3 Outdoor learning leader jobs in Central London, Greater London
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UK Youth has launched an ambitious new strategy to widen the reach and deepen the impact of youth work and outdoor learning. At the heart of that strategy is a clear commitment: We Back Youth Work Leaders.
As our new Head of Network Development, you will turn that commitment into action.
You will lead the development and delivery of a powerful national offer that equips youth work leaders with the investment, support, relationships and connections they need to thrive. This includes leading our Grants+ approach—combining significant, multi-year grant funding with tailored organisational-development support—and developing partnerships that strengthen youth sector infrastructure locally, regionally and across the UK nations.
This role is about much more than managing a network. We are evolving towards a more relational way of working: listening deeply to youth-work leaders, understanding the realities they face, involving them in shaping our work and building relationships founded on trust, respect and shared purpose. You will ensure organisations can access the right support, expertise and opportunities—and that their insight continually shapes UK Youth’s work.
You will have the opportunity to lead the delivery of the £13 million UK Youth Fund, strengthen the resilience and effectiveness of grassroots youth organisations, and help create a more connected and equitable system of support for the wider sector.
We are looking for someone with deep knowledge and experience of youth work and the youth sector—someone who can talk the talk and walk the walk with youth organisation leaders. You will bring substantial experience of the youth work sector and infrastructure, organisational development and capacity building, alongside the strategic and operational leadership needed to deliver significant grant-making activity and complex partnerships.
You will be an inclusive and credible leader who can turn ambitious strategy into excellent delivery, bring people and organisations together, and remain focused on what youth work leaders need to succeed.
Across the country, youth workers are changing—and often saving—young lives. This is your opportunity to ensure the people and organisations doing that vital work have the investment, infrastructure and support they deserve.
Purpose of the job
The Head of Network Development will lead the operationalisation of UK Youth’s new We Back Youth Work Leaders strategic pillar. The role will turn our ambition to equip youth-work leaders with the skills, networks and confidence to deliver exceptional support into a coherent network development offer—leading our Grants+ approach of multi-year funding alongside tailored organisational development, and strengthening youth-sector infrastructure locally, regionally and across the UK nations.
Central to the role will be embedding UK Youth’s increasingly relational approach to its network: building trusted, mutually beneficial relationships with youth-work leaders; listening to and understanding their needs; involving them in shaping our support and connecting organisations to the right opportunities, expertise and infrastructure. Reporting to the Director of Network Delivery, the postholder will be responsible for translating this strategic ambition into high-quality, well-governed delivery, while ensuring that learning and insight from the network continually improve our work and contribute to securing sustainable investment in youth work and outdoor learning.
Why work at UK Youth?
Every young person deserves a youth worker. UK Youth exists to make that a reality. Our vision is a society that backs every young person - through each spark, struggle and success.
As the UK’s national infrastructure body for youth work, we strengthen and champion a diverse network of youth organisations, unlock investment, shape policy and build the evidence base for what works. At a time of growing need and inequality of access, our work has never been more important.
We are entering an exciting new phase of our strategy - focused on long-term resilience, income diversification and a transformational Capital Appeal to develop Avon Tyrrell as a national centre of excellence for outdoor learning. Joining UK Youth means being part of an ambitious, impact-driven organisation committed to strengthening youth work for generations to come.
Key responsibilities
Portfolio leadership and delivery
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Lead the strategic and operational delivery of UK Youth’s network development portfolio, translating organisational strategy and funded commitments into clear plans, outcomes, budgets, milestones and accountabilities.
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Ensure programmes and services are delivered to a high standard, on time and within budget, with effective governance, performance management, risk control and escalation to the Director of Network Delivery.
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Mobilise new initiatives and partnerships, establishing proportionate delivery models, systems, teams and governance arrangements.
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Lead continuous improvement across the portfolio, responding effectively to evidence, partner feedback, changing needs and the external environment.
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Be a champion of UK Youth’s network across all of UK Youth’s work.
Grant making and organisational development
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Lead the delivery of UK Youth’s significant, multi-year grant-making portfolio, including the £13 million UK Youth Fund, ensuring responsible stewardship of charitable and restricted funds.
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Ensure effective management of the full grant lifecycle, including programme design, application and assessment, due diligence, decision-making, contracting, payments, monitoring, reporting, complaints and closure.
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Maintain robust and proportionate grant governance, financial controls, safeguarding assurance, risk management, data quality and compliance with funder and regulatory requirements.
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Lead an integrated organisational development offer alongside grant funding, enabling smaller youth and outdoor learning organisations to strengthen their financial sustainability, leadership, governance, workforce and resilience.
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Embed open, trusting, accessible and equitable grant-making practice, reducing unnecessary barriers while maintaining appropriate accountability.
Network and sector infrastructure support
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Develop and deliver UK Youth’s approach to engaging, connecting and supporting our national network, informed by the needs and experiences of youth work leaders and organisations.
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Create opportunities for peer learning, collaboration, knowledge exchange and access to relevant support across the network.
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Lead major initiatives that strengthen youth sector infrastructure locally, regionally and nationally, working with partners to improve the consistency, coordination and accessibility of support.
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Support regional and national partners to understand need, develop shared plans and approaches, and deliver locally relevant infrastructure and organisational support.
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Work with the Communications Team and relevant colleagues to ensure network communications are timely, accessible, coordinated and purposeful.
Experience we're after
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Substantial leadership experience within the youth sector, grounded in an in-depth understanding of youth work practice, youth work leadership and the realities facing youth organisations and their leaders.
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Experience of leading a complex, multi-year network development or comparable portfolio, translating strategy and funded commitments into successful delivery and managing significant budgets and risks.
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Experience of leading substantial grant making or onward funding activity, including governance, due diligence, financial oversight, risk and accountability.
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Substantial organisational development and capacity building experience, including diagnosing organisational needs and designing practical support that strengthens leadership, governance, financial sustainability, workforce and resilience.
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Experience of developing networks, partnerships or infrastructure across multiple organisations, regions or systems, with demonstrable credibility among youth organisation leaders.
What we can offer you
We offer a competitive range of benefits, good work/life balance, excellent learning and development opportunities and vibrant organisational culture:
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Flexible/Agile Working
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27 days annual leave (24 days + 3 days winter closure) plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)
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Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity
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Other training available in support of your personal and professional development
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Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)
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Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary
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Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally
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20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.
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IT equipment provided for the duration of contract
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CycleScheme and TechScheme
How to apply
If you would like to be considered for this fantastic opportunity, please complete an application via our completely anonymised recruitment system provided by Applied which looks to create a fair and unbiased application process for all. Scroll to the top of the page and start your application.
Closing date: 29th September 2026 at 09:00
Provisional First Stage Interview Dates: 5th & 6th October 2026
Provisional Final Stage Interview Dates (in person): 9th October 2026
As this role involves working in a regulated environment with young people, any offer will be conditional to satisfactory background checks, which include criminal record check and employment reference.
Please note CVs will be reviewed as the first stage of the recruitment process. Candidates who are shortlisted following the CV review will then have their sift questions assessed. Only candidates who meet the requirements at both stages will progress further in the recruitment process.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
UK Youth is a leading charity with a vision that all young people are equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Lead a pioneering national mental-health service for young people, rooted in nature and underpinned by strong clinical practice.
We are seeking an experienced Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to lead its development, accreditation and quality across the UK.
Salary: £57,528–£64,750 full-time equivalent (£34,517–£38,850 0.6 FTE) depending on experience
Hours: 22.5 hours per week / three days per week
Contract: 18-month fixed term, with intention to extend subject to service growth and funding
Location: Hybrid, with travel to Dose of Nature locations and member organisations across the UK
Dose of Nature is a mental-health charity improving mental health and wellbeing through structured, evidence-informed engagement with nature.
We are developing a Young Person Memberships service for young people and young adults under 25. We will train and support trusted organisations to deliver the Dose of Nature model in their communities, providing the clinical framework, accreditation, supervision, quality assurance and evaluation needed for safe, effective and consistent delivery.
About the role
As Young People’s Clinical Service Lead, you will establish, deliver and grow this new service. Working with our Head of Clinical and Memberships Operations Lead, you will turn our clinical model into a scalable national service while protecting its quality, safety and integrity.
You will lead the clinical assessment and accreditation of member organisations; develop training and competency frameworks; provide supervision and consultation; establish governance, safeguarding and risk arrangements; monitor outcomes and quality; and build trusted relationships with NHS, voluntary-sector, youth-service and community partners.
About you
You will be a current HCPC-registered Clinical or Counselling Psychologist, with a doctoral-level qualification and experience broadly consistent with an NHS Band 8a role.
You will bring:
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Substantial post-qualification experience supporting young people or young adults experiencing mental-health difficulties;
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Strong skills in psychological assessment, formulation, intervention, clinical decision-making, safeguarding and risk management;
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Experience providing clinical supervision, consultation or reflective practice to other practitioners;
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Experience designing or delivering clinical training and assessing practitioner competence;
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Experience of developing, implementing or improving a clinical service; and
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The confidence to work across organisational boundaries, maintain clear clinical standards and help build a new national service.
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Experience in CAMHS, young-adult mental health, voluntary-sector provision, clinical governance, quality assurance, accreditation or partnership-led services would be valuable.
We offer hybrid and flexible working, employer pension contribution, pro-rata annual leave, professional supervision, CPD support and approved travel expenses.
Dose of Nature is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. This post is subject to enhanced DBS clearance, references, verification of qualifications and HCPC registration, and eligibility to work in the UK.
Please download the full Job Description and Person Specification before applying.
Registered Charity
11 - 20
Work with people with mental health problems & the general population encouraging everyone to connect with nature in order to improve mental wellbeing
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Ambition Aspire Achieve is seeking an exceptional, values-led Chief Executive to lead our much-loved children and young people’s charity into its next chapter.
This is a rare opportunity to lead a practical, relationship-based and strongly rooted Newham charity that makes a real difference to children, young people and families facing disadvantage, vulnerability, SEND, disability or risk.
Founded in 2016 by Kevin Jenkins OBE, Ambition Aspire Achieve has grown from a small number of projects at the Terence Brown Arc in the Park into a well-established charity working across Newham. Today, AAA supports nearly 1,000 children and young people each year through its hubs, with many more reached through outreach, schools-based work and community programmes.
Our work is grounded in the belief that every child and young person should be able to enjoy their childhood, overcome barriers, build confidence and develop the skills and self-belief to achieve positive futures. We deliver a broad programme of support including after-school clubs, holiday programmes, youth clubs, SEND activities, mentoring, outdoor learning, sports, family days, residentials, detached youth work, schools-based youth safety work, community events and targeted family support.
This is an exciting and important moment in AAA’s journey. Following a period of growth, the charity is now focused on consolidation, quality and long-term sustainability. We are financially stable, well regarded and deeply rooted locally, with strong relationships across funders, schools, corporate partners, local agencies and community organisations.
The next Chief Executive will provide clear, steady and values-led leadership, working closely with the Chair and Board of Trustees. They will lead and support the staff team, strengthen organisational sustainability, maintain and develop partnerships, champion safeguarding and inclusion, and ensure children and young people remain at the heart of every decision.
As AAA does not currently have a dedicated senior fundraising post, the Chief Executive will also play a central role in securing and maintaining the income needed to sustain and develop the charity’s work. This will include trusts and foundations, statutory funding, corporate partnerships, individual donors, appeals and wider supporter engagement.
We are looking for someone who can combine strategic leadership with practical operational understanding. You may already be a Chief Executive, or you may be an experienced senior leader ready to step into your first Chief Executive role. What matters most is your ability to lead with clarity, care and resilience; build trusted relationships; secure income; uphold strong governance; and keep AAA’s values at the centre of how the charity works.
AAA’s values are Committed, Caring, Collaborative and Creative. We are looking for a leader who can live these values, promote a positive and inclusive culture, and help ensure AAA remains strong, responsive and ambitious for the children, young people and families who need us most.
This is not a turnaround role, but it is a significant leadership opportunity. The successful candidate will inherit a respected and impactful charity with strong foundations, while also leading it through a more challenging external funding environment and into its next phase of development.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
To provide children and young people in the London Borough of Newham with fully inclusive experiences and opportunities to flourish.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.