Children and young people team manager jobs

The Communications Manager provides operational leadership for CLAPA's communications delivery, ensuring communications and marketing activity is effectively planned, prioritised and delivered in support of the charity's strategic objectives. 

Reporting to the Head of Communications and Marketing, the postholder is responsible for translating the communications strategy into coordinated day-to-day delivery. They will oversee the planning, scheduling and operational management of communications activity across the organisation, ensuring work is appropriately prioritised, resources are allocated effectively and projects are delivered to a consistently high standard. 

The role directly manages CLAPA's Communications Officers, embedding effective planning, briefing and workflow processes that enable the team to deliver proactive, creative and high-quality communications.

Acting as the primary operational lead for communications delivery, the postholder will ensure colleagues across CLAPA receive responsive, well-planned communications support while maintaining clear priorities and protecting the team's capacity to deliver its best work. 

If you think you have the talent, passion and experience to help us ensure we can always meet the needs of the community we serve, we want to hear from you.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a respected and well-established charity with deep roots in the communities we serve. Jigsaw4u has a strong reputation and dedicated staff and volunteers.

As CEO, you will provide strategic, operational and cultural leadership, working closely with the Board of Trustees, staff, volunteers and partners to ensure the delivery of high-quality services.  You will drive our strategic priorities, strengthen financial sustainability, build effective partnerships and foster an inclusive, high-performance culture.

We are seeking a values-driven leader who can inspire confidence, champion collaboration and innovation and deliver meaningful outcomes for children, young people and families.

Join BrainWaves at an exciting stage of growth and help build the sustainable income behind our ambitious plans to improve young people’s mental health.

This is a rare opportunity for a proactive fundraiser to take real ownership of a growing fundraising programme, working with experienced specialists while broadening your expertise across trusts, major donors, corporate partnerships and individual giving.

About BrainWaves Research

BrainWaves Research is a charity working to improve young people’s mental health and wellbeing through research, education and collaboration.

We bring together scientists, educators, schools and young people to build a stronger understanding of adolescent mental health and translate evidence into practical support. Our work combines a major longitudinal research study with evidence-based educational resources for schools.

BrainWaves is a long-term collaboration involving the University of Oxford, Swansea University and The Day News & Media. We are entering an exciting stage of growth and are looking for a proactive and versatile Fundraising Manager to help secure the sustainable income needed to achieve our ambitions.

The opportunity

You will lead the day-to-day delivery of fundraising across trusts and foundations, major donors, corporate partnerships and individual giving, developing new opportunities as well as managing and growing existing relationships.

The role may particularly suit someone with strong experience in one area – most likely trusts and foundations or high-value giving – who is ready to broaden their expertise across a mixed portfolio.

You will work particularly closely with our fractional Fundraising Director, who will provide strategic direction and support, as well as experienced specialists in major gifts and events, senior volunteers and colleagues across BrainWaves.

This is a hands-on role with significant autonomy. We are looking for someone proactive, ambitious and organised who enjoys turning strategy into action, building relationships, improving systems and hitting targets. Above all, you will be passionate about our mission to improve young people’s mental health.

Key responsibilities

Fundraising and income growth

• Work with the Fundraising Director and COO to deliver BrainWaves’ fundraising strategy and annual income plan.

• Manage and grow a pipeline across trusts and foundations, major donors, corporates and individual giving.

• Research and develop new prospects, partnerships and sustainable income opportunities.

• Prepare compelling cases for support, grant applications, proposals, presentations and donor communications.

• Take ownership of agreed income targets, deadlines and activity plans, monitoring performance and forecasting income.

• Manage funder and supporter relationships from initial approach through to reporting and stewardship.

Major donors, corporates and supporters

• Work with the Fundraising Director, trustees, senior volunteers and specialist advisers to identify, cultivate and steward high-value prospects.

• Build relationships with companies whose values and interests align with BrainWaves and develop appropriate partnership opportunities.

• Help develop our individual-giving programme, including appeals, regular giving and supporter journeys.

• Manage and improve our use of JustGiving and other digital fundraising platforms.

• Support donor and cultivation events, including prospect identification, communications and follow-up.

CRM, data and fundraising operations

• Take day-to-day ownership of BrainWaves’ CRM, ensuring supporter, prospect, donation and relationship records are accurate and up to date.

• Improve how the CRM is used for pipeline management, reporting, segmentation, stewardship and task management.

• Establish clear and consistent processes for recording and using fundraising information.

• Produce regular pipeline, income and forecasting reports and use data to identify opportunities, gaps and risks.

• Ensure information from JustGiving and other platforms is captured and followed up appropriately.

• Maintain high standards of data protection, fundraising compliance and data quality.

Collaborative working

• Work closely with the Fundraising Director and experienced freelance specialists in fundraising strategy, major gifts and events.

• Collaborate with colleagues across communications, research and operations to develop strong fundraising propositions and materials.

• Support trustees and senior volunteers in their fundraising activity.

• Attend occasional meetings and events, primarily in Oxford and London.

About you

You will be a confident and proactive fundraiser with strong experience in at least one income stream and an appetite to broaden your expertise.

You will be a persuasive communicator and excellent relationship builder, comfortable managing multiple prospects, deadlines and priorities. You will enjoy working in a small, evolving organisation where initiative is valued and will be effective working independently from home while staying closely connected to the wider team.

Most importantly, you will be motivated by ambitious targets and genuinely excited by BrainWaves’ mission.

Essential experience and skills

• Experience of securing income within a charity, university, research institution or other purpose-led organisation.

• Strong experience in at least one fundraising stream, such as trusts and foundations, major donors, corporates or individual giving.

• Evidence of meeting fundraising targets or contributing significantly to income growth.

• Experience of managing prospects from research and qualification through to solicitation and stewardship.

• Excellent written skills, including producing persuasive applications, proposals and donor communications.

• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder-management skills.

• Ability to understand complex information and turn it into a clear and compelling case for support.

• Experience of using a fundraising CRM to manage pipelines, records and reporting.

• Excellent organisation, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.

• A proactive, resourceful and collaborative approach.

• A genuine commitment to BrainWaves’ purpose.

Desirable experience

• Experience across more than one fundraising income stream.

• Trusts and foundations and/or major donor fundraising experience.

• Experience of corporate partnerships.

• Experience of using and improving a CRM, particularly Beacon or a similar system.

• Experience of JustGiving or similar digital fundraising platforms.

• Experience of fundraising for mental health, young people, education, science, health or research.

• Knowledge of fundraising regulation and data protection.

• Experience of donor cultivation or fundraising events.

What we offer

• The opportunity to shape and grow fundraising within an ambitious charity.

• Close working with an experienced Fundraising Director and senior fundraising specialists.

• Significant autonomy and the opportunity to broaden your fundraising experience.

• Meaningful work supporting research and education focused on adolescent mental health.

• A flexible, predominantly home-based role.

• 25 days’ annual leave pro rata.

• Auto-enrolment into our pension scheme after successful completion of a three-month probation period.

• Reasonable travel expenses for required meetings and events.

Please note: Peabody is not a licensed UK sponsor and cannot offer visa sponsorship for this role

Make a Difference Every Day

We're looking for a Support Worker to join our Young People's Service, helping young people build the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to live independently.

You'll support young people who may be facing homelessness, disability, ill health, or social exclusion, empowering them to achieve their goals and create a positive future.

What You'll Be Doing

• Completing support plans, risk assessments, and regular reviews
• Helping young people develop everyday living skills such as budgeting, cooking, shopping, and managing a tenancy
• Supporting access to education, employment, training, and community services
• Working alongside external agencies to achieve positive outcomes
• Maintaining accurate records and safeguarding standards

What We're Looking For

• Experience supporting vulnerable people through work or volunteering
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• A caring, empathetic, and non-judgemental approach
• Confidence working independently, including lone working
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft Office and case management systems

Why Join Peabody?

At Peabody, our values guide everything we do: Be Kind, Do the Right Thing, Love New Ideas, Celebrate Diversity, Keep Our Promises, and Pull Together.

What You'll Get

• 25 days annual leave
• Flexible benefits including healthcare, dental cover, and retail discounts
• Up to 10% pension contribution and 4x life assurance
• Learning and development opportunities, including funded apprenticeships
• Two paid volunteering days each year
• Family-friendly policies and a supportive team culture

Working Pattern

This is a full-time, onsite role. You'll work five days per week, including weekends and bank holidays, on a rota basis.

Shifts may include:

• Early mornings
• Evenings
• Sleep-in shifts

Flexibility is essential for this role.

Interview Information

We're reviewing applications and interviewing on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early.

In-person interviews will take place in Witham on 7th, 8th and 11th September 2026.

Important Information

• Enhanced DBS check required
• Successful candidates will be required to undertake regular sleep-in shifts
• Peabody is not a licensed UK sponsor and cannot offer visa sponsorship for this role

Salary: £36,399 per annum

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 35 hours per week

Location: Hybrid or remote, depending on the location of the successful applicant (must be based in the UK)

Closing date: 24 August 2026

Interview date(s): 3 & 4 September 2026

Do you have a proven track record of building strong relationships with trusts, foundations and other grant-making bodies? Do you want to use your skills and experience to secure significant funding that makes a lasting difference for families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people?

The role

We are looking for an experienced Trusts and Foundations Manager to join our friendly Fundraising Team. You will lead our trusts and foundations income stream, building a strong pipeline of significant funding opportunities, including high-value and multi-year partnerships. You will research prospects, develop compelling applications and reports, and make sure our submissions are accurate, evidence-led and aligned with Family Fund’s priorities.

You will work closely with colleagues across Family Fund to bring together the insight, evidence and financial information needed for strong proposals. You will also share your fundraising expertise to support statutory, community and corporate foundation applications, helping colleagues develop clear, consistent and persuasive submissions.

You will build and steward relationships with new and existing funders, keeping opportunities moving from prospect research through to application, reporting and renewal. You will monitor income progress, keep the pipeline up to date, and help identify new opportunities to grow sustainable funding for Family Fund.

About you

You will bring a strong track record of securing income from trusts, foundations or similar grant-making bodies, including five-figure grants and multi-year funding. You will be confident researching opportunities, shaping fundable propositions and writing detailed applications and reports that speak clearly to funder priorities.

You will bring excellent communication, research and numeracy skills, with the ability to turn complex information into clear and engaging proposals. You will be organised, collaborative and able to manage competing deadlines, work independently and build positive relationships with colleagues, funders and partners.

This is an important time to join Family Fund’s fundraising team as we continue to grow and diversify voluntary income. You will have space to shape our trusts and foundations work, develop strong funding propositions, and see how successful applications help families access practical support.

About us

Family Fund is a great place to work for great people. We provide a challenging and rewarding working environment where every staff member can make their mark.

We are a values based organisation and we aim to show our values in all that we do. Read our staff stories on the Family Fund website to hear about how our staff display our values every day.

We commit to inclusion, equality and diversity and we welcome applications from all parts of the community. Family Fund is a Disability Confident Leader. We will invite to interview all disabled applicants who meet the requirements for the role. If you have a disability, and are happy to let us know, please highlight this in your covering letter. We have also signed the Armed Forces Covenant and we welcome applications from the Armed Forces Community.

How to apply

When you’re ready to apply, complete the online application and submit a CV and a covering letter. Your letter will need to explain what skills and qualities you would bring to the team.

For more information, please read and download the job description.

The successful candidate must complete pre-employment checks that meet the Baseline Personnel Security Standard. This includes a requirement to undergo a right to work check and employment history verification.

Are you an insight-driven leader with experience of service design and development, CRM systems and data management? Do you enjoy turning evidence into action, building effective processes, and helping organisations maximise their impact? Then join Sported as our Network Services and Data Manager and play a key role in developing and evolving the services, activities, and support we provide to grassroots groups across the UK.

 

About Us

Sported is a charity that delivers funding, resources, and expert volunteer support to grassroots groups that use sport and physical activity to make a positive difference to people and communities.

Our network of 5000 groups reached over one million people across the UK in 2025–26. Through free support, resources and funding, we help trusted local leaders lower the barriers participation, building stronger, fairer communities and improving health and wellbeing, and opportunities for all.

We are now looking for a Network Services and Data Manager to join us on a full-time, permanent basis, working 37.5 hours per week.

Why Join us? 

· A supportive, friendly, engaged team, with a great people first culture

· A salary of £39,393 – £45,020 (dependent on experience)

· 25 days’ holiday per annum plus Bank Holidays

· Two additional wellbeing days per year

· Two paid volunteer days each year

· Up to five days’ paid study leave for self-funded training

· Flexible working arrangements

· A confidential counselling service

· Pension scheme

· Cycle to Work scheme

This role is a fantastic opportunity for a strategic and insight-driven professional with expertise in service design, CRM systems, and data management to join Sported's mission of supporting grassroots groups to create lasting change in their communities.

Here you will have the opportunity to provide leadership to a function with significant potential for growth and development. You'll be instrumental in embedding best practice across service design, establishing robust processes, enhancing data capability, and creating a culture of evidence-based decision-making.

The successful candidate will drive continuous improvement, helping to establish a high-performing, strategically focused function that maximises impact across the organisation.

The Opportunity 

This is more than a data role 

You'll lead the development of Sported's services, CRM systems, and data strategy, ensuring our decisions, processes, and offer to grassroots groups are driven by insight and evidence.

Working closely with colleagues across the organisation, you'll champion innovation, improve how we use data, and help create exceptional experiences for the grassroots groups we serve.

If you're excited by the opportunity to shape strategy, lead change and maximise social impact, we'd love to hear from you.

About You

• An excellent communicator, able to build positive working relationships with the wider team.

• An effective influencer, able to drive change and embed new ways of working across the organisation.

• A self-starter, able to work independently and under your own initiative.

• A curious mind, able to ask questions and pursue answers.

• A critical thinker, able to assess existing approaches and imagine new ways of working.

• A passion for making a difference to marginalised communities and people. 

Please see the job pack, where you’ll find details of roles and responsibilities, and required skills and experience.

The closing date for this role is Midnight on 20th August

Sported is an equal opportunities employer, and we warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from ethnically diverse, LGBTQ+ and disabled communities, as well as people with lived experience of tackling inequalities, because we value the insight and strength that diverse voices bring to creating meaningful change.

We want you to feel comfortable and supported throughout the recruitment process. If there is anything we can do to help make the process more accessible for you, please let us know. 

We want every candidate to have the best opportunity to showcase their skills. That's why we use a anonymous recruitment process and provide interview questions in advance, supporting a fair, transparent and inclusive selection process.

START are recruiting for an Operations Manager.

Job Title: Operations Manager
Location: Salford
Employer: START
Hours: 4 Days per week (28 hours) worked across Monday to Friday, specific work pattern to be agreed, with flexibility required)
Salary Band: £33,860 - £40,000 FTE (£27,088 - £32,000 per annum actual for 28 hours per week)
Contract Type: Permanent
Pension: 5% employer contribution
Annual Leave: 30 days plus statutory holidays (pro rata for part-time staff)

About Us

START is a Salford based mental health charity, of over 30 years, that uses creativity, connection and recovery interventions to help improve people's lives.

Job Overview

We are looking for an experienced, proactive and highly organised Operations Manager to join our Senior Leadership Team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of START by ensuring the organisation operates safely, efficiently and in line with best practice.

Core Responsibilities

As Operations Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day operational management of the charity, leading on health and safety, facilities management, information governance, H.R, organisational policies and procedures, and the continuous improvement of our operational systems. You will also manage operational staff, lead key organisational projects and work collaboratively with colleagues, trustees, partners and external contractors to support the delivery of our strategic objectives.

This varied and rewarding role requires a confident leader with excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving skills, who can manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards of compliance and service delivery. You will be passionate about creating efficient systems, fostering a positive working environment and ensuring the organisation remains compliant with relevant legislation and best practice.

Additional Information

If you are an experienced operational leader who thrives on driving improvement, building strong relationships and supporting an organisation that makes a real difference in people's lives, we'd love to hear from you.

Closing date for receiving applications will be Tuesday 25th August 2026 at 12 noon.

Interested?

If you believe you have the right skills and experience to join our exemplar charity, please apply in writing with an up to date CV and a supporting statement which outlines your suitability for the role in line with the attached person specification. It will be sent automatically to us. 

START are committed to equality of opportunity, to eliminating discrimination and to creating an inclusive working environment for all. With this in mind, we welcome applications irrespective of age, disability, race, religion and belief, gender identity, sex or sexual orientation

No agencies please.

Summary for full details and how to apply please visit our website with the link provided.

1. Working closely with the Head of Creative Engagement to deliver HOME’s year-round Creative Engagement offer for young people, schools and communities.

2. Lead multiple Creative Engagement film projects, be part of working groups, and collaborate with colleagues to ensure that the engagement programme links directly to and is part of HOME’s overall programme – as directed by the Head of Creative Engagement or CEO.

3. Lead the BFI Film Academy North, holding relationships with core partners and stakeholders. Implementing effective project management and embedding best practice to ensure set outcomes and outputs are delivered in a timely manner.  

4. Recruit, contract, liaise and supervise freelance artists, filmmakers and other creative practitioners engaged in the delivery of projects.

5. Effectively manage project budgets, regularly reporting to the Head of Creative Engagement.

6. With a high level of project administration, manage time and resources and implement effective administration processes in order to produce high-quality work.

7. Develop opportunities and shape pathways to careers for young people and communities. Supervise the BFI Intern and BFI Apprentice.

8. Maintain a working knowledge of and participate in regional and national engagement and film networks, to keep up to speed with developments in the industry.

9.  Work with the Marketing and Communications team to ensure work is effectively promoted. Regularly writing copy and providing content for social media and updating the website in order to raise the profile of HOME’s Creative Engagement work at a local and national level.

10. Work with HOME’s Development Team to identify and support fundraising and reporting when needed.

Base71 Youth Zone is dedicated to young people and makes a bold statement about the importance of giving young people high quality places to go in their leisure time. Open 7 days a week including school holidays, the Youth Zone’s purpose is to help young people grow to be happy, healthy and successful adults.

The state of the art £10 million building provides young people with facilities that are second to none delivering over twenty sporting, artistic, cultural and general recreational activities each session. Offering young people the opportunity to try new things, meet new friends and gain support from friendly, warm and positive staff and volunteers

Are you passionate about creating an outstanding volunteer experience and helping people develop the skills and confidence to make a real difference?

Base71 Youth Zone is looking for a Volunteer and Training Manager to lead and develop our volunteer programme, while coordinating learning and development opportunities for both volunteers and staff. Since opening in January 2026, Base71 has already welcomed nearly 8,000 young people as members, supported by a growing team of staff and volunteers.

You will be the driving force behind volunteering at Base71, recruiting, onboarding, developing and supporting volunteers who help us create a safe, welcoming and inspiring environment for young people.

From designing meaningful volunteer roles and developing recruitment strategies to delivering training and celebrating volunteer achievements, you will help ensure every volunteer feels

You will be the driving force behind volunteering at Base71, recruiting, onboarding, developing and supporting volunteers who help us create a safe, welcoming and inspiring environment for young people.

From designing meaningful volunteer roles and developing recruitment strategies to delivering training and celebrating volunteer achievements, you will help ensure every volunteer feels valued, supported and equipped to thrive.

You will also coordinate learning and development across Base71, supporting staff and volunteer training, managing the appraisal process and helping ensure our team has the knowledge and skills needed to perform at their best. You will also play an active role in organising volunteer recognition activities and wider Youth Zone events.

Sessional Lead Young Persons Advocate Practitioner West Cheshire

Permanent with funding until 31st March 2028

Sessional contract

£16.81 per hour

Home based with expectation of regular travel across Cheshire West (mileage paid at 55p a mile)

Young Persons Lead Advocate Practitioner empowers children and young people to express their views and navigate complex social care, health or education systems. You will ensure that a young person's voice is heard in decision making affecting their lives. As Lead Practitioner successful candidate will provide one to one support to young people will also support Safer Practice Manager with mentoring staff, leading and ensuring rights based trauma informed support.

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

-Computer literate and is able to navigate mosaic and other children society data management systems.

-Excellent verbal and written Communication skills, including telephone skills

-Team work and collaboration with a variety of partners

-Competencies in undertaking risk assessments within scope of practice

Experience

-Experience of providing advocacy support and working with children and young people

-Experience of providing supervision to staff or volunteers .

-Experience of working in partnership with external organisations

Closing date: Midnight on 27th 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

Partnership Manager
Location: London Based (Hybrid Working)
Position: Full Time

About Urban Synergy
Urban Synergy is an award winning social mobility charity on a mission to help 50,000 9-24 years old people increase their social mobility by 2027. Our proven programmes inspire and mentor young people to increase their financial independence, social mobility and create happier, safer communities. We believe in a world where no-one’s background ever holds them back.

Role Summary
Are you an ambitious relationship builder with a passion for creating meaningful partnerships? We're looking for a proactive Partnership Manager to grow and manage our portfolio of corporate partners and donors, helping secure funding, volunteers and opportunities that transform the lives of young people. This is an exciting opportunity to build long-term strategic relationships whilst playing a key role in the future growth of Urban Synergy. 

Responsibilities
The main purpose of the role involves:

• Building and managing relationships with existing and prospective corporate partners.
• Identifying and securing new partnership opportunities, particularly within FTSE 250 organisations.
• Developing tailored partnership proposals, sponsorship packages and presentations.
• Managing the full partnership lifecycle, from prospecting, maximise partner engagement and retention.
• Working collaboratively with programme, finance and leadership teams to deliver successful partnerships.
• Monitoring partnership performance, impact and income against agreed targets.
• Representing Urban Synergy at networking events, meetings and corporate engagements.
• Maintaining accurate partnership records using CRM systems and producing regular reports.

Skills & Experience
Required Skills

• Proven experience in partnership development, business development or corporate fundraising.
• Excellent relationship management, networking and negotiation skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication, including proposal writing and presentations.
• Experience managing multiple stakeholders and projects simultaneously.
• Self-motivated with a track record of achieving income or partnership targets.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience using CRM systems and Microsoft Office.
• Based in London or the surrounding areas.

Desirable Skills

• Experience working within the charity or social impact sector.
• Knowledge of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and ESG initiatives.
• Experience developing strategic partnership plans.
• Degree (or equivalent experience) in Business, Marketing or a related discipline.

Benefits

• Hybrid Working.
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Pension scheme.

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

This role can be worked either as a remote homebased role, or as a hybrid role based in our London office, with London-based colleagues attending the office a minimum of four days per month.

Independent Age is the national charity focused on ending financial hardship in later life. We want every older person to be able to afford to live well.

We stand with older people in financial hardship, offering urgent help today and shaping a fairer, more secure tomorrow. Our Helpline and expert advisers offer free, practical support to older people without enough money to live on. Through our grants programme, we support hundreds of local organisations working with older people across the UK. And we use the knowledge and insight gained from our services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.

We would love to find individuals from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to join us on this journey.

Responsibilities and Person Specification:

The Stories and Participation Officer is a fundamental cross-organisational role.  Working directly with older people in financial hardship, the role will source, capture and collaborate to share stories, advice and insights from older people, whilst maintaining the highest level of stewardship and safeguarding for this group and supporting organisation wide participation activity.

Reporting into the Participation Manager, you will work champion and deliver meaningful involvement and authentic storytelling to ensure that the experiences of older people are at the centre of Independent Age’s work. You will ensure that participation processes maintain and develop our storytelling expertise and follow good-practice in the sector. The role will recruit and induct older people on a low income to our Lived Experience Network, alert them to opportunities to get involved in shaping and informing Independent Age’s work, facilitate two-way engagement, and work with willing members of the network to share their lived experience and insights, including sharing their story on public and private platforms.

You will need exceptional organisational skills and the ability to proactively drive lived experience work and effective storytelling. Strong verbal and interpersonal skills are essential, along with knowledge of best practice in supporting and co-ordinating lived experience participation including online and offline events, groups and meetings to create listening spaces.

For full details on the role and requirements, please review the job description and person specification.  If your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all of the criteria in the person specification but you do meet most of them and are excited about the role, we encourage you to apply anyway.

What it’s like to work at Independent Age:

We celebrate diversity at Independent Age and champion the differences that make each of us unique. We actively support and encourage people from a variety of backgrounds, experiences and skill sets to join us and help shape what we do. We aim to attract and retain a wide range of talent and create an environment where everyone can feel safe, protected, welcome and included.

We offer great benefits including 28 days annual leave plus public holidays, a generous pension scheme with life assurance, and fantastic learning and development opportunities. We also offer a number of enhanced leave provisions and benefits. 

We know that a good work life balance helps us perform at our best and supports wellbeing. Flexible working hours and hybrid working is standard for all (those contracted to work in the office are required to attend the office a minimum of 4 days per month). But if you need a different form of flexibility, we are always happy to talk flexible working. 

With an employee engagement score of 98%, colleagues say Independent Age is a great place to work. You can find out more about what it’s like to work for us on the careers page of our website.

Application Process:

To apply, please submit a CV and a Supporting Statement, detailing how your skills and experience meet the criteria within the Job Description and Person Specification, by visiting our jobs website,

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you require any specific arrangements or adjustments to enable you to fully participate in the recruitment process, such as having the job description in a larger text format or to apply in an alternative format, please get in touch with us via the email address on the ‘Contact Us’ page on our jobs site.

To support our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion our hiring managers use anonymous shortlisting. Please don’t include your name, photo, or any information that could indicate your gender or age in your CV and supporting statement, and don’t include your name in the title of any documents that you upload. However, please do include all dates of employment.

Independent Age is committed to safeguarding and follows Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding those we work with. We therefore ask that you supply your full work history with explanations for any gaps in the application documents you submit and, if offered the post, we will require two employment references including your current or most recent employer. A Basic Level DBS check will be carried out for the successful candidate.

Closing Date: Sunday 23rd August, 11:59pm

About Hope for the Young

Hope for the Young removes the obstacles to young refugees and asylum-seekers’ education and wellbeing through mentoring, advocacy, and financial support.

The Mentoring Programme supports young refugees and asylum-seekers aged 16-25 by matching them with trained volunteer mentors who provide weekly one-to-one support tailored to the young people's needs. Mentors can help with teaching English, enrolment advice, study skills, confidence and trust building, and can provide emotional and practical support that will help the young people access new services, adapt and settle into their communities.

The Grants and Advocacy Programme supports young people who, due to their immigration status, have no access to student finance or other financial support to enable them to go to college or university. We provide small grants to pay for tuition fees, living allowances and travel expenses, alongside tailored advocacy support to enable young refugees and asylum-seekers to access education in the UK.

About this role

We are recruiting both a full-time and part-time Mentoring Programme Coordinator to manage our high-quality Mentoring Programme that supports young people seeking safety in the UK to achieve goals tailored to their needs. The programme aims to help them access education, improve their English, increase independence skills, build confidence, access appropriate services, reduce isolation, and adapt to life in the UK.

We are looking for an outstanding candidate who is passionate about supporting young people seeking sanctuary to adapt to life in the UK and reach their full potential. You will have volunteer management experience and be enthusiastic about the impact they can have on those in need. You will also have a background in, or strong knowledge of, the needs and common challenges of young refugees and asylum seekers.

You will be responsible for building and maintaining strong partnerships with refugee support organisations, colleges and social services to maintain steady referrals to the programme. You will be required to assess young people’s needs and carefully match them with mentors with the relevant skills and experience. You will simultaneously recruit, train and support volunteers to provide weekly one-to-one support to their mentees and carefully monitor the progress of each relationship. Further to this, you will be responsible for responding to safeguarding concerns and providing casework support for young people when issues arise that are beyond the remit or capacity of the mentor. You will also need to maintain strong professional boundaries.

You will also be required to evaluate and monitor the progress of your mentoring relationships, keeping databases up to date and maintaining accurate reporting. Due to the nature of the programme, flexibility will be key to success and you will be required to travel across London and attend meetings in the early evenings (you can take this time back according to our Time Off In Lieu Policy). We offer a flexible and hybrid working environment, however you will be expected to come to our office in Brixton for a minimum of 1 day per week (on a Wednesday, which is our office team day).

You will also be part of an out-of-hours safeguarding rota, approximately once every six weeks, with time given back in lieu.

You will be one of 8 members of staff working alongside a team of dedicated volunteers. Being part of a small team, you will get the opportunity to contribute ideas and help to shape Hope for the Young as we grow and support more young people than ever before.

Main duties and responsibilities

Volunteer Management and Support

1. To co-ordinate a team of volunteer mentors who will provide targeted practical, educational and emotional support to young refugees and asylum seekers on a weekly basis.

2. To ensure the volunteer mentors support young people to access services and develop skills which lead to increased levels of education and employment and support them in making choices which will help them improve their physical, psychological and social well-being.

3. To facilitate a shared culture of co-operation and joint learning.

4. To increase retention of volunteers by ensuring all mentors feel welcome, valued and part of Hope for the Young.

5. To ensure safeguarding and child protection processes are in place and adhered to at all times, as well as maintaining professional boundaries.

6. To keep mentors and mentees updated regularly with relevant events and opportunities to support their learning and personal development.

Recruitment, Training and Matching

7. To develop relationships with potential sources of volunteer mentors and post role descriptions on various platforms to expand the volunteer base.

8. To recruit a diverse range of volunteer mentors, including those with lived experience. This will include reviewing applications; interviewing candidates; taking up references; processing DBS checks; and inducting and training volunteer mentors into their role.

9. To deliver further training to volunteer mentors, with the support of external organisations, which will support them to deliver effective mentoring sessions to their mentees.

Outreach and Partnerships

10.  To work with refugee community organisations and statutory agencies to create referral and access pathways into and out of the mentoring programme, and to promote the programme as widely as possible.

11.  To ensure that partners are kept up to date with information about the mentoring programme and are supported to make referrals on an ongoing basis.

12.  To report back to referral organisations to highlight progress achieved within the mentoring relationships, as well as any challenges.

13.  To represent Hope for the Young at external networking meetings.

Youth Assessments and Support

14.  To carry out thorough assessments of vulnerable young people referred to Hope for the Young, to understand their support needs in order to provide appropriate support.

15.  To build a relationship of trust with the young people so that they can inform you of any problems arising within their mentoring sessions, and so that you can effectively track their progress.

16.  To provide ad-hoc casework support to young people when issues arise that are beyond the remit or capacity of their mentor; signposting and referring on to other organisations for additional support when necessary.

17.  To keep in contact with young people throughout their mentoring to ensure they are being supported effectively and are happy with their mentoring sessions.

Monitoring and Evaluation

18.  To ensure Salesforce records are up to date and have accurate information, including updating case notes and safeguarding concerns in a timely manner.

19.  To ensure mentors complete session reports after every meeting, and to carry out 3-week, 3-month and 6-month reviews with mentors and mentees.

20.  To monitor and evaluate the service, including gathering and uploading data from evaluation forms and surveys.

21.  To attend regular supervisory sessions with your line manager and produce verbal/written reports on the programme as appropriate.

Other Duties

22.  To help organise and facilitate Hope for the Young’s annual party and quarterly social events to celebrate young people’s achievements and create a sense of community within Hope for the Young.

23.  To process all expenses, invoices and receipts in line with financial management systems and adhere to budgets in line with funding requirements.

24.  To act at all times in compliance with all policies and procedures of HftY, and ensure filing and storage systems are managed in line with GDPR.

25.  To undertake training relevant to the job in order to keep up to date with issues relevant to providing a good service for refugee and asylum-seeking young people.

26.  To undertake any other appropriate duties relevant to the post.

This job description will be reviewed on a regular basis to respond to any changing needs of the post.

Benefits

• 25 days' annual leave (pro rata), excluding bank holidays, plus additional time off over the Christmas period

• Flexible/hybrid working arrangements

• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – a confidential counselling/support helpline

• Regular development opportunities to support professional development

• Quarterly wellbeing afternoons – group outings or activities to relax and unwind

Further Information

• You must have the right to work in the UK to apply for this job.

• You must adhere to Hope for the Young’s Equal Opportunities Policy at all times.

• Your employment at Hope for the Young is subject to two satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.

• There is a 3-month probation period for this role

To Apply

We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, particularly those with lived experience of forced migration. If you think you have the skills and experience to be our new Mentoring Programme Coordinator, we would love to hear from you.

We understand that AI can be a helpful tool when writing job applications. However, our advice is to not over-rely on AI and ensure your application is a true reflection of you and your voice. We can often tell when AI has been over-relied on and, in many cases, this is not giving applicants the best chance of success.

Here are all the details to apply:

• In the application form, please demonstrate how you meet the person specification for this post and explain why you would like to work for Hope for the Young.

• Please also complete our equal opportunities form which will appear once you have submitted your application.

• The deadline to apply is 8am on Tuesday 25th August

• Interviews will be held on 2nd, 3rd and 4th September