multiple funding streams, restricted and designated funds
• Strong Excel and accounting software skills
• Charity finance experience and knowledge of Charity SORP requirements is a bonus, but not essential

How to Apply

Please apply by sending a CV and covering letter with a completed application form to [email protected] explaining why you’re interested in the role and how your experience matches what we’re looking for.

If you would like to have an informal chat about the role before applying? Contact Molly Mayfield, Charity Manager, on 01404 549045. We welcome applications from candidates who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.

Action East Devon is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. The successful candidate will be required to undertake a Basic DBS check.

We said a heartfelt goodbye to our wonderful volunteer, Lorraine, who has supported our Headlight group in Ottery St Mary for the past three years.

There were flowers, chocolates, cake, plenty of hugs and, of course, a little tear or two! While endings are never easy, we wanted to focus on celebrating the time we’ve shared together and everything Lorraine has brought to Headlight.

Lorraine has given so much care, fun, warmth and commitment to both our team and our young people. She has been such a valued part of our little Headlight family, and her absence will certainly be felt.

Thank you, Lorraine, for everything you have done over the past three years and for all the wonderful things we know you’ll continue to do. You will be very much missed!

We are delighted to announce four new positions in the charity which each bring exciting opportunities for the local community of East Devon. If you are looking for a new challenge please read on.

• NOW CLOSED Programme Facilitator for the new Thriving in Secondary School Programme – part time fixed term contract for Autumn Term delivery
• Trustee – part time unpaid role
• Youth Mental Health Volunteer in Ottery St Mary – part time unpaid role

If you are interested in any of these roles then please do call Molly on: 01404 549 045 or email [email protected], we would be delighted to speak with you about the roles we have available.

Applicants would need to complete and return our application form and all appointments are subject to a full DBS check and references.

We had Chloe for a week of work experience from Axe Valley school, she was full of energy and ideas and once again I learnt more from her than I could have anticipated.

She got right into a real mix of day to day charity work, sending emails, creating posters and making badges with our new badge making machine. She created an activity for pupils at our school visit to Woodroffe and even did some cold calls to businesses for our Big Give Campaign 2026.

On the Thursday Chloe and I pounded the streets of Honiton with posters, business cards and leaflets about our new Headlight service opening in September, it was baking hot but our visit generated some really interesting conversations with local businesses and shopkeepers.

Chloe is now in Italy for a super residential now and we hope she is having the best time and wanted to say thank you for her enthusiasm and confidence.

We’ve had some wonderful funding news to share. The Culverwell Trust has generously funded our Headlight peer support service in Seaton and Sidmouth, while our Tesco Groundworks blue token collections in Honiton, Axminster, Sidmouth and Seaton have secured funding for each of those Headlight groups, thank you to everyone who took part.

We’re also very grateful to the Alfred Darlington Charitable Trust for their generous donation supporting Headlight services, and delighted to have once again been awarded funding towards Headlight by East Devon District Council’s Places to Go, Things to Do fund, which is decided by their youth committee.

Action East Devon is seeking Group Facilitators and Mental Health Wellbeing Workers for our new Headlight groups being launched early summer in Honiton and Sidmouth. We are also now recruiting a Group Facilitator for our existing Headlight group in Axminster & Seaton. Finally and for applicants with a flare for marketing & social media, we have additional hours to offer anyone in one of these posts to manage our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn online platforms.

The Roles

To challenge the automatic “head-in-hands” image so often associated with poor mental health — and to show the real, diverse, and human stories behind the experiences. With the incredible creativity and guidance of Theo Moye, these young people brought their visions to life in the most honest and impactful way. Their work is brave, beautiful, and deeply personal.

Hannah at Seaton Library said:

“The feedback I have to pass on is unanimously positive – we had so many people stop and give your photographs their full attention.  A couple of people made sure to tell us how unusual the pictures were and how it had made them stop and think about mental health.  
All in all we’d say that the exhibition was a success and thank you so much for thinking of us as a location to host it.”

We would also like to thank the wonderful centres that host our groups and provide that safe space for us.

Pippins Community Centre

Re:store Axe Valley

The Station – Ottery St Mary

On display for the next 2 weeks

A brilliant but wet morning walking the 3 legged challenge with Caroline Densley and BBC Devon on the waterfront in Exmouth. She and her team are wonderfully warm and welcoming and it was absolutely awsome to be flying the flag for BBC Children in Need with them and the many other deserving charities that joined them on the walk.

Thank you BBC Children in Need for your support to us and the young people of East Devon.

BBC News Story