Volunteer youth support worker jobs

Mindful Mums is an award-winning perinatal mental health and wellbeing peer support project that builds resilience and confidence in women and birthing people in the first year of motherhood.

We are seeking a sessional Project Worker to facilitate our structured, psychoeducational groups alongside our peer support volunteers. Within these groups, you will provide a safe, non-judgmental space for women and birthing people to share their experiences, meet others and discuss the challenges that come during early parenthood. You will also assist volunteers to deliver effective groups, providing appropriate support and guidance.

Our formats include; antenatal, postnatal, specialist groups for women from the global majority (Diversity Matters), Young Mums and weekly walking groups.

You will be a highly skilled facilitator with good knowledge of perinatal mental health and experience supporting people with mental health problems. Your exceptional organisation skills will support the successful delivery of the project and ensure that it is evaluated effectively.

We ask that you:

• have good communication skills and group facilitation experience.
• appreciate the pressures and stresses facing women and birthing people during pregnancy and as new parents.
• are reliable, consistent and dependable.

Successful applicants will be expected to undergo an Enhanced Level Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Closing date: Tuesday 23rd June (11:59pm)

Likely interview date: Wednesday 8th July

We encourage early applications as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.

About Us

SEL Mind supports people with mental health problems and dementia in the boroughs of Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. We are proud of our diverse workforce and know that our organisation is made stronger by the variety of backgrounds, experience, and ideas within it. We promote a culture of inclusion and representation, and are working hard to build a workforce that even better reflects the communities we support.

SEL Mind is somewhere that you can be your authentic self without fear of discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, neurodivergence, gender, age, lived experience of mental health problems or anything else that’s part of who you are on our website.

Build flexibly on your Charity Career with this person-centred charity supporting unpaid carers

This is a part-time role in a well-established charity based in Twickenham. This role would suit someone who wants to have the opportunity to work flexibly and build their career in the Charity sector with experience of working in social care. 

This is a part-time role, however these is the opportunity for it to be full-time up to end of March 2027. We can discuss this more at the interview stage. The role is due to start early September.

Richmond Carers Centre, a network partner of the Carers Trust, is a registered charity providing information, support, advice and a voice for carers living and caring in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. 

Helping Carers to Live Well is our organisational aim. We provide a targeted service to young carers, aged 5 – 18 years. Young carers, provide vital emotional and practical support to a family member with a care need including sibling young carers. Their care role can have an impact on their wellbeing, education and social opportunities. We are looking for someone with the skills and ability to offer a coordinated approach in supporting young carers in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

As a Young Carers Support Worker, you will be part of a small, dedicated team and take a lead on providing emotional support to young carers and a commitment to enhancing their wellbeing. The role supports in the direct delivery of a range of services to young carers including information and advice, emotional support, a mentoring programme, signposting and referrals to other specialist organisations. As part of the Young Carers Support Team, you will also be involved in the planning and delivery of an extensive programme of leisure break activities for young carers, both term-time and in the school holidays. Part of the role will also aim to improve the identification, recognition and understanding of the needs of young carers, raise the profile of young carers and ensure young carers needs are met. Using all your skills, you will work with the team to deliver, review, and continually develop services for young carers and to use appropriate monitoring and evaluation reports to show our funders what we’ve achieved.

You will be someone:

· Who works in a person-centred way.

· Is enthusiastic, empathetic and detail conscious

· Communicates well by phone and in person

· Has an understanding of social care particularly in relation to young carers

· Has experience of working with clients who have support needs

· Has experience of producing reports for monitoring and evaluation

· Is numerate and has knowledge of budgeting

· Is able to gather and assess information efficiently and think creatively to come up with solutions

· Has good communication skills including spoken, written and presentational

· Has a willingness to embrace our organisational values

Main Duties include:

· To provide regular emotional support to young carers and their families through a range of methods, offering appropriate, generic advice

· To provide individual support to young carers, and sibling young carers on a case-by-case basis towards established outcomes through delivery of a mentoring programme

· To be proactive in the identification and registration of young carers, which will include conducting internal assessments of their caring role and responsibilities and identifying support needs

· To support with the planning and participate in the delivery of young carers group activities and events

· To work with schools, voluntary organisations, statutory services, health services and others to raise awareness and identify young carers

· To keep accurate records of group and individual young carer engagement for monitoring and evaluation purposes

· To participate in key events organised by Richmond Carers Centre and other relevant partners to promote services to a wider public

What you are doing now:

· You might be working for or volunteering in a similar charity

· You may be working in social care for a local authority or district council

· You may have the skills we need from some other combination of work and volunteering

· Or you may be looking to return to the workforce after a timeout for personal reasons

In any event if you feel you meet the skills we need, we would like to hear from you!

Richmond Carers Centre welcomes and encourages applicants from all sections of the community regardless of their gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religious belief.

Benefits of working for Richmond Carers Centre:

· 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays per year (pro rata)

· Bonus 3 days of annual leave per year over the festive period (subject to Trustee approval)

· Workplace Pension Scheme with Peoples Pension

· Flexible working/option of working from home (subject to CEO approval)

· Equipment and support to be set up to work from home

· Paid time off for medical appointments

· Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

· Training and personal development opportunities

· Staff away days and socials

· Access to shared resources and training opportunities

· Supportive and friendly working environment

To apply, please complete the application form and the Diversity and Equalities Monitoring Form. CV’s will not be accepted. If you would like to talk more about this vacancy, please call and ask to speak to Tom. 

We will be accepting and reviewing applications on a rolling basis and would advise you to email ahead of the closing date to avoid disappointment. The vacancy may close earlier than advertised due to high levels of interest. 

Closing date: Sunday 28th June 2026

Shortlisting date: w/c 22nd June and will continue whilst the vacancy is open

Interview dates: w/c 6th July with provisional date allocated to Tuesday 7th July and w/c 20th July with provisional date allocated to Tuesday 21st July.

Please note interview dates can also be scheduled around these dates to fit with the interview panel and candidates availability.

We are looking for an experienced National Operations Manager, to manage the StreetDoctors operational delivery, quality standards and to support the organisation's strategic development to become a high performing organisation.

We are an award-winning national charity which trains over  20,000 young people affected by street violence each year in emergency first-aid through a team of 250 healthcare volunteers and youth workers. We empower young people with the skills to become part of the solution to violence by developing the skills and confidence to save lives and increasing their understanding of the medical and psychological consequences of violence.

As the StreetDoctors lead for operational delivery, the role will manage and develop the organisation's delivery capacity and implement new innovative national projects. The role will ensure the organisation's performance is managed, achieves the targets and is fit for the future. The key areas of focus include:

• Delivery & Quality Standards: To ensure the quantity and quality of training sessions and projects are nationally consistent, meet the required targets and new opportunities are maximised.

• Relationship Management: To create, develop and maintain partnerships with a range of organisations including, funders, commissioners, community organisations, criminal justice organisations, education providers and youth organisations. 

• Volunteer & Staff Management: To support the development and management of an engaged high performing staff & volunteer delivery team and ensure the volunteering journey is effective and provides the best volunteering experience possible.

At StreetDoctors we believe diversity supports innovation and creativity. We are committed to equality of opportunity, being inclusive, and being representative of the people we are here to support. We would therefore encourage applications from candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Neo-Natal Support Worker 

£24,000 pa + Company Car (with an approx. retail value of £23,000-26,000, taxable benefit in kind of £6-£8K) and other excellent benefits

This role covers the South West of London, including Chelsea & Westminster catchment area.

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity is going through an exciting time where we are growing, with the aim of reaching more families in need.

About the role:

This Best Companies Top 100 mid-sized organisation and Top 20 Charity is looking to appoint a Neonatal Support Worker (35 hours, 5 days per week) as part of a developing programme delivering high quality wrap-around care and support to families with a baby receiving treatment on the Neonatal Intensive Care units within the London & South East region, working collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team supporting the families.

Reporting to the Family Support Manager of the London & South East Care Team and working in partnership with health, education and social care professionals, you will take responsibility for providing needs-led emotional, social and practical support to families where a child/young person has a life threatening or terminal illness. You will enjoy responsibility for managing your own schedule, remaining flexible to the needs of the families on your caseload.

Having worked in a demanding and emotional environment you have a genuine interest in building supportive relationships and helping people; and having provided bereavement support to families, you understand processes of grief, loss and change - and how best to help others deal with its impact.

What we’re looking for:

· An experienced child health, education or social care professional - applications will be particularly welcome from those who have worked in a special care baby unit/community environment and those with a recognised qualification in health or social care.

· A warm, inclusive approach to achieving goals quickly and correctly

· Practiced in child protection, information sharing and the rules around data protection - you lead by example, drawing on your own professional experience and working within established guidelines

· Practical and people-oriented - you will thrive working at a fast pace whilst maintaining accuracy and be a confident user of IT (including MSOffice)

· A persuasive and open communicator - you will work collaboratively with your team and volunteers to ensure delivery of a high-quality service and support fundraising colleagues by writing case studies and family updates

· A practical knowledge of diversity issues affecting children, young people and their families – aware that being responsive to others needs and concerns, is essential.

What we offer:

We are proud to be a Best Companies Two-Star rated organisation, an outstanding place to work! As a Top 10 Charity, we have a range of fantastic benefits that we offer our employees, including:

• Control over your own schedule, based on the needs of families on your caseload, to balance home and working life

• Company car for front line care posts (car P11D value of £23,000-26,000, taxable benefit in kind of £6-£8k)

• Pension scheme where we contribute 5% of your salary and you contribute at least 3%

• 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays – rising to 26 days after 1 year, 27 days after 5 years and 30 days after 11 years, with an additional 5 years to use in your 10th or 20th year of service (pro rata for part time)

• The option to buy/sell annual leave, as well as additional leave for your birthday, wedding/civil ceremony and an extra half day off for Christmas shopping

• Time off in Lieu

• Family friendly policies, focused on employee wellbeing, and an active cross-organisational wellbeing group running a number of initiatives throughout the year

• Employee Assistance Programme with access to remote GP, counselling, physiotherapy, resources to support your mental health and financial wellbeing, as well as a 24/7 helpline via Help@Hand

• Access to the Blue Light Card Scheme, and other rewards and discounts

• Bike to work, season ticket loan and payroll giving schemes

• A recommend a friend recruitment bonus scheme

• Robust training and development programmes to support your learning and growth.

If you’d like to find out more about these benefits and working with us, please visit our why work with us page on our website.

More information about us and our recruitment process can be found in our Candidate Pack on our website.

Development opportunities:

As part of our learning and development Anne Harris Skills Development Programme, we aim to provide a high level of training and development opportunities for all staff, so you are able to perform to the best of your ability, achieve individual and team objectives aligned to Rainbow Trusts strategic plan, supporting staff to be their best and feel a valued member of a high performing organisation.

Our Family Support Teams are given the opportunity to complete a number of diverse training courses in their first 12 months, including but not limited to: Mental Health First Aid, Makaton, introduction to play, drawing and talking training.

The programme aims to provide a building block for you to individually tailor your own learning and development needs.

About us:

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity enables families who have a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness to make the most of time together, providing expert, practical and emotional support, where they need it for as long as it is needed. For families living with childhood illness, time is everything. Right now, there are too many families coping alone with no support, no time to think, no time to make memories and no time for each other. We believe that no family should go through this alone, so we are here to change that.

How to apply:

Please visit our website and apply online.

Please disclose on your application form if you have used AI for any part of your job application.

Early application is encouraged as we will review applications throughout the advertising period and reserve the right to close the advert early.

Additional information:

Interviews will take place at our London & South East Care Team office with the dates to be confirmed. We will only contact those applicants who have been successful. If you require any adjustments during the interview process, please let us know.

There will be a requirement for flexible working and a full current driver’s licence to accommodate team and family need. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be required for this post.

Rainbow Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.

Rainbow Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.

We're looking for an organised, kind and resilient Support Worker to join our Learning disabilities service in Hertfordshire.

£28,808.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

The service is staffed 24/7 and this post-holder will be required to cover an average of at least one sleep-in per week (pro rata).

Rota pattern, covering early and late shifts, 7 days per week. Also sleep-in duties.

What you'll do:
- If a need arises, deliver all aspects of support to enable a customer to develop independent living skills as appropriate to the individual needs of the customer. This includes delivering personal and physical care as appropriate;
- Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation;
- Participate in support planning and risk management, of named customers, as directed by the service management;
- Ensure the safety and security of the customers and the premises whilst on shift;
- Enable customers to make full use of community facilities by providing support that enables maximum external engagement;
- Report any observations relating to customers welfare

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
- Prefers working as part of a group or team
- Flexible
- Open to feedback and self development
- Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
- Is respectful and sensitive in style of communication
- Non-judgemental outlook
- Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour

What you'll bring:
Essential:
- NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or experience within charity/social care sector
- Ability to complete written records of support to customers
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and able to input information clearly and in good English
- Ability to communicate with colleagues, customers, family members and partner agencies, as required

Desirable:

- Experience of working with people with Learning Disabilities and Autism
- Experience of working with vulnerable adults in a residential setting.
- Knowledge of safeguarding policies and procedures and how to raise a concern
- Experience of co-producing support plans and individual risk assessments with vulnerable adults.

About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full job description

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Young people Service in Bracknell. No personal care or experience is required, just the right values.

£30,784.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

This is a fixed term contract for 1 year.

What you'll do:
* Undertake key-working responsibilities for a caseload assigned by Management staff
* Meet customers regularly for support sessions, providing emotional and practical support
* Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs and potential risks and agree levels of support and actions
* Develop support plans with customers to identify their goals, ensuring a person centred approach, enabling the customer to establish positive change
* Support customers to take care of their living environment, providing emotional and
* practical support to ensure customers enjoy a high-quality accommodation

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
* Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, join in local activities to encourage customer involvement
* Approachable and open to others
* Enjoy working as part of a group or team
* Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure
* their judgement
* Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
* Flexible in work roles
* Open to feedback and good insight into self development

What you'll bring:
Essential:
* Good Listening and Communication skills
* Good organisational skills § Ability to learn and develop within your role
* Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector
* Good standard of English and Maths
* Good standard of IT skills

Desirable:
* Experience working in mental health customer group
* Experience of working within supported housing environment
* Experience of working as a support worker or similar role
* Experience of working with multi disciplinary teams

About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full job description

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Young People Service located in Tower Hamlets. No personal care or experience required, just the right values.

£30,784.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel in control of your career? You'll feel at home here.

Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply)
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Campbell Rd Young Peoples service provides support and housing for 37 young people in Tower Hamlets that are either leaving care of affected by youth homelessness. The Support Worker role will be to manage a caseload of around 7-10 young people. You will be expected to deliver positive outcomes for all our young people and support them to reach independence, keep safe and maintain their tenancy's. Aside from support workers delivering support there is a strong element of housing management associated wit this role, for example managing rents, raising/monitoring repairs and health and safety.

What you'll do:

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead.

• Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers
• Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
• Supporting key customers to set personalised goals in the form of a Support Plan
• Conducting regular key work sessions that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
• Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'

About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
• Approachable and open behaviour
• Prefers working as part of a group or team

What you'll bring:

Desirable:

• Experience working with young people

About us:

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

• We focus on Excellence and innovation.
• We are Caring and Compassionate.
• We are Inclusive and Trusted.
• We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Purpose of the job

UK Youth exists to widen the reach and deepen the impact of youth work and outdoor learning.

 As we enter an exciting new phase of our five-year strategic period, we are looking for a Policy and Public Affairs Officer to help us build on political momentum around young people and youth work to inspire lasting change.

 You will support the Head of Policy and Public Affairs, within the Impact department (covering research, evaluation, service design, policy and public affairs, and communications), working closely with colleagues across the organisation to build and develop UK Youth’s relationships with a broad range of external stakeholders, including: Westminster government (e.g. ministers, officials and special advisers), parliamentarians, the devolved administrations, NGOs and third-party organisations, while shaping and responding to a wide range of public policy issues.

 The role will require a strong understanding of complex policy issues and an interest in the political landscape and how it interacts with third sector organisations. You will have a can-do attitude, excellent written and oral communication skills, strong time management and organisational skills and an ability to develop positive relationships with colleagues internally and externally to support our goals.

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

Public Affairs support

• Produce briefings and speaking notes for UK Youth leadership and trustees relating to important policy issues and external events.

• Manage relationships with politicians, civil servants, and staff in local authorities and regulatory bodies to brief them on matters relating to UK Youth’s policy objectives.

• Identify opportunities for UK Youth to publicly intervene on key policy priorities – including responses to government consultations, speaking at events, meeting with key influencers, etc.

• Develop written content, including blogs, and support colleagues in our Communications team to respond to breaking news relating to UK Youth’s policy priorities.

• Work closely with the Communications team to support the development of influencing plans that promote our policy messages on public channels.

Political monitoring and policy development support

• Coordinate with monitoring services to ensure proactive monitoring of relevant announcements and developments in Parliament and the devolved nations that relate to youth work and young people.

• Work with colleagues across the Impact Function to understand trends and innovations in the youth and outdoor learning sectors that have implications for policy.

• Ensure that there is a clear record of UK Youth’s policy positions on key issues, along with rationale and suggested messaging.

• Contribute to external-facing policy reports and briefings on topics relating to UK Youth’s work.

Stakeholder engagement and event management

• Build strong working relationships with policy professionals across the youth sector and identify opportunities to work in partnership, where appropriate.

• Develop relationships with key external stakeholders including other policy and public affairs teams in the youth sector and civil servants.

• Work closely with young people and youth workers to help refine UK Youth’s policy positions and influencing plans.

• Lead on day-to-day management of UK Youth’s secretariat role for the Back Youth Alliance, with oversight and support from the Head of Policy and Public Affairs.

• Project manage UK Youth’s involvement in key influencing events, such as party conferences, with oversight and support from the Head of Policy and Public Affairs.

• Represent UK Youth at meetings and events – helping to disseminate insights from our work, tell the story of youth work’s impact to inspire lasting change.  

Experience we're after

• Experience working in the area of policy and public affairs or equivalent experience in other areas (such as through an apprenticeship, volunteering role, or university)

• Experience of project management

• Experience of understanding and communicating with different audiences

• Strong relational and stakeholder engagement skills

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:

• Flexible/Agile Working

• 27 days annual leave (24 days + 3 days winter closure) plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time employees)

• Funded training provided in; Safeguarding, GDPR, Information and Cyber Security & Equality & Diversity

• Other training available in support of your personal and professional development

• Pension scheme (currently UK Youth match employee contributions up to 5%)

• Membership of our life insurance scheme which would pay-out up to 4 times your salary

• Employee Assistance Programme to support employees both professionally and personally

• 20% discount off bookings at Avon Tyrrell, our New Forest Outdoor Centre, including camping, lodges and outdoor activities.

• IT equipment provided for the duration of contract

• 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 June 2026 at 23:59 (midnight)

Provisional Interview Dates: w/c 6th July 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.

We're looking for a kind, compassionate and resilient Support Worker to join our Young people Service in Bracknell. No personal care or experience is required, just the right values.

£30,784.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

This is a fixed term contract for 1 year.

What you'll do:
* Undertake key-working responsibilities for a caseload assigned by Management staff
* Meet customers regularly for support sessions, providing emotional and practical support
* Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs and potential risks and agree levels of support and actions
* Develop support plans with customers to identify their goals, ensuring a person centred approach, enabling the customer to establish positive change
* Support customers to take care of their living environment, providing emotional and
* practical support to ensure customers enjoy a high-quality accommodation

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
* Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, join in local activities to encourage customer involvement
* Approachable and open to others
* Enjoy working as part of a group or team
* Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure
* their judgement
* Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
* Flexible in work roles
* Open to feedback and good insight into self development

What you'll bring:
Essential:
* Good Listening and Communication skills
* Good organisational skills § Ability to learn and develop within your role
* Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector
* Good standard of English and Maths
* Good standard of IT skills

Desirable:
* Experience working in mental health customer group
* Experience of working within supported housing environment
* Experience of working as a support worker or similar role
* Experience of working with multi disciplinary teams

About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full job description

We're looking for a kind, empathetic and resilient Support worker to join our Homelessness and complex needs Service in Kensington & Chelsea.

£30,784.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x pensionable salary (T&Cs apply)

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

There are 5 hostels in the cluster ranging from high, medium to low support which are all based in the borough of RBKC. The Heaney Cluster an intensively supported housing scheme for the most challenging customers in the borough.

Staff are expected to work 8 hours daily on a shift rota basis. This will include weekend working. Shifts are 7.30am to 3.30pm and 2.00pm to 10pm.

The fixed term contract is for 6 months.

What you'll do:
* If a need arises, deliver all aspects of support to enable a customer to develop independent living skills as appropriate to the individual needs of the customer.
* Support customers to maintain their tenancies.
* Support to budget and prevent rent arrears.
* Assess their practical and emotional needs to incorporate in their support plan.
* To develop support plans and risk management plans.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
* Exudes a warm friendly presence and open behaviour
* Prefers working as part of a group or team
* Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
* Flexible
* Open to feedback and self development
* Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
* Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
* Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
* Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
* Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
* Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
* Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviour

What you'll bring:

Essential:
* NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or experience within charity/social care sector

Desirable:
* Relevant specialism experience

About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

We're looking for an organised, kind and resilient Senior Support Worker to join our Mental health service in Kensington & Chelsea.

£29,684.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.

Our benefits include:
* Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
* Free DBS
* Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card
* Fully paid induction programme and further training
* ILM courses and Apprenticeship Programmes
* Cycle to work scheme
* Employee Assistance Programme for 24-7 confidential support
* Online wellbeing resources
* A generous pension - we will contribute up to 4% and life assurance cover up to £10,000 (T&Cs apply)
* Quarterly Staff Awards to reward & recognise our amazing staff's commitment and contribution
All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

To enable vulnerable people to manage their licences and move towards greater independence within the community by providing a flexible and individually tailored support package.

The shift pattern for this role is as follows: Scattered sites 9 - 5pm Monday till Friday and weekend occasional

What you'll do:
* Undertake key-working responsibilities for a caseload assigned by the Team Leader / Manager
* Undertake initial and continuous assessment of needs and potential risks and agree levels of support and actions
* Create support/action plans for providing appropriate services based on the assessment and reflecting the services and resources available
* Support customers to undertake all domestic tasks wherever possible, including practical assistance where they have not yet developed the skills, to ensure customers enjoy a high quality of accommodation
* Support customers to move on from the service through their identified move on pathway liaising with Tower Hamlet's HOST and Clearing House.

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead

About you:
? Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
? Approachable and open behaviour
? Prefers working as part of a group or team
? Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
? Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
? Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments
? Is confident with high levels of self-esteem
? Is respectful, articulate and sensitive in style of communication
? Is essentially customer-focused
? Is motivated towards excellence and improvement of personal performance with a can do attitude
? Ability to cope positively with challenging and diverse behaviours

What you'll bring:
Desirable:
- Up to NVQ Level 2/3 or equivalent or experience in the social care/charity sector.

About us:
Look Ahead is a leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. Our vision is to build better lives through social care and housing in local communities. As an organisation we deliver over 100 services, providing support to thousands of customers each year. Our mission is to co-design and deliver services that offer innovative social care solutions and support people to thrive. We work across mental health, homelessness and complex needs, young people and care leavers and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

We focus on Excellence and innovation.
We are Caring and Compassionate.
We are Inclusive and Trusted.
We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

Please see our website for full job description

Accommodation Support Worker(Future Roots 2 Project) 
Salary Banding: £28,893 per annum with potential to progress through salary band.  Plus additional payment for overnight shifts on occasion.  (£85 per night shift required / £50 per on call shift)
Contract: Permanent 
Hours: Full Time, 37 Hours Per Week 
Location:Hatfield, Hertfordshire, but will include travel across hertfordshire and cover of future roots 1 in WGC when required  - Candidates must have a full driving license and use of own vehicle for business purposes.

Herts Young Homeless is an independent charity that has supported vulnerable young people across Hertfordshire since 1998. We are a professional, compassionate and collaborative organisation, committed to helping young people build safe, independent futures.

About the service

Future Roots Hatfield provides supported accommodation for six young people. The service focuses on developing the practical, emotional and life skills needed for independent living, within a safe, respectful and homely environment.

We’re looking for a Supported Accommodation Worker to support residents on their journey towards independence. The role requires flexibility to meet the needs of the house, which may include changes to working patterns and very occasional paid sleep-in shifts.

Future Roots Hatfield is a welcoming, supported home for up to six young people. We focus on helping them build the practical skills, confidence and resilience they need to live independently.

Our approach is simple: create a safe, respectful and homely environment where every young person feels valued, supported and able to grow.

About the Role

We’re looking for a Supported Accommodation Worker to join our team and play a key role in helping young people move towards independence.

This is a flexible role that adapts to the needs of the home, including occasional changes to working patterns and very occasional paid sleep-in shifts.

The Difference You’ll Make

In this role, you’ll help create a positive and empowering space where young people feel encouraged to take ownership of their lives and futures.

You’ll support them to develop life skills, build confidence and navigate challenges—while ensuring the home remains safe, respectful and supportive for everyone.

The young people we work with are resilient and inspiring, but may face complex challenges. We’re looking for someone who brings patience, empathy and curiosity, and who can support them through difficult moments with encouragement and consistency.

 What You’ll Be Doing

You’ll have a varied and meaningful role, including:

• Managing a diverse caseload with different needs and priorities
• Building trusting, professional relationships with young people
• Delivering 1:1 and group sessions focused on independent living skills, such as:
  • Understanding rights and responsibilities
  • Setting boundaries and making decisions
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Education, employment and volunteering
  • Budgeting, rent and managing money
  • Everyday practical living skills
• Supporting the screening and interview process for new residents
• Facilitating group activities and workshops
• Responding to breaches of house rules in line with policies
• Identifying and managing risk, including safeguarding concerns
• Working collaboratively with colleagues to provide consistent support
• Liaising with external agencies and partners
• Keeping accurate and timely records
• Taking part in the on-call rota (after probation)
• Supporting occasional paid sleep-in shifts

What We’re Looking For

We’re keen to hear from people who are:

• Compassionate, resilient and motivated to make a difference
• Skilled at building relationships and setting healthy boundaries
• Confident communicators with strong interpersonal skills
• Organised, reliable and able to manage competing priorities
• Knowledgeable about safeguarding, confidentiality and professional boundaries
• Flexible and responsive to changing needs

You’ll also need:

• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work
• An understanding of the challenges faced by young people experiencing homelessness

Experience in supported accommodation or the voluntary sector is helpful, but not essential—we value attitude, values and potential just as much.

This post is classed as having a high degree of contact with children or young adults and is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. An enhanced disclosure will be sought through the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) as part of Herts Young Homeless’ pre-employment checks. Please note that additional information referring to the DBS is in the guidance notes to the application form.

What We Offer

We want you to feel supported, valued and able to thrive. We offer:

• A friendly, experienced and supportive team
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (rising to 28 with service)
• An extra day off for your birthday 
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Hybrid working opportunities
• Refer-a-friend scheme
• Discretionary sick pay (subject to eligibility)
• Paid mileage for work travel
• Long service awards
• Blue Light Card discounts
• Pension and Group Life Insurance
• Health Cash Plan & Employee Assistance Programme
• Ongoing training, development and career opportunities
• Monthly staff perks and prize draws
• Whole-organisation events and celebrations

Full JD available and a day in the life video will be availbale to view via our website and social media platforms..If you are passionate, conscientious and take pride in doing a job well and making a difference, then we would love to hear from you!

Application and Interview Process 

How to Apply

To apply, please visit our website and complete the online application by submitting:

• Your CV
• A covering letter or short video showcasing your skills and experience

Closing date: 3rd July 2026 
Interviews / Recruitment Event TBC 
(Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a further Personal interview stage)

If you need any reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process, please let us know—we’re committed to supporting you.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

We are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, valued and able to be themselves. We actively promote equality of opportunity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and experiences.

We will always challenge discrimination and strive to build an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.

Our Promise to You

We will handle your personal information with the utmost care and integrity. Your details will never be shared without your knowledge and consent.

We're looking for 2 kind, compassionate and resilient Waking Night Support Worker to join our Young People Service located in Tower Hamlets. No personal care or experience required, just the right values.

£30,784.00 per annum, working 40 hours per week.

Want to feel in control of your career? You'll feel at home here.

Our benefits include:

• Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service
• Free DBS
• A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply)
• Exclusive discounts and cashback via Reward Gateway® and opportunity to buy a Blue Light Card

All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the UK by the start of employment as Look Ahead are not able to offer sponsorship.

Mile End Young Peoples service provides support and housing in Tower Hamlets that are either leaving care or affected by youth homelessness. You will be expected to deliver positive outcomes for all our young people and support them to reach independence, keep safe and maintain their tenancy's. Aside from support workers delivering support there is a strong element of housing management associated wit this role, for example managing rents, raising/monitoring repairs and health and safety.

What you'll do:

This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead.

• Building supportive, trusting relationships with customers
• Working proactively with other members of the team to handle the service caseload and administrative responsibilities
• Supporting key customers to set personalised goals in the form of a Support Plan
• Conducting regular key work sessions that are innovative and engaging in order to achieve Support Plan goals
• Ensuring ongoing assessment and management of risks associated with customers within an attitude of 'positive risk taking'
• Proactively manage risk and safety both in and outside of their physical living environment

About you:

• Enjoys social interaction and the company of others, joins in local activities to encourage customer involvement
• Approachable and open behaviour
• Prefers working as part of a group or team
• Is fundamentally calm and resilient, does not let emotion adversely affect them or obscure their judgement
• Has a practical and logical mind and is naturally well organised
• Flexible
• Open to feedback and self development
• Thrives on change and enjoys dynamic diverse environments

What you'll bring:

Desirable:

• Experience working with young people

About us:

We have a strong social purpose and we live and work by our values:

• We focus on Excellence and innovation.
• We are Caring and Compassionate.
• We are Inclusive and Trusted.
• We work in Partnership and are One-Team.

Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.

If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.

We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.

At Hestia, we are guided by our core values and are dedicated to fostering an equitable, diverse, and inclusive organisation. Our mission is to empower individuals to rebuild their lives and achieve independence. Right now, we are looking for a Support Worker to play a pivotal role in our Complex Needs Service in Kingston.

Sounds great, what will I be doing?

This role is responsible for delivering person-centred support that promotes wellbeing, independence, and tenancy sustainment for service users with diverse and often complex needs. You will assess referrals, co-produce and review SMART support and risk management plans, and work in partnership with external agencies to ensure access to health, education, employment, and community resources.  

The role involves supporting independent living skills, financial stability, and recovery while preventing relapse or hospitalisation. You will maintain accurate records, uphold organisational policies, and contribute to service monitoring and development. Acting as a positive representative of Hestia, you will build strong relationships with service users, colleagues, and key  stakeholders.

What do I need to bring with me?

You'll need to be able to demonstrate the core skills this role requires as well as match our values and mission. You don't have to tick all the boxes right away; the important thing is that you're willing to learn. We also value lived experience of the areas we support, so if you feel comfortable, please do mention this on your application.

You will bring experience supporting individuals with a range of needs, aspirations, and associated risks, alongside a proven ability to deliver high-quality, person-centred support services. You will have experience using computer-based systems to maintain accurate records and a good understanding of welfare benefits, housing options, and legislation relevant to statutory duties. Knowledge of health and safety within community settings and the ability to undertake effective key working, support planning, and risk assessments to promote independence are essential.

You will have a sound understanding of mental health, substance misuse, and the issues affecting the client group, with the ability to work collaboratively with external professionals to develop and coordinate tailored support packages. Strong safeguarding knowledge, a commitment to continuous learning and professional development. You will be proactive, organised, and committed to helping service users achieve positive outcomes and greater independence.

Interview Steps

We keep our interview process simple, so you know exactly what to expect.

• Shortlisting call: We have a team of dedicated recruitment specialists who will speak to you about your experience, motivations and values. They will also tell you about all the great work we do!
• Face to face interview: Now you will have face to face interview with the hiring manager. Our interviews are value and competency based.

Don't be alarmed if there are other stages in the process, it's all part of the plan for some of our roles.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Our services users come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes us stronger. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse and inclusive workforce and value the skills, abilities, talent and experiences, different people and communities bring to our organisation.

We are a disability confident employer

Hestia is proud to be a disability confident employer, dedicated to the employment and career development of individuals with disabilities. We offer a guaranteed interview scheme for all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role they have applied for. We also provide reasonable adjustments during the selection and interview process, and throughout your employment with us.

Safeguarding Statement

Hestia is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults, children and young people who are potentially at risk, and we therefore expect all staff and volunteers to do the same. We require all staff to undertake internal and external safeguarding training throughout their employment with Hestia.

Important Information for Candidates

If your application is successful, please be aware that you will be required to undergo pre-employment checks before a formal offer of employment can be confirmed.

We reserve the right to close this job advert early should we receive a high volume of applications or if the position is filled before the closing date. We encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible to ensure their application is considered.