168 Youth development worker jobs

YEF Detached Youth Work Area Lead

Relationships change lives.

At M13 Youth Project, we believe every young person deserves trusted adults who believe in them, walk alongside them and help them discover who they are, what they have to offer and the difference they can make. For over 30 years, we've built those relationships through detached youth work - meeting young people where they choose to be, listening deeply and creating opportunities for belonging, belief and hope.

We're now looking for an experienced Detached Youth Work Area Lead to join our team and play a key role in one of the UK's most ambitious detached youth work research pilots.

M13 is leading the Greater Manchester consortium delivering the Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) Detached Youth Work Pilot. The Pilot aims to build a strong evidence base for detached youth work, combining outstanding frontline practice with rigorous evaluation to shape the future of youth work nationally.

Reporting to the YEF Detached Youth Work Project Lead, you'll work across three neighbourhoods and lead detached youth work in at least two of these, within M13's delivery of the pilot. You'll be responsible for delivering high-quality detached youth work outdoors in public spaces (on streets, in parks and other community spaces), modelling excellent relational detached youth work practice, supporting less experienced colleagues through day-to-day practice, contributing to monitoring and evaluation, and building positive relationships with young people, local residents, community organisations and partner agencies.

This is first and foremost a frontline detached youth work role. You'll spend much of your week in outdoors in parks, streets and neighbourhoods, building trusted relationships with young people through conversation, consistency and purposeful informal education. Alongside this, you'll help ensure high-quality implementation of the YEF Shared Practice Model within your neighbourhood patches, contribute to monitoring and reporting and work closely with the Project Lead and wider team to support the successful delivery of the pilot.

We're looking for someone who is a qualified (NVQ L2 in Youth Work) and experienced (2 years) detached youth worker, confident leading excellent practice and passionate about relational detached youth work. You'll be organised, reflective and proactive, with experience of taking responsibility for detached youth work within a neighbourhood, maintaining high-quality records, building effective local partnerships and supporting colleagues through encouragement, reflection and shared learning. Most importantly, you'll share our belief that relationships are the foundation for meaningful change.

This is a 22.5- 25 hour per week, community and office-based role (M13's full-time week is 37.5 hours). Your week will include six detached youth work sessions (three afternoons and three evenings), alongside planning, monitoring, partnership working and reflective practice. Some flexibility can be offered around when office-based work is undertaken, where operationally possible.

In return, we offer a supportive, reflective and values-led working environment, regular supervision, ongoing professional development, a generous employer pension contribution, TOIL for out-of-hours working, additional Christmas gift leave and the opportunity to contribute to nationally significant research that could shape the future of detached youth work.

If you're an experienced detached youth worker, confident in leading work in ourdoor community public spaces, ready to combine outstanding frontline practice with leadership of detached youth work across neighbourhoods, learning and innovation, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Title - Programme and Partnerships Officer (RJFN)

Contract - Fixed Term for 1 year, with the possibility of extension

Hours - 14 hours per week with flexibility across the working week

Salary - £12,800 per annum (£32,000 FTE)

Location - Home-based, with occasional travel to Coram Campus in London and other locations for meetings and events

About Coram

Coram is committed to improving the lives of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people.

We support children and young people from birth to independence, creating a change that lasts a lifetime.

Coram is the UK’s oldest children’s charity founded by Thomas Coram in London helping vulnerable children and young people since 1739. Today, the Coram group helps more than one million children, young people, families and professionals every year by providing access to the skills and opportunities they need to thrive.

Coram is a leader in adoption and fostering, children’s health education, therapy, child and family law, and advocacy for those in and leaving care. The organisation has grown rapidly in recent years, both in terms of income and staffing, making an exciting and interesting place to be.

About the role

We are looking for an organised, collaborative and proactive Programme & Partnerships Officer to provide the coordination and delivery capacity that will help RJFN strengthen its national network and deliver its programme of work across advocacy, policy and practice development, research, training and member engagement.

Working closely with the RJFN Chair, members and partners, you will support member engagement, build and maintain partnerships, organise events and communications, and help monitor the network’s reach and impact. This is a varied role with significant autonomy and an opportunity to help shape a growing national network.

We welcome applicants with skills and experience gained through a range of routes, including professional, voluntary, community and lived experience. Knowledge or experience of racial justice, children’s rights, children’s social care, family justice or a related area is desirable, but we are particularly interested in strong organisational, relationship-building and communication skills, and a clear commitment to racial justice and anti-racist practice.

If you enjoy bringing people together, building relationships, communicating creatively and helping turn ideas into action, and you share our commitment to racial justice, we would love to hear from you!

To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application.

Closing Date: Monday 12th October 2026 23.59pm

Interview Date: Thursday 22nd October 2026

Coram is an equal opportunities employer and we believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve the services to the children and families we help. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community we seek to support. This includes those from global majority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are underrepresented at Coram.

If applicants feel comfortable, we would encourage them to draw on lived experience as well as professional experience in their personal statement as part of their application.

We are committed to the safeguarding of children and where appropriate will require the successful applicant to undertake a check from the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registered Charity No. 312278.

Job Title: Digital Content & Community Lead
Location: London, Salford or Belfast, based from an RFF office with hybrid working arrangements and extensive travel across the UK and Ireland
Salary: £30,000-£35,000 per annum, depending on experience
Hours: 36 hours per week
Reports to: Deputy CEO & Director of Development

Job Description:

You’ll lead RFF’s Instagram and TikTok presence, creating distinctive social-first content and building engaged digital communities around our work.

This is a hands-on role. You’ll spend time with young people, staff, partners and ambassadors across the UK and Ireland, spotting, capturing and creating content that brings the Foundation to life. While Instagram and TikTok will be at the heart of the role, you’ll also support RFF’s wider digital and communications activity as required — including creating and adapting content for platforms such as LinkedIn, X and YouTube, supporting email communications and press activity, and helping strengthen RFF’s media presence around key events and opportunities.

We’re open to emerging talent and care more about what you can create, your understanding of digital communities and your creative instincts than where you learned your skills.

KEY DUTIES:

Social Content & Community

• Take day-to-day ownership of RFF’s Instagram and TikTok channels, growing active and engaged communities around our work.
• Develop a forward content plan while responding creatively to trends, conversations and opportunities in real time.
• Listen to our audiences, engage actively with our communities and use insight and performance to continually improve our content.

Content Creation & Production

• Proactively identify content opportunities across RFF’s work, partnerships and events, and plan, film, photograph, interview and edit high-quality social-first content across a range of formats.
• Create content specifically for digital platforms, particularly short-form video for Instagram Reels and TikTok, and maximise content captured by adapting it effectively across formats and channels.
• Use and advise on appropriate production equipment, software and tools, while maintaining an organised digital content and asset library for the Foundation.

Young People & Youth-led Content

• Build positive and appropriate relationships with young people, creating content with them rather than simply about them and representing their personalities, perspectives, interests and achievements authentically.
• Create opportunities for young people to contribute as creators, presenters, interviewers and storytellers and, over time, help identify and develop aspiring young content creators from across RFF.
• Ensure all content involving young people is created, captured, stored and used in line with RFF’s safeguarding, consent and data-protection requirements.

Partnerships, Ambassadors & Collaboration

• Work creatively with RFF’s corporate and industry partners, ambassadors and wider network to develop co-created content, campaigns and opportunities that benefit both RFF and its collaborators.
• Build strong relationships with partner communications and social teams, identifying opportunities for collaborative content, cross-platform amplification and reaching new communities and audiences.
• Work confidently across different environments - from community youth sessions to major corporate, media, sporting and cultural events - adapting your approach to different people, audiences and opportunities.

Wider Digital Content

• Support the creation and adaptation of content across RFF’s wider digital ecosystem, including YouTube, LinkedIn, X and the Foundation’s website, while keeping Instagram and TikTok as the primary focus.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to support wider communications activity, including email communications, press and media activity, campaigns, launches and events, and make effective use of strong content across channels.
• Bring ideas about new platforms, formats, technologies and approaches that could strengthen RFF’s digital presence and help our content reach and engage different audiences.

Insight & Performance

• Monitor channel and content performance, using analytics to understand engagement, community growth, reach, audience behaviour and what content is creating meaningful interaction.
• Test new approaches and formats, learn from performance and audience response, and use those insights to continually develop RFF’s social content and community approach.
• Keep up to date with developments across social media, digital content, creator culture and platform changes, sharing clear insights and emerging opportunities with the Director of Development and wider team.

About the role:

Step into a role where your drive, resilience and belief in young people can truly change lives. As a Young Person’s Worker in Camden, you will be right alongside young people at risk of homelessness, helping them move from uncertainty towards stability and independence. This is hands on, purposeful work where every day matters, and where your determination can unlock real opportunity for those who need it most.

In this role, you will manage a caseload of young people, building trusted relationships and empowering them to lead their journey forward. You will create and review personalised support and safety plans, support moves into independent accommodation, and help young people take confident steps into education, training or employment. Working within a trauma informed and strengths based approach, you will champion each young person’s goals while developing practical life skills such as budgeting, self care and cooking. You will also support access to essential services including mental health support, housing advice and employment pathways, motivating and coaching young people to take ownership of their futures.

At Single Homeless Project (SHP), you will be part of a tenacious, values driven team that does not shy away from challenge and believes in doing things differently to achieve lasting change. We will support your ambition with ongoing training, development and the chance to grow your career while making a genuine impact. If you are ready to bring your energy, compassion and persistence to a role that truly matters, we would love to hear from you.

*This role includes sleep-in shifts as part of the rota at Cecil Court, which are paid at an additional rate on top of your salary.

About you:

• You bring experience working with young people in the community and in accommodation services.
• Your toolkit includes practical skills in motivation and coaching young people
• Your approach is creative, analytical, trauma-informed and rooted in a strengths and recovery model.
• You can creatively inspire opportunities for our young people to thrive and to develop to their highest potential.
• A non-judgmental approach to working with complex needs young people and to promote a strengths-based approach and an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.
• Strong team-working and interpersonal skills, maintaining a collaborative approach to supporting young people achieve the outcomes and goals we support them to set for themselves.

About Us:

We’re London’s leading homelessness charity – and we get things done.

In a city where hundreds are forced into homelessness every day, our work has never been more needed or more challenging. And we’re not shying away. We’re rolling up our sleeves to make change and helping over 10,000 Londoners every year. We prevent homelessness, provide safe places to live and give people the opportunity to rebuild their lives and transform their futures. And we never give up. 

We’re here for Londoners wherever they are on their journey. We start with trust, building relationships that help people feel safe, supported, and ready to move forward. Every day, we put people first in everything we do, challenging injustice and barriers that keep people from the safety, stability and opportunity they deserve. We stand alongside people as they rebuild and shape a future that feels their own. 

Joining Single Homeless Project means joining a team that’s bold, compassionate and determined to do better for the people we support and for each other. You’ll work alongside colleagues with lived experience, in a space that’s trans-inclusive, disability-friendly, and actively striving to be anti-oppressive and equitable. 

We’re not perfect, but we’re real. We listen. We learn. And we push forward, together. Because this isn’t just a job. It’s a chance to lead with empathy, spark change, and help build a London where no one is left behind.

Important Info:

Closing Date: Sunday 4th October at midnight

Interview date: Tuesday 13th, Wednesday 14th and Friday 16th October at SHP Head Office in Kings Cross

Please note there will be a second stage interview in service for suitable candidates

This post will require an Enhanced DBS check to be processed (by SHP) for the successful applicant.

Please note applications are reviewed for AI use in application questions. Applications with insufficient/without current right to work or requiring sponsorship will not be accepted for this role. 

Youth Outreach and Community Worker (London - Waterloo)

Railway Children (UK Programme)

£32,000 per year plus 10% London weighting

Full-time – Permanent

WE STAND FOR CHILDREN, THEIR CHILDHOODS AND THEIR FUTURES - WILL YOU? 

Looking for a rewarding role where you can make a difference? Do you have the drive to create positive change in children’s lives and inspire others to do the same?

If the answer is yes, then read on to hear about this exciting opportunity.

We’re Railway Children, an international charity working to create long-lasting change for street-connected children and young people in the UK, India and Tanzania. Founded in 1996, we’ve dedicated over a quarter of a century to developing outstanding practice and services for vulnerable children and their families. As part of our current strategy to 2027, we have ambitious plans to ensure no child is left behind, wherever we work.

The role
We are looking to recruit a Youth Outreach and Community Worker in London as part of our UK Programme.

This role requires close working with partners, engaging and safeguarding young people in and around Waterloo Station, helping to identify and safeguard young people at risk of criminal and sexual exploitation, county lines, missing from home, homelessness or family breakdown. This role involves working regular unsociable hours including evenings and weekends.

You will be working closely alongside key partners such as British Transport Police, security staff, Train Operators, Youth Services and other local stakeholders.

You’ll play a key role in the development of our UK Safeguarding on Transport Programme and part of a dynamic team delivering Railway Children’s safeguarding programme in the UK.

About you
We are looking for someone who brings experience of successfully engaging and supporting young people as well as experience of working in an outreach or similar community setting, in a creative and engaging way with young people with a range of needs and vulnerabilities.

Alongside this you will be able to work effectively with community and statutory partners to safeguard young people.

You will have completed relevant training, have experience in safeguarding and in the issues relevant to vulnerable young and families. Therefore, you will be an experienced practitioner with an excellent understanding of safeguarding processes and procedures, who is able to work creatively, independently and within professional boundaries.

Your base would be at Waterloo station with regular travel to other stations and some home working. This role involves working regular unsociable hours including evenings and weekends.

A full job specification can be found in the job pack.

For further information about this post and working for Railway Children, including how to apply, please visit our website.

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates with a diverse range of backgrounds and lived experience.

Railway Children is committed to safeguarding anyone who comes into contact with us and implements a range of policies to ensure only those suitable to work with vulnerable groups are employed.

Closing Date: Wednesday 23rd September

Online Interviews: Wednesday 30th September/Thursday 1st October

In person interviews: Wednesday 7th October/Thursday 8th October

Young People Support Worker

We are seeking a compassionate and resilient Support Worker to help young people experiencing homelessness build safer, more independent futures.

Position: Young People Support Worker, Day
Location: Durham
Salary: £26,436 per annum
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 4 October 2026

Please note that access to transport is essential due to the location of the projects and limited public transport links.

About the Role

At Depaul UK, we believe in people’s potential and take action every day to help unlock it. As a Young People Support Worker, you will support residents living in supported accommodation to develop essential life skills, strengthen their resilience and move towards greater independence.

Using an assets-based and psychologically informed approach, you will build positive relationships with young people and provide personalised support based on their individual strengths, needs and ambitions.

Key responsibilities include:

· Creating and reviewing SMART support plans with residents

· Completing risk and needs assessments

· Supporting young people to access education, training, employment and volunteering

· Promoting physical health, emotional wellbeing and independent living skills

· Helping new residents settle safely into the service

· Responding appropriately to incidents and safeguarding concerns

· Working with colleagues, external agencies and community partners

· Maintaining accurate records and contributing to a safe, welcoming service

About You

You may already have experience within supported housing, homelessness, social care, youth work or another support environment. More importantly, you will bring empathy, resilience and a genuine belief in the strengths and potential of young people.

You will be able to communicate clearly, maintain appropriate professional boundaries and remain calm when faced with challenging situations. You will also be organised, proactive and confident working both independently and as part of a team.

About Depaul UK

Depaul UK works to end homelessness and change the lives of people affected by it. Established in 1989 in response to rising youth homelessness, the charity now provides accommodation, prevention and support services to thousands of marginalised young people across the UK each year.

Depaul UK offers tailored training and development, 26 days’ annual leave rising with service, a pension with employer contributions of up to 7%, a cash health plan, 24/7 GP access, an Employee Assistance Programme and a range of retail, travel, food and fitness discounts.

Depaul UK is committed to safer, fair and inclusive recruitment. Where required, the successful candidate will be subject to an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Other roles you may have experience of could include Support Worker, Youth Support Worker, Housing Support Worker, Homelessness Support Worker, Supported Housing Worker, Project Worker, Key Worker, Residential Support Worker or Young Person’s Support Worker.

The Youth Worker (Mentoring) will support Inspiring Inclusion’s Our Schools, Our Change programme by providing trauma‑informed, one‑to‑one support to Black and racially minoritised young people with adverse childhood experiences. Working closely with Camden schools and community partners, they will build trusting relationships that help young people feel seen, heard, and empowered while wider systems change progresses. They will use holistic, strengths‑based, participatory approaches, contribute to a test‑and‑learn model, and bring strong reflective and organisational skills. Personal experience of racial profiling in state education is essential, enabling deep empathy and authenticity. The postholder will be a collaborative practitioner committed to equity, inclusion, and ensuring young people have real influence over decisions shaping their education and futures.

Accountable to: Support Team Manager

Hours: 37.5 hrs per week (including evening and weekend hours on a rota)

Contract type: Permanent

Salary: £26,750

Location: Loughborough, England (Travel required to all Baca Services locations)

Start date: September 2026

Help Change Young Lives

At Baca, we support young people who have fled war, persecution, and trafficking, providing safe housing, education, and therapeutic care to help them rebuild their lives.

As a Support Worker, you will be a key worker for several young people in Baca's care, providing high-quality holistic and therapeutic support for their transition to adulthood. You will deliver services in line with Baca’s Theory of Change, ensuring the highest quality outcomes in physical and emotional wellbeing, education, employment, training, social engagement, and personal safety.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support young people using trauma-informed approaches (including PACE and recovery models)

• Promote safety and safeguard young people from exploitation and harm

• Support emotional wellbeing, independence, and life skills development

• Encourage engagement in education, training, and community activities

• Maintain accurate and compliant records

• Work closely with social workers, schools, and partner agencies

• Contribute to a reflective, learning-focused team culture

• Be a role model, offering care and compassion without discrimination.

• Plan and participate in day trips and annual residential weeks.

About you:

• Alignment with Baca’s values and mission.

• Ability to respond to change and work as part of a diverse team.

• Self-motivated, proactive, and able to take initiative.

• Knowledge of safeguarding practices and issues faced by unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people.

• Relevant training or willingness to complete essential training within the first year.

• Experience working with young people, especially in cross-cultural settings.

• Excellent communication, organisational, and ICT skills.

• Driving licence and access to a car.

• Enhanced DBS check required.

You will be:

• Approachable, reliable, and a strong team worker.

• Supportive, responsible, and personable.

• Flexible and able to work occasional evenings and weekends.

What We Offer

• The chance to make a meaningful difference

• A supportive, values-driven team

• 33 days’ holiday (pro rata), pension, wellbeing support, and more

How to Apply

If you are passionate about creating lasting change for young people and have the skills needed, we would love to hear from you.

Please note: You must have the right to work in the UK. You must also be able to legally drive in the UK for this role.

Successful candidates will be asked to apply for an Enhanced DBS Certificate including a check of the children’s barred list.

Night Young People Support Worker

We are seeking a calm and compassionate Night Support Worker to keep young people safe and supported within accommodation services in Durham.

Position: Night Young People Support Worker
Location: Durham
Salary: £26,436 per annum
Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Closing Date: 4 October 2026

Please note that access to transport is essential due to the location of the projects and limited public transport links.

About the Role

At Depaul UK, we believe in people’s potential and take action every day to help unlock it. As a Night Young People Support Worker, you will help ensure residents within our supported accommodation remain safe, secure and well supported throughout the night.

You will respond to incidents, manage safeguarding concerns and provide practical and emotional support when residents need it. You will also help new residents settle into the service, maintain accurate records and complete essential health and safety tasks.

Working as part of a close and supportive team, your responsibilities will include:

· Maintaining a safe, secure and welcoming environment overnight

· Responding calmly and appropriately to incidents and emergencies

· Safeguarding vulnerable young people and escalating concerns

· Offering reassurance and support to residents experiencing difficulties

· Helping new residents settle into the service

· Conducting appropriate building, welfare and safety checks

· Maintaining clear and accurate records

· Communicating effectively with day staff, colleagues and external agencies

· Supporting residents to develop resilience and move towards independence

About You

You may have experience within supported housing, homelessness, social care, youth work, security or another care and support environment.

You will be calm, resilient and confident working overnight, including responding to challenging or unexpected situations. You will communicate clearly, maintain professional boundaries and treat every resident with dignity and respect.

You will also be organised, dependable and able to work independently while contributing positively to a close-knit team.

About the organisation

You will be joining an established national charity providing accommodation, prevention and support services to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The organisation is committed to ensuring the people it supports have a meaningful voice in how services are designed, delivered and improved.

Benefits include 26 days' annual leave, increasing with service, pension contributions of up to 7%, tailored training and development, flexible working options where suitable, a cash health plan, Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 GP access and a range of retail, travel and wellbeing discounts.

Other roles you may have experience of could include Night Support Worker, Waking Night Support Worker, Youth Support Worker, Housing Support Worker, Homelessness Support Worker, Supported Housing Worker, Residential Support Worker, Project Worker or Night Concierge.

Please note this role is advertised by the recruitment agency acting for the client - Not For Profit People. #INDSCP

We are looking for an exceptional, highly motivated and dedicated individual to join our team as a full-time Youth Worker (Youth Voice), supporting our mission to enable young people who are homeless, facing homelessness or unsafe to achieve independence and positive futures.

The successful candidate will work within the Youth Work Team to deliver our frontline drop-in service and support our weekly and monthly activities to all young people experiencing homelessness.

You’ll specialise in youth participation, ensuring that a diverse range of young people’s voices are heard. You’ll also facilitate and lead on supporting our Youth Advisory Board and work alongside them to cultivate inclusive activities which increase youth participation across all our services. We have an ambitious plan to improve and accelerate our youth voice strategy and this role will be at the heart of this delivery.

You should be experienced in designing, planning and facilitating a range of activities and group work with and for young people and be able to work dynamically in a fast-paced day centre environment. We are looking for candidates who are passionate about youth engagement and skilled in bringing out the ideas, voices and opinions of young people to shape service delivery. We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with a background in running participatory youth projects, co-production, youth engagement sessions and/or community engagement.

The ideal candidate is a team player who enjoys working collaboratively across our organisation. This role also includes working closely with our Campaigns, Impact and Policy team to ensure young people’s voices are at the heart of our external campaigning work.

Finally, you will also be committed to the safeguarding of young people and delivering an inclusive and trauma-informed service.

This role will be based at our day centre in Camden, with some travel to other New Horizon projects within London.

Closing date for applications: Monday 21st September

Interviews: Thursday 1st October

Please note interview dates are fixed and will not be changed. Please ensure you are available on these days when applying for this role.

At One YMCA, we work alongside young people to help them develop confidence, skills, resilience, and positive futures. We are looking for an inspiring, experienced and motivated Youth Work Manager to lead and develop our local youth work provision, ensuring that high-quality, impactful services reach young people across our communities.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering our Youth Work Strategy, managing a dedicated team, driving quality and developing services that make a real difference in the lives of young people.

About the role:

Reporting to the Head of Youth Work, you will take operational responsibility for the delivery, development, monitoring, and quality assurance of our youth work services. You will lead and support Youth Work Coordinators and wider youth work staff, ensuring services are safe, effective, youth-centred, and aligned with One YMCA's strategic priorities.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and delivery of youth work programmes, specialist support services, mentoring initiatives, life skills courses, and large-scale youth events.
• Managing and supporting staff through recruitment, induction, supervision, training, and performance development.
• Monitoring contract performance, outcomes, impact data, and key performance indicators to demonstrate the difference our services make.
• Building strong relationships with schools, local authorities, partner agencies, and community stakeholders.
• Leading quality assurance, compliance, safeguarding, and continuous improvement across the service.
• Acting as Designated Safeguarding Lead and participating in the safeguarding on-call rota.
• Working with young people and teams to ensure youth voice is at the heart of everything we do.

We're looking for someone who combines strong operational leadership, experience in managing contractual compliance, with a genuine commitment to young people.

You will bring:

• Significant experience delivering and managing youth work programmes, projects, or contracts.
• A strong understanding of issues affecting young people's lives and a passion for helping them achieve positive outcomes.
• Experience leading, motivating, and developing staff teams.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and partnership-working skills.
• The ability to analyse data, monitor impact, and use insight to improve services.
• A youth work or related community-focused qualification at degree level, or significant equivalent experience.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes.

Location: Home-based role but with regular travel to YMCA youth work delivery sites across Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, as well as to support the broader youth work within One YMCA. 

Driving licence and access to a car is essential for this role.

If you are an experienced youth work leader ready for your next challenge, we would love to hear from you! 

Important: Please include a supporting statement with your application/CV.

We do not provide visa sponsorship; you must be eligible to work in the UK. You must reside in the UK for the duration of your employment and provide Right to Work evidence.

As some of our roles involve working with vulnerable members of society, this position may require a Basic or Enhanced Criminal Disclosure, which will be conducted once a conditional offer is made

Previous Applications: We welcome applications from all qualified candidates. However, if you have applied for a similar role within the last 6 months and were not successful, please consider whether your experience has developed further before reapplying

Accessibility & Adjustments: We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and will strive to be as accommodating as possible. Please inform us in advance of any arrangements you may need to fully participate in the process.

At One YMCA we are an inclusive organisation and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills, and potential. We do not discriminate on the basis of Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Marriage/Civil Partnership, Pregnancy/Maternity, Race, Religion/Belief, Sex and/or Sexual Orientation. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities, and industries, and are committed to having a team that is made up of diverse skills, experiences, and abilities.

Working hours: 37.5 hours per week, generally Monday to Friday but with flexibility of working pattern to support both the ideal candidate and business need. Some evening work expected, and occasional weekend, overnight stays or residential work.

Centre Manager

Norbrook Youth Centre, Bordley Walk, Wythenshawe, Manchester M23 0AR

Grade 6 Point 20 – 25, £30,750 - £34,303. (Full Time 35 hours, Permanent)  

Introduction

Greater Manchester Youth Federation (GMYF) is a long-established charity running vibrant youth centres across Greater Manchester. We are dedicated to raising aspirations and creating opportunities for children and young people, particularly those facing disadvantage. Our work is rooted in youth voice, inclusion, strong relationships, and high-quality youth work practice that supports young people to develop confidence, resilience, and skills for life.

GMYF also delivers outdoor education and residential experiences, including provision at Ormside Mill in Cumbria and other residential settings nationwide, as part of its wider youth work offer, working across teams to ensure young people benefit from safe, inclusive, and developmental opportunities beyond their local communities.

Purpose of Role:  

The Centre Manager provides strategic and operational leadership for the youth centre and its wider community reach, with responsibility for high-quality youth work delivery and day to day centre operations, working within GMYF’s wider operational ad estates frameworks.  high-quality, inclusive local provision. The postholder is the professional lead for youth work practice and delivery within the centre, with responsibility for shaping, developing, and continuously improving provision in line with GMYF’s values, safeguarding standards, and strategic priorities. 

Reporting to the Director of Programmes, the Centre manager leads people, partnerships, and placebased development, ensuring the centre delivers strong outcomes for children and young people while contributing to the wider aims of GMYF.

Outdoor Education and residential opportunities are an integral and embedded part of the centre’s youth work offer, and the Centre Manager plays a key role in shaping, embedding, and developing these opportunities in partnership with the Outdoor Education Team to ensure they meet the local need and are accessible to young people.

This is a hands-on leadership role, balancing operational oversight with visible presence, relationship based practice, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Management of Youth Work Delivery

• Provide strategic leadership for youth work delivery at centre level, including centre-based provision, outreach, and integrated Outdoor Education and residential opportunities, ensuring provision is planned, resourced and developed in response to local need, youth voice, and GMYF priorities.
• Provide clear professional leadership for high quality, inclusive youth work across centre based provision, outreach, offsite venues, and outdoor education youth work.
• Embed and champion GMYF’s youth work values, including youth voice, equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Line manage staff including Youth Work Coordinator(s), Youth Workers, cleaners, and volunteers.
• Provide supervision, appraisal, and performance management, promoting reflective practice and professional development.
• Ensure staffing structures, rotas, and skills mix support safe, effective delivery.
• Foster a positive, professional, and supportive team culture.

Safety, Safeguarding and Compliance 

• Act as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• Hold overall safeguarding responsibility for the centre and linked activities.
• Ensure safeguarding procedures are embedded, understood, and consistently applied.
• Promote inclusive, restorative and trauma informed practice.
• Ensure all safeguarding and behaviour related incidents are recorded, reviewed, and followed up.
• Maintain compliance with legislation, statutory guidance, and GMYF policies.

Centre Operations, Site Management and Health & Safety  

• The Centre Manager holds responsibility for day-to-day site oversight and compliance, with additional estates support provided through GMYF’s central operations arrangements.  
• Ensure the centre meets all Health & Safety and statutory requirements, working with GMYF’s Central Team and systems to maintain compliance.
• Oversee day-to-day site issues, Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM), compliance checks, and inspections, escalating and co-ordinating works as required through organisational processes.
• Maintain oversight of building safety, security, and use of space.
• Ensure accurate records are maintained for staff, visitors, and young people.
• Ensure all off site activities, outreach, visits, and residentials are risk assessed and appropriately staffed.
• Hold overall responsibility for the safe opening and closing of the centre and the planning and oversight of fire, evacuation, and lockdown procedures, delegating operational leadership as appropriate when not on site
• Maintain good relations with neighbours and the local community.

Quality, Development and Partnership Working 

• Lead centre-level self evaluation and contribute to GMYF organisational development and quality frameworks.
• Monitor outcomes for children and young people and use learning to improve provision.
• Contribute to funding bids, monitoring, and reporting.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with stakeholders including schools, community organisations, statutory services, and internal teams to support joined-up opportunities for young people.
• Represent the centre in organisational initiatives and networks.

Outdoor Education and Residential Provision

• Hold responsibility for pastoral leadership of young people accessing Outdoor Education provision linked to the centre, while the Outdoor Education Team is responsible for developing and providing outdoor education opportunities. 
• Work collaboratively with the Outdoor Education Team to plan high-quality residentials and Outdoor Activities for the young people from the centre.
• Ensure good pastoral and wellbeing leadership before, during, and after residentials.
• Act as Group Leader and drive the minibus where required and appropriate, in line with compliance regulations.
• Lead reflective reviews following residentials and outdoor education activity.

Professional Conduct and Organisational Responsibilities

• Uphold GMYF’s values, policies, and professional standards.
• Ensure conduct reflects the responsibilities of a leadership and management role.
• Maintain a strong commitment to continuous professional development and reflective leadership practice, using supervision, learning, and organisational feedback to enhance personal effectiveness and support high-quality youth work delivery.
• Contribute positively to the wider culture and strategic development of GMYF.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the role. 

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications & Professional Development

• Relevant qualification in Youth Work OR significant experience delivering youth work or related children and young people’s provision
• Commitment to continuous professional development (CPD) and reflective leadership practice
• Willingness to undertake further relevant professional or leadership qualifications and development as required

Experience

• Experience delivering youth work or similar provision in a centre based, community, or outreach setting
• Experience supporting, supervising, or coordinating staff and/or volunteers.
• Experience working within safeguarding frameworks, including recording concerns and escalating appropriately
• Experience working with children and young people facing additional barriers to participation (e.g. SEND, trauma, disadvantage)
• Experience contributing to the planning, delivery, or improvement of provision, balancing operational delivery with quality and learning

Knowledge & Skills

• Sound understanding of safeguarding, risk management, and inclusive practice within youth or community settings
• Ability to promote positive behaviour cultures using restorative and trauma informed approaches.
•  Ability to provide clear professional direction and guidance to team and colleagues
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, adaptable to young people, families, partners, and professionals
• Ability to oversee the safe delivery of centre based, outreach, and off site activities
• Ability to maintain accurate records and contribute to reports and organisational learning
• Competence in using IT systems to support communication, administration and service delivery

Leadership & Personal Attributes

• Ability to provide visible, values-led leadership within a busy operational environment
• Sound judgement and confidence in decision-making, with appropriate use of supervision, escalation and advice 
• Ability to work collaboratively within a wider organisational structure and across internal teams
• Strong commitment to equality, diversity, safeguarding, and young person-centred practice
• Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to manage competing priorities and pressures

Additional Requirements

• Willingness to work flexibly, including evenings and occasional weekends
• Willingness to complete required training (e.g. First Aid, safeguarding, fire safety) within agreed timescales
•  Enhanced DBS check

Desirable Criteria

• Degree level qualification in Youth Work
• Leadership or management qualification, or experience of leading teams in a youth work setting
• Experience contributing to funding bids, monitoring, evaluation, or reporting processes
• Experience leading or contributing to centre self evaluation or quality assurance frameworks
• Experience working in partnership with schools, local services, or community organisations

Other requirements

GMYF is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An Enhanced DBS is required for this post. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds.

This is a UK-based post and applicants must be living in and have the right to work in the UK. If applicable, please detail your Visa status in your covering email. 

Please let us know if you need us to make any reasonable adjustments during the application or recruitment process and we’ll be happy to support you.

• Closing date for applications: 21st September 2026 @9:00am
• Formal nterview date:29th September 2026
• Young person part of interview date: 30th September 2026
• Start date: As soon as possible

Earliest Start Date: 2nd November 2026

Contract: 12 Months with Potential for Exentension

Job Title: Known internally as "Key Work Manager (Maternity Cover)"

Location: 30 Petworth Street, Battersea, SW11 4QW. The post will also involve working in the community so some local travel will be required.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, including some evening & occasional weekend work

About the Role

As Key Work Manager you will lead on and oversee all Key Work activity at Carney’s Community. This includes undertaking key work yourself on a one to one basis with young people involved in the criminal justice system as well as managing a small team of key workers.

You will provide advice, practical support and befriending to a caseload of participants, aged 11-30, who are at risk of/involved in offending; to encourage and enable them to participate in Carney’s Community’s personal development opportunities and to access the wider services and support they may need in order to give them the best chances of being “the best they can be”. This will involve supporting young people to engage in positive and constructive activities, attend Youth Justice Service or Probation appointments and creating opportunities for their personal, social and emotional development

You will work alongside the employment support manager to plan and deliver the employment group, supporting participants that attend this group and leading specific employment programmes. As manager of the key work project you will oversee the small team of key workers, provide support, guidance and supervision. You will be involved in monitoring and reporting for the project, collecting feedback from participants. You will manage referrals to the project from other organisations including schools, social services, probation and the youth justice service.

About You:

You must have proven experience of working directly with young people in a youth work or key work setting, providing one to one support. You will have the ability to empathise and mediate for young people, a strong understanding of the local area, barriers facing young people, the interplay between material disadvantage, vulnerability and social exclusion and be highly skilled in diplomacy, professional distance, demonstrating empathy, boundaries and sound judgement. You will have experience managing other staff or volunteers.

About Carney’s Community

We support young people living in and around Wandsworth, targeting ages 11-30 facing extreme challenges including criminal justice system involvement or care experience. Carney’s works differently by providing long-term, consistent, unconditional support with empathy; a safe space and activities including boxing, bike workshops, employment support, studio sessions, mentoring and key work. Inspired by boxing legend Mick Carney, the charity was founded in his name after his passing in 2011, building on work led by our co-founders. We aim to create a “virtuous cycle”: while support is free of charge, we ask that when young people are ready, they channel the positivity they have received into others. As a result, many go on to volunteer, mentor, join our staff team or even set up their own community initiatives. Former participants make up the majority of our workforce. They provide the most authentic role models, people who genuinely understand the challenges our young people face and who show what is possible. For our young people we strive for equality and aim to: Improve Physical and Mental Health; Improve Education, Skills and Employability; Improve Community Engagement; Reduce Offending and Reoffending.

UK Youth has launched an ambitious new strategy to widen the reach and deepen the impact of youth work and outdoor learning. At the heart of that strategy is a clear commitment: We Back Youth Work Leaders.

As our new Head of Network Development, you will turn that commitment into action.

You will lead the development and delivery of a powerful national offer that equips youth work leaders with the investment, support, relationships and connections they need to thrive. This includes leading our Grants+ approach—combining significant, multi-year grant funding with tailored organisational-development support—and developing partnerships that strengthen youth sector infrastructure locally, regionally and across the UK nations.

This role is about much more than managing a network. We are evolving towards a more relational way of working: listening deeply to youth-work leaders, understanding the realities they face, involving them in shaping our work and building relationships founded on trust, respect and shared purpose. You will ensure organisations can access the right support, expertise and opportunities—and that their insight continually shapes UK Youth’s work.

You will have the opportunity to lead the delivery of the £13 million UK Youth Fund, strengthen the resilience and effectiveness of grassroots youth organisations, and help create a more connected and equitable system of support for the wider sector.

We are looking for someone with deep knowledge and experience of youth work and the youth sector—someone who can talk the talk and walk the walk with youth organisation leaders. You will bring substantial experience of the youth work sector and infrastructure, organisational development and capacity building, alongside the strategic and operational leadership needed to deliver significant grant-making activity and complex partnerships.

You will be an inclusive and credible leader who can turn ambitious strategy into excellent delivery, bring people and organisations together, and remain focused on what youth work leaders need to succeed.

Across the country, youth workers are changing—and often saving—young lives. This is your opportunity to ensure the people and organisations doing that vital work have the investment, infrastructure and support they deserve.

Purpose of the job

The Head of Network Development will lead the operationalisation of UK Youth’s new We Back Youth Work Leaders strategic pillar. The role will turn our ambition to equip youth-work leaders with the skills, networks and confidence to deliver exceptional support into a coherent network development offer—leading our Grants+ approach of multi-year funding alongside tailored organisational development, and strengthening youth-sector infrastructure locally, regionally and across the UK nations.

Central to the role will be embedding UK Youth’s increasingly relational approach to its network: building trusted, mutually beneficial relationships with youth-work leaders; listening to and understanding their needs; involving them in shaping our support and connecting organisations to the right opportunities, expertise and infrastructure. Reporting to the Director of Network Delivery, the postholder will be responsible for translating this strategic ambition into high-quality, well-governed delivery, while ensuring that learning and insight from the network continually improve our work and contribute to securing sustainable investment in youth work and outdoor learning.

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

 Portfolio leadership and delivery

• Lead the strategic and operational delivery of UK Youth’s network development portfolio, translating organisational strategy and funded commitments into clear plans, outcomes, budgets, milestones and accountabilities.

• Ensure programmes and services are delivered to a high standard, on time and within budget, with effective governance, performance management, risk control and escalation to the Director of Network Delivery.

• Mobilise new initiatives and partnerships, establishing proportionate delivery models, systems, teams and governance arrangements.

• Lead continuous improvement across the portfolio, responding effectively to evidence, partner feedback, changing needs and the external environment.

• Be a champion of UK Youth’s network across all of UK Youth’s work.

Grant making and organisational development

• Lead the delivery of UK Youth’s significant, multi-year grant-making portfolio, including the £13 million UK Youth Fund, ensuring responsible stewardship of charitable and restricted funds.

• Ensure effective management of the full grant lifecycle, including programme design, application and assessment, due diligence, decision-making, contracting, payments, monitoring, reporting, complaints and closure.

• Maintain robust and proportionate grant governance, financial controls, safeguarding assurance, risk management, data quality and compliance with funder and regulatory requirements.

• Lead an integrated organisational development offer alongside grant funding, enabling smaller youth and outdoor learning organisations to strengthen their financial sustainability, leadership, governance, workforce and resilience.

• Embed open, trusting, accessible and equitable grant-making practice, reducing unnecessary barriers while maintaining appropriate accountability.

Network and sector infrastructure support

• Develop and deliver UK Youth’s approach to engaging, connecting and supporting our national network, informed by the needs and experiences of youth work leaders and organisations.

• Create opportunities for peer learning, collaboration, knowledge exchange and access to relevant support across the network.

• Lead major initiatives that strengthen youth sector infrastructure locally, regionally and nationally, working with partners to improve the consistency, coordination and accessibility of support.

• Support regional and national partners to understand need, develop shared plans and approaches, and deliver locally relevant infrastructure and organisational support.

• Work with the Communications Team and relevant colleagues to ensure network communications are timely, accessible, coordinated and purposeful.

Experience we're after

• Substantial leadership experience within the youth sector, grounded in an in-depth understanding of youth work practice, youth work leadership and the realities facing youth organisations and their leaders.

• Experience of leading a complex, multi-year network development or comparable portfolio, translating strategy and funded commitments into successful delivery and managing significant budgets and risks.

• Experience of leading substantial grant making or onward funding activity, including governance, due diligence, financial oversight, risk and accountability.

• Substantial organisational development and capacity building experience, including diagnosing organisational needs and designing practical support that strengthens leadership, governance, financial sustainability, workforce and resilience.

• Experience of developing networks, partnerships or infrastructure across multiple organisations, regions or systems, with demonstrable credibility among youth organisation leaders.

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 September 2026 at 09:00

Provisional First Stage Interview Dates: 5th & 6th October 2026

Provisional Final Stage Interview Dates (in person): 9th October 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.

Please note CVs will be reviewed as the first stage of the recruitment process. Candidates who are shortlisted following the CV review will then have their sift questions assessed. Only candidates who meet the requirements at both stages will progress further in the recruitment process.