Family support volunteer volunteer jobs

The Young Ealing Foundation is a place-based charity based in Ealing, West London which brings together the voluntary, statutory and private sectors in the local area to increase and improve opportunities for children, young people and families.

The Young Ealing Foundation’s vision is to ensure all young people in Ealing can access the opportunities and support they need to grow up and lead happy and safe lives, fulfil their potential and become a valued and listened to part of the local community. We work towards this by working with and in the community to empower small, local charities to thrive and flourish to enable and advocate for sustainable, high quality service provision for children and young people.

The Hub at Greenford Library is a key part of this vision. It provides a welcoming, inclusive, and vibrant space for local residents, combining essential library services, community activities, and partnership working. By empowering local charities, volunteers, and community groups, we aim to create a sustainable and thriving centre of activity that reflects the needs and aspirations of the people of Greenford and beyond.

The Children’s Activities Coordinator will oversee the site’s sessions for children and young people. This will include planning and delivering sessions such as story time, ensuring safeguarding and management of the space, coordinating the cohort of library volunteers, liaising with community partners, and supporting the programme of activities for children and families. They will take creative ownership of the displays and maintain an immersive and welcoming space for our youngest visitors and community members.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for engaging children and young people in a community or education setting. We are looking for people that enjoy working with the public and creative inclusive and engaging experiences for children and families. They will have excellent communication and customer services skills and will be able to adapt their communication style to suit working with children of all ages and community members from a range of backgrounds. We are looking for people that want to make Ealing a better place to live.

This role will include some evening and weekend work.

An exciting new opportunity has arisen to join the Borde Hill team to work on the Reinventing Borde Hill project. This role will be responsible for managing the Community Growing Garden at Sugworth Farm, part of our new 2-acre biodynamic market garden which produces seasonal fruit and vegetables to supply the new restaurant, café and farm shop at Borde Hill.

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project includes an Activity Plan including a range of learning, community and volunteering activities, and this new role will have responsibility for overseeing community engagement both at the Community Growing Garden, and across the Parkland and main Garden.

Your role will focus on two key areas: overseeing the seasonal growing at the Community Growing Garden with volunteers and community partners, and developing and delivering an annual site-wide community engagement programme.

You will work closely with the NLHF Project Team, as well as the Green team. You will lead on liaising with local schools, community groups and charities, encouraging and facilitating participation in the Community Growing and wider site community programmes. Your passion for learning, community engagement, horticulture and nature will be key in ensuring this programme succeeds in delivering the ambitions set out in the Activity Plan.

Although funded via the Lottery project, this role is permanent as we are committed to continuing it after the funded project; we intend to continue the wide range of the activities that your role will nurture and develop.

Knowledge, skills and experience needed: (Please provide evidence in your Covering Letter and CV) Tasks and responsibilities

• Build a seasonal programme of community engagement and growing in the Community Growing Garden and at the main site, building on and developing the programme set out in the Activity Plan
• Deliver new community programmes and connect with participants. To include:
  o Facilitated sessions
  o Supported visits to the site
  o Drop-in activities and events
• Work with community partners to develop and deliver a community volunteer programme, ensuring access for people who will benefit from the opportunity
• Identify and build partnerships with relevant and diverse community groups, organisations and individuals, taking responsibility for the community engagement elements of the Reinventing Borde Hill project more widely
• Work with the Borde Hill Green Team, especially the Market Garden Growing Team, to ensure that the Community Growing Garden is aligned with their work, and supports the biodynamic certification aims of the Farm
• Identify routes for participant and volunteer progression and sustain communication
• Ensure equality of opportunity, access and inclusion for all participants and volunteers
• Work with freelance delivery partners and local community groups to deliver community activities
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the programmes, maintaining accurate monitoring data and adjusting programmes in response to feedback
• With audience needs in mind, review similar offers across the sector, especially in other local horticulture/nature organisations, to ensure our programmes are distinctive, attractive, appropriate and innovative
• Support and attend events delivered by other members of the team when required (e.g. large public events) and lead smaller community events
• Record and monitor the income and costs of the programmes, to meet budget goals
• Comply with the Safeguarding policy and all other policies relevant to programme delivery
• Ensure effective systems for resources and documentation are maintained in line with GDPR legislation and organisation policy
• Carry out any other duties as reasonably requested

Skills and experience To be considered for this position, you should be able to demonstrate some or all of the following skills:

• Experience of working with a diverse range of community partners, and a commitment to and experience of delivering community engagement activities including learning engagement and activities
• Experience of managing and recruiting a diverse cohort of volunteers
• Ability to lead community group activities and co-ordinate a programme of community group activity across the season
• An understanding of seed sowing, crop rotations, pest and disease management, plant husbandry techniques needed in a productive market garden, and/or a willingness to learn about Biodynamic principles and practices
• A passion for growing and experience of growing fruits, vegetables, salad crops and ideally cut flowers in a recognised establishment
• An understanding of growing crops undercover and knowledge of cultivation under polytunnels
• Appreciation of nature and natural heritage, and its potential to contribute to wellbeing, creativity and learning among families and communities.
• Proven commitment to and understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Good organisational skills.
• Flexible, collaborative, and self-motivated.

We’d also be interested to know if you have experience in any of the following areas (it isn’t essential to have experience of them all):

• Experience of partnership working, especially with marginalised and/or disadvantaged communities
• An innovative approach to planning and delivering family learning
• An understanding of barriers limiting access to nature and natural heritage opportunities.
• Experience facilitating engagement with gardens / public spaces for the community
• Understanding of communities and the challenges they face in the areas near Haywards Heath and the wider Mid Sussex area
• Understanding of the role of stakeholders in successful community engagement
• A practical approach to using evaluation to inform future programming.  Competence with the Microsoft Office suite of applications  Experience of managing budgets and maximising income.

Young People Support Worker

We are seeking a Young People Support Worker to join a very tight-knit and supportive team that works tirelessly to ensure some of the most vulnerable individuals in the borough are well-cared for.

Location: Durham

Salary: £24,136

Closing Date: 01 March, 2026

Employment Type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37.5

About the Role

You’ll play a vital part in delivering our mission: tackling homelessness, widening opportunity and championing fairness. Whatever your specialism, you’ll help create a safe, inclusive and empowering environment where people can thrive and move forward with confidence. 

As a Young People Support Worker at our service in Durham, you’ll empower residents in supported accommodation to develop key life skills, strengthen resilience, and move forward with confidence in education, training, employment, and wellbeing. Using an assets‑based, psychologically informed approach, you’ll create SMART support plans, complete risk and needs assessments, and ensure every young person receives personalised, meaningful support. 

As part of the team, you’ll respond to incidents, safeguard vulnerable clients and help new residents settle into the service. Working proactively with colleagues and external agencies, you’ll use clear communication, strong boundaries and steady problem‑solving to maintain safety and wellbeing throughout the night.

Please note that access to transport is essential due to location of the projects and lack of public transport links.

 In this role, you will:

• Provide safe, supportive accommodation and champion the wellbeing of every client.

• Deliver personalised support plans that empower individuals to achieve independence.

• Build positive, respectful relationships with colleagues, partners and the people we support.

• Encourage participation in education, training, employment, and volunteering opportunities.

• Contribute to a positive team culture and maintain a safe, welcoming environment.

• Commit to continuous learning and uphold Depaul’s values of respect, inclusion, and action.

About You

You believe in people — their strengths, their rights and their potential. You bring empathy, energy and a solution‑focused mindset to your work. You communicate clearly, stay organised and adapt well in a fast‑moving environment. You’re committed to inclusion, fairness and continuous learning, and you turn values into meaningful action, whatever your role.

What You’ll Receive

• Tailored training and development

• Flexible working options where suitable

• 26 days annual leave, rising with service

• Family‑friendly leave policies

• Pension scheme with employer contributions up to 7%

• Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access

• Discounts across retail, travel, food, fitness and more

• Cash health plan for you and your family

• Death‑in‑service benefit

• Access to legal and practical support

Safer Recruitment

Depaul UK is committed to fair and inclusive recruitment, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If a role requires it under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975, we will carry out the appropriate Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check. We only look at information that is relevant to the role, and a criminal record will never be treated as an automatic barrier to employment. All DBS information is handled sensitively, confidentially and in line with the DBS Code of Practice, and we encourage applicants to discuss any concerns with us openly.

About Depaul UK

In the 1980s, high unemployment and steep inflation was contributing to a shocking rise in youth homelessness across London. Thousands of young people were sleeping rough every night, with many areas notoriously dubbed “cardboard cities” due to the visible rise in street homelessness. Appalled by the scenes playing out across the capital, a group of people came together to tackle the challenge head on. Led by Cardinal Basil Hume and Mark McGreevy OBE, in 1989 Depaul UK was born.

What began as a single housing project in North London soon expanded across London, Greater Manchester and the North East of England. Today, Depaul UK provides accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK each year.

As our name suggests, the work of Depaul UK has been inspired by St. Vincent de Paul – a man who devoted his life to helping vast numbers of people throughout the 17th century. St. Vincent de Paul’s belief in the intrinsic worth of all people and his commitment to taking bold action remain central to our values today. Depaul UK now forms part of a family of Depaul charities around the world. We each focus on the specific challenges in our own countries, but we’re united by our shared values and mission to end homelessness.

Are you someone who is excited about charity retail, fashion, who can use their initiative? Do you have experience managing a retail team? Yes, then please keep reading as we may have the role for you. 

We are excited to be looking for an Assistant Shop Manager to work in our Loughborough Shop for 37.5 hours per week.

We are looking for a passionate and motivated person to help our store reach full potential.

As an Assistant Shop Manager you will: 

• Help develop in store systems and promote donations and sales to maximise profits 
• Be representing Mencap as an efficient and charitable organisation by ensuring that your actions reinforce the Mencap aims and values 
• Strive to ensure stock is generated from the local area and donors 
• Sign up donors to the Gift Aid scheme and ensure maximum income is achieved through Gift Aid 
• Be responsible for achieving profit targets by ensuring sales are maximised and the cost are effectively managed 
• Maintain the store to a high standard of presentation throughout. 
• Build an effective volunteer team and provide training, development, work reviews and appraisals to paid staff and volunteers 
• Be responsible for all financial and cash handling and health and safety. 

To be a successful Assistant Shop Manager, you will be: 

• An experienced assistant manager or Supervisor  with the ability to maintain budgets and complete weekly income and banking sheets accurately, preferably with previous charity retail experience. 
• Have a flexible approach to working hours and days including working weekend and Bank Holidays as appropriate. 
• Willing to travel to occasional team meetings, training events and in the initial growth of the new retail train assisting with setting up other new stores. 
• Passionate about the Mencap values and will strive to ensure our Retail brand is successful.   

We are an equitable, diverse and inclusive organisation and we particularly welcome and encourage disabled applicants and those from the Black and Asian communities to apply for the role as they are under-represented within the workforce. 

 We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader and welcome applicants with disabilities to apply for all roles with us. To find out more about the scheme please visit the direct gov website. 

If this sounds like the perfect next step in your retail career, don’t wait, apply now with an updated CV. Applications close on 28th February, with interviews to follow shortly after.

Benefits

Here at Mencap, we offer an impressive range of benefits designed to support and reward our employees to ensure that our teams feel valued and appreciated.

Our benefits package offers 32 days of paid holiday (including bank holidays, pro rata), along with a range of perks such as discounts at leading high-street retailers, access to health cash plans, interest-free loans, and many more exciting offerings.

For more details on what we have to offer, please see the attached document outlining all the fantastic benefits available to you as a member of our team!

About Mencap

Our vision is for the UK to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives.

We're here to support people with a learning disability, their families and their carers. We fight for a kinder, fairer and more inclusive society for people with a learning disability to live in.

At Mencap, everyone works with people with a learning disability either providing support or advice, or alongside one another as colleagues.

Belonging at Mencap is for everyone, every day, everywhere.

· Everyone is expected to treat people well and make Mencap an inclusive organisation.

· Every day we grow and learn. It’s okay to make mistakes but we learn from them and make changes

· Everywhere people will feel respected, valued, and safe to be themselves.

We have Belonging network groups that meet online and are open to all colleagues. The groups include people who identify as Black and Asian, LGBTQIA+, disabled or with a long- term health condition, women, parents and carers, and their allies.

We want to encourage everyone to apply to work at Mencap and we offer a variety of different contract types and working patterns. We’re not looking for specific experience. It is your personality and values that will make you a great colleague. We will train and develop you to succeed in the role you’re applying for.

You don’t have to know about Down syndrome. You can learn about Down syndrome, but we need you to know how to nurture the heart of an organisation and its people.

Please see our video on our website for further details from our Chair, James Davis (go to 'meet the team', and 'current vacancies'.

Freelance/self-employed contract for 3 – 4 days per week

Lead the 17-year-old charity into a brighter future

The role demands quality skills and experience in management, governance, building teams and communities, fundraising and finance – in person and online.

Can you simultaneously be creative, a problem solver, ideas person, developmental, positive leader, supporter, confidante, prudent and adventurous?

We are very keen to hear from you. Please send your CV and a 5 min video explaining who you are, why you suit the role and why you want to join us as CEO by Saturday 28 February 2026.

Edward's Trust is seeking a values-led Chief Executive to build on recent stabilisation and lead the charity into its next phase of sustainable impact.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a respected bereavement charity supporting parents, children and young people across the West Midlands.

Edward's Trust provides specialist counselling and holistic wellbeing support to families experiencing profound and often complex grief. Our work is rooted in compassion, integrity and a deep respect for the individuality of every person we support.

We are now looking for a Chief Executive who can combine emotional intelligence with strategic clarity and hands-on leadership. Working closely with a committed Board and skilled staff team, the successful candidate will guide the organisation confidently through a challenging funding landscape while protecting the quality and integrity of our services.

This is a senior, visible role with real autonomy and influence. Key priorities include strengthening income resilience, leading income generation activity, nurturing partnerships, and embedding a shared strategic direction across the organisation. The role requires a leader who is comfortable holding complexity and uncertainty, and who understands the responsibility of working within emotionally demanding services.

We welcome applications from experienced leaders within the charity, health or social care sectors, as well as those ready to step into a Chief Executive role. Flexible and part-time working arrangements are welcomed, including 0.8 FTE.

Full details, including the role profile, priorities and how to apply are available in the recruitment pack.

Can you help support new dads when it really matters?

We’re looking for a Dad Matters Coordinator to help us reach more families across Brent. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who understands the emotional ups and downs of becoming a dad and wants to support fathers at a crucial point in their parenting journey.

New dads can face real mental health challenges — often quietly. In this role, you’ll help dads feel listened to, supported and confident, strengthening attachment and helping them access the right support.

What you’ll be doing

• Offering coaching and advice to new dads and dads-to-be

• Having honest conversations about mental health, bonding and wellbeing

• Getting out into the community, approaching dads and building trust

• Developing and running group sessions and workshops

• Working closely with health professionals and local services so dads are included and supported

• Helping grow and support our Dad Matters volunteers

This is a hands-on, community-based role, so you’ll need to be regularly out and about in Brent, building visibility and relationships.

About you

You don’t need formal qualifications in healthcare or mental health. What matters is that you:

• Understand the mental health challenges new dads can face

• Are confident talking to people and putting them at ease

• Have experience in a community, support or people-facing role

• Can lead groups, deliver sessions or training

• Are proactive, approachable and genuinely care about supporting families

Parenting experience and lived experience of key issues are both really valued.

Why join us?

You’ll be part of a supportive organisation doing meaningful work, with the chance to shape and grow Dad Matters in Brent and see the impact of your work first-hand.

Not sure if it’s for you?
We’d still love to hear from you — get in touch for an informal chat.

Note: This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 due to the nature of our work

About us

Wood Street Mission is a children’s charity helping children and families impacted by poverty in Manchester and Salford. 

We provide practical help to help meet children’s day-to-day needs and improve their life chances. We give clothes, bedding and baby equipment to struggling families, along with toys and books which are important for children’s wellbeing and development.

We support engagement in education by helping families with the costs of school uniform and run Book Roadshow events in schools to promote reading and improve children’s literacy. We work to raise awareness about child poverty and help thousands of children and their families every year.

We are looking to recruit a Grants and Trusts Fundraiser to join our growing team, as we take Wood Street Mission to the next level. You will be responsible for managing and delivering our Grants and Trusts income stream, developing long-term relationships with funders, and building on our small but successful track record. The Grants and Trusts Fundraiser is a pivotal role in helping us to accelerate our growth even further so we can help more children to thrive free from poverty.

The role is flexible between the office in Manchester and working from home.

Purpose of post

As the Grants and Trusts Fundraiser, you will be responsible for securing grants of varying sizes, translating the charity’s work across our five projects into compelling, high-quality applications for a range of audiences. Working collaboratively with the wider charity team, you will have a hands-on role in understanding our projects to ensure you can authentically convey our mission and our impact to funders. 

You will provide excellent care to existing and new supporters, ensuring reporting requirements are met and that funders are kept informed of how their support has enabled the charity to continue its work.

A key responsibility will be to contribute to and develop the Grants and Trusts fundraising plan. You will work to identify, secure and develop a robust pipeline of grant funders to maximise income and enable continued growth and sustainability of Wood Street Mission’s work. 

Main duties and responsibilities

1. To contribute to and develop the Grants and Trusts fundraising plan as agreed with the Fundraising Lead, to support the charity’s strategy

2. Meet agreed key performance indicators and to monitor and report on these targets

3. To keep up to date with funding policies and grant giving organisation news to inform the fundraising plan

4. To work closely with the Fundraising Lead and other members of the team to ensure a coordinated approach and excellent level of care for supporters, through appropriate and engaging communication methods

5. To research and develop new funders to support the achievement of fundraising targets

6. Frequently report on progress of Grants and Trusts fundraising to the Fundraising Lead

7. Work with the wider charity team to build a bank of individual stories and information for each of the five projects, to develop a Case for Support which can be adapted to different audiences

8. To work with the Fundraising Lead and the charity team to carry out a Full Cost Recovery exercise across all five projects, to provide a clear overview of the charity’s income and expenditure budget

9. Write comprehensive and persuasive applications to funders and prepare tailored presentations for a range of supporters

10. Build, nurture and account manage relationships with grant giving organisations, providing impact assessments, case studies and progress reports as required

11. Implement an effective stewardship process to maximise income and encourage long-term support, so funders feel appreciated and understand how their support has made an impact

12. Ensure grants are acknowledged promptly and reporting requirements are met within agreed timescales

13. To work alongside colleagues within the charity to identify potential grant funding opportunities and potential cross team working opportunities to ensure the charity maximises income across all income streams

14. Maintain up-to-date and accurate funder and volunteer records on the Beacon database, and to input data, donations and consent preferences, ensuring all data processing is GDPR compliant

15. To provide general administrative support to the Fundraising team

16. To represent Wood Street Mission as required at special events, and to proactively seek out new funding prospects and networking opportunities

17. To act as an ambassador for Wood Street Mission and promote the charity

18. To champion the Fundraising Regulator Code of Fundraising Practice, upholding a high standard of fundraising that is legal, open, honest and respectful 

Other areas and general work duties:

1. Work collaboratively on a daily basis with the wider charity team, including the Finance, Marketing, Administration and Project Development/Worker team

2. To support a safe working environment

3. To attend and participate constructively in staff meetings, supervision and appraisal

4. To implement Wood Street Mission policies and guidelines as set out in the staff handbook

5. To undertake training to develop knowledge, skills and confidence as agreed with your manager

6. To work flexibly and undertake such other work appropriate to the post as may be assigned by your manager. If evening and weekend event work may be required TOIL can be taken.

7. Other tasks and duties relevant to the role as required by the organisation

Personal Specification

Experience:

· Experience working in a fundraising or customer care environment

· Experience of working towards targets and with a wide range of stakeholders

· Experience of writing and developing funding applications, proposals and budgets

· Experience of delivering presentations to different audiences in a variety of settings

· Experience of using a CRM for data analysis and reporting

· Success in securing high-value trust and grants (Desired)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· An excellent understanding of effective supporter care and stewardship

· A genuine interest in the issues of child poverty and an understanding of Wood Street Mission’s aims to tackle these issues

· Excellent interpersonal skills, capable of communicating with a diverse range of people with sensitivity, confidentiality and respect

· Excellent attention to detail, ability to keep clear and accurate records, and a desire to offer a high standard of service to our supporters

· Excellent organisation and time management skills, with an ability to work effectively under pressure and prioritise overlapping deadlines

· Excellent written and verbal skills, with the ability to communicate clearly with different audiences

· Excellent numeracy skills including the ability to track income, interpret accounts and present detailed financial information for supporters

· High IT proficiency with an excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Outlook and social media platforms

· Ability to work proactively and autonomously, using your own initiative to overcome challenges and problem-solve

· A good team player who can work collaboratively and alongside with the wider team and volunteers

· A self-motivated individual with a drive to achieve targets

· GCSE Level Education including Maths and English

· Excellent understanding of all aspects of fundraising and a commercial awareness of fundraising trends in the UK (Desired)

· Knowledge of charitable grant giving organisations, funding policies, data protection and fundraising best practice (Desired)

· A good working knowledge of the Code of Fundraising Practice and the Charities Act (Desired)

Pattern Church was launched in December 2018 by the Diocese of Bristol as a Revitalisation Trust Resource Church with a vision of inviting people into family to serve Swindon. Since then, the church has grown rapidly, planted two new churches (The Well and The Light Church), and become a hub of mission and community life across the town.

The Director of Operations is part of the leadership of the church, providing the organisational, financial, and strategic backbone that enables mission and ministry to flourish. They will work closely with the Senior Leader, Trustees, and wider staff team to turn strategic vision into practical reality, ensuring strong governance, robust systems, sound stewardship, and an effective, faith-filled culture across all areas of church life.

Our team culture is shaped by GRACE—we are Growing, Reliant, All-in, Championing, and Expectant. Everyone gets involved. There is a clear sense of what we’re trying to achieve together in serving God and helping people find and grow in faith in Jesus. 

We are living in a moment of remarkable spiritual opportunity. Research shows a sharp rise in openness to faith among younger generations, something we see reflected in our own ministry and growth. The opportunities before us are significant, and the Operations Director will play a pivotal role in enabling us to step into this season with confidence and clarity.

For a full job description and information about how to apply, please head to the Pattern Church website.

Closing date: March 10th

Interviews w/c March 16th

To apply please send a CV and a cover letter by email. In your cover letter please highlight how your experience and skills relate to the job description and essential skills.

Hope Church, Diss is seeking a new Senior Leader to shape its vision and spiritual direction for the future.

Part of the Pioneer Network of churches, Hope Church is a vibrant, welcoming charismatic church in the heart of rural Norfolk. With a congregation of around 200-250 people, we are passionate about prayer, worship, discipleship, and community outreach. Our church family includes people of all ages and backgrounds, united by a desire to grow in faith and share the love of Jesus in practical ways. We value biblical teaching, Spirit-led worship, encouragement, transparency, generosity and hospitality. We actively engage in our community through initiatives such as food distribution hubs, community cafe, a men’s shed workshop, schools and children’s work and prayer spaces. Internationally, we support mission work across Peru and Kenya.

We are currently seeking an experienced Senior Leader who is spiritually discerning, visionary and strategic in focus, committed to evangelism and community and an excellent communicator and teacher of the Word of God. You will lead and develop the Leadership Team, staff and volunteers, preach and teach regularly, oversee church teaching programmes including Alpha and connect groups, promote discipleship and spiritual growth, and represent Hope Church in the wider community, with local churches and within the Pioneer Network.

About the role

The Side-by-Side project supports children in care and care leavers to have the same opportunities as those who have not experienced care.

For many young people, navigating the care system and especially the transition to leaving care can be complex, isolating, and overwhelming. Too often, care-experienced young people are expected to face adulthood before they are ready, without the safety nets of family, friends, and community networks that many of us take for granted.

The project provides a mentoring and befriending service, offering consistent, trusted relationships that help young people feel less alone, build confidence and life skills, and navigate key life changes as they move towards independence.

Side-by-Side supports young people with a range of needs, including those who may be at risk of exploitation, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and young people living with identified mental health challenges. The project is guided by strong safeguarding practice, built on trust, and delivered through trauma-informed, person-centred approaches.

As a Community Engagement Worker, you will work directly with young people through engagement sessions, group activities and co-designed initiatives. You will also work alongside volunteers, supporting them to safely and effectively engage with young people. This role does not involve acting as a young person’s key worker or holding a caseload. Instead your focus is on enabling connections, strengthening community networks and creating opportunities for young people to thrive across Hertfordshire, Luton and Bedfordshire.

About you

We are looking for a compassionate and motivated individual, to work 21 hours per week that has strong local knowledge and a commitment to community-based support. You will be confident working directly with care-experienced young people, including those who may be at risk of exploitation, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and young people living with identified mental health challenges.

You will live in or have strong connections to Hertfordshire, Luton, or Bedfordshire, and be confident working across these communities.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Build community links: develop relationships with local venues, services, and partners to support young people and Side-by-Side activities.
• Support volunteers: recruit, train, and guide volunteers, helping them signpost young people to relevant services.
• Engage young people: deliver activities, gather feedback, and support co-designed initiatives to ensure young people shape the services they receive.
• Live our values: all work is guided by trust, reducing loneliness, providing practical and emotional support, and delivering person-centred approaches.

How to apply

In your application, you will need to evidence, using specific examples, how your skills and experience meet the criteria laid out in the person specification, within the job description attached.

For further information and to apply, please visit our website.

​Safeguarding and Compliance

NYAS operates robust safe procedures to ensure the protection of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with. To comply with NYAS’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, references and a Digital Risk Assessment.

In accordance with UK immigration law, NYAS is required to ensure that all prospective candidates have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Therefore, proof of eligibility to work in the UK will be required as part of the recruitment process.

We reserve the right to close the advert early should the right candidate be found before the closing date.

We know that 91% of people affected by a brain tumour will have experienced a negative impact to their emotional well-being; often exacerbated by cognitive issues, personality changes, long term side effects and reduced prognosis. We’re looking for someone who is passionate about talking to those affected by a brain tumour diagnosis and supporting them through our different channels, including phone line, live chat and email.

In this role, you will work across both our Counselling Service and Adults support team, helping us provide a seamless, joined up experience for our service users. You’ll provide empathetic, practical support directly to individuals, whilst also supporting the day to day running of our free counselling service - overseeing referrals, supporting assessments and helping ensure each element of the service meets our standards and the needs of the community. By bridging both teams, you will play a key role in making sure people receive the right emotional and practical support at the right time, no matter how they reach us.

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

Someone who can support a wide range of people – from those who are looking for general information about treatment or care, to those who need more detailed support from the point of diagnosis, you will be passionate about improving the lives of those affected by a brain tumour.

You will be empathetic and professional, with experience of working in a busy admin or service delivery role. The ideal candidate would also have a strong understanding of counselling principles and practice and would be able to confidently explain our different support services to service users. We are looking for someone with excellent IT and telephone skills and the ability to learn and use various databases is essential.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Provide specialist emotional and practical support and information to people affected by brain tumours, their friends, families and carers through channels including phone, email and live chat.

• Offer enhanced follow up support for individuals who may benefit from counselling, helping them explore their needs and acting as key link between the helpline and counselling service.

• Provide administrate support for our counselling team, including managing a busy diary to ensure effective and high-quality service delivery.

• Complete counselling assessments to identify needs, risks and appropriate support options for anyone who has referred into the service

• Maintain appropriate and accurate records on our service system and CRM database, as required to evidence the impact and reach of our support services

• Support a team of volunteer assessors and helpline triage volunteers to ensure they receive the help and guidance they need to deliver their role.

• Provide accurate, up-to-date information based on current research, clinical guidance and treatments, conducting your own research and adapting communication to each person, while sharing key insights with the team.

• Offer coaching guidance to empower individuals, helping them to achieve the appropriate next steps.

• Develop and review website information related to counselling, mental health and emotional support, ensuring information is accurate and accessible.

• Work to promote the service across all areas of charity and within the wider community

• Identify, manage and escalate safeguarding concerns in line with The Charity guidelines.

• Commit to confidentiality, in line with the service and organisational policy

• Support the Counselling Manager to deliver the counselling service to meet its strategic aims

What makes us unique is that we also care deeply about ‘plugging the gap’ for families and young people who are struggling to find the mental health support they need as a result of financial, social or other disadvantage. For this reason, we are a not-for-profit organisation and offer grant and donation funded programmes when we can.

Youth Arts & Health Trust are a registered charity based in Exeter and East Devon who specialise in providing creative therapies and inclusivity-informed arts activities for children and young people aged 5 to 25.

We are in an exciting phase of our development, with new premises in Exeter, growing activities in East Devon, a dynamic team, a supportive and experienced Board of Trustees, and much shared passion to make a difference to children, young people and families.

We provide our services for children and young people via local authorities, organisations, schools and for families directly.

We are looking for someone with vision and passion who can lead and nurture our highly capable and ambitious team to build further upon our compassionate, inclusive and trauma-informed services for children, young people and families.

This is a 0.7 - 0.8 post (25-30 hours per week) with terms to be agreed with the successful candidate.  We are open to flexible working arrangements with the right individual, whether that’s flexitime or compressed hours, or some other agreed arrangement.   

It is expected that the post-holder will work within our premises for 1-2 days a week depending on service needs, and the remainder of hours worked from home, in the community at meetings or events or working on a hybrid basis.

Key tasks and responsibilities:

• To develop and deliver our strategy including a business plan and regular progression reports for the Board to ensure the charity is financially robust.
• To develop existing and new income streams to secure the future of the charity and enable us to meet our charitable objectives of benefitting children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties through arts therapies and arts activities.  This is likely to include grant fundraising, exploring procurement and commissioning routes, philanthropy, appropriate business sponsorship, training delivery and pathways for private purchasing of our service.
• To line manage, support, and collaborate with our Operations and Clinical Director who oversees our team of therapists and practitioners in ensuring all staff are adequately trained, registered, supervised and supported to provide an excellent service to our clients.
• To provide leadership for the charity both internally in regards to a positive and nurturing culture and externally in regard to reputation, partnerships and opportunities.
• To ensure all relevant policies are implemented effectively, developed and reviewed as required.
• To act as one of three Designated Safeguarding Officers and ensure policy is implemented effectively.
• To ensure the charity fulfils all its statutory obligations, working alongside the Board to achieve this.
• To ensure the charity has appropriate systems in place for the management and mitigation of risk.
• To ensure the charity meets its obligations under health and safety law.
• To lead on the development of innovative arts therapy programmes, in collaboration with our Operations and Clinical Director, our staff team and stakeholders.
• To ensure evaluation and impact data is collected and utilised for our learning and to provide evidence for the effectiveness of YAHT’s services.
• To act as an ambassador for the charity.
• If relevant, to carry a small caseload of children and young people to remain practising as an Arts Therapist or other registered mental health professional (if relevant, see desirable criteria).

Camwch i mewn i daith drawsnewidiol gyda Cyfleodd Dysgu mewn addysg

Step into a transformative journey with Working Options. We're on a mission to empower young people aged 11-19 across the UK, and you can help make a real difference. As our Project Coordinator, based in Wales, you'll play a crucial role in connecting volunteers with schools and fostering impactful relationships, all while working within a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

We believe in inclusivity, trying new things, setting high expectations, and creating real opportunities for young people. With the support of our experienced team and dedicated trustees, you'll have the chance to shape young people's career ambitions.

If you're self-motivated and eager to contribute to a great mission, this is your chance to join a team that's helping young people to transform their career and life chances.

Don't just take our word for it, here's what one of our young people had to say:

"My personal experience has been exceptional. There is a collaborative atmosphere, and it is truly empowering to be part of a charity that values student input and involves us in decisions that directly affect our lives." – Working Options Alumnae.

Find out more about the role and hear from our Chief Executive about our charity's ambitions in our Applicant Information Pack.

Person specification 

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO:

• Has a passion for our cause.
• Is fully committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Is self-motivated.
• Has excellent attention to detail.
• Can juggle multiple priorities, sticking to deadlines and flagging when priorities need reviewing.
• Has a flair for developing great relationships, particularly with schools and colleges.
• Is proactive and tenacious, able to seek out new opportunities and remain resilient.
• Is creative and likes coming up with new ideas.
• Is ambitious for themselves and for the charity.
• Has high computer literacy.

DESIRABLE:

• Experience within educational settings or working with young people in Wales.
• The ability to communicate in the medium of Welsh.

We carry out social media checks on shortlisted candidates as part of our recruitment process, using only publicly available information and in line with our data protection responsibilities.

While we don’t specify this in our person specification, we are particularly interested to hear from applicants who have experienced some of the challenges that young people across Wales face today.