Business development jobs

THE CLINK CHARITY

YOUTH SUPPORT WORKER (LONDON & SOUTHEAST)

Salary: £30,000 FTE

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full Time, 39 hours p/w

Location:  Supporting students from The Clink’s sites across London and the South East

Applications close on Friday 27th March but will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early applications are    advised

 ABOUT THE CLINK CHARITY

The Clink Charity, founded in 2009, aims to prevent and reduce reoffending through training, rehabilitation, and support. We deliver hospitality and horticulture training behind the prison walls and in the community by creating an environment where our students are supported to gain the skills, confidence and qualifications they need to rebuild their lives.

Since that time, we have trained approximately 5,000 people in prison and delivered 2,600 City & Guilds qualifications in a variety of hospitality and food courses.

What makes The Clink so unique is our post-release support and mentoring programme that rehabilitates an offender back into society through assistance with health and mental health issues, housing, employment, family connections and friendships.

The charity operates an award-winning fine-dining restaurant open to the public inside HMP Brixton, training kitchens in the prison estate, horticulture projects at HMP Send and HMP Erlestoke, a commercial bakery in Brixton, and a bespoke delivery service, Catered by Clink.

Additionally, Clink Events is our social enterprise catering business with food produced by the women in HMP Downview and also in an additional kitchen at Herne Hill and then served by alumni on front of house at some of the best venues in London including: the Guildhall, the Science Museum, Cutty Sark, Kew Gardens and the Camden Roundhouse. In 2024, across 218 events, The Clink fed 36,000 people.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Clink Training Café, located in Herne Hill, is a real-life professional kitchen and café that provides young people with meaningful work experience over a 12-week programme. During this time, participants work towards five accredited City & Guilds qualifications while gaining hands-on hospitality and employability skills.

We work closely with the Youth Justice Service, as well as Children in Care and Care Leavers teams, to engage vulnerable and at-risk young people in the programme. Many of the young people we support are at risk of criminal exploitation and grooming, and we also work with neurodivergent young people who have additional learning needs.

At our café in Herne Hill, we have supported 100% of our students who have participated in the program to graduate into further education or employment.

The Youth Support Worker will provide a high quality and responsive support, mentoring and advocacy service which creatively addresses the needs and risks of our students and graduates, enabling them to avoid the risk of criminal exploitation upon completion of the program and to progress into the next step of their education or employment pathway.

You will be joining The Clink Charity at an exciting time as we plan to scale the success of our Café project by taking on a second site in Guildford to work with vulnerable NEET young people across Surrey. This role will offer the successful candidate the opportunity to mobilise this project and to take a leading role in building referrals, establishing networks and establishing this new intervention.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a Youth Support Worker, you are responsible for:

Individualised Support

• Act as a strong advocate for all students, representing their needs and interests.

• Complete a personalised support plan for each student to understand their individual needs, challenges, and personal circumstances.

• Work closely with young people to identify risks, recognise warning signs, and develop strategies to reduce the likelihood of involvement in criminal exploitation, grooming, or other harmful behaviours.

• Support student engagement throughout the programme, addressing conflicts or challenges as they arise to maintain a positive learning environment.

• Establish appropriate boundaries and respond effectively to student behaviour to ensure a safe and inclusive environment.

• Support students in developing resilience, confidence, and independent decision-making skills.

Monitoring and Impact

• Conduct weekly 1:1 session with each student, focusing on personal growth, emotional wellbeing, and life skills such as budgeting, accurately logging all sessions in both internal and external CRM systems.

• Ensure all contact logs and essential paperwork are accurately updated and completed weekly.

• Contribute ideas to improve programme delivery and student engagement through innovative activities or support strategies.

• Use data insights to report progress to referral partners and funders.

Partnerships and Networks

• Build and maintain strong, positive relationships with all external partners and networks.

• Engage with external partners to build the relationships needed to receive referrals for our target audience and meet with each student prior to starting the programme to ensure a smooth induction.

• Liaise with relevant networks and attend meetings with funders or partner organisations that support the students' development.

• Seek out new partnership opportunities to enable The Clink's youth programs to grow and develop.

Employer and Further Education Connections

• Establish relationships with a variety of employers and further education providers to support work placements and future career opportunities.

• Assist students in creating structured CVs and preparing for interviews, including attending interviews if required.

Safeguarding

• To prioritise child protection and safeguarding of beneficiaries.

• Report and log all safeguarding concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead promptly, following charity policies.

General

• Travel between different sites when necessary, including locations such as our second site in Guildford, Surrey. Able to accompany our young people on trips, visits, or work placements, always maintaining safety and professional standards.

• Attend all training sessions and supervision meetings provided by senior management.

• Work collaboratively with staff across The Clink to achieve the best outcomes for young people and maintain healthy, professional working relationships.

• Support the planning and delivery of special events, career fairs, or community engagement projects.

DESIRABLE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

• Holds an enhanced DBS check suitable for working with both children and adults, ensuring full compliance with safeguarding and legal requirements.

• Experience of working with young people aged 16-25, with an understanding of their developmental stages, personal challenges, and individual needs.

• Possesses a relevant youth work qualification or equivalent, demonstrating a commitment to professional standards and best practice in supporting young people.

• Experience of working in prisons, youth offender institutions, or the criminal justice

system, including having lived experience, and the ability to use this knowledge to positively guide young people.

• Experience of supporting young people involved in gangs, at risk of exploitation, or affected by county lines, with the ability to identify risks and implement interventions to reduce harm.

• Experience of networking and building strong professional relationships with employers, apprenticeship services, and external partners to support education, training, and work placement opportunities.

• Experience of referring young people to specialist services and working collaboratively within a multi-agency framework to provide holistic support and guidance.

• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding issues and the PREVENT Duty, with the ability to assess risks, consult with line managers, and log appropriately in line with organisational protocols.

• Ability to maintain a safe, structured environment with clear boundaries while responding appropriately to behaviours and supporting young people to make positive choices.

• Ability to identify risk factors for criminal exploitation or grooming, help young people recognise warning signs, and implement strategies to reduce their vulnerability.

• Strong numeracy skills, sufficient to assist young people with budgeting, calculating benefit entitlements, understanding rent arrears, and managing finances.

• IT literate, able to maintain accurate records, logs, and assessments on internal and external systems while ensuring data is up to date and securely stored.

PERSONAL QUALITIES

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills

• Able to build trust, motivate, and advise a diverse group of young people while maintaining professional relationships.

• Able to adopt a supportive, confident, and motivating approach, inspiring young people, building their self-esteem, and promoting positive personal development.

• Demonstrate empathy, patience, and understanding of the diverse challenges young people may face, including personal, social, and emotional issues.

• Demonstrate resilience and adaptability, able to respond to changing circumstances and manage stress effectively while maintaining a positive approach.

• Highly organised and proactive, able to manage multiple tasks and competing priorities efficiently without compromising the quality of support.

• Committed to teamwork and collaboration, working effectively with colleagues, external partners, and multi-agency teams to achieve the best outcomes for young people.

• Willingness to engage in continuous training, professional development, and reflective practice to enhance knowledge, skills, and performance.

REPORTING LINES MANAGEMENT EXPECTATIONS

You will report directly to the Support Lead for London and the SE, the Executive Leadership Team, but also work closely with any external networks such as the local authority and related Clink project leads in the community. 

GENERAL CLINK CHARITY INFORMATION

All staff are expected to:

• Comply with all current legislation

• Comply with all prison operational policies

• Comply with The Clink Staff Handbook

• Undertake such other duties within the scope of the post as may be requested by your manager

Special Requirements:

• Must have an enhanced DBS for children & adults

• A driving licence is preferred because of travel between sites — but not essential.

Company Benefits:

• 28 days holiday plus bank holidays

• Company pension scheme

• Free meals on duty when based in a restaurant or at Herne Hill site.

HOW TO APPLY

If you would like to apply for this post, please send your CV and a supporting statement (maximum 2 sides of A4).

In your supporting statement you should ensure that you try to address the desirable criteria set out in the person specification for the role. Make sure you give evidence which shows how you meet the criteria, not just telling us that you did it.

Interviews will be arranged on a rolling basis for this role, so early applications are encouraged. The deadline for applications is Friday 27th March.

We do not send individual acknowledgment of applications due to the high volume we receive, and we will only contact candidates who are shortlisted for an interview. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, your application has not been successful on this occasion.

If you would like an informal chat about this role, we can offer a call with a member of The Clink Team. Even if you feel you do not meet some of the criteria listed above, we would still welcome applications from passionate candidates who are keen to make a difference.

Appointment process

Applicants who have demonstrated that they meet the desirable criteria set out in the person specification will be contacted and interviews arranged on a rolling basis.

Interview

If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be invited to a selection process. A panel of two or more, including the recruiting manager conducts all interviews. If there are any special arrangements associated with the selection process e.g. tests or presentations, you will be informed accordingly.

Interview outcome

If you are invited to attend an interview, you will be informed either verbally or in writing of the outcome. The successful candidate will have the decision confirmed in writing as an offer of employment. Unsuccessful candidates will be offered the opportunity for feedback.

References

If you are successful in your application, you are asked to provide us with the details of two referees. We only contact referees with your permission after an offer of employment has been made.

All offers of employment are conditional upon the receipt of references that are satisfactory to The Clink Charity, verification of right to work in the UK and where applicable, verification of qualifications and Disclosure and Barring Service (where required). 

Personal information

The personal information that you have supplied will only be used for recruitment and selection purposes. You should refer to the Privacy Notice on our website, which sets out how The Clink Charity will deal with the personal and sensitive data you have provided in your application form and supporting information.

EDI

We welcome all applicants and are keen to enhance our team to reflect the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We would like to encourage applications from disabled people, those from LGBTQIA+ and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and those experiencing other forms of marginalisation, as they are underrepresented at this level. In addition, as this role works directly with people in prison and those at risk of offending, those with lived experience are encouraged to apply. 

Accessible recruitment

The Clink Charity is committed to making our recruitment process and workplace accessible to all. If you are an applicant with a disability and/or have any specific needs or adjustments that you would like us to consider, at application, interview, or appointment stage, please make us aware in your application.

Reporting to the schools in house Legal Advisor, you will ensure the school operates in full compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and internal policy requirements, promoting a culture of compliance across all areas of school activity.

This role is initially offered on a one-year fixed term contract working term time, plus INSED days and a further three weeks during the school holidays (38 weeks). The role also has part time support provided by the Compliance Administrator.

Salary circa £63,000, depending on experience. This is based on full-time equivalent annual salary of £75,000.

To apply and find out more about the school and our attractive staff benefits package, please visit our dedicated recruitment website.

Closing date: 9am on Thursday 5 March 2026

Interview date: Friday 13 March 2026

Diversity – The School is fully committed to the principles of equal opportunity, diversity and inclusion. We have an established and representative staff Equality and Diversity Board to help drive forward positive change. A further Equality and Diversity Committee has recently been formed from our student population.

We are committed to attracting and retaining the very best staff, ensuring that our staff body reflects the diversity of our students and local community. Acknowledging a lack of ethnic diversity within our Support staff community, we particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic candidates for this role. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the School may employ positive action where diverse candidates can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to an enhanced DBS, online checks and receipt of two satisfactory references.

First Give

First Give is a national charity that partners with secondary schools to inspire and equip young people with the knowledge, confidence, and skills to drive change. Through our structured programmes, students explore social issues, connect with charities, and take tangible steps to improve their community.

Empowering and equipping young people to meaningfully contribute to their community is a first step to addressing many of the challenges we face at this time of social disconnection and division. Our vision is of a more generous society where everyone is willing and able to give their time, money and skills to the causes they care about.

Corporate Parnterships Manager

We are seeking a self-motivated and driven Corporate Partnerships Manager to lead on growing and stewarding First Give’s portfolio of high-value funders. This role will focus on developing corporate partnerships and will also support our Campaign Board and major donor activity.

First Give is a small charity, with a growing fundraising team and big ambitions. You will therefore be someone who thrives in a start-up environment, brings new ideas to the table and is comfortable setting up new systems and processes. You will play a pivotal role in shaping First Give’s income growth, working closely with our Head of Philanthropy and the Director. This role will also support key engagement activities, including hosting donors at student-led Final events and facilitating employee volunteering at schools.

This is an exciting opportunity for a confident fundraiser and communicator looking for the next step in their career. Someone who thrives on strategy, storytelling, and social impact.

Contract: Full-time, 35 hours per week. Permanent.

Salary: £40K (+£2K London weighting if applicable)

Location: The successful candidate will be expected to work from our London office or attend in-person meetings and host donors at school Final events for two days per week on average. The remainder of the week can typically be worked remotely, with flexibility as required.

Reporting to: Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships

The students we work with come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and so do we.  We want to foster a diverse and inclusive culture, to empower our teams to achieve our vision drawing on the broadest possible range of experiences. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates from minoritised groups currently underrepresented on our executive team, particularly black and minority ethnic and disabled candidates.

Please download the candidate pack for more details, and don't hesitate to get in touch if you'd like a chat about the role or any reasonable adjustments we can make before applying: contact details provided in the candidate pack.

We are looking for an enthusiastic Finance Manager, who will be responsible for all aspects of financial management and HR administration. You will be well organised, able to work on you own initiative and be experieced in writing clear and engaging reports tailored to a non-financial audience. 

The main responsibilities of the role are:

• Provide strategic financial leadership, including long range planning, budgeting and forecasts.
• Support Board and Committees (Investment, Finance and Grants), preparing and presenting papers and managing grant-giving process. 
• Lead the annual audit.
• Undertake day-to-day book-keeping.
• Oversee HR operations including payroll and pension administration.
• Ensure compliance with employment law and maintain HR policies.
• Review and manage insurance policies. 

You will be a qualified accountant (ACCA, ACA, CIMA, CPFA) with at least three years’ experience, ideally with charity experience.  You will also have experience of HR policies and management.

We are a small organisation, so a supportive 'hands-on' approval is essential, as are diplomacy and confidentiality.

CLC is a membership organisation for Lutheran Churches in the UK, and our office is close to Waterloo station. We undertake a range of activities including student chaplaincy, grant giving and outreach and we have recently acquired a church building for services and events. CLC is a Christian organisation, so whilst we would prefer you to be a Christian, it is not essential as long as you are willing to work in accordance with our ethos and values.