Education mentor volunteer jobs in Newcastle

Thank you for your interest in joining the CoachBright team as an Associate Programme Lead.

We are building a network of experienced associates across England to deliver CoachBright programmes during the 2026/27 academic year and beyond.

Rather than recruiting for a single vacancy, we are looking to build a pool of experienced associates who can deliver programmes as they are confirmed with our partner schools and universities. This is a freelance contract, giving you the flexibility to accept programme assignments that suit your availability.

We are a social mobility charity on a mission to support young people from disadvantaged backgrounds become confident, independent, and resilient, so they can lead the lives they want.

If you’re motivated by improving social mobility and transforming the life chances of young people, we would love to hear from you.

About the role

We're looking for experienced facilitators to join our growing network of Associate Programme Leads, delivering CoachBright programmes in schools and universities across England.

Depending on demand, your availability and the geographical areas you're able to cover, you may be offered one or multiple programme assignments throughout the academic year.

This is a freelance contract for services, offering the flexibility to organise your own schedule and decide which programme assignments you accept. Each programme has a clearly defined scope, fixed programme fee and agreed delivery timeline.

As an Associate Programme Lead, you'll take responsibility for delivering allocated programmes, building positive relationships with schools, universities and volunteers, and ensuring every programme is delivered to CoachBright's high standards.

You’ll be supported by a named CoachBright colleague who will provide programme oversight, quality assurance and operational support throughout your assignments.

What you’ll do

• Deliver CoachBright programmes in accordance with agreed programme briefs.
• Plan, coordinate and deliver high-quality sessions that engage and inspire participants.
• Manage programme delivery, ensuring agreed milestones and deadlines are met.
• Build positive relationships with schools, universities, volunteers and programme partners.
• Maintain effective communication throughout programme delivery.
• Collect evaluation data and contribute to programme impact reports.
• Participate in quality assurance activities and programme reviews.
• Build positive, professional relationships with school, university and other programme partners.
• Act as the primary contact for commissioned programme partners throughout programme delivery period.
• Maintain effective communication with school staff, volunteers and your CoachBright contact throughout programme delivery. 
• Work collaboratively with volunteers, school staff and CoachBright colleagues to ensure programmes run smoothly.
• Escalate safeguarding concerns to the CoachBright DSL, and operational issues and significant partner feedback to your named CoachBright contact.
• Deliver programmes to CoachBright's expected standards of quality and professionalism.
• Complete all required safeguarding, data protection and induction requirements before programme delivery.
• Participate in quality assurance activities, programme debriefs and partner review meetings as agreed.
• Contribute ideas and feedback to help continuously improve CoachBright programmes.

Our programmes

As an Associate Programme Lead, you may be commissioned to deliver one or more of CoachBright's programmes, depending on your experience, availability and the needs of our partner schools and universities.

Although each programme is different, all are designed to improve the confidence, independence and future opportunities of young people from underrepresented backgrounds through high quality coaching.

Programmes include:

UniCoach Programme

Our UniCoach Programme trains university students to become academic coaches, supporting small groups of pupils to build their confidence, independence, resilience and academic progress.

As an Associate Programme Lead, you'll recruit, train and support university volunteers, build strong relationships with school and university partners, coordinate programme delivery and evaluate its impact.

A typical UniCoach programme features 20-30 pupils, and 5-10 undergraduates, and involves:

• 8-10 week delivery period

• Recruitment, training, and coordination of undergraduate volunteers

• Seven sessions at the school featuring all pupils and coaches, normally for one hour at the same time each week

• A graduation celebration event at a local university of the school

• An evaluation impact report

• Programme fee approx £2,850

Peer to Peer Programme

Our Peer to Peer Programme trains older pupils to become academic coaches for younger pupils, helping both groups to develop academically while building confidence, leadership and resilience. 

As an Associate Programme Lead, you’ll.train pupil coaches, support the school throughout programme delivery, maintain the day-to-day relationship, oversee programme quality and evaluate its impact.

A typical Peer to Peer programme features 15 older pupils coaching one younger peer each (total cohort size of 30) and involves:

• 8-10 week delivery period

• Training session for older pupils (coaches)

• Seven sessions at the school featuring all 15 pairs, normally for one hour at the same time each week

• A graduation celebration event at a local university of the school

• An evaluation impact report

• Programme fee approx  £700 - £1,900 (depending on number of sessions selected by partner)

LifeCycle Programme

Our LifeCycle programme provides one-to-one professional coaching for university students from underrepresented backgrounds, helping them navigate university life, develop key skills and achieve their personal and academic goals.

A typical LifeCycle programme features a cohort of 20-30 undergraduate students, who receive six 60-minute online coaching sessions, alongside three in-person workshops.

Depending on your qualifications and experience, you may either:

• Deliver one-to-one coaching yourself (for associates with recognised professional coaching qualifications); and/or

• Coordinate a team of professional coaches, managing programme delivery, partner relationships and evaluation.

Typical programme fee:

• Programme coordination and management only: approx £2,750

• Programme coordination & professional coaching: fee dependent on coaching experience and cohort size

Programme fees vary depending on the programme type and will always be agreed in advance before work begins.

Locations

We expect to deliver programmes across the following areas during the 2026/27 academic year and welcome applications from people able to travel within one or more of these locations:

• Greater London, Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, Berkshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes
• West Midlands, East Midlands
• Cornwall and Plymouth
• Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Staffordshire
• Northumberland, Newcastle, Tyneside and Teesside

What we’re looking for

Essential:

• A genuine passion for improving life chances for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and a commitment to CoachBright's mission and values.

• Experience delivering programmes, workshops, coaching, mentoring or training with children, young people or adults.

• Experience building positive, professional relationships with schools, universities or other partner organisations.

• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to plan ahead, manage competing priorities and consistently meet agreed deadlines.

• Demonstrable ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and take responsibility for delivering high quality outcomes with minimal supervision.

• Comfortable working on a freelance basis, including managing your own workload, availability and invoicing arrangements.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate confidently with a range of stakeholders.

• Confidence using digital systems to manage programmes, maintain accurate records and produce high quality written reports.

• Willingness and ability to travel independently to programme locations within your preferred geographical areas.

• Willingness to complete an Enhanced DBS check through CoachBright prior to programme delivery.

Desirable:

• Experience recruiting, training or supporting volunteers.

• Experience collecting evaluation data and producing impact or evaluation reports.

• Previous experience working on a freelance or self-employed basis.

• Understanding of the barriers to social mobility, both nationally and in your region.

• Experience of partnership management or sales in an education context.

• An existing network of contacts in schools or universities, or a demonstrable ability to build one quickly.

• Access to a car for reaching schools in areas with fewer public transport options.

Key details

Contract Type:
Associate Programme Lead (Freelance Contract for Services). You will be engaged as an independent contractor, not an employee of CoachBright.

Programme Availability:

Programme assignments are offered throughout the academic year as partner schools and universities confirm delivery. The number of programmes offered will vary depending on demand, your availability, and the geographical areas you are able to cover. While we cannot guarantee a minimum number of programme assignments, we are looking to build long term relationships with associates who consistently deliver excellent programmes. 

Support:
Every Associate Programme Lead is supported by a named CoachBright colleague who provides programme oversight, quality assurance and operational support.

Training:
Successful applicants will complete a paid induction before delivering their first programme and receive programme-specific training where required.

Safeguarding

An Enhanced DBS check and safeguarding training are required before programme delivery begins. 

Travel

The role is home-based with regular travel to partner schools and universities. Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed in line with CoachBright's Expenses Policy. 

Insurance

Successful candidates will be covered by our insurance so will not need to source their own. 

How to apply

Please send a CV and brief covering letter answering the application questions through the CharityJob portal.

We welcome applications on a rolling basis. Early applications are encouraged.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a one-stage interview via video meeting during July and August.