Close
Interested in a career that makes a difference? Explore charity and non-governmental organisation (NGO's) sector throughout the year.
On this page:
Overview
Interested in a career that makes a difference?
Getting into Charities and NGOs can be competitive, but you can find success by learning from leading organisations and professionals. Their experiences will show you what this sector is really like and how to find a route into a fulfilling career.
Join us for an exciting week of virtual panel discussions, followed by Q&A sessions.
How to prepare
Speaker profiles will be provided for each event, allowing you to do some initial research before attending. This will help you ask insightful questions at the events themselves.
We would recommend that you read through the range of help sheets and resources recommended on our resource library on effective networking and the relevant sector guides below, to better understand job roles, key employers and emploment opportunities, sources of sector news and information, and how UCL can help you:
We will also run a regular series of lunchtime talks on effective networking at events as part of our Career Essentials programme which provide tips and advice on building your professional networks.
Events 2022/23
The Charities & NGOs Sector Insight Programme has finished for the 2022/23 academic year. Thank you for attending! Dates and information on International Development, Charities & NGOs events taking place in 2023/24 will be shared at the begining of the next academic year. Register for the latest career support, events and more straight to your UCL inbox.
Missed this year's Sector Insight Events?
Check out our blog on the skills required for a career in Charities & NGOs, as well as summarising our second event of the academic year, 'Skills For Social Change'.
Past events
- Charities & NGOs Sector Insights: Voices for Change Panel
Tuesday 9 May, 5:30pm-7pm
Join us for an engaging and insightful Sector Insight Panel Event featuring distinguished professionals from the Charities and NGOs sector. Our esteemed panellists will share their inspiring career journeys since graduation and offer invaluable advice on how to succeed in this field. From top skills and experiences sought after by employers to tips for breaking into the industry, our panellists will provide a unique perspective on what it takes to make a meaningful impact and create a better world. Whether you know you want to work in the Charities and NGOs sector, or simply curious to learn more about the field, this is the event for you.
- Charities & NGOs Sector Insights: The reaities of working in the non-profit sector and what it means for your job hunt
Monday 20 February, 5:30pm-7pm
The charities & NGOs sector is facing unprecedented challenges, including the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this session, a panel of recent UCL graduates, now professionals working in the sector, will discuss their career paths, the current landscape in their organisation, as well as having an honest conversation about the realities of working in the non-profit sector, including how the sector has had to change and adapt following the pandemic. Our speakers will share their ideas on what this means for students and graduates looking to enter the sector.
Each panellist will present, followed by a Q&A session. Please note: this event will take place via Zoom Webinar. Although you will not have access to turn on your camera or mic, you can ask your questions via the Q&A box which will be managed by the Careers team who will be chairing the panel.
Beth Exworth; Senior Campaigns Engagement Lead at Crisis (click for LinkedIn):
Beth (she/her) is an experienced campaigner who has been working in the charity sector since graduating with a BA in Politics and East European Studies from UCL in 2016. Beth has worked for a variety of health and homelessness charities in campaigning and fundraising roles and is currently working at Crisis, the national charity for ending homelessness. Beth’s proudest moment was hiking to 4130m to reach Annapurna Base Camp in Nepal and she loves a sea dip, even in the winter.
George Waddell; Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator at Scope (click for LinkedIn):
George (he/him) is an equality, diversity and inclusion specialist working at leading disability charity, Scope. He has experience working in the charity sector on disability inclusion, co-production, intersectionality and multiple marginalisation. He wants to make the charity sector more inclusive of the people it supports.
Laura Emmerson; Head of Supporter Management at NSPCC (click for LinkedIn):
Laura (she/her) has had a varied career in fundraising - from grass-roots community volunteering to managing partnerships with some of the world’s largest grant-making organisations. She has worked to secure funds in support of international research, community interventions, palliative care, scholarships and capital developments. At the NSPCC, Laura supports high value fundraisers responsible for raising £20m+ income to prevent child abuse and neglect. In 2020, she was seconded to lead the NSPCC’s covid-response appeal, Still Here for Children, and the same year was included in Fundraising Magazine’s ’25 under 35’ list of the UK’s best young fundraisers. She has recently returned from maternity leave, and is trying to normalise her caffeine intake.
Naz Toorabally; Content Manager at Diabetes UK (click for LinkedIn):
Naz (she/her) is a health communications specialist who graduated from UCL with an MSc in Health Psychology in 2017. She started working in the charity sector two years ago after landing her “dream job” at a sexual and reproductive health (SRH) charity after seeing the role advertised on Instagram. One of the aims in the work Naz does is to help improve health literacy and inclusivity, with a focus on the unmet needs of racially minoritised and LGBTQ+ people. While her interests and expertise centre around SRH, Naz has worked across various disease areas and is currently the digital education content manager at Diabetes UK.
Susan Soar; Executive Director at Iolanthe Midwifery Trust (click for LinkedIn):
Susan (she/her) began her career as a primary and early years teacher, going on to deliver education and early childhood programmes for voluntary sector organisations including the National Children’s Bureau and The Fostering Network. Susan is currently the executive director (CEO) of a unique grant making charity, providing financial support for vital education, innovation and research in healthcare. The charity also works to ensure that applicants from diverse backgrounds and historically-excluded communities are able to change the trajectory of their professional lives. Working in small and medium-sized charities since 2011, Susan is familiar with some of the conversations around purpose, impact and sustainability that dominate today’s voluntary sector environment.
- Charities & NGOs Sector Insights: Skills for Social Change
Tuesday 6 December, 6-7.30pm
Are you interested in getting into the Charities & NGOs sector but aren't sure what skills recruiters typically look for?
In this interactive skills workshop, Charityworks will introduce you to the charity sector and the type of organisations and roles you could work in. Plus, you'll have the opportunity to get involved with some interactive exercises, including how to develop your personal narrative in a way that best showcases your skills.There will also be time available at the end of the session for a Q&A and informal networking with Charityworks staff and a current graduate on the Charityworks programme.
- How to Get Started in Charities & NGOs
Monday 14 November, 5.30pm-7pm
At this panel event, you will hear from recent UCL graduates and experienced professionals working in the Charity and NGO sectors about their career to date and gain top tips on how to get a foot in the door. From volunteering to internships, gaining experience can give you the edge when applying for graduate roles.
Archive
Event recordings from Charities and NGO's events from previous years are available in our archive. These include complete panel discussions and in-depth interviews with experts.