Engagement Officer
Caring for God's Acre
We have an exciting opportunity to join our team as Engagement Officer for our Nature in Sacred Places project (NiSP). Our office base is in Craven Arms, Shropshire, this role can be office based, working at a distance or a hybrid. A proportion of the site-based activities will be within the Hereford Dioceses (South Shropshire and Herefordshire).
Nature in Sacred Places (NiSP) is an England wide, multi-agency initiative designed to increase biodiversity within burial grounds, support nature recovery, broaden engagement and inclusion and to safeguard heritage. NiSP has received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for an 18-month development phase in which a number of pilot and demonstration elements of the project will be developed and trailed, along with the submission of a full National Lottery Heritage Fund Round II application.
As part of the NiSP Development Phase, CfGA wish to appoint an experienced Engagement Officer.
The Engagement Officer will be responsible for delivering a wide number of engagement priorities for NiSP over the 15-month period of employment. The Engagement Officer will liaise with all project partners to ensure that the NiSP Engagement Plan for the Development Phase of the project is delivered. The Engagement Officer will also be involved in inspiring people of all ages and abilities to become involved in relevant NiSP events and activities.
Caring for God's Acre (CfGA) is the Conservation Charity (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) for burial grounds of all types and denominations from small, rural churchyards to large, urban cemeteries. CfGA encourages everyone, from all faiths and none, to explore and enjoy these special places. We have a friendly staff of ten, all part-time, and depend on working in partnership to extend our reach. We work with a range of individuals, groups and organisations including churches, cemetery managers, community groups, social historians, heritage enthusiasts and naturalists. More information can be found on our website.
Closing date for applications 9am 27th April with interviews on May 8th 2026.
About Caring for God’s Acre
Caring for God’s Acre was established in 2000 as a national charity, promoting the conservation of burial sites and supporting the people who look after and maintain them.
There are over 25,000 burial grounds across the UK, ranging from small rural medieval churchyards to large Victorian city cemeteries, spanning different cultures, religions and centuries.
Appealing to many who are interested in local history and the natural world, burial grounds encapsulate the history of communities whilst offering refuge for our native wildlife.
Many burial sites are managed by a few volunteers who are keen to preserve both the monuments and the wildlife but want guidance on how best to achieve this. Our input can help them to preserve rare species of plants and wildflowers and we advise on management of grassland to encourage wildlife whilst still allowing access to visitors and relatives. Issues such as lichen on gravestones and monuments falling into disrepair are also part of our remit and we run a telephone and email advice service for burial ground managers, signposting to other experts if required.
Caring for God’s Acre was established in 2000 as a national charity, promoting the conservation of burial sites and supporting the people who look after and maintain them. There are over 25,000 burial grounds across the UK, ranging from small rural medieval churchyards to large Victorian city cemeteries, spanning different cultures, religions and centuries. Appealing to many who are interested in local history and the natural world, burial grounds encapsulate the history of communities whilst offering refuge for our native wildlife. Many burial sites are managed by a few volunteers who are keen to preserve both the monuments and the wildlife but want guidance on how best to achieve this. Our input can help them to preserve rare species of plants and wildflowers and we advise on management of grassland to encourage wildlife whilst still allowing access to visitors and relatives. Issues such as lichen on gravestones and monuments falling into disrepair are also part of our remit and we run a telephone and email advice service for burial ground managers, signposting to other experts if required.
more