Volunteer roles in Dorset

About Youth Advantage UK

Youth Advantage UK is a growing organisation working to improve outcomes for young people across England and Wales. Our England & Wales Local Operations Department leads local policy and research projects across counties, regions, cities and towns — identifying local challenges and developing evidence‑based recommendations that support young people to thrive.

As a young organisation, we are still building our systems and ways of working. This is a great opportunity to help shape a department at an early stage and contribute to meaningful, place‑based change.

Please note: This is a voluntary and unpaid role, with no financial compensation or future paid opportunities attached. We encourage you to apply if you have relevant/transferable skills for this role. YAUK is currently an unregistered charity, working towards gaining the registered status.

About the Role

We are seeking a Deputy Head of Department to support the leadership and smooth running of the England & Wales Local Operations team. Working closely with the Head of Operations, you will provide additional leadership capacity, help coordinate multiple local research projects, and step in to lead the department when required.

This role is ideal for someone with a strong research or policy background who enjoys working in evolving environments and wants to use their skills to make a positive impact for young people.

Key Responsibilities

- Support the Head of Operations with day‑to‑day departmental coordination.

- Provide leadership cover when needed, including taking on delegated workstreams.

- Lead or oversee local policy and research projects across England and Wales.

- Ensure research is rigorous, ethical and relevant to local contexts.

- Translate findings into clear, actionable recommendations.

- Help develop emerging systems, processes and ways of working.

- Build positive relationships with internal teams, volunteers, and external partners.

About You

You will have:

- Experience in research, evaluation or policy analysis.

- Strong analytical and writing skills.

- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.

- Confidence working in ambiguity and helping build structure where needed.

- Experience volunteering and/or managing volunteers in a charity or community setting.

- A collaborative, supportive approach to leadership.

- Commitment to improving outcomes for young people.

Why Volunteer With Us

- Shape a new department at a formative stage.

- Use your research expertise to support real, local impact.

- Gain leadership experience in a supportive environment.

- Flexible hours that fit around your existing commitments.

- Join a mission‑driven team passionate about youth opportunity.

Apply Now

If you’re passionate about evidence‑based change and want to help shape a growing organisation, we’d love to hear from you. Join Youth Advantage UK as we build our Local Operations Department and create better opportunities for young people across England and Wales.

Job Description

We are looking for a Volunteer SEO & Content Strategy Manager to help plan and manage the CIC’s content and search strategy.

You will ensure our educational materials, campaigns, and survivor-centred resources are easy to find, well-structured, and accessible online. This role involves working with the Digital Marketing Director and Digital Marketing team to organise content into a long-term strategy that supports awareness, education, and engagement.

The role focuses on SEO, content systems, and structured knowledge management.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain an SEO and content strategy aligned with CIC’s mission and campaigns
• Conduct keyword research and topic analysis related to CSA awareness, survivor support, and education
• Plan structured content systems such as pillar pages, topic clusters, and learning pathways
• Work with copywriters, designers, and campaign leads to prioritise content
• Optimise website pages, blogs, and campaign content for search visibility and accessibility
• Track content performance using search and engagement data
• Identify content gaps and opportunities for educational resources
• Ensure all content follows trauma-informed and safeguarding standards
• Document content strategy, workflows, and processes for scalability

What We’re Looking For

• Experience or interest in SEO, content strategy, or digital publishing
• Ability to plan long-term content systems rather than individual posts
• Familiarity with SEO tools, analytics platforms, or content management systems
• Strategic thinking and structured planning skills
• Sensitivity and ethical awareness when communicating about serious topics
• Comfort collaborating with a remote volunteer team
• Experience in nonprofit, advocacy, or educational content is helpful but not required

What You’ll Gain

• Founding experience building a long-term content and knowledge strategy for a social impact organisation
• Leadership exposure in ethical SEO and content systems
• Opportunity to shape how the CIC shares survivor-centred knowledge with the public
• Hands-on experience working with multidisciplinary content, marketing, and campaign teams
• Priority consideration for future paid roles when funding becomes available