Diverse & Talented Candidate Pool

Year on year, through our inclusive recruitment practices, we build a diverse and exceptionally talented candidate pool. Our mission is to be part of the solution to the under-representation of marginalised communities in the non-profit sector by creating accessible, paid routes into meaningful careers.

Get in touch

Our 2025 Candidate Pool

Last year, we received over 2,000 applications from emerging leaders eager to start their careers in the sector. From these, we selected 294 high-potential candidates to join the Charityworks candidate pool.

Of these candidates:

• 46% are from Global Majority backgrounds
• 32% identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community
• 13% are living with a disability
• 15% are from working class backgrounds

This is not accidental. It is the result of a recruitment process deliberately designed to remove barriers and widen access to opportunity.

Why Diversity in the Non-Profit Sector Matters

Early-career talent remains under-represented in the sector compared to the wider labour market, and entry barriers disproportionately affect individuals from marginalised communities.

These barriers include:

• A lack of paid entry routes
• Affordability and cost-of-living pressures
• Limited access to networks and sector knowledge

According to NCVO, just 9% of the voluntary sector workforce are from global majority backgrounds, when compared to 15% in the private sector. And just 6% of the voluntary sector workforce are under the age of 24, when compared to 13% in the private sector.

The result is a workforce and leadership pipeline that does not fully reflect the diversity, lived experience, or perspectives of the communities non-profits serve.

At Charityworks, we do more than create entry routes into the sector. Alongside placing trainees into roles, we invest in their long-term development through our ILM-recognised leadership development programme. Through mentoring, coaching, learning sessions and strategic impact projects, trainees build the skills, confidence and experience needed to progress into future leadership roles across the sector.

The Steps We Take to Recruit Inclusively

With over 15 years of experience running Charityworks, we have developed a recruitment approach designed to attract, assess and select from thousands of talented applicants while actively reducing the impact of unconscious bias.

We do this through practical, evidence-based steps:

1. We use anonymised application forms instead of CVs
2. We assess potential and competencies, not just experience
3. We use a consistent scoring framework for fair evaluation
4. We involve multiple assessors to bring diverse perspectives
5. We do not use psychometric tests
6. We carefully review and refine our use of language
7. We make the process as accessible as possible for all applicants
8. We continuously review and challenge our own decision-making

You can read more about our inclusive recruitment practices here.