Community Engagement Practitioner

Closing date: 29 July 2026, 11:59pm
Interview dates: 3–5 August 2026

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, the impact reaches far beyond their medical treatment. At Young Lives vs Cancer, we help children, young people and families navigate the emotional and practical challenges cancer brings, ensuring they get the support they need when it matters most.

We're looking for a Community Engagement Practitioner to join our Research, Learning and Systems Change team.
Working as part of the North Star Cancer Collective, you'll help shape a new project focused on improving psychosocial support for young adults from the Global Majority affected by cancer and their loved ones. You'll build trusted relationships with communities, facilitate engagement and co-design activities, and help ensure lived experience drives meaningful change in cancer care.

We're looking for someone who is passionate about equity, community-led change and meaningful participation. You'll be a skilled relationship builder, confident communicator and collaborative partner, comfortable working across communities, charities and healthcare settings. We particularly welcome applications from candidates with lived experience of cancer and individuals from the Global Majority.

Key responsibilities

• Build and maintain relationships with Global Majority communities and partner organisations.
• Recruit and support young people and families to participate in engagement activities.
• Deliver workshops, listening events and co-design sessions.
• Gather insights and feedback to influence services and decision-making.
• Work with NHS, charity and community partners to improve culturally responsive support.
• Share learning, champion inclusion and contribute to project evaluation.

What we're looking for

• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Empathy and cultural sensitivity.
• Experience engaging communities and supporting participation or co-production.
• Good organisational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Confidence gathering, analysing and communicating insights.
• A flexible, reflective approach with a willingness to test and learn.

Why join us?
As part of Team Young Lives, you'll benefit from:

• Flexible working
• Four Wellbeing, Thinking & Growth Days each year
• Generous annual leave
• Enhanced family leave and pension
• Employee savings scheme