Internships

A very special internship

In recent years we have been nominated for both the “Queen’s Award for Charity” and the Prime Minister’s “Big Society Award”. For impact locally, we have been selected as a “Brighton & Hove Mayor’s charity” for the next 2 years, we have been an “Official charity partner of Brighton & Hove Albion ” and have been a charity partner for the Sussex County Cricket Club. Brighton & Hove is still one of the most deprived areas in the South East, outside of London and the social and spiritual needs outweigh our ability to supply.

Off The Fence is proving repeatedly that it can achieve lasting results but this cannot happen without the development of the intern programme.

 Each placement will have unique opportunities. As an Off The Fence intern you’ll be working with an Evangelical Christian Charity helping the people of Brighton & Hove. You’ll work to inspire, educate and do everything you can to support those who are struggling with life in Brighton & Hove. Complementing your office-based training, you’ll gain practical experience and internal training.

We have opportunities to work as part of our Schools team, our Gateway Women’s Centre or in our Antifreeze Homeless Centre and outreach team. With our Schools team, you will be part of a closely knit group that provides Christian lunch clubs, safe space clubs, and Prayer Spaces in school.  If you have a heart for young people and enjoy working in a team we’d love to hear from you!’

With Gateway, you will take part in group craft sessions, Bible study, leading discussions and and plenty of one-to-one opportunities with the women we serve. Because of the delicate nature of this role the position is open to female applicants only.

At Antifreeze, your work will involve working with rough sleepers inside and outside the Centre. For this reasons your interpersonal skills and sense of empathy will need to be developed. It’s not all serious though. You could end up doing anything from leading a Bible study for homeless clients to dressing up as a superhero for a fundraising event. And everything in between!

As part of the Income Generation and Comms team you will play a full part in designing campaigns, putting together social media narratives, taking photographs, compiling lists and plans, learning how to design, assemble web site pages and even creating and taking part in radio show, videos and podcasts. As part of your internship you will be asked to plan, lead and execute one fundraising event which will be evaluated afterwards. You will of course be an integral part of all the events hosted by Off The Fence during the year. We can promise it will be a year to remember!

Interns can be of any life experience but must be at least 18 years old; what matters is your eagerness to grow as a minister of the Gospel and your desire to serve those who need it most.

What about financial support?

Preference will be given to those already living in the Brighton & Hove area. You will need to work part-time to cover your bills and everyday expenses.

The programme normally commences at the beginning of September and runs for a complete year. It offers priceless experience if you want a year to learn how to put into practice your Christian faith, reaching out to those most in need. You’ll have the opportunity to mix with people of all walks of life and to see how a Christian charity works from the inside. You may end up in full-time paid Christian work. Either way, a year as an intern will equip you for life. We hope all you learn and experience will grow and equip you for your future ministry.

Off The Fence believes in the need to develop the next generation of servant-hearted leaders. This Intern scheme is designed to equip you in key areas of running a mission-led, Christian charity. We will share our experience of policies, procedures and fundraising.

By far the best way to learn something is to do it! We hope our Interns will gain experience for future service in outreach and ministry.

Interns can use their time with us to explore whether they should take further steps towards long-term full or part-time ministry or even start their own Charity. 

One further thing, you should be a committed Christian who believes in and adheres to the aims, core values and ethos of OTF.

Closing date: open from now until the end of the school year - the end of July 2023