Youth engagement jobs

About Starlight

No one enjoys medical procedures, least of all children. From facing everyday vaccinations to the most serious of surgeries and chronic conditions, all children experience varying degrees of apprehension and fear. Feeling scared, powerless, or anxious in healthcare settings doesn’t just trigger a child’s emotions; it can create traumas that impact treatment success and that can have a life-long impact. Starlight’s aim is to transform children’s health through better experiences, by putting play at the heart of every child’s healthcare.

Evidence shows that play in healthcare can reduce anxiety, fear and even pain; it helps children engage and prepare for their treatment and cope better with procedures; it minimises trauma and contributes to a better experience; and supports children to have some sense of agency and control in an environment where these opportunities are limited. Play can also reduce the number of attempts to deliver treatment, the need for sedation and the need for repeat appointments. Prioritising children’s right to play in healthcare results in healthier, happier children who are involved in their own healing and recovery as well as more efficient treatment and care.

We work in over 900 healthcare settings across the UK with an ultimate vision to ensure that no child endures trauma in healthcare.

Our Strategy and the Professional Training & Development Manager role

Over recent years, we have been re-positioning Starlight from a wish-granting charity to a charity that supports children to experience the power of play in healthcare settings to improve their mental health and wellbeing. These changes have made an exponential difference to the immediate impact that we can achieve for children, as well as the opportunity to create real social value in the efficiency of treatment; and to our ability to advocate for long-term systemic change in the way children experience healthcare.

Central to improving children’s experience is having access to experienced and properly equipped play professionals. Through our Champions network and collaborative working across the healthcare sector, we have developed strong networks; shared best practice, offered opportunities for training and connection and raised awareness of the importance of play professionals and a culture of play in healthcare settings. Our Taskforce work with NHS England has also clearly outlined the need for workforce accreditation and development.

While we continue to advocate at a systemic level for the recognition of the play workforce and their need for a strategy for their development, this role is vital in providing more immediate and tangible support to the professionals who make our work possible. 3 The Professional Training & Development Manager will be integral in sharing Starlight’s knowledge of Play by training and developing key roles within health play settings to ensure Play becomes a foundation of every child’s health care journey. They will support wider understanding of the importance of a culture of play in paediatric healthcare.

Main purpose of the role

The main purpose of this role is to develop and maintain effective and mutually supportive relationships with health professionals, creating communities of practice and resourcing knowledge exchange across the sector. Through these relationships, you will deepen our understanding of the training and workforce development needs of play professionals and identify and develop opportunities for training and sharing of best practice, Working closely across the Children’s Services your work will contribute to raising awareness of the importance of a culture of play for children’s mental health and wellbeing and for the health and efficiency of the NHS.

You will report directly to the Head of Professional Training & Development and will line manage a coordinator.

Are you passionate about working 1-to-1 with young prison-leavers from a variety of backgrounds; many of whom are from marginalised communities, to help them lead more stable, rewarding lives?

As a Switchback Mentor, you will play a vital role in transforming the lives of young prison-leavers, helping them break free from the justice system and build stable, rewarding futures. You will be responsible for building your own caseload by engaging directly with young men in prison and providing intensive support after their release. In addition to working with those you meet in prison; you will also support Trainees referred to the programme after they have already been released.

Once on the programme, you will maintain regular contact with Trainees, meeting face-to-face at least once a week to help them navigate the challenges of being recently released from prison and work towards their goals. Most importantly, you will do this in a way that reflects Switchback’s core values: putting Trainees at the heart of everything we do, setting high expectations, and building authentic, supportive relationships that enable lasting change.

It is essential that Mentors can confidently and professionally engage with all Trainees who meet the eligibility criteria for the Switchback programme, providing them with the support and guidance needed to move forward positively.

What you’ll get when you work for us:

Switchback takes the development of Mentors very seriously. Switchback Mentors are the drivers of our impact, and we will help to build your expertise as a practitioner through our in-house training in our unique change model. This is complemented by a comprehensive training and supervision package including: regular psychologically informed 1:1 clinical supervision and group reflective practice sessions and an annual, individualised training budget. You will also join a structured progression pathway which can provide opportunities to further develop management skills and technical expertise, informed by your own learning goals.

Switchback understands the challenges and complexities faced by the young people we work with. To ensure Mentors can provide the highest level of support, we intentionally keep caseloads low. This allows Mentors to dedicate the time and resources needed to build strong, meaningful relationships and offer Trainees the intensive, tailored support they need to make lasting change.

The Wave Project is seeking a Trust & Grant Fundraiser to help secure the income that powers our life-changing Surf Therapy programme, supporting over 2,600 children and young people each year with their mental health and wellbeing.

As part of an ambitious fundraising team generating £1.7m annually, you will manage and grow a portfolio of charitable trusts and foundations, securing grants ranging from smaller awards to significant six-figure gifts. You will develop compelling, impact-driven applications and reports that clearly demonstrate how funders’ support transforms young lives.

Working closely with the Head of Fundraising, you will strengthen existing funder relationships while building a robust pipeline of new prospects. Using digital fundraising tools and research platforms, you will identify and qualify new trust opportunities, combining data-led insight with creative engagement approaches.

This role is ideal for someone who is a strong writer, confident relationship manager, and proactive prospect researcher — motivated by the opportunity to expand access to Surf Therapy for children and young people who need it most.

Together we make a difference, develop and learn, and support each other. Every day with us is different, but our mission remains the same: To champion the rights, needs and ambitions of the people we support - they are at the heart of everything we do. We stand by them and we work together for change.

Alongside an incredible team of like-minded peers, you’ll be working behind-the-scenes to support our staff, volunteers, families, and supporters. You will be helping our work happen across the charity; enabling us to care for and champion the rights, needs and ambitions of the people we support.

The Role

As Interim Head of Business Development, you will provide strategic leadership and hands-on delivery to stabilise and strengthen the Trust’s business development approach. You will lead the end-to-end opportunity pipeline - from market intelligence and commissioner engagement through to bid development, governance and mobilisation handover - ensuring opportunities are aligned to strategy, deliver strong outcomes, and are financially viable.

Hours: 37.5 Hours 

Contract : 1 year fixed term contract 

Salary: £48,022.00 

Location: Cheadle, Stockport

Responsibilities include but are not exhaustive

• Provide visible interim leadership for the Trust’s business development function, setting clear priorities and ways of working, and coordinating contribution from service, operational, clinical and corporate colleagues.
• Develop and maintain a Trust-wide opportunity pipeline (tenders, frameworks, spot-purchase growth, strategic partnerships and other commissioned income routes), including qualification, prioritisation, and clear next steps.
• Lead proactive engagement with commissioners, local authorities, Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), NHS partners and other stakeholders to understand demand, shape specifications where appropriate, and position the Trust effectively.
• Own the end-to-end bid process: establish bid plans, coordinate contributors, draft and quality-assure responses, and ensure submissions are compliant, persuasive, and submitted on time.
• Work with Finance and service leads to ensure all bids and proposals are underpinned by robust costing, pricing, risk assessment and contract terms review; ensure financial viability and appropriate approvals before submission.
• Create and embed a practical bid governance approach (stage-gates, templates, timelines and sign-off), so that bidding is consistent, efficient and auditable.
• Champion the Together Trust’s vision, mission and values, and role model the Trust’s behaviours.
• Commit to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in how opportunities are developed and how the Trust works with partners.
• Maintain a visible presence across Trust services and corporate teams, balancing hybrid working with on-site engagement as needed.

About You

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent senior leadership experience).
• Evidence of continuing professional development in leadership, commissioning, commercial practice or service transformation
• Significant senior experience in commissioning, business development, service development or strategic partnership working within a public service environment (e.g. local authority, NHS, education, social care, VCFSE).
• Proven track record of developing successful proposals, business cases, tenders or commissioning documentation - including coordinating multiple contributors to deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including experience engaging credibly with senior commissioners and partners.
  • Good understanding of public sector commissioning and procurement routes, including tendering, frameworks and contract governance.
  • Understanding of the importance of safeguarding, quality and regulatory expectations when developing and mobilising services for children, young people and adults.
• Ability to analyse complex problems, identify options and recommend proportionate solutions.
• Full UK driving license with ability to travel across Together Trust locations and to partner/commissioner meetings as required.

Benefits

• Annual Leave 27 day holiday plus 8 days bank holidays rising to 30 after 5 years, 33 days after 10 years
• Generous pension scheme and death in service benefit, up to 7% company pension contributions initially rising with length of service and up to 6 x basic salary death in service benefit.
• Occupational sick pay and family friendly policies including enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive leave.
• Reward and Discount platform offering discounts at high street shops, travel, insurances etc.
• Eligibility to apply for Blue Light card
• Proud to be a real living wage employer
• Refer a friend scheme, be rewarded for recommending a friend to work with us
• Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including apprenticeship qualifications
• Long service awards including cash gifts and extra holiday.
• Promotion of Wellbeing across the organisation including Mental Health First Aiders offering wellbeing support from trained colleague and free weekly yoga session  in person or online
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme for you and adults at your home

Find out more — watch our short video to see what it’s like to work with us:

https://youtu.be/SEnw2o00T6E

Applications are very welcome from all regardless of age, disability, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion or belief, race, sex, sexual orientation, trans status or socio-economic background. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments for disabled people. We positively encourage applications from those with lived experience. 

If there is any part of your lived experience you want to keep confidential in some way please talk to the Recruitment or HR shared service teams and we will do what we can to support you

The Together Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the people we support and expects all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

Safeguarding checks will be undertaken for the successful candidate in line with our safer recruitment policy.

Theatr Iolo are looking for a Marketing & Communications Manager to be responsible for devising and implementing all marketing, audience development and engagement strategies and campaigns for all aspects of the company’s work to deepen engagement and diversify our audience.  If you share our passion for theatre, for nurturing imaginations and creating stories that will last a lifetime, we want to hear from you! This is a fantastic opportunity to join our team and build on our incredible history, shaping the company for the future.

If you’d like to apply for the post of Marketing & Communications Manager, we will ask you to complete an equal opportunities monitoring form and send us a copy of your CV and a letter of application  We will also accept a BSL application or short video recording of less than 5 mins. We are looking forward to hearing why you are interested in this post, and what skills and experience you would bring to the company, referring to the job description and person specification. 

The closing date for applications is noon on Friday 20 March 2026 and initial interviews will be held on Thursday 23 April 2026 in Cardiff. We will confirm receipt of your application by email. 

Head of Policy and Public Affairs

Bring your energy, creativity and expertise - and help to impact young people positively.

Location: Sherborne House, London (hybrid)

Salary: £52,535 per annum

Closing Date: 29 March, 2026

Employment Type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37.5

About the Role

Step into a role where your policy expertise drives real change. As Head of Policy and Public Affairs, you’ll lead an ambitious strategy to influence national decision‑makers, shape legislation and ensure the voices of people affected by homelessness are impossible to ignore. You’ll turn insight into impact, championing the charity’s values while strengthening political presence and public profile

You’ll build powerful relationships across Westminster, Whitehall and the wider sector, producing sharp briefings, commissioning research and delivering high‑profile events that elevate the charity’s influence. Confident in the media and skilled at simplifying complex issues, you’ll work across teams to anticipate policy change, spark innovation and help drive forward the mission to end homelessness. If you’re driven, strategic and ready to make national change happen, this is your platform.

In this role, you will:

• Lead the charity’s policy and public affairs strategy, shaping positions on homelessness, housing, welfare and health.
• Influence government policy through targeted political engagement, evidence‑based advocacy and strategic communication.
• Build strong working relationships with ministers, Parliamentarians, elected mayors, senior officials and sector partners.
• Produce high‑quality policy briefings, analysis, consultation responses and research‑informed insights.
• Represent the charity in the media and at key events while ensuring client voices inform policy and public messaging.

About You

You will bring your policy expertise, strategic edge and confident communication skills to a role where you’ll shape national decisions, strengthen the charity’s political voice and make the experiences of people facing homelessness impossible to overlook. You’ll analyse fast‑moving policy issues, build influential relationships across government, craft compelling briefings that cut through complexity and drive change through evidence‑led advocacy. If you’re proactive, values‑driven and thrive in high‑pressure environments where innovation and collaboration matter, this is your opportunity to deliver real influence and meaningful national impact.

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

The charity 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 The Organisation

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 the charity 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, the charity provides accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK each year. #INDNFP

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client – Not For Profit People.

People who work at The Access Project are motivated by the desire to create a fairer society. We all play an active part in achieving the mission to help students from disadvantaged backgrounds access top universities.

About the role 

This vacancy is for a University Access Officer to work in three of our schools in Birmingham and The Black Country. The University Access Officer works with school staff at all levels, volunteer tutors and coaches, and with the rest of The Access Project’s team to ensure that the delivery of our programmes is optimised. The role is based in Moseley School, Wood Green Academy and Ormiston Forge Academy.As this job is based in three schools each week and regular travel is required, a full UK driver's license is essential. 

Role responsibilities

• Work directly with students, mentoring in an impactful, professional and safe manner. 
• Engage with school staff, your Programme Manager, and students in school to ensure that you have fully enrolled cohorts across all programmes. 
• Coordinate the delivery of the programmes across allocated schools, acting as the sole on‑site representative of The Access Project. 
• Assess student progress towards being able to make successful university applications. 
• Upload information onto the Salesforce database in a timely manner (training is provided). 
• Work proactively with school staff to ensure their cooperation and timely completion of activities, enabling effective communication to contribute to the smooth running of the programmes. 
• Present at termly school meetings with Senior Management to report on our programmes progress. 
• Support the wider team by attending university site visits which take place on occasional Saturdays and weekday evenings (paid time off is provided). 
• Any other responsibilities reasonably deemed necessary by The Access Project’s Programme Managers or Director 

Person specification 

Essential: 

• Demonstrable skills in mentoring groups of students and 1:1. 
• Excellent organisation and time management skills, with the ability to deliver multiple programmes and projects at pace and manage administration accurately.
• Able to communicate and influence with impact at all levels. 
• Resilient and adaptable. 
• Able to work towards and meet deadlines with a problem-solving mindset. 
• Able to effectively time manage and actively prioritise. 
• Able to work independently, in busy school environments, with an ownership mindset. 
• Skilled in building and maintaining excellent relationships with young people and school staff/leaders 
• Good sense of attention to detail
• Can demonstrate an ability to take action to keep young people safe and raise concerns. 
• Desirable: 
• Experience of working in a multi-site environment

Training and Development 

You will be provided with regular monthly training so that you can develop your skills and succeed in the role. There is support from your line manager (Programme Manager), as well as guidance from more senior University Access Officers and the wider University Access Officer team across The Access Project. There are opportunities for progression, including several additional responsibility roles which are available for University Access Officers to apply for once they have completed their probationary period successfully. 

Benefits: 

• 25 days annual leave p.a. (pro rata) plus Bank Holidays
• Plus 5 Winter closure days assigned by the organisation 
• PerkBox – offering shopping discounts, gym memberships, holiday discounts, learning and more. 
• Employee Assistance Programme, a 24-hour helpline for staff. 
• Online Medical assistance – access 24/7 to a qualified GP within minutes, with referrals and prescriptions available same-day.
• Interest-free travelcard loans. 
• Travel-allowance for expenses over £10 per day, where applicable. 
• Cyclescheme loans. 
• 2 paid Volunteering Days 
• 1 Wellbeing Day 
• Employer’s pensions contributions (3%). 
• Learning and development opportunities 
• The Access Project welcomes requests for flexible working arrangements.

Job Title: West London Family Support Worker 

Salary: £25,353.06

Team: Family Support Team

Hours: 30

Location: Based at Shooting Star House (Hampton), This role will be working across sites and in the community

About Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Family Support Team at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices provides specialist care and support to families who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or whose child has died. Rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, our teams support families across Surrey, north-west London and south-west London from diagnosis to end of life and throughout bereavement with a range of nursing, practical, emotional and medical care.

About the role

Family Support Workers (FSW) are the frontline of our care. Each FSW holds a caseload of end-of-life and bereaved families. They get to know their families, and check-in regularly with phone calls and home visits and can provide enhanced emotional support where required through more regular contact and interventions. Our FSWs tell families about the many services they can access at Shooting Star, assess their needs and make recommendations to our multi-disciplinary team. They  support families of different ethnicities and families living in poverty, helping our service be as accessible as possible.

Our FSWs work closely with our Therapists, Counsellors, Social Workers, Transition Team and our Care Events Team. Weekly MDT meetings bring the team together to think of ways to help families in crisis. The work is varied and creative, taking place at the hospices, in family homes and hospitals, allowing the support to be where the families need it. Our Family Support Workers are hugely appreciated by the families we support.

The ambition of our strategy is to ensure every family affected by a life-limiting condition, or the sudden death of a child, has access to the specialist care that they need. Day to day duties are:

• Being the on-site duty FSW, welcoming families on site, monitoring email inboxes and answering the Family Support Line.
• Helping with support groups and family events
• Providing on the spot emotional support, sometimes in a crisis where a calm and supportive response is required.
• Visiting newly bereaved families in their homes.
• Supporting families staying at our Christopher’s hospice (booked stays and end of life).
• Attending various locations over the course of a week: hospice, hospital, family homes.
• Building connections with families from different backgrounds, delivering culturally sensitive care.
• Helping safeguard families at risk of harm.
• Acting as an ambassador for Shooting Star’s Specialist Bereavement Service, supporting other care team members with their learning and delivery of the bereavement pathway, and continually seeking ways to improve what we offer families.

The post holder will need to have a UK driving license.

The hours are predominantly worked 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Once a month, the FSW will work a weekend day (with advance notice). This is in place of a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that week.

About you

This role requires experience of working with children and families who have experienced hardship, or those with complex needs. You should have a calm, positive manner, conveying empathy whilst maintaining professional boundaries. We are looking for someone passionate about supporting children and families.

Please see the attached job description for more information about this opportunity at Shooting Star Children’s Hospices.

What we offer

In return you will receive a competitive salary along with a range of benefits, which include:

Pension scheme

• NHS Pension Scheme (for eligible employees) or our stakeholder pension scheme, with up to 7% employer contributions
  
  Annual leave

• 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising with length of service
• 2 weeks paid sabbatical leave after 5, 10 and 15 years’ service
  
  Contractual benefits

• Generous sick pay scheme
• Enhanced maternity, adoption, and paternity leave pay
• Flexible working arrangements
• Death in service benefits
• Reimbursed professional membership fees
• Eye care
• Employee referral scheme
• Blue Light discount card
  
  Health and wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme
• Occupational Health
• Mindfulness sessions
• Cycle to work scheme
• Mental Health First Aiders

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff to share this commitment. Also, we are committed to equal opportunities and consider all applicants to be in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Employment is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and a DBS check.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Shooting Star Children’s Hospices is committed to inclusion and diversity in everything we do. We know that getting things right is critical for us to live our organisation’s values: Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity and Excellence.

We are always trying to improve our way of working to be more inclusive and equal. Our vision is for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices to be a place where people of all backgrounds, groups and communities feel welcomed to work and volunteer.

Anticipated Start Date: 06/04/2026

Making The Leap seeks to appoint a dynamic Educational Partnerships Manager to play a pivotal role in securing, growing, and nurturing partnerships with schools across the UK. Reporting to the Head of Educational Partnerships, the successful candidate will drive engagement with schools, teachers, and senior leaders to expand the reach and impact of Making The Leap’s programmes. This role focuses on building strong, strategic relationships with education providers while maintaining links with community organisations, colleges, universities, and corporate partners to promote MTL’s services and mission.

Making The Leap is an innovative societal change charity that aims to make a big difference. From direct delivery, to advocacy and leadership, we believe passionately that those we exist to serve have the right to be anything they want to be. To say that this is an exciting time for the organisation would be an understatement, as our incredible funders, donors, partners and supporters have given us the chance to move to the next level, and have further influence and delivery nationally.

The ethos of the organisation is to be passionate about helping young people from less-advantaged backgrounds; build up other charities and community groups and want to partner with them or support them; want to work with businesses and organisations to get things done; and care deeply about addressing inequality.

The organisation has a number of strands: core Making The Leap; the UK Social Mobility Awards; the Social Mobility Podcast and The Social Mobility List.

Job Title: Children's Domestic Violence Advocate (CHIDVA)

Location: Warwickshire (North and Rugby). Travel required across Warwickshire, predominantly North Warwickshire and Rugby. Use of a car is essential to the role.
Salary: £25,857.12 per annum
Contract type: Fixed Term (Until September 2026), Full Time

Hours: 37.5 hours 

We are recruiting for two CHIDVA who will be working closely with children and their mothers who are living in our refuges escaping domestic violence and other forms of violence and abuse, to provide personal welfare support and ensure that our clients are provided with a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment.

The job involves providing support to children and young people who are living in Warwickshire and have witnessed/experienced domestic abuse. The post holder will support children and young people from the age of 4 – 17 years old who have been affected by domestic abuse, including teenage relationship abuse.  

The post holder will support children and young people from the point of crisis to ensure their short term and long-term safety; reduce risk; enable them to access community support services and achieve their goals. You will also be responsible for increasing the ability of partner agencies including schools to recognise and respond appropriately and safely to young people affected by domestic abuse. 

Please note that this post is restricted to women due to the nature of the role. The Occupational Requirement under Schedule 9 (part 1) of the Equality Act 2010 applies. 

A driving license and access to a car is essential to the role as travel is required across Warwickshire, predominantly North Warwickshire and Rugby. Use of a car is essential to the role. 

Closing Date: 09:00 am 10 March 2026

Interview date: 19 March 2026

Circa £43,000 per annum

Fixed term – 6 months

Part home/Part office (London) based

UNICEF ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation. We have done more to influence laws and policies to help protect children than anyone else. We get things done. And we’re not going to stop until the world is a safe place for all our children.

This is a great opportunity to join the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) as Motion Graphics and Video Editor in the Creative Team.

The mission of the Creative team is to collaboratively plan, produce and deliver creative content across editorial, design, video and photography, that results in greater income, influence, and the growth of the UNICEF brand in the UK..

As Motion Graphics and Video Editor you will focus on producing best in class content for UNICEF UK’s campaigns and initiatives. You will be responsible for the timely development, production and editing of video, motion graphics and digital assets that showcases UNICEF’s work and impact around the world and brings to life children’s stories. 

We are looking for someone with expert video editing and motion graphic skills, who takes a supporter centered approach to storytelling and who can contributes ideas, approaches and insights that enable innovation.

Closing date: 9am, Thursday 12th March 2026

Interview date: Monday 30th March via video conferencing (MS Teams)

In return, we offer:

· excellent pay and benefits (including flexible working, generous annual leave and pension, big brand discounts and wellbeing tools)

· outstanding training and learning opportunities and the support to flourish in your role

· impressive open plan office space and facilities on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

· an open culture and workplace with colleagues who share our values, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children.

· the opportunity to work in a leading children’s organisation making a difference to children around the world 

We are gradually moving back to our offices on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London and we anticipate most colleagues will work one or two days a week in the office and the rest of the time from home.  We will happily discuss other flexible options to suit your circumstances.

 We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, disabled candidates, and from men, because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at this level at UNICEF UK. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater results for children. 

UNICEF UK promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion in our workplace. We make employment decisions by matching business needs with skills and experience of candidates, irrespective of age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

We welcome a conversation about your flexible working requirements, personal growth, and promoting a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

The successful candidate will be required to apply for a criminal records check. A criminal record will not necessarily bar you from working with us. This will depend on the nature of the role and the circumstances of your offences.

 We only accept online applications as this saves us money, making more funds available for us to help ensure children’s rights.

If you do not hear from us within 14 days of the closing date, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Please note that we only provide feedback to shortlisted candidates.

About Adolescent Health Study

The Adolescent Health Study (AHS) is an ambitious new UKRI-funded initiative to establish a prospective, longitudinal population study that will generate a globally leading open science data platform and research resource. AHS aims to recruit at least 100,000 young people from across the UK and to follow their mental and physical health and wellbeing over at least 10 years. It plans to collect data through questions and measures; to obtain bio-samples for a wide range of genomic and other high-throughput assays; and to capture linked data relevant to health and wellbeing from participants’ health, education and other administrative records. There will be a strong emphasis on engaging with and involving young people, schools, parents and other relevant stakeholders in the design and delivery of the study, as well as on including young people that represent as wide as possible a range of backgrounds, experiences and characteristics. AHS will focus on enabling a wide range of research, including studies of the critical biological and social developments that occur during the transition from childhood to adulthood and the determinants of both mental and physical health and wellbeing in adolescents and young adults.

Purpose of the post

The Study Delivery and Governance Lead will play a central role in ensuring AHS meets the highest ethical, governance and regulatory standards. The post holder will lead the development, submission and oversight of the AHS Research Tissue Bank application, coordinate ethical approvals and ongoing amendments, and provide governance leadership to support study development and delivery.

They will also oversee elements of study set up and delivery, supporting the development of piloting tools and protocols, and addressing operational and logistical considerations necessary for successful delivery. They will line‑manage Research Officers and Senior Research Officers, contributing to a cohesive, high‑functioning team.

Main responsibilities

Research Governance

• Lead the full process of developing, drafting, and submitting the AHS Research Tissue Bank (RTB) application.
• Manage ongoing approvals, amendments, renewals and reporting obligations to Research Ethics Committees, the Health Research Authority, the Confidentiality Advisory Group and other regulatory bodies.
• Develop, implement and maintain governance frameworks, SOPs and quality assurance processes required for RTB operation, keeping abreast of developments in the regulatory landscape.
• Maintain accurate documentation, version control and quality‑assurance procedures relating to ethics and regulatory submissions.
• Act as key point of contact for research governance‑related queries from internal and external stakeholders.

Study Development & Planning

• Work closely with the Senior Programme Manager to contribute to the design and refinement of study protocols, piloting phases and operational plans.
• Lead the planning and delivery of specific study workstreams, as required, defining milestones, tracking progress, and identifying interdependencies as the study develops.
• Coordinate cross‑team activity involving research, data, operations and engagement teams to ensure study components are integrated and delivered effectively.

Project Management & Coordination

• Develop and maintain detailed project plans for governance and study‑delivery workstreams as required, ensuring roadmaps are accurate, realistic and kept up to date.
• Identify, track and mitigate risks related to both governance and delivery, escalating as appropriate and working collaboratively to resolve issues.
• Prepare reports and briefings for AHS governance structures (e.g., AHS Executive, Board of Trustees, Scientific Advisory Board).

Team Leadership & Line Management

• Provide mentoring and day‑to‑day guidance on governance‑related queries, ethics submissions and documentation development.
• Line manage selected staff within the study team, supporting workload planning, professional development and quality assurance.
• Foster effective team working across research, operational and scientific colleagues.

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal teams including scientific leads, operational delivery, data management and engagement teams.
• Represent AHS with external partners related to governance, regulatory support, tissue banking and operational delivery.
• Work with the engagement team to ensure young people are involved in all elements of the study development and delivery.

Knowledge, skills and experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive experience in research governance, NHS research ethics management, clinical research management or equivalent.
• Demonstrable experience drafting protocols, participant documents and regulatory submissions.
• Strong understanding of ethical and regulatory frameworks including the Human Tissue Act, UK GDPR, and NHS research ethics processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with proven ability to translate complex regulatory requirements into clear and actionable guidance for colleagues.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, with experience managing competing priorities.
• Experience in risk identification and mitigation within research programmes.
• Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field.
• Experience line managing or supervising staff.

Desirable criteria

• Experience with biobanking, Research Tissue Bank applications or biosample governance.
• Experience with longitudinal population studies or large multi‑site research programmes.
• Understanding of data‑linkage governance and consent processes.
• Project‑management qualification (e.g., PRINCE2, APM, Agile).
• Experience working with children/young people, school‑based research or youth‑focused engagement.
• Experience engaging diverse stakeholders.

Dimensions

• Full time role with flexible working arrangements
• AHS is a national organisation, and our activities take place across the UK
• Flexible working will be required across several geographical locations in the UK.  Travel may be required to AHS locations, fieldwork sites and partner organisations

Application Process

This post is subject to receipt of satisfactory references and the post holder having the right to work in the UK (visa sponsorship is not available). Please apply with a CV and a covering letter (of no more than two pages) explaining what you can bring to this role, and including your current salary.

The closing date for this position is EoD Sunday 08 March 2026.

Interviews are currently expected to be held during the week commencing 30 March 2026.

Equal Opportunities Policy Statement

AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. AHS is an equal opportunities employer, and as such aims to treat all employees, consultants and applicants fairly. It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Beyond these protected characteristics, we acknowledge the importance of socio-economic background, childcare and caring responsibilities, educational background, neurodiversity, and any other factors that shape an individual’s identity and opportunities. We strive to create an environment where all colleagues feel valued, supported, and able to contribute fully.

Values

It is an exciting time for the Adolescent Health Study (AHS) as we establish our senior leadership team. As the senior executive team evolves, the AHS values will be grounded in inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and collaboration

Call for Expressions of Interest

Title: RAD-P Project: Policy Review Consultancy

Anticipated timeframe: 8–10 working days

Location: Zambia (with remote preparation)

Budget: To be submitted by applicants as part of the financial proposal

Start date: As soon as possible (to be agreed)

BACKGROUND

The Realising the African Disability Protocol (RAD-P) project seeks to strengthen the participation of persons with disabilities – particularly the most excluded – in governance and decision-making structures in Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The project aims to ensure that persons with disabilities influence inclusive policies and local development processes in alignment with the African Disability Protocol (ADP).

RAD-P focuses on building the capacity of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), particularly OPD umbrella organisations, to undertake policy analysis, advocacy, and effective engagement with government duty bearers. The project places strong emphasis on women’s leadership, youth participation, and gender equality within the disability movement, and promotes collaboration between OPDs, civil society organisations, and government institutions.

As part of this work, OPDs in Zambia have pre-identified key national policies for review. Sightsavers is therefore seeking a consultant to support OPDs to review these policies, strengthen understanding of disability-related policy frameworks, and develop clear policy messages to influence disability inclusion.

What the consultant will be focusing on: Policy review & OPD Capacity Building

The consultancy will support OPDs in Zambia to:

• Review selected national policies through a disability inclusion lens
• Strengthen understanding of global, regional, and national disability policy frameworks
• Build practical skills to conduct policy reviews independently
• Develop evidence-based policy messages and advocacy strategies to influence stakeholders

The assignment is designed to be highly participatory and capacity-building in nature.

Responsibilities

The consultant will:

• Design and deliver training sessions for OPDs on policy review methodologies
• Facilitate practical, hands-on policy review exercises using pre-identified Zambian policies
• Provide an overview of relevant global, regional, and national policy frameworks, including UNCRPD, SDGs, and the African Disability Protocol
• Support OPDs to identify gaps in reviewed policies and develop disability-inclusive recommendations
• Work with OPDs to develop key policy messages and an engagement strategy for influencing duty bearers and stakeholders
• Document the process and produce a comprehensive final report
• Key policies to be reviewed include:
• Citizens Economic Empowerment Act, 2006
• Mental Health Act, 2019 (Section 4)
• Persons with Disabilities Act, 2012

DELIVERABLES

The consultant will be expected to provide:

• Training materials on policy review methodologies tailored to OPDs
• A summary of identified policy gaps and recommendations to strengthen disability inclusion
• Key policy messages and an engagement strategy for OPDs
• A final report covering the training delivered, policy review process, findings, and recommendations

Skills and Experience

The successful consultant will demonstrate:

• An advanced degree in Social Policy, Development Studies, Law, Disability Studies, or a related field
• Proven experience in policy analysis and review, particularly relating to disability inclusion
• Strong knowledge of international and regional frameworks, including UNCRPD, SDGs, and the African Disability Protocol
• Experience designing and delivering training workshops for OPDs or civil society organisations
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate participatory processes and capacity building for marginalised groups
• Experience in advocacy and engagement with OPDs, civil society organisations, and government duty bearers
• Strong research, analytical, and report-writing skills
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills
• A clear commitment to gender equality, women’s leadership, and youth participation within the disability movement

PAYMENT TERMS

The agreed budget will be discussed at interview.

Next Steps

To express your interest to undertake this assignment, please read the complete ToR, and complete our Expression of Interest (EoI) which can be found via the application link by 1 March 2026.

The EoI response should include a proposed workplan and indicative budget, including daily rates for the assignment and any other anticipated expenses.

Interested bidders are also requested to include an example of previous similar consultancy work.

The deadline to submit your EoI is 1 March 2026.

Please note: We intend to conduct on site interviews at the Zambia country office week commencing 9th of March onwards. The interview will last up to one hour and will be the only stage in the recruitment process.

Please note due to the high volume of applications it is possible, only successful applicants will be contacted. We reserve the right to close this ad early.

Selection Criteria:

Sightsavers is committed to running a fair and transparent tender process, and ensuring that all bidders are treated and assessed equally during this process. Bidder quotation responses will be evaluated against Essential Criteria, Capability Criteria, Sustainability Criteria and Commercial Criteria. These criteria have been especially created to help SCI determine which bidder is able to offer the best quality and most commercially competitive solution to meet our needs and deliver the most effective programming to our beneficiaries.

Organisational Vision & Context:

As we journey towards our vision to bring fulness of life for every child, no matter what struggles they face, we’re looking for a motivated and mission-driven individual to join our team as a Church Relationship Lead for our Make Lunch programme. 

While our programmes vary, they share one common thread: an unwavering resolve to see lives transformed for good. Mobilising over 200 churches and 1,500 volunteers, TLG’s volunteer programmes – Early Intervention and Make Lunch – currently support around 5,000 children and their families each year. However, our vision goes further: we aim to see many more churches partner with us to transform lives in their communities.

This Role’s Impact:

We are seeking an experienced, relational, and highly organised leader with a strong passion for the issues of mental health, poverty, and social justice that underpin Make Lunch. Working alongside other Church Relationship Leads, this role will train, support, and develop church-based volunteer Make Lunch teams, ensuring they provide effective support and meaningful connection to children, young people, and families in their communities.

With excellent people, communication and training skills, the postholder will nurture positive, growing relationships with volunteer Make Lunch Coordinators, enabling excellent programme leadership at a local level. Operationally astute and confident in bringing constructive challenge, they will ensure all Make Lunch activities are safe and fully compliant. Driven by a commitment to continuous improvement, they will foster a growth mindset among those they support, maximising the impact of Make Lunch both locally and nationally.

TLG is a Christian charity and, as a team, we want to bring our faith to the work we do; as such, we are recruiting an individual with a strong and vibrant Christian faith. We would welcome applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds to enable us to better reflect the needs of the communities we serve.

Hours: Part time (22.5 hours per week, 0.6 FTE), including Tuesdays

Closing Date: Sunday 29th March

Initial Interviews: Monday 13th April – Online

Final Interviews: Tuesday 21st April – at our National Support Centre in West Yorkshire