Ambition Aspire Achieve is seeking an exceptional, values-led Chief Executive to lead our much-loved children and young people’s charity into its next chapter.
This is a rare opportunity to lead a practical, relationship-based and strongly rooted Newham charity that makes a real difference to children, young people and families facing disadvantage, vulnerability, SEND, disability or risk.
Founded in 2016 by Kevin Jenkins OBE, Ambition Aspire Achieve has grown from a small number of projects at the Terence Brown Arc in the Park into a well-established charity working across Newham. Today, AAA supports nearly 1,000 children and young people each year through its hubs, with many more reached through outreach, schools-based work and community programmes.
Our work is grounded in the belief that every child and young person should be able to enjoy their childhood, overcome barriers, build confidence and develop the skills and self-belief to achieve positive futures. We deliver a broad programme of support including after-school clubs, holiday programmes, youth clubs, SEND activities, mentoring, outdoor learning, sports, family days, residentials, detached youth work, schools-based youth safety work, community events and targeted family support.
This is an exciting and important moment in AAA’s journey. Following a period of growth, the charity is now focused on consolidation, quality and long-term sustainability. We are financially stable, well regarded and deeply rooted locally, with strong relationships across funders, schools, corporate partners, local agencies and community organisations.
The next Chief Executive will provide clear, steady and values-led leadership, working closely with the Chair and Board of Trustees. They will lead and support the staff team, strengthen organisational sustainability, maintain and develop partnerships, champion safeguarding and inclusion, and ensure children and young people remain at the heart of every decision.
As AAA does not currently have a dedicated senior fundraising post, the Chief Executive will also play a central role in securing and maintaining the income needed to sustain and develop the charity’s work. This will include trusts and foundations, statutory funding, corporate partnerships, individual donors, appeals and wider supporter engagement.
We are looking for someone who can combine strategic leadership with practical operational understanding. You may already be a Chief Executive, or you may be an experienced senior leader ready to step into your first Chief Executive role. What matters most is your ability to lead with clarity, care and resilience; build trusted relationships; secure income; uphold strong governance; and keep AAA’s values at the centre of how the charity works.
AAA’s values are Committed, Caring, Collaborative and Creative. We are looking for a leader who can live these values, promote a positive and inclusive culture, and help ensure AAA remains strong, responsive and ambitious for the children, young people and families who need us most.
This is not a turnaround role, but it is a significant leadership opportunity. The successful candidate will inherit a respected and impactful charity with strong foundations, while also leading it through a more challenging external funding environment and into its next phase of development.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
To provide children and young people in the London Borough of Newham with fully inclusive experiences and opportunities to flourish.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Pay: M1 (£36,642 - £40,356 a year based on 44.6 weeks per year which is term time, plus one week for insets and holiday pay. This is split over 12 monthly payments).
The trust is part of the Local Government Pension Scheme that contributes 17.8% as employer pension contributions.
Start Date: Ideally September 2026 (please note our intention is for our outgoing Service Manager to work alongside you for approximately 6 weeks so you feel confident in the role before she departs)
Forest House Education Centre (FHEC) is a hospital school for 13-17-year-old pupils, attached to the Forest House Adolescent Unit, a Tier 4 CAMHS inpatient facility on the Kingsley Green hospital site. The Centre provides education for the patients occupying the Adolescent Unit's sixteen beds, while additionally being the sole educator for eight 'day pupils' who are referred by Hertfordshire County Council through ESMA (the LA's tutorial service for pupils who are out of mainstream education for medical reasons).
The Service Manager at Forest House Education Centre will work closely with Trust leaders to effectively manage the day to day provision of the service.
The candidate’s key role will include liaising with stakeholders to ensure effective communication and collaboration between ESMA, Forest House Adolescent Unit, base schools, pupils and their families and professionals involved in the care and education of our pupils; to ensure the best outcomes for all those at FHEC; attend multi-agency meetings as necessary and work in conjunction with the Trust staff to ensure that all aspects of the SLA (service level agreement) are met.
The candidate will have experience of dealing with pupils with Mental Health issues and have excellent communication skills. Interested parties must have a diplomatic, tactful and creative approach to team working.
Please see job description for more information.
Closing date for applications is 9am on Friday 4th September 2026. Candidates are welcome to call and speak to the Head Teacher and/or arrange to visit the school site. Please use contact details above to make arrangements.
Applications Close: 9 am on Friday 4th September 2026
Interviews: Week Commencing Monday 7th September 2026
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Community Youth Work Manager
Oasis Community Hub, Waterloo
Hours: 40 hours per week
Contract type: 1-year fixed term
Salary: £34,030 per annum (including London Weighting)
Supporting young people to thrive in Waterloo
Do you believe in the potential of every young person? Are you an experienced youth practitioner who can combine excellent frontline practice with leadership, strategic thinking and partnership working?
Oasis Hub Waterloo is looking for a Community Youth Work Manager to lead and develop our youth services for young people aged 10+ across North Lambeth.
Oasis Hub Waterloo has been part of the Waterloo community for more than 20 years. We’re an ambitious, inclusive and Christ-centred organisation working alongside local people to build a community where everyone is included, can contribute and can reach their potential.
Our youth service has been working with young people in North Lambeth for more than a decade. We provide accessible, supportive and trauma-responsive services that help young people build confidence, make positive choices and thrive in our community.
About the role
This is an exciting opportunity to shape and lead our youth work at a time of development
You’ll manage a small team of youth practitioners and sessional workers while staying connected to frontline delivery. You’ll oversee and deliver group activities, after-school drop-ins and one-to-one mentoring, as well as developing holiday programmes, youth leadership and social action opportunities.
You’ll also help shape the future of our youth provision, working with colleagues across Oasis Hub Waterloo to develop our 0–18 strategy and create new, collaborative services.
Partnership working is central to the role. You’ll develop strong relationships with Oasis Academy South Bank, local youth organisations, community partners and statutory services, helping connect education, health and community provision around the needs of young people.
About you
You’ll bring significant experience of working directly with young people aged 10+, alongside the skills and confidence to lead and develop a youth service.
You’ll have:
· Strong youth work practice, including group and one-to-one work.
· Experience of developing and delivering youth programmes or projects.
· Experience of managing or supervising staff, sessional workers or volunteers.
· Strong partnership and multi-agency working skills.
· A thorough understanding of safeguarding and child protection.
· Experience of monitoring, evaluating and improving services.
· Creativity, initiative and the ability to develop new opportunities for young people.
· A genuine passion for helping young people thrive.
Knowledge of youth services in Lambeth or Southwark, and experience of education, youth leadership, social action or statutory services, would be particularly welcome.
Join us
You’ll join an innovative and supportive charity where you’ll have the opportunity to make a tangible difference to young people and help shape the future of youth work in Waterloo.
Oasis is committed to inclusion and welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds.
The role includes regular evening and some weekend work and is subject to an enhanced DBS check.
As part of the package, Oasis offers:
· A pension scheme, offering 7% employer contribution.
· A generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year (plus 8 Bank Holidays).
· Policies which promote well-being and are family friendly.
To apply, please send your CV and a Supporting Statement (no more than two A4 pages).
Please expand on your CV in your cover letter to explain why you would be a good fit for the role.
Please include how you would balance frontline youth delivery with leadership and management responsibilities.
Please also give an example of a piece of youth work you are particularly proud of, explaining what you did and what difference it made.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Completed applications should be returned by 9am Monday 21st September 2026.
Interviews will take place on Thursday 24th September 2026.
We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and underrepresented groups. If you require any assistance to overcome potential barriers during the recruitment process, please let us know.
We appreciate you may wish to use AI to support elements of your application but we strongly encourage all candidates to submit applications that genuinely reflect their own skills, achievements and lived experiences. It's what makes your application stand out!
Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.
The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK. Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas.
Oasis supports Equal Opportunities. Registered Charity No. 1163889
To apply, please send your CV and a Supporting Statement (no more than two A4 pages)
Please expand on your CV in your cover letter to explain why you would be a good fit for the role.
Please include how you would balance frontline youth delivery with leadership and management responsibilities.
Please also give an example of a piece of youth work you are particularly proud of, explaining what you did and what difference it made.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.