Children advocate jobs in Manchester

Experience of designing, delivering and improving participation, voice, involvement or lived experience programmes with children or young people is an essential requirement for this role. Please see the person specification below for all essential requirements before applying.

Role title: Voice Manager

Reporting to: Head of Impact and Innovation (note that this role will work collaboratively across the organisation to drive this agenda on lived experience being embedded through the charity) 

Location of work: The post holder will be home-based, with office visits required approximately once a month, and department/organisational away days which will be discussed with Line Manager. The role may involve some occasional irregular travel to attend events and meetings throughout England and Scotland.

Contract type: Ideally full time, 35 hours per week, although flexible hours may be considered. The role may require occasional evening and weekend work. 

Contract length: Permanent 

Salary: £43,500 

Background

For more than 20 years, Magic Breakfast has been helping children and young people start the day with the nourishment they need to learn, grow, and thrive. But the impact of breakfast goes far beyond food. Every morning, we help pupils arrive at school feeling valued, included, and ready to reach their potential.

Today, 2.1 million children across the UK are at risk of hunger, the equivalent of four pupils in a classroom of 30. Working with schools in disadvantaged communities across England and Scotland, Magic Breakfast is committed to ensuring no child is too hungry to learn. One breakfast at a time, we are helping children and young people build brighter futures.

This is a pivotal moment to join Magic Breakfast. Governments in both England and Scotland have committed to expanding access to free school breakfasts, recognising the vital role they play in children’s wellbeing and attainment. Yet significant gaps remain. Pupils in secondary schools, alongside younger children in nursery and early years settings, are still at risk of starting the day hungry. Hunger does not begin at age five, nor end at age 11, and neither does our mission.

By joining Magic Breakfast, you will become part of a passionate, ambitious organisation driving lasting change for children and young people across the UK.

Job Purpose 

Magic Breakfast has already begun developing its approach to embedding children and young people's voiceas outlined in ourorganisational Nourishing Futures strategy and business plan, launched in 2025. Alongside this, a Lived Experience strategy and roadmap set out the plan to ensure child and youth voice is heard at all points in our decision making.This role will operationalise that roadmap, strengthening the systems, standards, capability and accountability needed to embed participation across the organisation. 

The Voice Manager will lead the development and delivery of Magic Breakfast’s approach to lived experience voice, with a particular focus on children and young people. They will ensure that the processes, policies, practicalguidanceand organisational capability is in place to enable the views, experiences and priorities of children and young peopletoshapethe organisation. 

This is a new roleat Magic Breakfast, responding to our Nourishing Futures strategy with a vision of a UK where every child is nourished, empowered and thriving.It’sa dynamic, matrix role, that works with teams across the organisation and will evolve over time, initially seeking to develop and embed new practices and approaches,which will impacton the culture and practices of the organisation.Previous experience of working ina similar role is vital as this role will provide lead counsel on child and youth participation across the organisation. 

The role holder will provide expert advice to colleagues across the organisation, helping teams embed meaningful, safe,inclusive and non-tokenistic participation in their work.The aim is for children and young people from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences, including those who may face barriersto engaging,are able to influence Magic Breakfast’s work.Anessential part of this role will be ensuring that,as well as the necessary internal infrastructure, the culture and mindset is in place to support the wider strategic aims. 

Key Responsibilities 

Voice leadership and organisational practice 

• Shape and operationalise Magic Breakfast’s children and young people’s voice function, ensuring it is aligned to organisational strategy, business planning and evaluation, safeguarding requirements and EDI commitments. 

• Reviewand maintain organisational guidance, processes andparticipation infrastructure that supportschildren and young people’s participation, includingconsent, accessibility, safeguarding,risk, recognition (e.g.remuneration), feedbackloopsand ethical storytelling. 

Organisational capability-buildingand support 

• Provide specialist advice to internal teams on when and how to involve children and young people, for examplein decision-making, service development, policy influencing, communications, fundraising,researchand evaluation. 

• Develop and deliver training, resources and reflective learning opportunities that help staff understand the importance of children and young people’s voice and build confidence in applying participatory approaches. 

• Work closely withourPeople and Culture team to embed voice and participation learning into wider performance expectations, ways of working, internal culture and learning,and development pathways. 

• Chair,coordinateor contribute to internal working groups that bring colleagues together to embed children and young people’s voice across teams and projects. 

• Champion a culture of listening, accountability and continuous improvement, highlighting whereand howchildren and young people’s views have influenced decisions to provide positive reinforcement of actions. 

Participation, engagementand co-design 

• Design,pilotand develop participatory approaches(such as regional lived experience panels, pupil panels, advisory groups, workshops, focus groups, creative consultation methodsand digital activities) for engaging children and young people,and support organisation-wide adoption. 

• Ensure participation approaches are accessible and inclusive for children and young people with different needs,experiences and communication preferences, including those who may be less likely to engage through traditional methods. 

• Ensure appropriate feedback loops are in place,s oparticipants and contributors understand how their views have shaped decisions, proposals, policy asks, breakfast provision or further research priorities. 

 

Safeguarding,ethicsand risk management 

• Ensure all voice and participation activity is delivered safely and in line with Magic Breakfast’s safeguarding, data protection, health and safety,consentand risk management policies. 

• Ensure children and young people are appropriately prepared, supported and followed up before, during and after participation activities, including signposting to support where needed. 

• Be an active member of the internal Safeguarding Committee, proactively flagging issues and developing or updating anyappropriate processes, whilst supporting a shift in approach from compliance to culturally embedded. 

• Support colleagues to develop appropriate risk assessments for online and in-person participation activities, and where needed, escalating concerns in line with organisational processes. 

• Support colleagues to apply ethical and inclusive approaches to gathering,analysingand using children and young people’s views, particularly where sensitive personal experiences may be shared. 

 

Insight and Influence 

• Develop and maintain approach to measure participation, influence, reach,qualityand impact, ensuring alignment with Magic Breakfast’s existing evaluation and reporting cycles. 

• Represent Magic Breakfast in external working groups,coalitions and participation networks, sharing learning and bringing sector insight back into the organisation. 

• Support funder conversations and proposals where required by clearly articulating Magic Breakfast’s ambitions,approachand impact in relation to children and young people’s voice. 

• Promote organisational learning by sharing participation insights, emerging themes and examples of influence across teams, helping to strengthen practice and decision-making. 

• Commission or manage external support, suppliers or partners where needed,ensuring quality of work 

Person Specification 

Essential knowledge and experience

• Experience of designing,deliveringand improving participation, voice, involvement or lived experience programmes with children or young people. 

• Experience of applying safeguarding, consent, confidentiality, data protection and risk management processes in participation or engagement activity. 

• Experience of managing projects or workstreams from design through to delivery, monitoring,learningand reporting. 

• Experience of facilitating workshops, focus groups, panels or advisory groups, both online and in person. 

• Experience of translating qualitative insight into clear findings, recommendations,reportsor resources for different audiences. 

• Experience of developing or managing place-based, community-ledor regional engagement structures. 

• Experience of developing guidance, tools,trainingor resources that support others to adopt good practice. 

• Experience of building trusting,appropriateand inclusive relationships with children and young people from a range of backgrounds and experiences. 

• Experience ofmatrixworking across teamsand influencing decision making 

Essential skills and behaviours  

• Strong understanding of meaningful,ethicaland non-tokenistic participation, co-designand lived experience practice within the UK. 

• Good understanding of safeguarding, emotional wellbeing, healthy boundaries and inclusive practice when working with children and young people. 

• Strong facilitation skills, with the ability to create inclusive spaces, encourage participation and manage group dynamics or challenging conversations sensitively. 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to make complex information clear,accessible and engaging for different audiences. 

• Ability to work with data and evidence to develop metrics,monitor progress and report impact. 

• Commitment to equity,diversityand inclusion, and to reducing barriers to participation for children and young people. 

Desirable Knowledge, experience and skills 

• Experience of child or youth voice activity in schools, education, youth work, anti-poverty, food insecurity, health, socialactionor charity settings. 

• Experience of supporting children and young people to engage with policymakers, funders, media,campaignsor public-facing opportunities. 

• Experience of working with community partners, local authorities, combined authorities, youth organisations, faithgroupsor other trusted local intermediaries to support inclusive participation. 

General requirements 

• Willing and able to travel across the UK for school visits, workshops,eventsand partner meetings. 

• Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends where participation activity requires it, with time off in lieuinline with organisational policy. 

• Enhanced DBS check may be required depending on the final design of the role and level of direct work with children and young people. 

APPLICATION PROCCESS

You can access our job pack and more information about Magic Breakfast via our website. 

Should you wish to discuss the role before applying please email our People and Culture Team (hr @ magicbreakfast. com)

Shortlisting: w/c 31st August

Interview 1: w/c 14th September

Interview 2 and Informal Panel: w/c 21st September

Due to the high volume of applications, this role is likely to close early and we reserve the right to do so. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately, once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications. 

Lead Advocate- Cheshire West and Chester

Permanent with Funding until 31st March 2028

28 hours per week

£30,600 per annum FTE (£24,480 per annum pro rata for 28 hours per week).

Location: Office base: Wythenshawe, Manchester, with regular travel across Cheshire West and Chester and to out-of-area placements as required.

Benefits include but not limited to:

-36 days' annual leave [full time roles only], inclusive of flexible bank holidays, increasing with length of service

-Enhanced maternity/paternity leave

-We match up to 8% pension

-Free counselling service

-Opportunities to develop and widen your skills

-2 days of paid volunteering time per annum to support another part of the organisation

About us:The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need.

Our Youth Impact domain creates impact for children and young people. With highly skilled and experienced staff working across England and Wales, we provide direct support to children, young people, parents and carers, as well as conduct research and influence Government to make changes. We also provide training for professionals. Our value driven team change the lives of children in this country for the better — and with your help and expertise, tomorrow we can support even more.

About the role:

You'll play a key part in our Cheshire West and Chester Advocacy Service, delivering independent advocacy support to children and young people who are cared for by the local authority, subject to Child in Need and Child Protection Plans, children and young people with disabilities, and those requiring non-instructed advocacy.

We're looking for a dedicated and experienced Lead Advocate with the ability to manage a complex caseload whilst providing leadership, supervision and practice support to Advocates, making a real impact in the lives of children and young people.

Key skills and experience:

The required skills and competencies for this role are:

-Experience of advocating for children and young people and ensuring their voices, wishes and feelings are heard in decisions affecting their lives.

-Ability to supervise, coach and support colleagues whilst promoting high standards of safeguarding and advocacy practice.

-Experience of risk assessment, referral triage and partnership working with social care, education, health and other agencies.

It would also be an advantage if you have any of the following skills and competencies:

-Experience of working with children and young people who are cared for, subject to CIN or CP Plans, or have disabilities and additional needs.

-Experience of undertaking case audits, quality assurance activities or service improvement work.

-Knowledge of instructed and non-instructed advocacy approaches and children's rights legislation.

Closing date: Midnight on 23rd AugustInterviews: To be confirmed

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protection of the children and young people we work with. As such, our safer recruitment process includes a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, 5 years of references, and additional vetting checks relevant to the role. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, shortlisting is carried out on an anonymised basis. Personal details are hidden from the shortlisting panel, and candidates are referenced by a candidate number only. As part of this process, we ask that your CV is anonymised before submission - this means removing personal information such as your name, contact details, age, and any other identifying details.

AI tools can support your application but only when used appropriately. You're welcome to use them to improve clarity, structure, and research. However, overuse or misuse (e.g. inventing experience or using AI during assessments) may lead to rejection at any stage. We want to hear the real you - authenticity matters.

IN1

The young people, children and families that we support are at the heart of everything we do at Mermaids. We have ambitious plans to expand the reach and impact of our youth work. To support this growth, we are recruiting an Interim Youth Officer who will play a key role in overseeing our youth programmes and activities. The successful candidate will help increase our capacity to engage with more young people, provide high-quality support, and ensure the continued delivery of our core youth services while contributing to the development of new opportunities for young people. This role is fully remote, full time with a four day working week (32 hours).

Mermaids is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications from those with lived experiences (directly or indirectly) and/or close ties to the LGBTQ+ community. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences to join us and shape what we do. We are particularly keen to receive applications from BPOC (black and people of colour) and/or disabled and trans candidates.

Sessional Lead Missing from Care Practitioner Greater Manchester

Sessional Contract, as and when needed

Permanent with funding until March 2027

£16.81 per hour

To deliver the Missing From Home Return Interview Service. The successful applicant will work within a multi-disciplinary approach in response to children missing from care. Ensuring that children and young people who are at risk of or are missing, are kept safe and supported to reduce or prevent missing episodes.

Lead Practitioner will support with the line management of student social workers, and to support the team with safeguarding incidents in the line manager's absence.

Benefits include but not limited to:

-Enhanced maternity/paternity leave

-We match up to 8% pension

-Free counselling service

-Opportunities to develop and widen your skills

-2 days of paid volunteering time per annum to support another part of the organisation

About us:The Children's Society has been helping children and young people in this country for over 140 years. We deliver essential local services that provide safe, trusted support to children and young people during times of significant need.

Our Youth Impact domain creates impact for children and young people. With highly skilled and experienced staff working across England and Wales, we provide direct support to children, young people, parents and carers, as well as conduct research and influence Government to make changes. We also provide training for professionals. Our value driven team change the lives of children in this country for the better - and with your help and expertise, tomorrow we can support even more.

Key skills

-Negotiation, facilitation and advocacy skills.

-Ability to communicate with a wide range of children and young people, families, colleagues and partner agencies.

-Assessment and evaluation skills.

-Accurate recording skills.

-IT skills in Microsoft Office .

-Ability to work on own initiative and to reflect on own practice and performance

Experience

-Experience of working directly with vulnerable children particularly Who are missing and in care of local authorities

-Substantial experience of undertaking assessments of need and risk and planning interventions.

-Significant experience of multi-agency working.

-Experience of supporting the learning of other

Closing date: Midnight on 26th August 2026

Interviews: Interview date yet to be confirmed

The Children's Society is committed to safeguarding and protection of the children and young people we work with. As such, our safer recruitment process includes a Basic or Enhanced DBS check, 5 years of references, and additional vetting checks relevant to the role. We have a comprehensive range of policies and procedures in place to promote safeguarding and safer working practices across all areas of our organisation.In support of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, shortlisting is carried out on an anonymised basis. Personal details are hidden from the shortlisting panel, and candidates are referenced by a candidate number only. As part of this process, we ask that your CV is anonymised before submission - this means removing personal information such as your name, contact details, age, and any other identifying details.

AI tools can support your application but only when used appropriately. You're welcome to use them to improve clarity, structure, and research. However, overuse or misuse (e.g. inventing experience or using AI during assessments) may lead to rejection at any stage. We want to hear the real you - authenticity matters

IN1

The role

As Youth Advocacy Lead, you will develop and deliver GMYN’s new We Rise project, working alongside care-experienced and separated young people to transform housing and accommodation across Greater Manchester. 

This role is about more than delivering a project. It is an opportunity to help change not just young people's lives but how an organisation listens to them. We are looking for an advocate who believes young people already have the answers; they simply need adults and organisations willing to listen, share power and act. 

The role will combine direct work with young people, advocacy practice, organisational development and systems change. You will introduce and embed a self-advocacy approach across GMYN, supporting young people to understand their rights, build confidence and influence the decisions affecting their lives. 

Alongside this, you will support GMYN colleagues to develop the skills and confidence to make advocacy part of everyday practice; not something that only happens when things go wrong. Working across the organisation, you will help us move from supporting young people for them to achieving change with them. 

You will support young people to lead social action projects, distribute over grants through the We Rise Challenge Fund, influence regional housing reform, develop the creative projects and become the next generation of youth leaders across Greater Manchester. 

This is a real opportunity to build something from the beginning and help create an organisation where advocacy is not an activity – it is simply how we work. 

Key responsibilities 

• Lead the development and delivery of We Rise, ensuring young people are meaningfully involved learning is captured throughout the project.

• Develop a self-advocacy approach across GMYN, supporting young people to understand their rights and influencing decisions affecting their lives.

• Support young people to develop leadership, advocacy and social action skills so they can shape the services, systems and decisions that affect their lives.

• Design participation opportunities using rights-based approaches, ensuring young people are equal partners in shaping services and decisions.

• Develop strong relationships across Greater Manchester to strengthen youth voice and advocacy for young people to influence change.

• Model strong safeguarding practice to ensure young people are safe and supported. 

• Promote strengths-based and trauma-informed that ensure young people feel valued and heard.

• Capture insight, outcomes and learning to evidence impact and improve future practice.

• Manage project plans, budgets, reporting, and partnerships to ensure successful project delivery. 

• Support GMYN to embed advocacy approaches and continuously improve how we work alongside young people. 

• Promote youth-led advocacy and represent GMYN with stakeholders across Greater Manchester. 

• Carrying out any other reasonable duties and responsibilities that contribute to the organisation's overall aims andobjectives. 

Person specification 

• Experience delivering advocacy or rights-based support with young people, such as care-experienced and separated young people. 

• Understanding of advocacy approaches and how they differ from advice, counselling and key work. 

• Experience supporting young people to develop and lead social action projects. 

• Experience designing and delivering participation opportunities.

• Co-producing services or projects with young people and people with lived experience. 

• Experience facilitating groups, workshops and activities that create safe, inclusive and empowering spaces for young people. 

• Experience developing practice through training and coaching professionals and/or embedding new approaches across organisations. 

• Understanding of trauma-informed approaches, strengths-based practice, and rights-based participation, including the Lundy Model. 

• Experience building and maintaining effective partnerships with young people, professionals, organisations and stakeholders. 

• Experience planning, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating projects, including capturing impact and learning. 

Please see attached pack for further information about GMYN and the role. 

Who we are

IPSEA (Independent Provider of Special Education Advice) is a national charity working to ensure that children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the educational support they are legally entitled to. Since we were formed in 1983, we have helped to improve the education experience of thousands of children and young people across England. We do this by providing free and independent legal advice and casework support for families, undertaking policy work and delivering training on the SEND legal framework.

What you’ll do

Reports to: Chief Executive

Location: Home-based or Hybrid (with frequent travel for events and meeting with parliamentarians and other stakeholders) 

We are seeking a Policy Manager to lead IPSEA's policy and influencing work to achieve positive change for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. Working closely with the Chief Executive, Head of Legal and Training, trustees and colleagues across the organisation, you will set strategic policy priorities and develop evidence-based influencing plans that support IPSEA's mission and long-term objectives.

Drawing on insights from our advice and tribunal services, legal expertise and the experiences of families, you will identify systemic issues within the SEND system and develop policy solutions that improve children and young people's access to the support and education to which they are entitled. You will ensure that IPSEA's policy positions are credible, legally robust and informed by the lived experiences of those we support.

You will lead IPSEA's engagement with government, Parliament and other key decision-makers, identifying opportunities to influence legislation, policy and practice at both national and local level. This includes overseeing responses to consultations, parliamentary inquiries and calls for evidence, as well as preparing briefings and strategic advice to support senior-level engagement and advocacy.

Working collaboratively with colleagues across legal, communications, fundraising and training teams, you will ensure IPSEA's policy, campaigning and public affairs activities are aligned and maximise the organisation's impact. You will also monitor developments across the political, legal and policy landscape, helping IPSEA respond proactively to emerging opportunities and challenges affecting the rights of children and young people with SEND.

This role offers the opportunity to make a real difference as part of a small, friendly, and dedicated team. If you are passionate about helping children and young people with SEND and have the skills and experience needed, we would love to hear from you.

Who are we looking for?

You will have significant experience in a senior policy and campaigning/public affairs role and have good knowledge of local and national government structure including the legislative process.

You the ability to build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders including MPs, civil servants, campaigners and parents. You exhibit tact and diplomacy and can be impactful with people of varying levels and experience.

Your research and critical thinking skills enable you to analyse policy and data to produce relevant reports and position papers. You have experience of drafting organisation responses to government consultations and parliamentary calls for evidence.

IPSEA should also reflect the communities we support. We would particularly like to hear from candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ people, under-served communities and disabled people, as well as those with lived experience of the SEND system, either as a child or as a parent/carer.

What we can offer you

• 5% employer pension contributions
• Healthcare cash plan
• Flexible working arrangements
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an additional day off for your birthday (pro-rata if part-time).

To apply

Visit our website to download a recruitment pack and application form.

Deadline for applications: 9am on 7 September 2026.

First-round interviews: on 15 September 2026 in our offices in Takeley, Essex, with second-round interviews (online) on 18 September 2026.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE.

Hope for Justice is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic professional to join our team as an Independent Modern Slavery Advocate® (IMSA®) (Trainee) to join our Advocacy team and work within the IMSA® model pilot. This is an in-role trainee position which requires successful completion of the IMSA® PG Certification in order to progress to the full IMSA® role.

Since September 2025, the IMSA® Model Development Project has been pioneering a national pilot. Hope for Justice is working in partnership with 14 other organisations, together employing 28 IMSAs® and Senior IMSAs® who are working alongside adult survivors of human trafficking. Hope for Justice leads the central IMSA® Model Hub within the pilot, supporting IMSAs® and their employing organisations throughout the UK. 

To achieve our collection aim of a standardised national model of accredited independent advocacy for adult survivors of modern slavery, all IMSAs® are required to successfully complete the IMSA® PG Certification with St Mary's University. This opportunity will fully fund and support you to complete the IMSA® PG Certification, whilst working as a Trainee IMSA®. Upon successful completion, you will progress into the full IMSA® role. Throughout your training we will support you in the following ways:

·Released in-work time for PG Certification attendance and study

·Reduction in caseload and/or complex cases

·Additional supervision and support for casework

IMSAs® work alongside survivors to help them understand their rights and to navigate the complex systems and support services available in the UK. By working with an independent advocate, survivors can overcome barriers and make informed decisions about their recovery.

This is a UK-based role within our UK Advocacy Team and a fixed term contract until December 2027 (in line with IMSA® Model Pilot timeframes).

This role is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the delivery and the development of a national pilot working towards a shared goal of every survivor of modern slavery and human trafficking having access to an Independent Modern Slavery Advocate®.

Requirements

1.Provide independent advocacy for survivors of modern slavery/human trafficking in the UK

• Empowering adult survivors by providing a clear overview of their rights and entitlements, in their own language, explaining and providing an overview of options and choices 
• Once a survivor understands their rights, producing a detailed initial assessment (legal and socio needs), an individual risk assessment and a safety plan 
• Anticipating and understanding the barriers that survivors face and how independent advocacy can help to overcome those barriers 
• Ensuring smooth transfer into safe accommodation and into the community, advocating for clear pathways to services and systems, in accordance with the non-statutory government endorsed, Slavery and Trafficking Care Standards 2025, produced by the Human Trafficking Foundation 
• Act as a single point of contact for the survivor, and relevant agencies through all processes. Providing a point of trust for the survivor and high-quality communication with all relevant agencies and professionals 
• Ensuring referrals to legal and support agencies are effectively managed and supported, including housing; witness support; health services; finance and debt organisations; education, training and employment services; immigration; civil compensation, public law and criminal law solicitors 
• Where necessary, and dependent on local support available, accompany a survivor (online or in-person) to advocacy related appointments, empowering and advocating for the survivor’s needs and wishes to be heard in all processes, supporting the survivor to negotiate these processes and overcome barriers 
• Working with the survivor, where appropriate, to develop confidence to do things for themselves, to foster independence and to advocate for themselves
• Ensuring the survivor’s voice is heard and if a survivor wishes to engage that they are well supported as a witness throughout criminal and civil proceedings 
• Work collaboratively with key agencies and services that the survivor routinely interacts with, e.g. support worker; social services, health care personnel, and other statutory and non-statutory agencies, to ensure they receive coordinated help and support
• Provide understanding and education for adult survivors at risk of re-trafficking including safety planning, understanding signs of exploitation, worker’s rights and financial inclusion to reduce the risk of re-exploitation
• Managing a caseload using a trauma-informed approach, that is person-led and ensuring all survivors are able to achieve their agreed outcomes 
• Working with IMSA Model Hub team to administer and process survivor referrals
• Ensuring that all case management is delivered to agreed standards, in line with the values of the IMSA Model and in line with organisational policies, procedures and best practice. 

2.Provide advice to professionals and individuals, building effective and collaborative relationships with other organisations and deliver training and information on modern slavery and human trafficking 

• To provide expert information and capacity strengthening to a wide range of professionals, stakeholders and organisations encountered when working as an independent advocate
• To promote and demonstratea trauma informed and person-centered response, ensuring conduct, language and behaviour is anti-oppressive, anti-racist and culturally intelligent
• To deliver training, awareness raising and capacity strengthening sessions on a range of topics relevant to modern slavery and human trafficking in the UK

3.Risk Management and escalation:  

• Following procedures, policies and guidance to ensure a safe, effective, and efficient working environment 
• Identifying and escalating safeguarding concerns appropriately and in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and practice 
• Rapidly identifying, managing and when appropriate, escalating risks and health and safety matters 

4.Data Management: 

• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date case management notes and data in accordance with organisational and IMSA Model policies, procedures and good practice 
• Ensuring that data protection and information sharing policies are upheld 

5.Team Member: 

• To actively participate in all team meetings, upholding and promoting a supportive environment throughout the IMSA Model Hub and the wider network of IMSAs 
• To work collaboratively across the IMSA Model Hub and wider network of IMSAs to support best practice
• To raise awareness of issues of modern slavery, human trafficking, and the experiences of survivors across a range of organisations and individuals, building capacity, knowledge and improving responses to modern slavery and human trafficking 
• Support the aims of the IMSA Model and the IMSA Model Development Project, promoting the benefits of independent advocacy and the opportunity to reform responses to survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking across the UK 

6.Learning and Development:  

• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of the changes in legislation and policy in relation to modern slavery 
• Adopt reflective practice approaches, identifying areas for improvement and seeking continued professional development opportunities 
• Monitoring policy changes, sharing and reporting on the impact of these changes on survivor outcomes 
• Successful completion of the Post Graduate Certificate for IMSAs 

7.For all roles: 

• Understand and uphold the standards outlined Hope for Justice safeguarding policies, acting with due care and attention to safeguard the wellbeing of anyone that comes into contact with our work and reporting concerns if they do arise 
• Work at all times in line with Hope for Justice and the IMSA Model policies and procedures and the wider strategy, culture, and ethos of Hope for Justice
• Uphold the IMSA Model values and governance structure
• Respond to ad hoc assignments requested from time to time

Key Result Areas

• Survivors receive expert independent advocacy to realise their rights and entitlements, overcome barriers, and move towards their self-definition of recovery
• Effective partnerships are maintained enabling positive advocacy outcomes for survivors
• Data collection and clients’ case notes are accurate, reaching organisational standards and enable analysis, supporting the on-going development and improvement of the IMSA® Model Development Project 

We expect all our employees to understand and uphold the standards outlined in the Hope for Justice Safeguarding policies, acting with due care and attention to safeguard the wellbeing of anyone that encounters our work and reporting concerns if they do arise.

As part of Hope for Justice/Slave Free Alliance, you will benefit from an excellent package including:

• 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)
• 1 day Marriage Leave
• Birthday Day
• Enhanced employer pension contributions
• Company sick pay
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• Access to our Employee Rewards Platform, providing discounts and offers for well-known retailers
• Free, confidential Employee Assistance Programme for staff and their family
• Professional development opportunities
• Professional memberships paid
• Flexible and hybrid working

Role Details

Job type: Full time

Salary: £28,500 pa, salary will increase to £30,000 upon successful completion of the IMSA® PG Certification

Closing date: 26th August 2026

Location: Hybrid – within UK, with travel to Manchester when required

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which include criminal records checks, in line with our Global background checks policy – to view this please click here. Hope for Justice participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this scheme, as part of the referencing process we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Personal data of the selected candidate(s) may be transmitted to INTERPOL for a security check for the purpose of identifying threats the candidate could pose to children and vulnerable persons in regard to a sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment offences.

We would like to inform you that due to the high number of applicants we receive, we regret that we are not able to respond individually to all applicants. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further steps in the selection process, thank you for your understanding.

For nearly 20 years, Lively Minds has been proving that parents are the sleeping giants of early childhood development. With strong evidence and a national scale proof point in Ghana, we have shown that parent powered approaches delivered through government systems can transform children's lives at scale.

We are now at a pivotal moment. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum, and we need the funding, profile and influence to match our ambition. This is a rare opportunity to lead income generation and external voice for an award winning NGO entering an exciting new phase of growth. You will lead our fundraising strategy and direct engagement with Funders ensuring that we maximise all funding opportunities as we continue our strategic evolution. You will also shape a compelling external narrative that will help position Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments strengthening their early childhood development systems.

If you are an exceptional fundraiser and communicator who is equally comfortable in a strategic conversation and writing a winning proposal, we would love to hear from you.

Read the full advert and apply below. Closing date: 3rd September 2026.

About Lively Minds

Lively Minds is an award-winning NGO with nearly 20 years of experience designing, testing and scaling early childhood development (ECD) solutions across the Global South. Our core idea is simple but radical: parents are the sleeping giants of ECD. Governments and donors have long overlooked parents, assuming that poverty and low literacy make them unable or unwilling to support their childrenʼs development. We have spent two decades proving otherwise. With RCT-backed evidence and a national-scale proof point in Ghana, we have demonstrated that parent-powered approaches, delivered through government systems, can achieve meaningful child development outcomes at scale.

Our 2026–2028 strategy marks a pivotal shift. Having demonstrated what is possible, we are now helping pioneer an innovative model of country-led sustainable scale. Rather than delivering programmes ourselves, we provide lean, time-limited technical advisory support to governments to help them integrate parent-powered ECD into their own systems, budgets and institutions. We are currently working with the governments of Ghana, Uganda, Oromia state (Ethiopia) and The Gambia in 2026, growing to six or more country engagements by 2028. Our ambition is to catalyse a sector-wide shift, positioning Lively Minds as the definitive partner for governments seeking to strengthen their ECD systems.

Our scale strategy rests on three interdependent pillars: fixed-term Technical Advisory partnerships with governments; the development of a modular radio model simple and affordable enough for governments to adopt and fund independently; and an advocacy and sector influence agenda designed to make parent-powered ECD the norm globally.

Purpose of the Role

Lively Minds is at a critical inflection point. We have the evidence, the model and the momentum. We now need the funding, profile and sector influence to match our ambition. The Director of Fundraising and Communications is a priority hire, created to provide the dedicated, experienced leadership that this moment demands.

The Director will own and drive Lively Mindsʼ income generation, building new funder relationships, managing and deepening existing ones, and ensuring the organisation has the pipeline, discipline and quality of engagement to meet and exceed its fundraising targets. Working in close partnership with the Founding CEO, who retains ownership of a small number of long-standing strategic relationships, the Director will take primary responsibility for securing the funding that makes the 2026–2028 strategy deliverable, and that opens the door to greater scale beyond it. We need to raise approximately £3.4m over the next 3 years to deliver our strategy. But our ambition is to exceed that target so we can support additional governments.

Alongside fundraising, the Director will provide strategic leadership to Lively Mindsʼ communications and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisationʼs external voice is compelling and that we are building credibility in the spaces where funding decisions are made. The Director will lead and provide strategic coherence to a small but outward-facing team, including Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Lead who are active on the international stage. Lively Minds is committed to thought-leadership and active external engagement, but equally committed to ensuring that communications resource is deployed with discipline and rigour. The Director will set a clear strategic filter for where the organisation shows up, what it publishes and who it engages: prioritising focus and quality over volume, and always asking whether external activity is building the relationships and reputation that ultimately drive income and/or systems change.

Lively Minds is a dispersed, remote organisation. The Directorʼs team the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer - are internationally distributed. The ability to lead, develop and maintain high standards across a dispersed team is essential. The role requires regular travel to international conferences and events.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Income Generation

• Own and deliver the multi-year fundraising strategy with clear priorities, targets, income streams and a disciplined pipeline to support the 2026–2028 strategy and future scale
• Steward existing funder relationships, turning strong partnerships into long-term supporters, advocates and connectors to new funding opportunities.
• Lead the shift towards Big Bet and catalytic funding, personally cultivating and negotiating high-value, multi-year partnerships and positioning Lively Minds for system-level scale
• Maintain a high standard of fundraising quality, pipeline management and forecasting, while coaching the team to produce compelling, sophisticated fundraising materials
•  Build and continuously strengthen a diverse funding pipeline, identifying emerging opportunities, new funding markets and strategic partnerships that reduce concentration risk and support long-term financial sustainability

Communications, Brand & Advocacy

• Own and deliver Lively Mindsʼ communications and marketing strategy, balancing visibility and sector influence with the need to strengthen fundraising and systems-change objectives
• Partner closely with the CEO to shape and steward a coherent external narrative, brand and messaging framework across all audiences and channels
• Oversee high-quality core communications and fundraising materials, including cases for support, pitch decks, website content, proposals and donor reports
• Provide strategic communications expertise to Advocacy, Partnerships and MEL, ensuring evidence and learning are translated into compelling narratives and consistent external messaging
• Lead efforts to strengthen Lively Mindsʼ profile and thought leadership in the ECD sector, identifying opportunities for strategic media, events, publications and external platforms that reinforce its positioning and influence

Organizational Leadership&TeamDevelopment

 

• Contribute actively to SMT and organisational strategy, bringing funder intelligence, external perspective and communications expertise to strategic decision-making.
• Work closely with Finance and MEL to align fundraising targets, forecasting, budgets and evidence, ensuring proposals are credible, accurately costed and evidence-led
• Act as the organisationʼs communications subject matter expert, providing guidance and challenge to ensure high-quality, consistent external communications
• Lead and develop the Advocacy Lead, Development Manager and Communications Officer, fostering a team culture of quality, accountability, strategic clarity and continuous improvement
• Build strong cross-organisational collaboration, ensuring teams understand how fundraising, communications, advocacy and evidence work together to advance Lively Mindsʼ strategic priorities

Person Specification

Essential Experience & Skills

• 10+ years of significant senior-level fundraising experience within international development, education, philanthropy or a comparable sector
• Proven track record of securing major grants from foundations, institutional donors and high-net-worth individuals, alongside demonstrated experience securing or meaningfully progressing large-scale, catalytic funding from Big Bet philanthropy programmes such as the Audacious Project, Skoll Foundation or comparable funders. A strong understanding of what these funders look for and how to position an organisation compellingly within their processes is essential
• Exceptional fundraising writing skills, with the ability to personally develop compelling cases for support, funding proposals, award applications and pitch decks tailored to sophisticated impact funders. This is a hands-on role requiring both strong writing capability and the ability to coach others to consistently produce high-quality fundraising content
• Experienced in developing and owning a marketing and communications strategy, with a strong understanding of how to balance organisational visibility, thought leadership and sector influence with coherence, strategic focus and income generation
• Demonstrated ability to work closely with a Founding CEO to shape and steward the organisationʼs external narrative and brand. Comfortable working in a founder-led environment, providing expertise and constructive challenge while ensuring the organisation maintains a clear, consistent and coherent external voice

Desirable Experience

• Experienced fundraising for a technical advisory, systems change or government-facing organisation
• Knowledge of the ECD, education or early childhood sector and its funding landscape
• Familiarity with the Big Bang Philanthropy network or equivalent impact-focused funder communities
• Experience working alongside advocacy and partnerships teams, providing communications expertise and strategic coherence to their external activity
• Familiarity with the funding landscape for organisations operating in Sub-Saharan Africa
• Experience working remotely across multiple countries and effectively collaborating with cross-cultural teams

Behaviours & Ways of Working

• A doer, equally comfortable in strategic conversations and writing a funding proposal
• Sets a high bar for quality and clarity in all external communications and holds it consistently
• Builds a strong, trust-based partnership with the Founding CEO, provides honest challenge and operates effectively within a founder-led dynamic without losing their own voice or judgement
• Collaborative and cross-organisational. Invests in strong relationships with programme, MEL and finance colleagues, understanding that the best fundraising is grounded in organisational reality
• Calm and focused under pressure - able to manage competing priorities and maintain quality when the stakes are high

What We Offer

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• 25 days annual leave
• Health insurance
• Pension contribution
• Generous learning and development budget
• Flexible, remote working

Application Instruction

Interested candidates are encouraged to read the Job Description carefully before applying to ensure they understand the role and meet the required criteria.

To apply, please complete the pre-screening questions and submit your updated CV

PLEASE NOTE - Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Timeline

Closing Date: 3rd September 2026

Our Stance

Lively Minds operates a strict Safeguarding Policy and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable people. As part of our recruitment process, the suitability of successful candidates will be verified through appropriate background checks including professional references and police checks.

Lively Minds is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and to providing equal opportunities throughout our recruitment process. We want this commitment to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences and perspectives.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment decisions are based on merit, skills, experience and suitability for the role, and that all candidates are treated fairly and with respect throughout the recruitment process.

5Rights is seeking to recruit a Junior UK Affairs Officer on a six month fixed term contract, to support the Foundation's advocacy and policy work across the United Kingdom. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual interested in children's rights, politics and the tech industry. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to one of the most important policy challenges of our time - how we ensure the digital world is built with children in mind. They will gain practical experience across policy development, stakeholder engagement, legislative processes and campaigning, playing an active role in projects that are influencing how governments, regulators and industry protect and uphold children's rights online.

About 5Rights

5Rights Foundation exists to ensure a digital world that will serve children and young people today and for future generations.We are a small team of senior professionals and experts delivering change in how the digital world works. We have shifted the narrative and the agenda through provocative comms campaigns (e.g. Twisted Toys), pioneering research (e.g. Pathways) and award-winning tools (e.g. Child Online Safety Toolkit). We continue to drive real-life change thanks to an outstanding track-record of delivering legislation (e.g. Californian Age Appropriate Design Code), policy and regulatory frameworks (e.g. UNCRC General comment No.25), and industry standards (e.g. IEEE 2089).

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyse developments in UK digital policy, online safety, privacy, AI governance, and children's rights.
• Conduct research on parliamentary activity, government consultations, regulatory initiatives, and emerging technology issues.
• Prepare policy briefings, stakeholder summaries, background notes, and advocacy materials.
• Support the drafting of consultation responses, position papers, speeches, and external communications.
• Assist with stakeholder mapping and engagement activities involving policymakers, regulators, civil society organisations, academics, and industry representatives.
• Help coordinate meetings, events, roundtables, and workshops.
• Track media coverage and public discourse related to children's digital rights and online safety.
• Maintain advocacy databases, contact lists, and project documentation.
• Contribute to campaign planning and outreach activities where appropriate.
• Provide administrative and project support to the advocacy and policy team.

Person specification

This is an ideal opportunity for someone at the start of their career who is looking for meaningful work with real-world impact. We are looking for someone with the following attributes:

Essential skills and attributes

• A proactive, enthusiastic problem-solver with a positive, can-do attitude.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise competing tasks, meet deadlines and consistently follow through.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate and engaging communications for different audiences.
• Sound judgement, professionalism and discretion when handling sensitive information.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing high-quality work.
• Curious, adaptable and eager to learn, with the resilience to thrive in a changeable environment where priorities can change.
• A collaborative team player who can build positive working relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders.
• Confident using Microsoft 365 (including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint) and comfortable learning new digital tools.
• A genuine commitment to the mission and values of 5Rights Foundation and an interest in improving children's experiences in the digital world.

Desirable skills and attributes

• A degree in a relevant discipline, such as public policy, politics, law, social sciences, international relations or communications.
• An interest in technology policy, children's rights, digital regulation or public affairs
• Strong research and analytical skills, including the ability to synthesise complex information into clear, concise briefings.
• An interest in current affairs and confidence monitoring and summarising policy developments.
• Experience (through study, work experience or volunteering) of research, communications, campaigning or stakeholder engagement.
• An enthusiasm for learning and developing within a small, ambitious and collaborative team.
  
  Practical details:
  Location: Remote position in the UK. Ability to travel to London for regular meetings is an advantage. Occasional international travel required.
  Salary: Starting salary of £27,040 per annum pro-rata, with some flexibility for candidates with exceptional skills and experience.
  Contract: 6 months fixed term
  Working hours: Full time (38h week), with occasional accommodation necessary for weekend-engagements and work across time-zones.
  Statutory pension contribution.
  Annual leave: 25 days per annum pro-rata
  Work equipment including a laptop will be provided.
  Starting data: ASAP, depending on notice period.
  Reporting line: Head of UK Affairs, based in UK

We’re looking for a collaborative, highly organised Youth Engagement Project Officer, who is passionate about building opportunities for children and young people in libraries.

You’ll have great communication skills and enthusiasm for platforming young people’s voices. You’ll also know how to manage priorities, keep projects within deadline and budget, and accurately collect and compile data. As a natural people-person, you’ll feel confident supporting library teams, partners and colleagues and be happy taking initiative.

We’d especially love to hear from you if you have created opportunities for children and young people to be heard and involved in decisions that affect them, and if you’ve been involved in supporting the delivery of projects. Experience of libraries is not required as you’ll have lots of opportunities to learn about our sector in this role.

About the work

Our focus is on creating libraries of tomorrow with children and young people today.

We want all children and young people to feel at home at the library, to be understood, empowered and inspired. Our collaborative national network is made up of members from library services, partners and supporters. We believe in the need for safe spaces and real-life connections to support the demands of modern life. Together, we’recreating change, and you can be a part of it.

We are an Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation. Our members are leaders in children and young people’s public libraries and school library services.

Libraries Rising and The Reading Agency were recently successful in securing funding from the Arts Council to deliver a two-year programme, to place young people at the heart of shaping the future library reading experience. The two-year project forms part of the legacy of the National Year of Reading 2026 and will work with young people and library services across nine regions of England to co-create new approaches, resources and digital innovations that build on the strengths of libraries and inspire more young people to read for pleasure. 

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who lives our values - progressive, collaborative, kind, aspirational and inclusive. 

What’s important to us needs to be important to you too. We want to focus on impact, to work openly, to collaborate with and learn from others, to take the time to care for ourselves and each other, and to have fun together. We are building an environmentally sustainable charity, and we want to be celebrated as an inclusion changemaker in the sector. 

Our application process is open to everyone and anyone with the experience we’re looking for. We have a diverse board of trustees, and we are developing the diversity of our staff team. We particularly welcome applications from people from racialised communities, trans or non-binary individuals, and those with hidden or visible disabilities. 

Please note - a Candidate Pack for this role is available on the application page. 

Job purpose 

As Youth Engagement Project Officer, you’ll work closely with the Programme Manager, the wider Libraries Rising team, The Reading Agency, library services and young people to support the delivery of this project, and to develop our wider support of libraries with their youth engagement work.

What you’ll bring to the role 

You’ll be: 

• A strong communicator, confident with building relationships and keeping everyone on track. 
• Experienced in working with young people and partner organisations. 
• Committed to platforming young people’s voices, especially those who are underserved by their communities, marginalised, or experiencing deprivation. 
• Committed to co-creative practice and working with, not doing to. 
• Experienced in creating, developing and implementing effective systems and procedures. 
• Experienced in providing operational, administrative and project support, with digital skills including use of Microsoft Office and supporting remote teams. 
• Experienced in providing in person and online event planning and support. 
• Aware of GDPR implications and requirements. 
• Committed to your own professional development. 

Employee benefits 

• 25 days annual leave (pro rata) plus Bank Holidays 
• 5% employer pension contribution 
• Employee Assist Programme – including 24/7 counselling, health support and legal helpline. 
• A range of discounts on retail, entertainment, travel and wellbeing. 

Additional information

If you have any questions about the role, please get in touch. 

All applicants must have an existing Right to Work in the UK.

Please also note that appointment will be made subject to collection of two references and a satisfactory DBS check or evidence of a current DBS certificate. 

Location: Manchester
Hours: Full-time
Contract: Temporary, 3-months
Pay: £14.34 per hour, with travel and work expenses covered (+ holiday pay)
DBS: Enhanced DBS required

We are delighted to be supporting The Children's Society in their search for a Parenting Worker to join their Missing Team in Manchester. This is an exciting opportunity to support parents and carers of children and young people who are at risk of, or have experienced, missing from home episodes, helping families navigate complex challenges and improve outcomes for vulnerable young people.

This is a rewarding role for someone with experience working with families and a strong understanding of safeguarding, exploitation, and the challenges faced by young people at risk. You'll work closely with parents and carers to build confidence, improve family relationships, and provide practical support, education and advocacy.

Please note this role will be subject to an enhanced DBS check due to unsupervised contact with vulnerable children and young adults. You will also require a current, clean driving licence and access to your own vehicle.

Key Responsibilities for this role include:

• Building positive relationships with parents and carers, providing tailored support to increase their confidence in supporting their child.
• Delivering educational sessions and resources around missing from home incidents, exploitation, online safety and risk awareness.
• Supporting parents and carers to better understand their child's experiences and reduce feelings of blame, guilt and shame.
• Advocating on behalf of families and helping them engage effectively with professional networks and statutory services.
• Working collaboratively with police, children's services, education providers and other partner agencies to improve outcomes for young people.
• Facilitating group sessions and awareness workshops for parents and carers.
• Maintaining accurate case records, monitoring outcomes and contributing to service evaluation and reporting.

To be considered for this position, you should possess:

• Experience working directly with families, parents or carers in a support, youth work, family support or related setting.
• A strong understanding of safeguarding, child exploitation, trafficking, missing from home episodes and the risks faced by vulnerable young people.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage sensitively with families and professionals.
• Experience supporting families through complex and sensitive situations, providing advice, advocacy and practical guidance.
• The ability to manage your own workload, prioritise effectively and work both independently and as part of a team.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and experience using online case management or recording systems.
• Experience working in partnership with statutory and voluntary sector organisations.

Desirable:

• A qualification relevant to working with young people, families or communities.
• Experience supporting young people affected by missing episodes, exploitation or related safeguarding concerns.
• Experience of monitoring outcomes, evaluating services and producing written reports.

If you're looking for a meaningful role where you can make a genuine difference to the lives of children, young people and their families, we'd love to hear from you.

CVs will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so if you're interested in the role, please apply ASAP with your CV in Word format.

At Prospectus, we are committed to supporting you throughout your application journey. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on age, gender, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, or pregnancy/maternity.

We are seeking an inspiring, dynamic leader to champion outdoor learning, drive national impact and sector growth as our first Chief Officer.

Location: Remote

Applications close: 9 a.m. Tuesday 8th September 2026

 

About AAOLEV

The Association of Advisers for Outdoor Learning and Educational Visits (AAOLEV) is a new charity, formed from the Outdoor Education Advisers’ Panel (OEAP).  It is a respected organisation dedicated to promoting high-quality outdoor learning and ensuring safe, enriching educational visits for children and young people across England and Wales.

Through our network of experienced advisors, AAOLEV plays a pivotal role in supporting schools, local authorities and providers to plan and deliver meaningful learning beyond the classroom, with the potential to impact the education of around 10 million children and young people each year.

About the role

AAOLEV is now seeking to appoint its first-ever Chief Officer, an important milestone that reflects our ambition to strengthen our voice, broaden our influence and build the charity’s capacity for the future. This is a unique opportunity to shape a leadership role from the ground up and help define the next phase of the charity’s development.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an inspiring and dynamic leader with strategic vision, strong relationship-building skills and a commitment to the value of outdoor learning. You will be a credible advocate, able to engage stakeholders, influence nationally and unite a diverse professional community behind a shared purpose.

Above all, you will bring energy, credibility and a clear sense of purpose, helping to position AAOLEV for long-term impact and success.

This role is fully remote, and we do not have a physical office.

We are committed to an inclusive recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments for the application or interview process, please let us know, and we will be happy to support you.

Peridot Partners and AAOLEV are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

Please click on the link to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you will find full details of the role and how to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Tuesday 8th September 2026.

NCT is the national charity for pregnancy, birth, infant feeding and early parenthood. 

Our vision is simple: a society where everyone who becomes a parent feels confident, connected and safe. 

Through our For Every Parent strategy, we're working to make that vision a reality. We support parents with trusted information, practical help, local communities and a stronger voice in the issues that matter to families. 

For 70 years, we've been by parents' sides through the excitement, uncertainty, wonder and challenges of becoming a parent. Today, our volunteers contribute more than 70,000 hours of community service each year, helping parents build friendships, find support and feel less alone. 

We educate and empower parents with evidence-based information and support. We advocate and act by listening to parents' experiences, raising their voices and campaigning for change. No judgement. No exceptions. 

About the role 

• We are seeking an experienced People and Inclusion (P&I) professional to join our passionate team and contribute to the meaningful work that transforms the lives of parents and families. Your role will work within a small P&I team, which is part of our overall Organisational Services Directorate.  Key duties include:
• Deep and proactive partnering with our charity’s managers as a trusted advisor on People and Inclusion matters across the employee lifecycle.  We rely on our talented staff team to deliver a range of important services for all parents so need our people to feel included, connected and supported to do their best work; 
• Efficient management of People administration and the operational People function to deliver an excellent employee experience.  This will include ensuring our HR System (IRIS Cascade) is optimised for our teams, delivering timely and accurate management data to inform decision-making and ensuring our People policies and practices operate at a minimum in line with employment legislation and aspire to be best practice throughout.  You will manage our People and Inclusion Coordinator and will partner with the Payroll team; 
• Leading the delivery and continuous development of employee equity, inclusion and wellbeing initiatives that support diversity and create belonging for all of our people.  Ensuring that equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) is embedded across all of our work is one of our Charity’s key strategic aims; 
• Taking a remote first approach as we have a home-based workforce and working in in partnership with the communications team to deliver motivational, supportive and informative updates alongside connection and engagement opportunities; 
• Build focussed management development, learning and community-building opportunities for our People managers. 

About you: 

• You will relish the opportunity to work in a values-driven, collaborative and parent focussed organisation where our commitment to ED&I is central to all of our work; 
• You thrive in a busy operational environment with multiple priorities, and you enjoy taking a pragmatic and strategically detailed approach to improving imperfect processes and systems.  You also prioritise building positive relationships and collaborating with colleagues. 
• You will have a CIPD Level 5 Qualification (or demonstrable equivalent) and will demonstrate an interest in continuing professional development, including ensuring you are up-to-date with the practical implementation of UK employment legislation and People best practice; 
• You will have significant previous experience operating as a People Business Partner, People and Inclusion Manager or senior HR/People Advisor or similar across the full employee lifecycle.  Your key experience will include: overseeing the efficient and effective deployment and development of an HR system; effective partnering with managers; analysing People data and trends; developing and embedding ED&I principles and practices; and supporting organisational change projects. 

Purpose of the Role

The Youth Insights Programme Lead is responsible for leading the effective design, planning and delivery of assigned Youth Insights panels and projects. The role bridges strategic leadership and operational delivery, ensuring that panels are well designed, well facilitated, well coordinated and deliver high-quality insight for partners.

The Programme Lead manages day-to-day partner relationships, leads delivery planning, supports facilitators, oversees programme outputs and ensures young people have a positive, inclusive and meaningful experience.

The role contributes to insight generation and reporting, working within the frameworks and quality standards set by the Programme Manager.

Key Responsibilities

1. Programme Design and Delivery

• Lead the design and delivery of assigned Youth Insights panels, within the methodology and standards set by the Programme Manager.
• Translate partner objectives into clear delivery plans, session structures and participant journeys.
• Develop and adapt session plans, materials and activities for assigned panels.
• Ensure sessions are engaging, inclusive, purposeful and appropriate for young people.
• Lead or support facilitation of Youth Insights sessions as required.
• Ensure delivery remains aligned with agreed outcomes, quality standards and partner expectations.
• Identify practical improvements to delivery and share learning with the Programme Manager.

2. Operational Partner Management

• Act as the primary day-to-day relationship manager for assigned partners.
• Lead operational planning meetings, delivery updates and routine partner communications.
• Manage partner expectations around timelines, outputs, session planning and reporting.
• Maintain strong working relationships with operational partner contacts.
• Identify risks, issues or opportunities in partner relationships and escalate appropriately to the Programme Manager.
• Support strategic partner conversations by providing delivery insight, evidence and learning.
• Where a partner contact holds both strategic and operational responsibilities, act as the primary day-to-day contact while ensuring the Programme Manager retains senior oversight.

3. Insight Generation and Reporting

• Analyse youth feedback and identify key themes, patterns and insights from assigned panels.
• Draft reports, summaries, presentations and recommendations for partners.
• Ensure reports go beyond description and begin to translate youth feedback into meaningful insight.
• Work within the reporting frameworks, standards and templates agreed by the Programme Manager.
• Incorporate quality feedback from the Programme Manager and strengthen outputs accordingly.
• Support the development of case studies, impact stories and evidence of partner value.
• Contribute learning from assigned panels into wider Youth Insights service development.

4. Delivery Quality and Facilitation

• Ensure all assigned programmes are delivered to a high standard.
• Brief, support and coordinate freelance facilitators for assigned sessions.
• Ensure facilitators understand the purpose, method, safeguarding requirements and desired outcomes of each session.
• Monitor delivery quality and participant experience.
• Provide feedback to facilitators and escalate quality concerns where needed.
• Ensure session materials, resources and activities are prepared and appropriate.
• Support consistency of delivery across panels, while adapting appropriately to different partner contexts.

5. Youth Engagement and Inclusion

• Ensure young people are meaningfully involved, listened to and supported throughout their participation.
• Work with the Programme Coordinator to support recruitment, onboarding, retention and engagement.
• Monitor participant experience and respond to issues or barriers to participation.
• Identify gaps in representation within assigned panels and work with the Programme Coordinator and Programme Manager to address them.
• Ensure delivery is inclusive, accessible and responsive to young people’s needs.
• Support young people to build confidence, skills and understanding through their involvement.

6. Programme Coordination and Project Management

• Develop and maintain delivery plans for assigned Youth Insights panels.
• Coordinate timelines, milestones, partner inputs, facilitator availability and reporting deadlines.
• Work closely with the Programme Coordinator to ensure logistics, communications and records are well managed.
• Ensure risks, actions and dependencies are tracked and communicated.
• Support effective use of HubSpot and other systems to manage participant journeys and partner activity.
• Ensure programme information is accurate, up to date and accessible to the team.

7. Team Support and Development

• Support and mentor the Programme Coordinator in relation to assigned programmes.
• Delegate appropriate tasks clearly and support effective workload management.
• Share learning, tools and good practice across the Youth Insights team.
• Contribute to training, reflection sessions and process improvement.
• Support a positive, collaborative and values-led team culture.
• Help build team confidence in delivery, facilitation, insight generation and partner communication.

8. Safeguarding, Compliance and Risk

• Ensure safeguarding, consent, data protection and risk processes are followed across assigned programmes.
• Identify and escalate safeguarding concerns or risks in line with S4TP policies.
• Ensure facilitators and delivery contributors understand relevant safeguarding and compliance requirements.
• Support accurate record keeping and documentation.
• Contribute to risk assessment and mitigation for sessions, panels and partner activity.

Key Relationships

Internal:

• Youth Insights Programme Manager
• Youth Insights Programme Coordinator
• CEO where required
• Wider S4TP team
• Freelance facilitators

External:

• Operational partner contacts
• Strategic partner contacts where appropriate
• Young people and alumni
• Schools, colleges and youth networks
• Delivery partners and stakeholders

Success Measures

Success in this role will include:

• Assigned panels are delivered effectively, safely and to a high standard.
• Partners receive timely, useful and high-quality reports and outputs.
• Young people have a positive, inclusive and meaningful experience.
• Operational partner relationships are well managed.
• Programme delivery runs smoothly, with clear plans, timelines and communication.
• Insight reports demonstrate analysis, themes and recommendations, not just summaries.
• Facilitators are well briefed, supported and consistent in delivery.
• Learning from delivery contributes to wider Youth Insights improvement.