Student groups coordinator jobs

East of England – with travel across the region

We are looking to recruit a Mentoring Programme Co-ordinator that will work to expand The Salvation Army’s Starfish programme across the East of England Division. Starfish is a mentoring programme designed to work with children and young people in schools, aged 9-16 years.

Working within a school’s student wellbeing support, Starfish provides committed and trusted adults (mentors) to work with young people who need Early Help without which they would be at risk of not meeting their full potential. Their identified needs may relate to their health, educational or social development.

Key responsibilities:

• Establish and grow the Starfish Schools Mentoring Programme within local primary and secondary schools ensuring efficient and effective delivery and monitoring.
• Recruit and support volunteer Starfish mentors from the local Salvation Army corps and other churches in line with Salvation Army volunteer and Safe & Sound guidelines.
• Support and supervise volunteer coordinators / mentors including identifying and facilitating relevant training.
• Oversee all pupil referrals to the programme, ensuring all relevant information and reports are submitted to schools. Attending multi-agency meetings when required.
• Provide one-to-one mentoring with pupils to increase participation in education, with a focus around emotional health and wellbeing including personal development and life skills, guided by a Trauma Informed Practice approach.

The successful candidate will have:

• A degree with relevant qualification in children’s or youth work qualification and/or extensive experience of working with children and youth in education ages 9-16 and or in the wider community. Applicants with transferable / relevant skills will also be considered.
• Knowledge of issues affecting young people (e.g. education, poverty, mental health) creative and cultural landscape.
• Excellent people skills with extensive experience in managing staff, volunteers and working with children and young people (individuals and groups).
• Ability to create and run age-appropriate positive mentoring activities.
• The credibility, confidence and skills to represent The Salvation Army appropriately and professionally in a variety of settings and be able to develop strong and effective partnership opportunities and relationships that will extend the reach and impact of the Starfish programme across a wide area.
• Experience conducting effective monitoring and evaluation to increase effectiveness.

This role has an occupational requirement that the successful candidate must be a committed and practising Christian and will be in sympathy with the doctrines of, and supportive of, the purposes and the aims and objectives of The Salvation Army. 

In order to complete your application please download and read the job profile and any other attachments.

In the job profile you will find the criteria required for the role please make sure that you address this in your supporting statement as this forms the basis of our shortlisting.

Appointment will be subject to satisfactory references, a criminal record check DBS: Enhanced with barred list or the child workforce and evidence of your Right to Work in the UK in line with Home Office requirements. As we are not a licensed sponsor, applicants must already have the right to work in the UK. Details on how to prove your Right to Work can be found on our website. 

The Salvation Army actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential, and we welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. 

We reserve the right to close this advert earlier if we feel that we have received sufficient applications.

Promoting equality in the workplace and as a disability confident leader scheme employer, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet all the minimum essential criteria for the vacancy.

Benefits:
25 days annual leave + bank holidays (pro rata for part-time) a contributory pension scheme; an employee assistance programme

Working hours: 35 hours per week (with occasional evening and weekend working)

Closing date: Friday 26 June 2026

Location: Based in Reading with hybrid working arrangements and regular travel

Contract: Fixed term role to 31 March 2028. Full time, 37 hours per week or part time, 30 hours per week (please state on your application if you would prefer full or part time)

Salary range: Starting full time equivalent salary from £35,502 per annum 

Would you like to become a vital part of our collaborative and innovative team to make a lasting difference to families?

Every day at PACT, we are building adoptive families and empowering women, children and parents to embrace a positive future. PACT is an outstanding adoption charity and award-winning trauma recovery service provider that is passionate about creating brighter futures for women, children and families from many different backgrounds. We believe that every child deserves a loving and supportive home and we are committed to providing the highest quality services to help make that a reality. We are proud of our four successive outstanding ratings with Ofsted.

We are looking for an Adoption Support Education Advisor to join our Reading team.

Our Adoption Support Education Advisor will work in PACT’s adoption support service and support our Lead Specialist Education Worker in the implementation and development of our Early Education Pathways pilot project for a fixed term period to March 2028 to:

· foster positive and effective relationships between schools, educational and other professionals and adoptive families

· contribute to meeting the objectives of the pilot project, maintaining delivery momentum, data quality and consistency to ensure the project’s success

About you:

We are looking for an individual with demonstrable experience of training and education ideally within a primary school setting. You’ll have an understanding of the needs of looked after children and child development and the impact on behaviour of interrupted development.

You’ll hold a degree (or equivalent), and professional qualification/s preferably in education (or related field). With great organisational and communication skills, you’ll be adept at managing assigned project deliverables to agreed timelines to ensure the pilot project’s success.

You will make a real difference to the lives of children and families.

For further information and details on how to apply and contact details for an informal conversation, please visit our website.

Closing date: 4pm Friday 10 July 2026

We look forward to hearing from you.

Early application is encouraged. We will review applications received throughout the advertising period and may close the vacancy earlier than stated.

Please do not submit your CV; only completed application forms will be accepted. No agencies please.

PACT is a supportive and respectful place where people are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of women, children and families from many different backgrounds. We continuously look to progress the ways in which we create families and bring people together and encourage applications from people across all communities. We are committed to ensuring that our people and our services reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and applications from people from under-represented groups are particularly welcomed.

PACT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Anyone joining our team is subject to PACT’s Safer Recruitment pre-appointment enquiries. These include the provision of documentation of the right to work in the UK, Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check, overseas police check where applicable and references covering a minimum 5-year period.

All opportunities are based in the UK.

Other relevant roles you may have experience of could include: Designated Teacher for LAC/PLAC, Safeguarding Lead (DSL), Adoption Support Advisor, Specialist Education Advisor, Education Advisor, Adoption Teaching Advisor, Education Psychologist, Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, Head Teacher, Virtual School, Virtual School Head, SENDCO, Special Educational Needs Coordinator, SEND, SEND Educational Advisor, Primary School Pastoral Care Lead.