Hundreds of inspiring events. Thousands of participants. One clear purpose. 

Events Assistants (Central & East England) 

Salary £13.80 per hour + benefits 

Reports to: Events manager 

Department: Marketing, Fundraising & Engagement 

Contract: x2 Casual contracts May to October 2025

Hours: Shift times will vary depending on the size and type of event you are covering. Events take place between May and October and our events assistants work 5-8 events across that period with shifts between 5-13 hours. 

Location: Division 3: This covers East Midlands, West Midlands, Staffordshire, Central & East of England: covering Birmingham, Stoke, Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Northampton, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Norwich, Ipswich and Peterborough.

Closing date: 27 January 2025 23:55 

This vacancy may close earlier if a high volume of applications is received or once a suitable candidate is found, therefore we strongly recommend that you apply early to avoid disappointment. Please let us know if there is anything about the recruitment process that you would like to discuss, in particular if there are any changes or adjustments that would make it easier for you to apply. Please contact [email protected] or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible. 

Visa sponsorship: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. Cancer Research UK is not able to offer visa sponsorship. 

Recruitment process: Competency based interview with task.
Interview date: Week commencing 24th February 2025
Training Date: Compulsory paid training taking place on Tuesday 29th & Wednesday 30th April in Yarnfield, Staffordshire, with travel, accommodation and food included.

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. 

We’re looking for passionate events assistants to work in Cancer Research UK’s Marketing, Fundraising and Engagement team. You’ll be acting as an ambassador for Cancer Research UK, supporting the delivery of our events season including well-known events such as Race for Life, Pretty Muddy, Big Hike and Shine Night Walk. There will also be opportunities to work at third-party sports events such as the London Marathon, Manchester Marathon, Royal Parks Half Marathon, and many others. 

In a lively, vibrant working environment, you’ll discover something new every day, whether it’s a new course, a new community or a talent you never knew you had. You’ll also be surrounded by people who are as dedicated to beating cancer as you are. 

If you want to learn more about our fantastic teams and event opportunities. Click here 

What will I be doing? 

• Supporting the event manager in the delivery of large-scale and logistically complex events. 

• Managing a large and diverse team of volunteers. 

• Taking responsibility for key roles across events. 

• Manage some operational responsibilities including setting up and dismantling equipment ensuring health and safety guidelines are prioritised. 

• Providing support and encouragement to Cancer Research UK participants at cheer points or post-event support at regional third-party sports events. 

What skills are we looking for? 

• A passion for events. 

• Adaptability to changing situations with the ability to work on your own initiative. 

• The ability to solve problems and respond to opportunities and challenges. 

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport with a range of people. 

• Confidence to represent Cancer Research UK publicly. 

• Good organisation and prioritisation skills. 

What else do I need to know?  

• This role mostly takes place on weekends making it easy to fit around some jobs and/or studies. 

• We work in all weather conditions, and our shifts cover some night-time events. 

• We work across 5 geographical ‘divisions’. When submitting an application, you will need to apply to the division where you live (if you are away studying, have a think about where you will be May-October). You’ll need to live within the divisional boundaries and you’ll need to travel across that division to cover the events in your area. Most events will include an overnight stay away from home. All travel and accommodation will be booked and paid for you. 

• While driving and having access to a car is not a necessity for the role, it does help and, in some circumstances, you may be asked to use your car to help set up the route for some events. 

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do. 

Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination   

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism    

Human: Act to have a positive impact on people   

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively 

We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer. 

What will I gain? 

We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals. 

You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page. 

How do I apply?  

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.   

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at [email protected].   

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. 

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please contact [email protected] or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.