Youth engagement support volunteer roles in Belfast

Trustee vacancy - Youth Development / Education Specialist

The National Youth Orchestra (NYO) is appointing a specialist trustee to strengthen our Board’s insight into what helps teenagers flourish through exceptional arts and music opportunities.

We welcome applications from people with experience in secondary education, youth-focused arts organisations, youth services, or programmes within the music education sector (or closely related fields). Knowledge of secondary education policy and networks is particularly desirable.

About NYO

NYO is the UK’s leading organisation championing orchestral music as a powerful agent for teenage development. We exist to empower teenage musicians, developing their confidence, skills and leadership through world-class orchestral experiences, and over the next decade we aim to build a significantly larger, more inclusive national community of young musicians.

The Role

This role is an exciting opportunity to influence how NYO listens to and works with young people. You will:

• Bring insight into the realities teenagers face today, including barriers to participation and progression, and what helps young people thrive in arts and education settings.
• Help develop NYO’s approach to youth voice, including meaningful input into decisions, agency, ambassadorship and leadership opportunities.
• Contribute to Board-level safeguarding oversight, particularly in large-scale youth projects and residential environments.
• Support strategic thinking about inclusion, participation and progression, recognising the importance of next-step opportunities when a teenager finds something they love.

We are committed to broadening the diversity of perspectives on our Board. We particularly encourage applications from women, individuals from ethnically diverse backgrounds, and those based outside London. All appointments will be made on merit.

Deadline for applications: Monday 23 February 2026.

Job Summary
We are seeking dedicated and compassionate one to one Youth Mentors to support and guide young individuals in their personal and educational development. The ideal candidate will have a passion for working with children and youth, providing mentorship, and fostering a positive environment. This role is vital in helping young people navigate challenges, build self-esteem, and develop essential life skills.

Duties

• Provide one-on-one mentoring to youth, offering guidance and support tailored to individual needs.
• Meet with your young person once a week for up to 3 hours and go out into the community and do fun activities with them, from going for some food, a walk or a paid activity (expenses will be reimbursed to the volunteer).
• Foster a safe and supportive environment where young people feel comfortable expressing themselves.
• Maintain accurate records of interactions and progress for reporting purposes.

Desirable Requirements

• Excellent communication skills to effectively engage with young people.
• A genuine passion for supporting young people in their development.

If you are enthusiastic about making a difference in the lives of young individuals through mentoring, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding position!

As Social Media & Marketing Manager with The Skateboarding Foundation, your role is to develop and support our digital presence, raise awareness, and engage with our audience across various platforms.

This is an opportunity to make a tangible difference to young people's lives, supporting a small but growing charity.

Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable Key Stage 3 English tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with serious illnesses. 

"The phrase "time flies when you are having fun" comes to mind. It's been a really joy teaching my student." - Volunteer Tutor

What will you be doing? 

Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person for one hour per week

Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to KS3 English

Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions. 

Adhere to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What are we looking for? 

1. Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of KS3 English concepts and specifications.
2. Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
3. Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
4. Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
5. Adherence to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What difference will you make?

1. Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
2. Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
3. Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

What will you gain?

1. Enhanced DBS will be provided
2. Safeguarding Level One Training
3. Skill Development opportunities
4. Direct experience working with children and young people

You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.

Location 

Remote/Online

Time 

1 Hour per Week 

 Duration: 14 Weeks minimum

As a charity that supports children and young people, we make safeguarding individuals our top priority. For this reason, all volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal record and disclosures check. We also ask all volunteers to adhere to our Safeguarding, Equality and Confidentiality policies. These are nothing to worry about and if you have any questions, our team are happy to support you.ed

Make a real difference for young people in Greater Manchester!
Join the board of Change The Youth NW, a youth-focused charity empowering 5–18-year-olds through mentoring, life skills programs, and exciting activities. Shape the future of our charity, help young people thrive, and gain valuable governance experience.

About Us

Change The Youth NW is a non-profit providing meaningful opportunities, activities, and support for young people aged 5–18. We remove barriers like cost, travel, and accessibility, helping young people develop skills, confidence, and leadership to succeed in education, employment, and life.

Our projects include:​

• Youth development projects

• Sports & physical activities

• Residentials and day trips (e.g., Blackpool, Lake District, planned international trips)

• 1–2–1 mentoring and support

• Seasonal events and workshops

Our culture: Relaxed, supportive, flexible, with opportunities to shape new programs, attend social events, and gain hands-on experience in charity work.

Role Overview

We are seeking enthusiastic trustees to guide our charity’s strategy and governance. This is a chance to make a real impact, gain trustee experience, and contribute to a growing, energetic organisation.

Core Responsibilities

• Ensure the charity delivers its mission and operates legally and effectively

• Set long-term strategy and monitor progress

• Oversee finances, policies, and safeguarding

• Promote the charity’s values and reputation

• Offer advice, specialist knowledge, and support for new initiatives

Person Specification

Essential:

• Commitment to our mission and values

• Willingness to devote time and effort

• Confidence to share ideas and work collaboratively

• Understanding (or willingness to learn) trusteeship responsibilities

• Respect for safeguarding, confidentiality, and professionalism

• Commitment to the Nolan Principles of public life (selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, leadership)

Desirable:

• Experience with young people

• Skills in finance, safeguarding, youth work, administration, project planning, marketing, fundraising, or community engagement

Time Commitment

• Quarterly meetings (online or in person)

• Occasional involvement in policies, decisions, or events

• Optional involvement in programs or fundraising

Benefits

• Make a lasting impact on young people’s lives

• Gain trustee and governance experience

• Flexible hours and online participation

• Learn about charity management, safeguarding, and youth work

• Shape innovative programs and initiatives

How to Apply

Submit a short CV and covering statement explaining your interest and relevant skills or experience.

Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable Key Stage 3 Science tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with serious illnesses. 

"The phrase "time flies when you are having fun" comes to mind. It's been a really joy teaching my student." - Volunteer Tutor

What will you be doing? 

Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person for one hour per week 

Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to KS3 Science 

Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions. 

Adhere to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What are we looking for? 

1. Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of KS3 Science concepts and specifications.
2. Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
3. Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
4. Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
5. Adherence to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What difference will you make?

1. Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
2. Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
3. Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

What will you gain?

1. Enhanced DBS will be provided
2. Safeguarding Level One Training
3. Skill Development opportunities
4. Direct experience working with children and young people

You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.

Location 

Remote/Online

Time 

1 Hour per Week 

 Duration: 14 Weeks minimum

As a charity that supports children and young people, we make safeguarding individuals our top priority. For this reason, all volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal record and disclosures check. We also ask all volunteers to adhere to our Safeguarding, Equality and Confidentiality policies. These are nothing to worry about and if you have any questions, our team are happy to support you.

Location: Remote (with occasional in-person meetings)
Time commitment: Approx. 6–10 hours per month
Term: 2 years (renewable)
Deadline to apply: Friday 6 February 2026

About MS Together

MS Together is a charity focused on supporting young adults (18–35) living with multiple sclerosis. We provide peer support, accessible information, and inclusive events to help young people feel less alone and more empowered to live well with MS. We're a small, dynamic charity rooted in lived experience. Our work is shaped by the voices of our community, and we’re passionate about creating spaces that are welcoming, empowering, and genuinely life-enhancing.

Why join us as a Trustee?

As a trustee, you’ll play a key role in helping shape our strategy, support our growth, and ensure we’re delivering our mission effectively and sustainably. You’ll bring your experience, insights, and passion to a supportive board and have a real impact on the lives of young people with MS.

We’re particularly keen to hear from people who have experience in one or more of the following areas:

• Fundraising or income generation
• Marketing, communications and digital engagement
• Finance and accounting
• Legal and governance
• Data protection and data management
• EDI in service design / delivery
• Lived experience of MS or a strong understanding of long-term health conditions and the challenges faced by young people

However, you don’t need to have previous board experience – we welcome first-time trustees and offer support and training to help you thrive in the role

Your key responsibilities as a trustee:

• Attend and contribute to quarterly board meetings (held remotely)
• Provide strategic guidance and oversight of our activities and finances
• Support the CEO and staff team where relevant, using your skills and experience
• Act as an ambassador for MS Together and promote our work
• Ensure the charity complies with its governing document, charity law, and best practice
• Help safeguard the long-term sustainability and integrity of the charity

We are committed to building an inclusive board and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, with a particular interest in hearing from underrepresented voices.

How to apply

Please complete our expression of interest form.

After six transformative years, our Chair is stepping down. This is your chance to lead a charity that's reached 2.5 million LGBTQ+ young people – and heard them say "I'm still alive because of you."

Full description:

It Gets Better UK is at an exciting moment. Over the past six years, we've grown from a grassroots initiative into a charity reaching millions of LGBTQ+ young people across the UK. Through digital storytelling, educational resources, and community engagement, we're combating isolation and discrimination – ensuring every young person knows their power and worthiness as individuals.

Now we're looking for our next Chair of Trustees to lead us into our next chapter.

What makes this role special?

This isn't just governance for governance's sake. The impact is immediate and profound. Young people tell us our content helped them through their darkest moments – some say we're the reason they're still alive. You'll work with a passionate board and our CEO/Founder Dr Alex Rhys OBE, whose vision, resilience and commitment to the mission has been extraordinary. The team – both volunteer and paid – is genuinely special.

The opportunity:

You'll provide strategic leadership at a pivotal time, helping us build on our momentum while navigating the challenges every growing charity faces. We need someone who can balance big vision with practical governance, understand charity finance and risk, and chair meetings that drive real decisions while creating space for genuine discussion.

What we're looking for:

Essential:

• Demonstrable commitment to LGBTQ+ equality and youth rights
• Proven governance experience, ideally as a trustee or board member
• Strong understanding of charity governance and trustee responsibilities
• Excellent chairing skills with ability to facilitate constructive discussions
• Strategic thinking balanced with practical implementation
• Strong interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion

Desirable:

• Experience in charity/voluntary sector, particularly youth or LGBTQ+ organisations
• Understanding of digital engagement and online community building
• Financial management and fundraising knowledge
• Networks within funding, policy, or LGBTQ+ advocacy circles
• Experience with organisational growth and transformation
• Knowledge of safeguarding frameworks

Why now matters:

LGBTQ+ young people face unprecedented challenges – rising hate crime, attacks on trans rights, mental health crises. Our work has never been more vital. The next Chair will help ensure we're here for every young person who needs us, with the governance, strategy, and sustainability to deliver real impact.

If you care about LGBTQ+ equality, have governance expertise to share, and want to make a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Time commitment: Approximately 6 hours per month | Term: 3 years (renewable) | Location: Remote (quarterly video meetings, occasional in-person) | Deadline: 10pm Sunday 1st February

Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and engaging tutors to provide educational support to primary aged pupils in Maths and English and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with long-term illnesses.

"My student's confidence has come miles forward and my favourite part of the week is working with her on her maths and English!" - Primary Volunteer Tutor

What will you be doing? 

• Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person. 

• Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to KS1 and KS2 Maths and English. 

• Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions. 

• Adhere to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What are we looking for? 

• Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of Primary Maths and English Curriculum. 

• Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.

• Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.

• Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.

• Experience working with SEN learners is an advantage

• Adherence to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

• You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.

What difference will you make? 

• Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.

• Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.

• Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. 

What will you gain?

• Enhanced DBS will be provided

• Safeguarding Level One Training

• Skill Development opportunities

• Direct experience working with children and young people

As a charity that supports children and young people, we make safeguarding individuals our top priority. For this reason, all volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal record and disclosures check. We also ask all volunteers to adhere to our Safeguarding, Equality and Confidentiality policies. These are nothing to worry about and if you have any questions, our team are happy to support you.

As we approach our 30th anniversary in 2028, we are looking for committed new trustees with energy, passion and time who will continue to drive us forward.

Musical talent is everywhere but opportunity isn't: family finances and other obstacles too often get in the way. Young Sounds is here to change this.

For nearly 30 years we've supported talented young people from low-income families, helping them to overcome financial and social barriers. Whether they're making or creating music our programmes help young musicians from across the UK to fulfil their musical potential.

Trustees are expected to engage with and support all aspects of the charity, helping to foster stakeholder relationships, representing the organisation regionally and nationally and ensuring compliance and safeguarding. 

Principal responsibilities are:

• Strategy - contributing actively to the formation of strategy, the Young Sounds business plan, and evaluating the performance of the organisation against the plan.
• Oversight - ensuring that the charity is well run, efficient and compliant with the charity's Articles of Association, its policies, including safeguarding and EDI, governance codes of practice, legal responsibilities and upholding the organisation's reputation and values.
• Advocacy - advocating for the charity at all times, supporting fundraising efforts and promoting the work of the charity in the trustee's daily life.

Requirements:

Previous trustee experience is not necessary, and we welcome trustees who can bring a diversity of life experiences, cultural knowledge and expertise.

As a national charity we are keen to attract trustees from all parts of the UK, and particularly those who are based outside London and the South East.

For this round, we particularly welcome expertise in the following areas:

• EDI and CSR programmes in the creative industries
• Youth culture and content creation
• Music Hub and/or National Curriculum expertise
• Fundraising
• Contemporary music performance and production

Above all we are looking for trustees who are passionate about, and willing to advocate strongly for, giving all young people the opportunity to have a musical life, particularly those facing the most barriers. We also expect trustees to have an overarching commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.

Please see the Role Information Pack for full details including how to apply.

Bright Futures UK is looking for passionate and knowledgeable Key Stage 3 Maths tutors to provide educational support and a fun, safe learning environment for young people living with serious illnesses. 

"Thanks to the tutoring and exam prep I was able to achieve over 85% on all my exams, which resulted in me getting distinction credits on my course." - A-Level maths student

What will you be doing? 

Run tutoring sessions online to support a young person for one hour per week

Offer subject area knowledge and expertise related to

Help to combat social isolation through fun and engaging tutoring sessions. 

Adhere to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What are we looking for? 

1. Subject Knowledge: Strong understanding of KS3 Maths concepts and specifications.
2. Teaching Skills: Ability to explain complex ideas in a clear and engaging way.
3. Empathy and Patience: Kind and understanding nature, especially towards those facing health challenges.
4. Reliability: Consistent availability for the agreed-upon time commitment.
5. Adherence to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team

What difference will you make?

1. Academic Progress: Help young people stay on track with their studies despite their health challenges, ensuring they do not fall behind.
2. Confidence Builder: Provide a stable and encouraging presence that helps build the students' confidence and resilience.
3. Future Opportunities: Equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

What will you gain?

1. Enhanced DBS will be provided
2. Safeguarding Level One Training
3. Skill Development opportunities
4. Direct experience working with children and young people

You must be a UK resident and be at least 18 years old.

Location 

Remote/Online

Time 

1 Hour per Week 

 Duration: 14 Weeks minimum

As a charity that supports children and young people, we make safeguarding individuals our top priority. For this reason, all volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal record and disclosures check. We also ask all volunteers to adhere to our Safeguarding, Equality and Confidentiality policies. These are nothing to worry about and if you have any questions, our team are happy to support you.

Are you passionate about building safe, inclusive, and transformative communities? Tell My Truth and Shame the Devil C.I.C. is seeking a committed Community Engagement & Moderation Manager to join our founding volunteer team. This pivotal role ensures that our membership ecosystem and community spaces are welcoming, safe, and structured to empower survivors, young people, and marginalised communities while fostering accountability and collective growth.

As Community Engagement & Moderation Manager, you will lead the strategy and day-to-day management of all member-facing spaces, ensuring they operate smoothly, safely, and in alignment with our values-led, anti-capitalist mission. You will work closely with the Technical Systems Liaison, Platform Engineers, and Membership Director to implement moderation systems, engagement strategies, and support processes that strengthen participation, collaboration, and trust across our community.

Experience Qualification and Requirements

Essential / Highly Valued Experience

• Experience in community management, engagement, or moderation across online, in-person, or hybrid environments
• Practical understanding of safeguarding principles, boundary setting, and appropriate responses to risk, harm, or vulnerability
• Knowledge of conflict resolution, ethical moderation practices, and proportionate responses to challenging behaviour
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to engage clearly, empathetically, and assertively with diverse audiences
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive issues with professionalism, discretion, and emotional intelligence
• Strong organisational skills, including accurate record-keeping, documentation of interventions, and tracking outcomes or trends
• Ability to balance approachability with authority, maintaining trust while enforcing community standards
• Confidence working collaboratively with leadership, technical teams, and safeguarding leads
• Commitment to inclusion, fairness, transparency, and community wellbeing

Desirable / Can Be Developed

• Competence in using digital tools, social platforms, or community management software (e.g. forums, moderation dashboards, reporting systems)
• Ability to work with engagement metrics, reports, and qualitative feedback to inform decision-making
• Experience supporting onboarding or training of members, volunteers, or staff in community guidelines and processes

Qualifications

• Formal qualifications in community development, social work, youth work, or related fields are welcome but not required; equivalent professional or lived experience is valued

Main Responsibilities/ Key Duties

• Responsible for nurturing a positive, inclusive, and well-governed community environment across online and offline spaces. Ensuring members feel welcomed, heard, and protected, while upholding organisational values, safeguarding standards, and community guidelines.
• Develop and implement engagement strategies that encourage active participation, collaboration, and a sense of belonging among members. Supporting discussion spaces, events, campaigns, and feedback mechanisms that reflect the diversity of the community and promote respectful dialogue.
• Monitoring and moderation of community interactions. Oversee online platforms and relevant offline spaces to ensure behaviour aligns with safeguarding policies, codes of conduct, and organisational values. Identifying harmful behaviour, addressing breaches proportionately, and escalating concerns in line with safeguarding and risk management procedures.
• Respond to member queries, concerns, or conflicts in a timely, professional, and sensitive manner. This involves active listening, de-escalation, clear communication of boundaries, and fair resolution of disputes, ensuring members feel supported while maintaining community standards.
• Work closely with technical and operational teams to support the implementation and effective use of moderation tools, reporting systems, and engagement metrics. Contributing to the refinement of workflows for reporting concerns, tracking incidents, and measuring participation and sentiment.
• Support the onboarding and orientation of new members, volunteers, and staff into community platforms, systems, and protocols. This includes communicating expectations, safeguarding responsibilities, and available support resources to promote confident and informed participation.
• Accurate documentation is key. Record engagement activities, moderation actions, member feedback, and emerging issues to inform transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Working collaboratively with leadership, contribute to the development and review of community policies, moderation processes, and training materials that strengthen safety, wellbeing, inclusion, and shared culture. Analyse engagement trends and feedback to recommend improvements, innovations, and preventative strategies that enhance the overall health of the community. 

What This Role Offers You:

• Leadership experience in building and sustaining safe, inclusive, and impactful communities.
• Personal growth through hands-on engagement with vulnerable and marginalised populations.
• Opportunity to directly shape the culture and systems of a pioneering, values-led CIC.
• The satisfaction of enabling community voices, supporting survivors, and fostering meaningful social impact.

What This Role Is Not For:

• Individuals seeking purely administrative work, financial reward, or traditional corporate structures.
• Those unwilling to enforce and uphold safeguarding policies and community guidelines.
• People expecting pre-defined, hands-off responsibilities—this role requires active engagement, problem-solving, and responsive decision-making.

If you are ready to lead, shape, and safeguard a transformative community that empowers survivors and marginalised voices, we want to hear from you. Apply now and become a key architect of meaningful social change.

A Final Word

Community is built on people, not platforms.
Trust grows through fairness, consistency, and care.
Privacy protects wellbeing and dignity.
Respect, empathy, and clear boundaries are what keep communities safe and connected.

Bright Futures UK is looking for compassionate and knowledgeable beauty professionals to mentor a young person living with long-term illnesses. 

"The mentoring sessions with my volunteer were the perfect fit! I've loved working with them." - J (18 years old)

What will you be doing? 

• Run six mentoring sessions online for one hour a week, supported by our Programme Team
• Offer advice and insights related to nail tech skills
• Help the young person explore potential career paths in the beauty/nail tech industry
• Share your own experiences and knowledge to inspire and motivate. 
• Adhere to safeguarding policies and report any concerns to BFUK

What are we looking for? 

• Expertise in beauty industry: Profound knowledge and experience in beauty, preferably in areas like nail design, techniques and trends. 
• Mentoring and Communication: Ability to mentor effectively, offering guidance and support to a young person with clarity and empathy. 
• Flexibility and Commitment: Willingness to commit to at least 5-6 weeks of 1-hour sessions 

What difference will you make? 

• By volunteering as a Mentor, you’ll play a vital role in empowering a young person to take control of their health and future, helping them to achieve their goals despite the challenges they face. 

As a charity that supports children and young people, we make safeguarding individuals our top priority. For this reason, all volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal record and disclosures check. We also ask all volunteers to adhere to our Safeguarding, Equality and Confidentiality policies. These are nothing to worry about and if you have any questions, our team are happy to support you.

Here at Youth4Youth, we have grown a strong, tight-knit community of individuals who are passionate about making a difference and improving the lives of young people across the UK. Our growing team of volunteers all contribute, significantly, to the impact that we have as a charity on our direct beneficiaries, regardless of the department that they work in of the level of time that they are able to commit. Our services primarily offer a peer-support network to young people right across the UK, allowing them to access a peer mentor who is of a similar age to them and somebody that they feel more comfortable speaking with.

If successful, you will be joining a growing team of diverse, but likeminded individuals, collaborating to increase the reach of the Charity and improve support provisions available to young people. All of our volunteers and employees are remote workers, but that doesn't stop us keeping in touch and maintaining a strong positive culture amongst our whole team. 

About the role

Our Peer Mentors are at the forefront of our Youth Services delivery, tackling head on the issues that young people are facing everyday. As a Peer Mentor, you will engage with young people who reach out to Youth4Youth for support, taking time to coach and guide them through the difficulties that they are facing. This exciting opportunity, targeted at individuals who are between the ages of 16 and 25, provides young people with the space to directly impact and transform the lives of young people, significantly improving their overall wellbeing.

Ideal candidates are those who are able to commit to regular volunteering activity of at least 2 hours per week (on average) and who are able to comfortably communicate via written e-mail and other remote chat functionalities.

Responsibilities:

Your core responsibilities as a Peer Mentor at Youth4Youth include:

• Building strong, professional relationships with young people seeking mentoring support.
• Demonstrating commitment to the charity by regular volunteer engagement to maintain ongoing communication with young people (which includes responding to young people within an agreed and reasonable time frame).
• Providing light support, advice and guidance to young people in relation to the troubles that they are facing, in line with the resources provided to you by the charity.
• Maintaining professional boundaries with young people and not seeking to offer support beyond your capability that may put a young person at risk.
• Maintaining regular contact with your Youth4Youth supervisor, with the expectation that you will meet at least once per month for a supervision session that involves reflective practice and a focus on your development as a mentor.
• Providing support as part of our Peer Mentor network to colleagues across the Charity who are also directly supporting young people.
• Maintaining compliance with all policies. Most importantly this means maintaining the right level of confidentiality around your conversations with young people and recognising your safeguarding responsibilities in raising concerns as they arise to keep young people safe.

Peer Mentors are also actively encouraged to get involved in fundraising, outreach and social media activities where they feel comfortable and able to.

Skills 

• Strong written communication skills, such as being able to effectively compose a written e-mail in response to a young person.
• Ability to build strong, professional relationships and maintain trust between yourself and a young person, such as through active listening and adapting to the individual needs of different young people.
• Ability to demonstrate empathy to others.
• Ability to work in a challenging environment and recognise when you may need support yourself.
• Proficient in the use of IT tools, such as Microsoft Outlook.

Our mission is to continue to grow towards becoming one of the best charities in the UK. Our aim is to do this by building a diverse team, rich with different backgrounds and perspectives. Therefore, even if you feel you only are a 75% match, we would still love to hear from you. Skills can be learned, but diversity cannot.

Skills development for you:

As a Peer Mentor at Youth4Youth, you will be required to take part and graduate our Youth Services Academy. This program requires an upfront commitment of 10 - 13 hours of training prior to taking on the role of communicating with young people. This investment in you not only equips you with the understanding of what it takes to be a successful peer mentor, and the skills that you will need, but also is an investment in you. This training will provide you with core soft skills that are transferrable to many opportunities, whether that's in everyday life for you, your education setting or your place of work. All Mentors graduating from the Youth Services Academy will be provided with an electronic certificate to demonstrate your successful completion of the program, which can be shared with potential employers.

Benefits of volunteering with Youth4Youth

We recognise that you will be joining us and giving your time as an 'in-kind' donation, but there must be benefits for you too. When joining our team, you will be open to the following benefits:

• Professional and personal development opportunities in a variety of skill areas through volunteering in real roles. This may be general development or tailored to your specific needs or ambitions
• Becoming a member of a strong network of likeminded individuals, spread across the UK, who you can connect with and collaborate with both within and outside of the Charity
• Access to bespoke discounts, specifically designed for non-profit workers and Youth4Youth volunteers
• Opportunities to truly shape the future of the Charity, having a direct influence over the impact that Youth4Youth has on its direct beneficiaries

The hiring process:

Unlike other roles at Youth4Youth, the hiring process has been simplified for peer mentors, recognising the demographic of individuals that we are seeking to fill these positions. To put you at ease, the hiring process includes:

• An initial application, stating your reasons for wishing to become a Peer Mentor
• A remote interview conducted via Microsoft Teams

Successful candidates at this stage will be invited into the final stage of the recruitment process which includes:

• Satisfactory references being received (these do not need to be employment references)
• A satisfactory DBS check being received
• Successful completion of the Youth Services Academy