Volunteer youth worker jobs in leicester, england

Salary: £28,000 plus London Weighting (£2,600) dependent on location

Location:Remote with frequent travel to projects in Hampshire, Berkshire and London. This includes projects in Aylesbury, High Wycombe, Havant, Portsmouth, Southampton, Slough and Reading. You can also work from FoodCycle’s office in Vauxhall, London

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

If you love food and people, then this is the ideal job for you! We are FoodCycle, a multiple award-winning charity, with a vision to make food poverty, loneliness and food waste a thing of the past for every community.

In this role you will have the opportunity to manage and develop our community meals projects in your region. Our projects are spaces where volunteers are empowered to run their own community meals using surplus food. Our guests can look forward to a hearty weekly meal in their local community where they will make friends and feel well nourished.

You will manage recruit and train local volunteers to be empowered to run these projects. You will liaise with a network of charities, build local relationships and create the most incredible community meals in your area. You will also line manage a Project Support Officer working across London and the South East.

You will be an excellent communicator, with experience of recruiting and managing volunteers. Using strong organisation skills, you will ensure our volunteers are trained, supported and on-message with FoodCycle strategy, and are confident enough to self-organise and make a success of their projects.

You will live within Berkshire, Hampshire, Surrey, or London with easy access to these counties (South, West, or North West London). You will be willing and able to travel within the region, and to work some evenings and weekends.

Benefits: We offer 26.5 days holiday plus bank holidays, and additional holiday for length of service (pro-rata for part-time). Our healthcare package allows staff to claim money back on healthcare bills and includes access to telephone counselling and online GP appointments.

How to apply:  Please upload a CV of no more than two sides, and a covering note/letter of no more than two sides explaining why you are suitable for the role, via our vacancy website.

Deadline for your application:  11.59pm on Monday 26th May 2025.

Interview process: Shortlisted candidates will need to complete a 30 minute task prior to interview.

Inclusivity: FoodCycle is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.

Safeguarding: Safeguarding is Everyone’s business – FoodCycle is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare / wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk. This role will therefore require a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check.

Please note that you will need to have existing Right to Work in the UK to apply for this role. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

Doorway has operated across Warwickshire since 1997 providing a range of services for young people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Our key objectives are:

· To prevent youth homelessness and the exclusion that embeds it.

· To increase access to safe and secure accommodation for young homeless people to alleviate homelessness and exclusion.

· To promote a personalised approach to young people’s housing and personal development needs.

· To influence policy that affects homelessness and excluded people.

We are proud to have worked with so many fantastic young people by listening to them and offering appropriate advice, support and wellbeing options as well as accommodation.

Doorway is seeking an exceptional and inspiring leader with the following:

· experience in successfully balancing the strategic and operational leadership responsibilities

· ability to manage high performing teams of staff and volunteers

· a good knowledge of housing and homelessness, local authorities and the charity sector

· able to develop strong and lasting relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including young people who are at the heart of our service delivery.

· senior experience in an organisation of similar scale and complexity

· sound financial and commercial acumen with a track record of identifying and securing funding

Above all else, you will be intrinsically values driven and aligned to our purpose and culture. You will demonstrate a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion along with a passion for tackling social injustice.

Redthread is a hospital based youth work service, working alongside NHS staff and other professionals in emergency departments.

Our experienced, specialist youth workers engage with and support young people, aiming to reduce serious youth violence. We often meet young people at a moment of change and work with them to find a positive way forward.

We provide long-term, holistic support. We consider every aspect of a young person’s life and build support around them.

Job Description

The Senior Service Manager (SSM) provides strategic oversight of Redthread Services (currently working with 9 hospitals in London and Birmingham) providing line management to ensure high quality delivery that improves outcomes for children and young people and be successful in seeking opportunities for further growth. The SSM will work with the YPF SMT and will take a lead role in implementing our YPF strategy in this area, including taking and making opportunities to grow our services, and supporting new service implementation as need requires.

The role can be home based, but time spent in each of the services alongside travel across the UK will be required in order to support delivery and growth of  services across the Hub.  The ideal candidate will have experience of delivering and managing similar services and the right mix of leadership, passion and energy, and an innovative nature. A proven track record in engaging with positive relationships with commissioners and securing new business is essential. The role will involve promoting, connecting and building services in order to impact the lives of vulnerable young people with complex needs.

Duties and accountabilities are split into two core areas, management and development of Redthread service delivery,  including direct management and coordination ensuring high performance that improves outcomes for children and young peopleand supporting implementation of the YPF growth strategy

• Line management of service managers and operational oversight of service contracts.
• Supporting the implementation of the YPF strategy, including making opportunities for organic and new growth. Work with Business Development and other business partners and engage Commissioners and other funders to develop our delivery models and to bid for services (organic growth and nationally).
• Supporting the implementation of the Clinical Governance policy and responsible for ensuring relevant services adhere to this guidance.
• Contribute to national stakeholder engagement plans and local, geographical influencer plans to promote our hospital based youth work offer and support growth.
• Ensure that staff and volunteers within services are engaged with Redthread’s vision and strategic plan, are motivated and understand their role and contribution to the wider organisation.
• Provide robust management and accountability for service budgets and in building budgets for new services working closely with Redthread’s finance business partner.
• Monitor and ensure that contractual commitments are met and that service performance is maximised; acting promptly to respond to and resolve performance and compliance issues. A core component of the role will be to ensure the confidence of our Commissioners including by assuring the quality of delivery, through Brilliant Basics audit, review, observation and ongoing service development.
• Ensure the provision of high quality reports for Redthread, commissioners and other strategic groups on the work of the services with clear evidence of quantitative and qualitative outputs – particularly signing off service commissioner reports / performance prior to external distribution.
• Ensure that services operate effective multi-agency working processes, such as referral, assessment and review and to ensure a high quality standard of lead professional, meeting chairpersonship and co-ordination from workers.
• Promote and support the participation of service users so that they are appropriately informed, consulted and involved in their own plans and the design and delivery of services.
• Be responsible for ensuring that all service activity is safe for all involved, to include adherence to Redthread’s health and safety policies including safeguarding, accidents, incident and injury reporting, fire safety and risk assessment. Review audit activity within services and work to ensure a consistent approach across services.
• Undertake other duties as required to ensure the effective delivery of the services.

Qualifications

Professional qualification in a relevant discipline such as youth, community or management or demonstrable equivalent experience.

KNOWLEDGE

Knowledge and understanding of relevant current issues and research (including emerging trends youth violence work and associated areas of risk)

EXPERIENCE

• A proven track record of developing and managing projects in the public, private or voluntary sectors.
• Extensive experience of working with young people (11 – 18 years) and their families, identified as vulnerable or as having complex needs preferably within a community setting.
• Demonstrable experience of staff management including recruitment, induction, supervision and support.
• Proven track record in scoping and developing new business activity, including engaging and developing positive relationships with commissioners.
• Experience of preparing bids e.g service model development, articulating delivery within tenders - for significant projects/services and participation in the business development process e.g. responding to tender questions etc
• Experience of working using own initiative to an agreed action plan and effectively monitoring service quality standards and performance.
• Commitment to young people’s participation
• Substantial experience of working in a multi-agency environment and the proven ability to develop effective working relationships with other professionals/organisations.
• Experience of managing services for young people and their families, and empowering them to make positive and informed choices in their lives.
• Experience of developing new contracts and development opportunities with commissioners and partners.
• Experience of project development
• Experience of training / public speaking to a wide range of audiences

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Proven ability to lead and coach others in their professional development
• Demonstrated ability to manage and monitor budgets (up to the value of £1m p/a), working within organisational financial procedures.
• Ability to lead, motivate and oversee administrative processes.
• Excellent negotiation skills, and an ability to handle sensitive matters with tact and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated ability to incorporate and demonstrate an equal opportunities perspective in all areas of work
• Ability to achieve results and meet deadlines and to motivate and manage staff to do the same.
• Computer literacy including the use of Email, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Ability to build and establish effective working relationships at a range of levels, including with commissioners, funders and external influencers.
• Creative, flexible and able to work well with others in a team.
• Honest and reliable.
• Commitment to the organisation and also to their own personal and professional development.
• Commitment to enabling children/young people and their families to participate and achieve their full potential.

Additional information

Hours of work: Full time, 37 hours per week 

Place of Work: Home based with expectation of national travel*

Contract Type: Permanent 

Level of screening: Enhanced DBS

*You will be required to work on a on-call basis (days, evenings, weekends, bank holidays) supporting on-call staff with risk assessments ad decision making.

Catch22 is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice will be followed and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

Job purpose

This is an exciting time to join Action for ME. With developments in research and policy alongside delivering services which are in high demand, you will enjoy working in a fast-paced and continually changing environment. You will be responsible for overseeing operational programme design and delivery, reporting of progress, and measuring the impact of all Action for ME work to improve the lives of people affected by ME. Better meeting their needs today while taking action to secure change for tomorrow. You will also assist the Chief Executive in implementing the organisational strategy, and by adapting and evolving delivery models on the ground. As you will have operational management and oversight for our Healthcare Services and hold the Designated Safeguarding Lead role for the organisation, you will bring considerable services-related experience at a management and leadership level. The Chief Executive will focus predominately on external matters and therefore you must have experience of managing an organisation to achieve high quality programmes with evidenced impact and motivated teams. You will act for the Chief Executive on topics, as agreed, and deputise during their absence.

Key duties

1. Leadership

• Ensure that children and adults with ME are at the heart of everything we do through meaningful engagement and participation to influence all aspects of our work.
• Deputise for the CEO and represent and promote the Charity at national meetings and events.
• Deputise for the CEO during periods of absence, and in relation to specific matters, issues or elements of operation as delegated from time to time by the CEO, ensuring a consistency of approach and decisions aligned with the organisation’s objectives.
• With the CEO and HR Business Partner, lead on implementing the People and Culture Strategy and ensuring our Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging plan is achieved.
• To provide support, leadership and coaching to the Management Team to ensure the smooth running of the organisation and development of the Charity.
• Contribute to the development of the overall strategy for Action for ME, ensuring that the best use is made of available resources within agreed priorities. Ensure that agreed strategy is delivered to target and in line with agreed budgets.
• Work closely with the Chief Executive and Trustees to ensure effective reporting to the Board and sub-committees.

2. Operations & management

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the Charity ensuring high quality service provision that meets all best practice, legal and regulatory frameworks and internal policies and procedures.
• Hold overall management responsibility for our Healthcare Services including the role of the CQC Nominated Individual, ensuring all regulatory requirements and compliance are met.
• Manage the staff and volunteer team, including holding regular meetings and ensure the efficient running of the office ensuring a culture that supports, inspires and motivates the team while ensuring required standards and quality are met at all times through effective performance management.
• Act as the organisational Designated Safeguarding Lead (children and vulnerable adults), working closely with the Designated Safeguarding Officers, colleagues and the Safeguarding Lead Trustee; facilitate the annual safeguarding audit (led by the Lead Trustee) and ensuring safeguarding standards across the organisation are maintained.
• Contribute to the learning and development of key personnel including coaching support (either directly or through the identification of external coaches) to enhance performance.
• Establish (where not already in place) and maintain a clear performance outcome-focused management system driving positive change and improvement across all teams.
• Ensure that policies and procedures are effectively implemented and kept up-to-date to enable the effective management of operations and support growth.
• Take the lead role for data protection, health and safety, compliance and risk management across the organisation and act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

3. Finance & income generation

• Hold financial leadership responsibility, working closely with the Finance Manager and the Fundraising Director to ensure sustainability for our work.
• Ensure effective financial management with procedures in place which are kept up-to-date and implemented accordingly.
• Provide support and engagement, where appropriate, to actively grow our income.

4. Working with others

• Lead, nurture and develop relationships with key stakeholder groups and partner organisations, both locally and nationally, supporting Action for M.’s place as the ‘go to’ organisation for people affected by ME
• Lead on new business ideas and pilot projects in line with the strategic objectives; with colleagues, develop the business case, identify and manage risks, lead implementation across teams, evaluate success and learning and make recommendations for future development.

5. Other key accountabilities

• Be proactive in keeping up to date with developments affecting operations and maintain and improve personal competence through continuous professional development.
• Take direction on projects and priorities from the CEO, which may vary from time to time.
• To ensure best value in all service delivery.

Person specification

Experience and Knowledge

• Proven experience in an operations, leadership, or senior management role, ideally within the charity service delivery or healthcare sector, with the ability to develop and implement strategic plans that drive organisational growth and reporting that demonstrates impact delivered. If you come from outside a support services background, you must demonstrate sound understanding of the regulatory and best practice requirements related to delivering support and/or healthcare services.
• An understanding of ME and associated/overlapping illnesses, the impact on people affected by it or a commitment and ability to understand the illness and lead services to meet the needs of children and adults with ME
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams, including remote workers, and fostering a supportive workplace culture where change is a constant.
• Safeguarding understanding at a management/decision-making level.
• Proven experience of building and nurturing strong relationships internally and externally at all levels.
• A sound understanding of outcome-focused, effective performance management, quality assurance and risk management.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, financial planning, and resource management in the voluntary sector.

Skills and Behaviours

• Experience of governance, risk management, and compliance, including within regulated services, ideally within a charity and/or service delivery setting.
• Proven ability to think strategically, balance competing demands, use initiative to solve problems and actively seek innovative approaches to problem solving and delivering results.
• Strong interpersonal skills including motivational, negotiating influencing and networking skills which build strong internal and external relationships.
• An ability to understand, analyse and make effective use of data across all of our work.
• A proven ability to coach and motivate staff and to build and lead teams reflecting organisational culture and values, a respectful, constructive and energetic style.
• Proven, strong MS Office skills that supports writing, email, internet and database use.
• Demonstrable ability to work within our organisational values

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.  

• Salary: £30,753 FTE
• Hours: 35
• Contract type: Permanent
• Location: Homebased within West Midlands & North Wales area (see below postcodes)
• Closing date: Sunday 25th May 2025
• Phone interviews: w/c Tuesday 27th May 2025
• Panel interviews: Monday 2nd, Thursday 4th, Friday 5th June 2025

Change lives in a life-changing career

When a child or young person is diagnosed with cancer, their whole world can feel like it’s falling apart. Independence is taken and confidence is stolen. Stability no longer exists. The future suddenly feels uncertain.

The impact of cancer on young lives is more than medical. That’s why we exist. Our specialist social workers help children and young people with cancer and their families navigate the emotional and practical impact of cancer. We remove barriers, solve problems and prioritise wellbeing. And we stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.

We challenge the systems and policies that surround children and young people, we highlight gaps and campaign for change. Because we know what a better future could look like. And we know what we need to do to make that future a reality. We need to push harder, reach further and work smarter. And we need the right people on our team to help us get there. People like you.

About the role

We’re looking for a Fundraising Engagement Manager with great personality and team ethic to join our Regional Fundraising team.

This is a role of variety, opportunity and innovation, and we are looking for someone who embraces change and constantly strives to achieve more.

You will maximise income for Young Live vs Cancer by coaching our supporters to reach their goals, whilst seeking out new fundraising opportunities for your geographical area. This role sits within the ‘Regional Engagement’ team and we need someone with natural customer service skills who wants to deliver a legendary experience to all of their supporters. Your team of supporters will range from volunteers and individuals, to groups and local corporates.

The West Midlands and North Wales regions are areas filled with some of our most committed supporters, but there is still so much opportunity to grow corporate support across the counties. Our Social Workers support families from Birmingham hospitals and out in the community in North Wales, so building relationships with these teams are a must.

Candidates should live within West Midlands and North Wales regions, in one of the following Postcodes: Worcestershire: WR postcodes, Birmingham area: B, DY1-11, DY13, Warwickshire: CV postcodes, Staffordshire: DE13-14, ST, WS, WV Shropshire: DY12, DY14, SY1-4, SY6-9, SY11-13, TF, WV15-16, Walsall: WS1-2, WS8-10, North Wales: SY10, LL and CH4-8

Candidates who live outside of these areas should highlight an intention to relocate to the area in their covering letter for their application to be considered. If you don’t live in one of these postcodes and don’t have plans to relocate, your application will not be taken forward. 

This role is subject to a criminal record check. In the event of a successful application a basic criminal record check will be completed. 

What will I be doing?

No two days are the same at Young Lives vs Cancer. So, summarising your ‘day to day’ isn’t easy. Here are some of the main things you’ll be doing, but you’ll find more details in the job description.

• To plan, monitor and report on your budgeted income with a constant eye on contingency planning to ensure annual targets are achieved;
• To steward our most committed supporters and deliver legendary supporter experience;
• To be a key, valued member of your regional team and UK wide team;
• To identify, cultivate and secure partnerships and donations within your area;
• To work with your local service team/s to build and maintain strong and effective working relationships;
• To be the first point of contact for service user families, to offer opportunities to them and their networks to engage with the wider charity as they would like I.e. fundraising, volunteering, sharing their story

What do I need? 

• A proven track record of delivering amazing customer experiences
• Experience of relationship management in either a charity or corporate setting
• Ability to work within a financial target-based setting, and experience of reaching/exceeding set targets
• Demonstrable experience of winning new business
• Experience of managing own workload
• Proven ability to manage/complete projects
• Able to ‘make the ask’ for support and to influence/negotiate
• Have a full UK driving licence and access to a car (including business insurance)
• Have a sufficient Broadband connection

Diverse perspectives and unique skillsets are at the heart of Young Lives vs Cancer. If you're passionate about making a positive impact and eager to learn, we encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet the criteria and person specification fully. Your potential is what matters most to us, and we’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment to help you develop.

The key skills we’re looking for in this role are:

• Natural storyteller
• Strong prioritisation skills
• Great communicator
• Great at spotting opportunities
• Influencing/Negotiating
• Compassion
• Integrity
• Team Player

What will I gain?

For people to reach their full potential, they need the right environment. As a member of Team Young Lives, you’ll be made to feel supported, valued and appreciated. Here’s how we do it:

• Flexible working: we’re open to working hours outside of 9 - 5 and we can talk through your flexibility requirements at interview stage
• Wellbeing days: four days a year to do what works for you – from catching up on training to going for a walk
• Generous annual leave allowance
• Great family/caring leave entitlements
• Enhanced pension
• Access to our employee savings scheme

To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website via the apply button.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their sex, ethnicity, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation. We don’t just accept difference, we value it, celebrate it, nurture it and we thrive because of it.

We’re on a journey to be reflective of the diverse children, young people and families we support. We know we aren’t there yet, and we’re passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation. This includes taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities. Our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy will tell you more.

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. CVs can be uploaded, but we won't be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to fully complete the work history sections of the online application form for us to be able to assess you quickly, fairly and objectively.

Accessibility

We’re committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always aim to be as accommodating as possible.Please let us know in your application form of any adjustments or access requirements we could make to help you with the application process and interview.