About Live2Help Recruitment

Why we exist

Most recruitment agencies treat the third sector as an afterthought on a corporate desk. A vacancy comes in, a generalist consultant runs the same CV database they use for insurance sales, and a shortlist arrives with candidates who list "helping people" as an interest between "cycling" and "cooking". Mission-led employers deserve better, and their beneficiaries deserve hires who genuinely understand the work.

Live2Help Recruitment was set up as a specialist desk for purpose-driven employers: charities, social enterprises, community-interest companies, foundations, membership bodies and faith-based organisations. Every consultant on the team has either worked in the third sector, held a fundraising or programme role, or spent years on a specialist third-sector desk. We ask candidates about the mission before we ask about the CV.

What we do, plainly

We place values-aligned talent for UK charities and mission-led employers. Fundraising, programme delivery, service management, charity finance and HR, membership and community engagement, communications, policy, grants and impact roles. Retained and executive search for chief executives, directors, chairs and trustees. One consultant accountable end to end, from intake through onboarding follow-up.

How we vet

Every candidate on a Live2Help shortlist has been assessed against the same standard before an introduction:

• Genuine values alignment with the mission, tested through structured conversation not a checkbox
• DBS status captured at intake, Enhanced applications chased at offer stage, status confirmed before start
• Third-sector-specific experience validated against the role: fundraising cycle exposure, programme management context, safeguarding awareness, funder relationships
• Current comp package broken down and calibrated against charity-sector benchmarks by role and organisation size
• Understanding of restricted versus unrestricted funding pressure, and the ability to deliver against project-funded timelines
• Reference readiness and background-check readiness before we present the shortlist
• For senior and CEO roles: back-channel references, trustee-context conversations and public-record checks

Who we work with

Our clients include national and regional charities, international NGOs, membership bodies, professional associations, grant-making foundations, social enterprises, CIC-structured organisations and faith-based charities across the United Kingdom. Chief executives, directors of fundraising, heads of function and trustee boards who value a specialist desk that speaks fluent third-sector.

How we think about a placement

A placement is not a signed offer letter. It is the moment 18 months later when the new hire is still there, delivering against the strategy, integrated into the team, and the CEO has stopped thinking about the succession plan. That is the outcome we measure ourselves against.

Our standards

• Values-first screening. If we cannot articulate why a candidate genuinely aligns with the mission, the CV does not leave our desk.
• Third-sector fluent. We speak fluent restricted funds, safeguarding, DBS timing, CQC, Ofsted, IATI and Charity Commission compliance. No hand-holding on the basics.
• Tell the truth about funding realities. If a role is restricted-funded and the candidate needs to be self-funding by year two, we say so. If a comp band is light for the sector, we say that too, before we source.
• One consultant, end to end. Same person from intake through onboarding follow-up. No queue.
• Stand behind the work. Sliding rebate on every permanent placement.

Want to talk?

Use the contact form and we will come back within one business day. We are available Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm.