Community engagement and volunteer support worker jobs

We are recruiting a Head of Income and Engagement to provide strategic leadership and vision for two critical functions—Fundraising and Marketing & Communications—bringing them together into a unified, high-performing team. This role focuses on shaping strategy, building external relationships, and driving organisational growth through income generation and brand engagement, rather than day-to-day operational management.

You will set the direction for attracting significant funding, particularly through corporate partnerships, while strengthening what PAPYRUS already does well:

• Securing grants and trusts funding
• Harnessing the passion of our large, committed supporter base - including bereaved families and others who raise voluntary income for us

In a challenging financial climate, you will lead efforts to grow these income streams and maintain a strong, values-driven presence across press, social media, and broadcast channels. The role requires influence, innovation, and the ability to inspire all managers and staff, as well as external stakeholders.

Please visit the careers site for the full job description and person specification for the role.

Salary: £58,523 per annum (Scale SCP 46) progressing by increments to £62,852 per annum (Scale SCP 49)

Hours: 36 hours per week Location: Remote with regular travel across the UK

Contract: Permanent 

Benefits: You will receive 28 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time workers), hybrid and flexible working arrangements, an attractive pension scheme, Simply Health membership, enhanced sick pay and enhanced parental pay. Please visit our website for more details.

Closing date: midnight on 22nd February 2026

We reserve the right to close the vacancy earlier if we receive sufficient applications so, please submit your application as soon as possible.

PAPYRUS is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment, and its recruitment policies are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.

PAPYRUS is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk that interact with the organisation. The organisation recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of these vulnerable groups by a commitment to procedures to protect them. The charity expects all staff and volunteers to fully support and promote these commitments.

We are looking for a Key Support Worker to join Hummingbird Homes, a new and innovative supported accommodation model for young people aged 16/17 leaving care.

Be part of something genuinely differen

This is not a traditional support role. As a Key Support Worker, you will be part of a small, committed team offering relational, trauma-informed support to young people at a crucial point in their lives, helping them move towards independence with stability, dignity and hope.

Hummingbird Homes has been designed to bridge the gap between care and independent living, offering young people their own homes alongside consistent, trusted adult support in a nearby Support House.

Our Values

Everything we do at Handcrafted is shaped by our values. We are a Christian charity, and while we do not expect service users to engage in faith-based activity, our work is grounded in the following principles:

• Creativity Everyone can make something to be proud of

• Empathy We walk alongside people through challenges

• Empowerment Everyone can learn to take back control of their life

• Community We accept people as they are and support one another

These values underpin the way our Key Support Workers build relationships, respond to need, and create safe, supportive environments.

About the Role

As a Key Support Worker, you will play a central role in supporting young people living in Hummingbird Homes. You will work relationally and practically to help each young person develop the skills and confidence they need to move forward.

This is a hands-on, people-centred role that combines emotional support, safeguarding, practical life skills and community building.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build trusted, consistent relationships with young people aged 16–17

• Provide day-to-day support within the Hummingbird Homes model

• Support young people to develop independent living skills

• Maintain a safe, welcoming and supportive environment in the Support House

• Contribute to care planning, risk assessments and support reviews

• Work collaboratively with social workers, local authorities and partner agencies

• Support young people during challenging moments and periods of crisis

• Participate in rota-based working, including evenings, weekends and on-call

• Maintain accurate records and contribute to safeguarding and quality assurance

(Full responsibilities are detailed in the recruitment pack.)

The Support House – A Core Part of the Role

This role includes your accommodation made available rent-free for the better performance of this role

• A base for staff while on shift or on call

• A safe and welcoming space for young people

• A hub for community activities and relationship-building

Who We’re Looking For

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience supporting vulnerable young people or care leavers

• Is emotionally resilient, calm and able to build trust

• Understands safeguarding and trauma-informed practice

• Can work flexibly, including evenings and weekends

• Shares our values and is comfortable working within a Christian ethos

• Is committed to helping young people grow in confidence and independence

A full UK driving licence and Enhanced DBS are required.

Why Join Handcrafted?

• Be part of an innovative, relational model of care

• Work within a values-led organisation making real impact

• Join a supportive, close-knit team

• Receive ongoing training and development

• Play a meaningful role in transforming young people’s futures

The Community Connectors programme is an exciting partnership between Community Links, Aston Mansfield, Mind in Tower Hamlets, Newham and Redbridge, and the NHS East London Foundation Trust (ELFT).

Community Connectors work alongside ELFT under what is called the Mental Health Transformation Programme. The ethos of the programme is recovery focused, exploring needs through complexity (rather than diagnosis), a focus on a person’s strengths and assets, and on the wider determinants of health and wellbeing.

The role involves providing holistic support to people suffering from a serious mental illness or SMI. Service users will have a single or range of diagnosed conditions, will be known to ELFT and will therefore have a range of needs, including symptoms of anxiety or depression, or have a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Specifically, the Community Connector will work with multi-disciplinary teams (MDTs) who sit within primary care networks or PCNs (clusters of GP practices) across Newham, and will support people in accessing appropriate local services, embodying a true example of wrap around support.

Above all, the Community Connector will be a strong networker who is able to engage multiple stakeholders for the betterment of service user welfare and outcomes.

Qualifications

Essential competencies

• University degree and/or personal specification
• Local knowledge of services, provisions, and issues faced by people suffering from mental health
• Experience working with stakeholders and partnerships.
• A commitment in implementing the mission and values of Aston-Mansfield
• Any other duties deemed relevant to your role. 

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Workers to join our Young People Service in Bracknell.

£28,808.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you're making a difference? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
• Fully paid induction programme and further training
• ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
• Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

rs for this position are from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM and from 1:30 PM to 9:30 PM, with the same shifts applying on weekends.

What you'll do:

• Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers
• Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
• Supporting key customers to set personalised goals in the form of a Support Plan
• Proactive development of links with local statutory and voluntary organisations to provide a range of engagement opportunities for customers in the community
• Involving customers in the design, development and delivery of the service
• Adhering to all other Look Ahead's policies and procedures

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
• Approachable and open behaviour
• Prefers working as part of a group or team
• Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
• Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
• Flexible
• Open to feedback and self development
• Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments

What you'll bring:

Essential:

• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent experience in the social care/charity sector

Desirable:

• Experience working with young people

About us:

Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

We're looking for a kind, empathetic and resilient Specialist Support Worker to join our Mental Health Service in Tower Hamlets.

£29,681.60 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

We are seeking a Support Worker with a focus on Community Connection to join our mental health pathway in Tower Hamlets. In this role, you will engage with Look Ahead customers, helping them harness their talents and skills to broaden horizons, build networks, and access vital community resources.

What you'll do:
* Champion co-production as a core principle, ensuring customer voices are central to service design and delivery.
* Work with customers to identify their aspirations and connect them to local resources, networks, and opportunities that help achieve those goals.
* Co-create a programme calendar of culturally relevant, social, and educational activities with customers.
* Maintain accurate and up-to-date information-sharing protocols and Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
* Organise and facilitate educational and developmental training opportunities for customers.
* Provide coordination and line management for Peer Support Workers.
* Arrange and invite in-reach sessions at drop-in groups to enhance engagement.
* Build and sustain strong relationships with community partners to expand opportunities for customers.
* Develop partnerships to meet emerging customer needs, such as access to assistive technology for physical health.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
* Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement.
* Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour.
* Prefers working as part of a group or team.
* Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement.
* Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised.
* Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments.
* Is confident with high levels of self-esteem.
* Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication.
* Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude.

What you'll bring:
Essential:
* IT literate
* Experience of working within communities with a diverse range of stakeholders.
* Ability to research information from a range of sources.

Desirable:
* NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or experience within charity/social care sector.
* Experience and understanding of mental health and social care services.

About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full Job Description

Can you help us keep changing lives and breaking the cycle of reoffending for good? As Project Support Worker you will be working closely with our Proejct Manager to engage and support mentors and mentees in HMP Brinsford, Birmingham and the West Midlands. You will have previous Criminal Justice experience, will be a driver with access to a car and will use your experience to develope and encourage a positive and meaningful mentoring relationship for both the mentee and mentor. Your ultimate aim is to understand the key challenges facing each mentee and how these impact on each individuals ability in desisting from crime. 

You will be a proven self starter who is used to working in a challenging environment with hard to engage and disaffected people. You will be able to work independently and have the ability to communicate with a range of stakeholders.

A full job description and person specification is attached to this post.

Job Title: Children's Support Worker

Location: Warwickshire - Travel required across Warwickshire, predominantly North Warwickshire and Rugby. Use of a car is essential to the role. 
Salary: £25,857.12 per annum 

Contract type: Full Time, Permanent 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

We are recruiting for a Children’s Support Worker who will be working closely with children and their parents who are living in our dispersed accommodation refuges escaping domestic violence and other forms of violence and abuse, to provide personal welfare support and ensure that our clients are provided with a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment.

A key requirement is to provide personal welfare support and to ensure that women are provided with a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment. The post holder will support children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence and plan and provide stimulating, safe, and appropriate play opportunities.

Please note that post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

A driving license and access to a car is essential to the role. 

Closing Date: 09:00 am 12 February 2026

Interview Date: 27 February 2026

About you:

Your friends as know you as empathetic, compassionate, and non-judgemental.

You are great at inspiring and motivating people to take action and improve themselves.

You are very self-aware, reliable, attentive and punctual.

Perhaps you are already aware of the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness and understand how to support them. You may have gained this knowledge as a volunteer, through a previous job, or from your personal lived experience.

If all this sounds like you then you could make a great addition to our fantastic support team here at Homeless Oxfordshire.

About the role

In this role we will trust you to work with other team members on a caseload of clients delivering personalised support to them. You will proactively engage with our clients and provide a hand so they can overcome barriers, move into independent living and sustain a tenancy. Our clients have a range of support needs that impact their experience of homelessness. This includes mental health problems, social isolation, challenging behaviour, finance and debt, alcohol and drug abuse. You will deliver structured support and do some risk management so we will trust you to keep proper records and complete some admin tasks. This includes, reviewing support and risk plans, involving key stakeholders where required, showing and signposting our clients to appropriate external support and services, following safeguarding procedures, do some cleaning and contribute to the delivery of a housing management service including collecting income. You’ll also resolve difficult and challenging situations in a sensitive manner balancing the needs of the clients and the safety of the service.

Main Responsibilities Of The Role:

· Ensure the effective delivery of high quality care, support and housing management according to Homeless Oxfordshire policies and procedures.

· To be a supportive and effective part of the team working as part of a rota including evenings and weekends.

· Maintain a safe, clean and welcoming environment.

· To support and encourage clients to care for themselves and develop independent living skills.

· To assess and manage risk for individuals and in the service, making use of emergency services as required.

· Report any safeguarding concerns without delay in line with procedures.

· To make and maintain Housing Benefit claims and support clients to pay their service charges regularly.

· To work in partnership with other agencies to ensure the delivery of holistic wrap around support.

· To support the running of the service and perform shift responsibilities and duties that maintain good health and safety and ensures the safeguarding of clients and others.

· Manage challenging situations in line with procedures and to ensure the safety of yourself and others.

· To participate in handovers at the beginning and end of shifts, ensuring that information is properly recorded and passed on where appropriate and relevant and in a timely fashion.

· Ensure that IT systems are updated as required and concise record keeping is completed promptly.

· Maintain positive relationships with clients, relatives, carers, professionals, commissioners, contractors and the local community.

· Ensure clients are aware of and support them to maximise their opportunity to be involved in Client Participation.

· To participate in the induction of and support new team members.

· To ensure that Homeless Oxfordshire’s Equal Opportunities Policies are complied with and promoted in carrying out duties of the post.

· To undertake any other duties that can be reasonably required to meet the operational needs of Homeless Oxfordshire.

About us:

We are an open door for people experiencing homelessness whose lives have been shaped by trauma and disadvantage; providing safety, stability and support when it is needed most. We deliver this support across Oxfordshire by providing a range of accommodation with access to high quality support, offering a safe and welcoming space for people to take control of their own lives. We are an accredited Oxford Living Wage employer, and benefits to the role include: annual leave starting at 26 days (excluding bank holidays), flexible working, enhanced benefits with qualifying service, retail discounts with our Homeless Oxfordshire Benefits Hub, and life assurance up to four times your salary and a £250 bonus if you successfully refer a someone as a new colleague through our Employee Referral Scheme as a thanks from us!

Open to: This role is a shift and rota'd role that includes bank holidays.

What’s Next: Have a look at the job description to find out more about the role and apply on our website. Please be aware that this role is subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure check and will be undertaken for the successful candidate. We also do not offer work sponsorship for this role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we identify a suitable candidate before the advertised closing date.

37.5 hours per week / £27,770 per annum / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

At YMCA DownsLink Group,is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.

 services delivers specialist 24-hour supported accommodation where young people are supported to acquire the necessary skills in preparation for living independently, safely explore their increased freedom of choice and develop responsibilities associated with adulthood, whilst still having the appropriate level of support from an experienced team.

We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and support residents into independent accommodation. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building.

We are looking for a Supported Housing Support Worker to join our Ewhurst Road, Crawley team, who will hold a caseload of residents and meet with them weekly to build a support plan. 

Main areas of responsibilities are:

Housing:

• Coach young people to manage their occupancy agreement and adhere to house rules, in preparation for independent living
• Promote a credit culture, encouraging young people to keep up to date with all payments for rent
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing and welfare benefits for young people and be well-informed on significant changes to housing law
• Deal effectively with non-compliance issues, such as non-payment of rent or damage to room, using restorative practices and working collaboratively with the rest of the team

Coaching and Engagement:

• Coach young people so they can articulate their aspirations and ambitions and take the lead in acquiring the skills they need to live independent and fulfilling lives
• Ensure young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own personal development, to engage with the services on offer and build strong networks and connections within the local community 
• Ensure consistent standards of safeguarding and Trauma Informed Practice when supporting young people, observing our safeguarding procedures, and keeping yourself and residents safe by respecting professional boundaries
• Maintain client records on In-Form (client database) detailing the young person’s journey in relation to their strengths and needs, any risks, and any outcomes (to monitor service performance)

General:

• Work as part of a team, on a rota shift pattern, ensuring young people at the service have non-judgemental, objective, and supportive staff during the day/evening, along with taking responsibility for personal safety during periods of lone working
• Contribute to a great working environment, with a calm, yet assertive manner, being able to handle potentially difficult situations
• Participate in relevant continuing professional development and utilise Reflective Practice Supervision as part of leading psychologically informed practice

There will be times when lone working will be a requirement for this role, but you will get to know the team and service, along with an induction and training prior to starting on a rota. Please download the job profile for full role details.

If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we’re looking for.

This is a dynamic and varied role; you will be passionate about being involved in the support and growth of young people.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Experience relating to housing, support work, and/or working with young people at risk
• Experience of working proactively with a caseload of young people with multiple and complex needs to enable them to achieve independent living
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to young people with multiple and complex needs
• Knowledge of good safeguarding procedures in relation to young people and the ability to maintain effective professional boundaries
• Demonstrated confidence and competence in recording notes/actions in service log, incident forms and health and safety check lists

Skills and Abilities: 

• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing for appropriate recording of a resident’s progression, and to evidence outcomes achieved
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, including signposting and advocating for clients as necessary
• Ability to work autonomously, and use own initiative, as well as being part of a team
• Clear verbal and written communication skills, good IT, and keyboard skills
• Ability to de-escalate volatile situations and manage challenging behaviour appropriately

CLOSING DATE: Wednesday 18 February 2026 at midnight.

Please note that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. 

Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.

Job Title: Deputy Service Manager 

Location: Derby City (on-site role)
Salary: £35,674.05 per annum
Contract type: Full Time, Permanent 

Hours: 37.5 hours per week 

This is an opportunity to join Refuge as a Deputy Service Manager to support survivors who have been impacted by domestic abuse. We are recruiting for a Deputy Service Manager who is passionate about supporting survivors who are impacted by domestic abuse. In this role you will provide line management and support to community-based staff who support survivors of domestic abuse across Derby City.  This will include providing supervision on complex casework, overseeing operational emergencies and ensuring high standards of casework.

The Deputy service manager will join our management team to assist the service manager in the delivery and development of high-quality support to survivors accessing our community-based services in Derby City. In this role you will ensure the smooth running of high-quality service to support survivors of domestic abuse. This will include managing staff teams to ensure effective advocacy is provided to survivors who are at medium/standard risk and their children. 

A key requirement is to provide personal welfare support and to ensure that survivors are provided with a safe, supportive outreach service

Suitable candidates must have proven experience of providing direct emotional and practical support, and of managing case work. In addition, you must have experience of managing and motivating staff, knowledge of domestic abuse issues, experience of providing support to survivors, and experience of working in community-based services

As a member of the management team, you will be required to participate in an out-of-hours on call service, on a rota basis, responding to out of hours emergencies.

This post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies.

Closing Date: 09:00am 2 February 2026

Interview Date: 11 ansd 12 March 2026

Lead Something That Matters — Shape a New Sports‑Led Youth Provision in West Thurrock
If you’re the kind of youth worker who wants to build, create, and genuinely shape a community offer, this is the role you’ve been waiting for. At Riverview, sport isn’t an add‑on — it’s the heartbeat of how we engage young people. As our Senior Youth Worker (Sports), you’ll have the rare chance to help design a brand‑new youth provision from the ground up, bringing your ideas, energy, and passion straight into a community that’s ready for something fresh.

You won’t be boxed in. You’ll lead sessions your way, influence how the programme grows, and work in a close‑knit team where your voice actually matters. With over 100 young people already engaging weekly across our sites, you’ll step into a role where relationships are real, creativity is encouraged, and your leadership directly shapes young people’s confidence, wellbeing, and opportunities.
If you want to make sport the spark that changes lives — this is your space.

Our Mission 

Riverview Charitable Trust supports families, children, and young people in the community to thrive. Through services and initiatives, we empower individuals, strengthen family relationships, and create opportunities for young people to grow, learn, and succeed. 

We are expanding our youth provision into West Thurrock, and we’re looking for an experienced, energetic Senior Youth Worker with a Sports background to help us put sport at the heart of what we do. This is a hands-on role for someone who loves working with young people, thrives in active environments, and can confidently lead day‑to‑day delivery across multiple sites.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Lead delivery on our sports programmes across two vibrant sites, creating sessions that young people genuinely want to show up for.
• Play a key role in Riverview’s expansion into West Thurrock, helping us build something new, exciting, and community‑driven from the ground up.
• Take sport into the streets and into young people’s spaces, using outreach, pop‑ups, and creative engagement to connect with those who need us most.

Please see attached JD for full job description 

37.5 hours per week / £27,770 per annum / permanent / working onsite on a seven-day rolling rota, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

At YMCA DownsLink Group,is to help children and young people have a fair chance to be who they want to be. We do this by providing a safe home, building life skills and self-confidence, and supporting emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Our Values - we do what’s right, we work with heart, and we build real connections - guide and shape how we show up for children and young people we support and for each other.

 services delivers specialist 24-hour supported accommodation where young people are supported to acquire the necessary skills in preparation for living independently, safely explore their increased freedom of choice and develop responsibilities associated with adulthood, whilst still having the appropriate level of support from an experienced team.

We adopt a trauma informed and psychologically informed approach to supporting our residents to help them build essential life skills, identify their goals and support residents into independent accommodation. We have a dedicated team of Support Workers, Night Workers and additional Bank Workers who provide support, guidance, and signposting around areas such as housing, budgeting, living skills, jobs and relationship building.

We are looking for a Supported Housing Support Worker to join our Ewhurst Road, Crawley team, who will hold a caseload of residents and meet with them weekly to build a support plan. 

Main areas of responsibilities are:

Housing:

• Coach young people to manage their occupancy agreement and adhere to house rules, in preparation for independent living
• Promote a credit culture, encouraging young people to keep up to date with all payments for rent
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of housing and welfare benefits for young people and be well-informed on significant changes to housing law
• Deal effectively with non-compliance issues, such as non-payment of rent or damage to room, using restorative practices and working collaboratively with the rest of the team

Coaching and Engagement:

• Coach young people so they can articulate their aspirations and ambitions and take the lead in acquiring the skills they need to live independent and fulfilling lives
• Ensure young people are encouraged to take responsibility for their own personal development, to engage with the services on offer and build strong networks and connections within the local community 
• Ensure consistent standards of safeguarding and Trauma Informed Practice when supporting young people, observing our safeguarding procedures, and keeping yourself and residents safe by respecting professional boundaries
• Maintain client records on In-Form (client database) detailing the young person’s journey in relation to their strengths and needs, any risks, and any outcomes (to monitor service performance)

General:

• Work as part of a team, on a rota shift pattern, ensuring young people at the service have non-judgemental, objective, and supportive staff during the day/evening, along with taking responsibility for personal safety during periods of lone working
• Contribute to a great working environment, with a calm, yet assertive manner, being able to handle potentially difficult situations
• Participate in relevant continuing professional development and utilise Reflective Practice Supervision as part of leading psychologically informed practice

There will be times when lone working will be a requirement for this role, but you will get to know the team and service, along with an induction and training prior to starting on a rota. Please download the job profile for full role details.

If you are enthusiastic about this opportunity but don’t meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply. Your skills and experiences may be more transferable than you think, and you could be exactly the person we’re looking for.

This is a dynamic and varied role; you will be passionate about being involved in the support and growth of young people.

Experience and Knowledge:

• Experience relating to housing, support work, and/or working with young people at risk
• Experience of working proactively with a caseload of young people with multiple and complex needs to enable them to achieve independent living
• Knowledge of statutory and voluntary resources available to young people with multiple and complex needs
• Knowledge of good safeguarding procedures in relation to young people and the ability to maintain effective professional boundaries
• Demonstrated confidence and competence in recording notes/actions in service log, incident forms and health and safety check lists

Skills and Abilities: 

• Ability to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing for appropriate recording of a resident’s progression, and to evidence outcomes achieved
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with all stakeholders, including signposting and advocating for clients as necessary
• Ability to work autonomously, and use own initiative, as well as being part of a team
• Clear verbal and written communication skills, good IT, and keyboard skills
• Ability to de-escalate volatile situations and manage challenging behaviour appropriately

CLOSING DATE: Wednesday 18 February 2026 at midnight.

Please note that we are unable to offer a work permit or visa sponsorship for this role; applicants must already have the right to live and work in the UK independently.

An inclusive workplace We are committed to policies and practices of equity, diversity, and inclusion and to supporting our people to make sure our culture is consistent with this commitment. 

Accessibility If you require assistance or have questions regarding the application process, please do contact us.

YMCA DLG requires all staff and volunteers to be committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and to respond proactively to safeguarding concerns. 

Successful applicants will undergo a thorough background screening process, conducted by an accredited third-party provider. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (with Children’s and Adults’ Barred Lists) as well as comprehensive reference and activity check.

About the role

The Reception Worker is an essential and key role within the Resource Centre, acting as the first point of contact and providing a consistent, familiar and friendly welcome when service users enter the space. The role requires excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to provide a high level of customer service in a busy and fast paced environment, to individuals impacted by trauma. 

Main duties 

• To be the lead worker on client reception in the Resource Centre, working with the Resettlement Team and a rota of staff and managers from across the organisation, as well as locum staff, agency staff and volunteers.
• To be the first point of contact for service users and guests accessing the Resource Centre, ensuring they are provided with a high level of customer service.
• To maintain accurate records of who is accessing the service, what services they are utilising, and ensuring that database access notes are kept up to date by liaising proactively with lead workers.
• To manage and de-escalate potential incidents at the client reception area, and challenge inappropriate behavior as needed, with support from colleagues and duty managers.
• To assist with any admin tasks required.
• To ensure that the reception area is operated safely in accordance with health and safety, and GDPR policies.

Key responsibilities

• In conjunction with your Line Manager to continuously develop the role to ensure that all tasks are being undertaken in an effective and appropriate manner which meets the strategic aims and objectives of The Passage.
• To participate in internal/external meetings as required, and attend training events, conferences and other functions as necessary.
• To participate in regular supervision and annual appraisal and help in identifying your own job-related development and training needs.
• To ensure that all The Passage policies and procedures are being adhered to.
• To contribute to the effective implementation of The Passage’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy as it affects both The Passage and its work with vulnerable adults.
• To at all times undertake your role in a professional manner maintaining a high quality standard of work, and to always work in accordance with the aims, values and ethos of The Passage.
• Undertake any other duties that may be required which are commensurate with the role

Desired experience

• Experience of working in a high-pressured environment and managing multiple responsibilities.
• Experience of working collaboratively within a team.
• Experience of delivering a high level of customer service within a demanding setting.
• Some experience of dealing directly with the public and/or clients or customers in a busy service environment

Desired knowledge

• A genuine interest in helping vulnerable people to make positive changes in their life and a willingness to develop these valuable skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Personal experience of homelessness and/or an understanding of and empathy with the issues faced by homeless or vulnerably housed people.

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation, our staff team is helping over 50,000 young people each year at its 44 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for someone who will enjoy working each day with young people and who will thrive in a frontline, community-based, fast-paced and rewarding role. You will be taking up a fixed-term contract as an Education Worker at our
centre in Edinburgh.

Location: IntoUniversity Craigmillar
Contract: Full-time, fixed-term until August 2026
Applications close: 9am Friday 13th February 2026
Start date: As soon as possible, to be agreed directly with the successful candidate

Salary

£28,250 per annum

What could my day look like?

The Education Worker role is a frontline, fast-paced and rewarding role where no two weeks will look the same. A typical day will have different activities, possibly spread between the IntoUniversity centre, partner schools and the offices of a corporate partner.

In the morning, you might be setting off with resources to run a workshop for sixth-form students in their secondary school. In the afternoon you may be setting up the classroom ahead of running Primary Academic Support for young people in your IntoUniversity centre. On other days, you may be travelling to a corporate partner to run a business simulation workshop for 15 year-olds or leading a group of final year primary school students on a campus visit for their graduation.

As an Education Worker, you’ll always be delivering the programme as part of your centre team, which means that any delivery is always a team effort.