Youth engagement jobs

Job Title: Youth Support Adviser

Location: Hastings and covering the east of the county

Salary: £24,505 - £25,497 per annum depending on experience

Hours: Full-time (37 hours per week)

Contract: Permanent

Reports to: Team Leader – Youth Employability Service

About CXK

CXK empowers people to succeed in employment, education and training. The charity strives for a fairer society where everyone can grow and realise their potential. “The CXK Way” embodies the following core values:

· Ethical – We work with professionalism, honesty and integrity

· Passionate – We reach out enthusiastically to all who need out support

· Innovative – We inspire, enhance and improve

· Collaborative – We engage, support and share with others

The Youth Employability Service

CXK delivers the Youth Employability Service (YES) across East Sussex, commissioned by East Sussex County Council. We offer information, advice, support and guidance to young people in academic years 12 and 13 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), helping them to explore their options, plan and then take their next steps. We also work with schools supporting young people in year 11 who are at risk of becoming NEET. Liaising with a range of other services, YES is focussed on supporting young people to achieve their potential.

The Team

The YES team support young people from across the county, seeing them at CXK bases, partner venues or in community settings. The team assess and action plan with young people referred to the service, supporting them to understand their options and take steps toward achieving their goals around education, training and/ or employment. Working with a wide range of young people, the team approach is focused, creative and persistent, building on young peoples’ confidence and motivation alongside their skills and personal growth.

The Role

We are seeking a dedicated and compassionate Youth Support Adviser.

The Youth Support Adviser (YSA) is a key role in the Youth Employability Service, acting as the first point of contact for 16-18-year-olds who are NEET or at risk of NEET.  You will support with first appointments and initial assessments of need, when young people are referred to YES, alongside supporting your caseload.  Guiding them through re-engagement with suitable post-16 provisions and provide targeted intervention to those who have withdrawn from or not started their Post 16 provisions.

Working across the East of the county with schools and FE Colleges you will play a key role in ensuring that young people — receive the tailored guidance and support they need to progress confidently into further education, training, or employment. So strong customer service and communication skills are essential.

You will maintain regular contact with the young people you support, plus be a pivotal part of the YES Tracking Team, where you will use various communication methods (phone, text, WhatsApp, email, face-to-face) to engage and support young people and offer our support.

About You

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with experience of working with young people and looking to progress.

Ideally you understand the post-16 education and training landscape in East Sussex and the importance of person-centred support. You will be a confident communicator and collaborator, able to manage a varied caseload and make a genuine impact on the lives of the young people you support.

Skills and Knowledge

At CXK we are proud to be a disability confident and equal opportunities employer. We actively promote diversity within our workforce and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Minimum Criteria

· An understanding of the needs, and challenges faced by young people who are not in education, employment or training

· Experience of working with young people on a one-to-one basis, developing personalised plans and goal setting

· Experience of managing a range of tasks at any one time, and holding positive relationships with different stakeholders

· A commitment to undertaking all necessary training for the role

· Willingness to work evenings when required

· Full, valid UK drivers’ licence with access to your own vehicle

Core Competencies

· Experience working with young people

· Proven ability to engage and support young people (ideally those who are NEET or at risk of NEET)

· Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with experience liaising effectively with schools, parents/carers, and multi-agency professionals

· Ability to assess individual needs, develop action plans, and monitor progress

· Skilled in managing a varied caseload and maintaining accurate and confidential records

· Understanding of the post-16 education, training, and employment landscape

· Ability to build trust and maintain regular, consistent contact with young people

· Self-motivated and able to work independently as well as part of a team.

· Competent in using IT systems, databases, and digital communication tools

Employee Experience

A career with CXK is deeply rewarding and offers the opportunity to make a lasting difference in the lives of young people. As part of the Youth Employability Service (YES) team, this role gives you the chance to empower and motivate young people to take positive steps into education, employment, or training.

You’ll work independently and proactively, with the flexibility to manage your own diary and plan your week around the needs of your caseload. No two days are the same—you’ll balance 1:1 support, multi-agency collaboration, school visits, and provider engagement. It’s a role that requires initiative, empathy, and a passion for creating opportunities for young people who need it most.

At CXK, we are committed to supporting our staff to grow, thrive, and develop their potential. You’ll be part of a supportive and collaborative team that values inclusion, wellbeing, and continuous learning.

Benefits of working with us

Our employee benefits include:

· 30-33 days holiday, plus bank holidays

· Defined contribution pension scheme (matched by CXK up to 10% depending on length of service criteria)

· Benenden private healthcare cover

· Flexible working

· Enhanced maternity and paternity leave

· Training and development programmes and opportunities

· Mental and physical healthcare initiatives and more

Recruitment Timeline

Vacancy closing date: Sunday 1st February 2026

Application review date: Monday 2nd February 2026

Interviews date: Tuesday 10th February 2026

Useful Information

If you have any questions or wish to have an informal conversation before submitting your application, please contact the Recruitment Team at recruitment @ cxk. org

Please note: Applicants will need to complete an enhanced DBS check and provide references before any offer of employment is made.

High Trees is seeking a Youth Employment Support Service Coordinator for our Build Your Future programme. Build Your Future is a targeted youth employment project supporting young people aged 16–24 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). The project provides holistic, person-centred support combining outreach and engagement, pastoral support, employability skills development and progression into education, training or work.

The project is primarily delivered in-house by High Trees, working in partnership with other local delivery partners. Build Your Future focuses on young people facing multiple barriers, including care-experienced young people, migrants and refugees, young people with SEND, and those experiencing social or economic exclusion.

The Build Your Future Project Coordinator plays a central role in ensuring the effective day-to-day delivery of the project. Working closely with High Trees delivery teams and partner organisations, the postholder will coordinate outreach and engagement activity, support the provision of high-quality pastoral support for young people, and ensure strong project coordination, monitoring and reporting.

This role will suit someone who is highly organised, collaborative and passionate about supporting young people facing multiple barriers into education, training and employment.

The role requires a balance of coordination, communication and relationship-building skills. You will work closely with colleagues across Employment & Careers and Children, Young People & Families teams, as well as with delivery partners, to ensure Build Your Future is delivered to a high standard.

The post holder will also play an important role in monitoring and evaluation, maintaining accurate records and supporting reporting requirements linked to external funding.

Job Title: Schools Engagement Coordinator (Inspiring the Future)

Reports to: Head of School Programmes

Location: Quantum House, 22 – 24 Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, EC4A 3AB. The role is open to hybrid working but the candidate would be expected to be in the office one day per week

Purpose: This is a fantastic opportunity to take on the role of Schools Engagement Coordinator for Education and Employers on the internationally recognised Inspiring the Future programme. As a charity, our mission is to: ‘ensure that every young person in our country, wherever they live, whatever their parents or carers’ circumstances, has the opportunity to meet a diverse range of volunteers to hear first-hand about jobs and the world of work’.

This key post is part of the Schools Engagement Team with responsibility for working closely with primary school and secondary school teachers and leaders to support them with running activities involving a diverse range of volunteers from the world of work. The role is rewarding and varied and will include supporting delivery of funded projects aimed at these audiences and general administrative support. 

Remuneration: £27k per annum

Additional Terms: We offer an excellent overall package with 30 days paid holiday, exclusive of Statutory Bank Holidays, plus a competitive pension scheme and a volunteering allowance of up to 5 days per annum – pro rata in accordance with the length of contract. Additional family friendly benefits, including enhancements to Statutory Payments.

Appointment Terms: Permanent and full time

Job Purpose:

Reporting to the Head of Schools Programmes, the Schools Engagement Coordinator is responsible for working closely with school staff in promoting and empowering schools to utilise Inspiring the Future and Primary Futures, alongside delivering virtual activities for schools. These programmes are an online system connecting schools to an enormous range of fascinating volunteers from the world of work for virtual or in person activities to raise aspirations, provide insight into jobs, tackle stereotypes and demonstrate how learning at school in the present links to opportunities in the future.

This role will be split between supporting the general self-service programme for schools nationally in an administrative capacity and delivering on funded projects including delivering activities to a case load of schools across parts of the country. There is opportunity to interface directly with children and young people from both secondary and primary schools. through facilitating virtual and in person interactive activities with volunteers.

What we are looking for in a candidate:

Education and Employers is a small charity working at a rapid pace to bring about change. This is a dynamic role for someone looking to gain a breadth of experience in the charity sector and keen to learn about the education sector and career-related learning, social mobility and volunteer engagement.  We are looking for someone passionate about motivating and inspiring children who relishes working with a range of stakeholders to create impactful activities.

The Engagement Coordinator will work closely with the Head of School Programmes and wider Inspiring the Future team to undertake the following key accountabilities:

Key Accountabilities:

The following areas are broken down to reflect the proportion of the role dedicated to each area, over the course of the academic year, with priorities differing at different times of year

Enquiries management and administrative support across the programme team:

• Managing the enquiries inbox and switchboard phone number, responding to enquiries from schools and volunteers about the charity’s work and programmes and how to sign up
• Providing targeted support to schools such as phone calls to primary, secondary schools and colleges independently utilising the programmes using a RAG (red, amber, green) system to convert them to successful activities
• Providing administrative support across the volunteer and school engagement teams, including record-keeping, data entry, meeting minute-taking, scheduling, event coordination, etc
• Monitoring new registrations from schools and sending welcome emails, keeping this up-to-date with the latest opportunities and messaging for schools
• Use Salesforce CRM to support with data management, assisting with maintaining up to date records and supporting data cleansing as needed
• Other ad-hoc administrative tasks as needed

School Engagement:

• Supporting new teacher registrants with onboarding processes such as welcome emails, platform demonstrations, info webinars
• Writing and coordinating persuasive communications campaigns to different groups of schools that have an interest in engaging with volunteers from the world of work
• In collaboration with rest of team, identifying need for and developing new resources and guidance to meet teacher needs and support them to make the most of our offers
• In collaboration with rest of team, developing and implementing new processes and technical improvements, to support increased school engagement.

Project Delivery:

• Recruiting and engaging schools according to the geographic or sector focus of a funded project
• Managing relationships with a case load of schools in different areas of the country to host planning calls, deliver sessions, gather evaluation data and ensure a legacy of independent usage
• Setting up virtual and face-to-face activities including school liaison, securing volunteers, test calls, setting up on the Inspiring the Future system and hosting on tech platforms e.g. Zoom
• Facilitating virtual and face to face activities to pupils to link with volunteers, hosting and designing themed sessions online to ensure an interactive and engaging experience for children and volunteers, following a Q&A or job guessing-game format.
• Supporting and co-hosting sessions to teachers including teacher training, staff meetings and info webinars to promote Inspiring the Future, deepen engagement and demonstrate independent usage
• Supporting the development of educational resources that provide insight into the world of work and different sectors

Person specification:

We are looking for someone with the following Skills/ Knowledge/ Expertise

Essential

• Minimum one year’s experience in a customer service, school engagement or school-based role
• Experience in successful relationship management – ability to engage confidently and sensitively with schools/colleges and at a range of levels of seniority up to and including headteacher level
• Outstanding customer service and telephone manner, including handling large volumes of email enquiries and dealing with difficult situations politely and assertively
• Strong organisational and administrative skills including close attention to detail and effective time management
• Persuasive and confident communicator who is influential, and effective in presenting a concept both in person and on the phone.
• Good level of education, demonstrating capability in producing written content to a high standard.
• Demonstrable experience of managing a diverse workload; being able to prioritise work and working under pressure.
• Good working knowledge and practical application of Microsoft Office tools

 Desirable

• Passion for supporting young people in realising their potential through harnessing skilled volunteers to engage in education
• Experience in virtual facilitation with children and young people
• Experience of project management and delivery
• Experience of client relationships management (CRM) databases, in particular Salesforce
• Experience of marketing to schools
• Experience of working in a small team
• Experience of working with volunteers
• Understanding of safeguarding, risk management and data protection
• Comfort and confidence in working with data to inform actions

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to uphold our charity’s five values - Inspiring, Inclusive, Innovative, Impactful, Integrity
• Flexible – responsive to changing operational context and new opportunities
• Team Player: working collaboratively and flexibly to achieve outcomes and is keen to add value to the organisation’s culture and ethos
• Able to undertake some occasional work in the evenings and at weekends
• Able to travel in the UK if required

Application process

The Education and Employers charity values having a diverse workforce.  We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. We offer a range of inclusive employment and family friendly policies as well as flexible working arrangements in order to support staff from different backgrounds. 

The closing date for applications is 9am on Wednesday 4th February and interviews will take place in the week of the 9th February. The organisation reserves the right to conduct interviews and appoint prior to the closing date dependent on the calibre of applications received.

Please send a covering letter of no more than 2-3 sides of A4 setting out your interest in and suitability for the role against the job description and person specification, together with an up to date CV. Please include your name and the role applied for in the subject line of your e-mail. Thank you

*Please note, in your cover letter we have a strong preference for human-written content. We want to hear about you, your genuine interest in the role, and why from your experience, skills, and personality you feel you are a great fit for the role

We will only consider applications with both a CV and covering letter and applications will only be accepted from those with the right to work in the UK with a valid passport/visa. 

Thank you for taking the time to consider this role. We very much look forward to receiving your application!

The Charity is fully committed to safeguarding those in our care. We plan our recruitment processes to ensure effective timelines for any required vetting processes such as enhanced DBS, qualification, reference and identity checks. The Charity also ensures that each staff member is appropriately trained for their duties with a comprehensive induction process on commencement and regular CPD in areas like safeguarding. 

About the Education and Employers Charity

Education and Employers is an independent UK based charity launched in 2009 with the original vision of “providing children and young people with the inspiration, motivation, knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to help them achieve their potential”. Our current strategic plan and mission is available to read here. It aims to achieve this by working with schools, employers, the national bodies that represent them and a wide range of other partners including the government and third sector organisations. The charity also works with partners internationally – more details here.

The charity runs Inspiring the Future, a free service which uses innovative match-making technology to connect volunteers with state schools and colleges, quickly, simply and at scale. Schools can very easily search a massive database of willing volunteers, filter against a wide range of criteria – e.g. subject, sector, career route and send them a message. It enables young people, wherever they live, whichever school they attend, the opportunity to meet people from a wide range of backgrounds doing jobs from across the whole world of work.

Over 90,000 people have already volunteered in the UK - people from all levels: apprentices to CEOs and all sectors: apps designers to zoologists and over 85% of English secondary schools and 42% of primary schools have registered with us. People can volunteer from an hour a year in a local primary or secondary school to chat informally about their job and career route, take part in career speed networking session, give careers insights, provide mock interviews or feedback on CVs through to serving as a governor or trustee.  There is also the opportunity to link up with schools for workplace visits, job shadowing and mentoring.

Inspiring the Future operates on a technology platform kindly developed in partnership with Deloitte, Salesforce and Ordnance Survey. It allows the charity to run national campaigns and others focused on specific geographic areas or economic sectors such as engineering, science, health and arts and culture. The campaigns have secured high profile support across government, business and teacher associations and ongoing corporate partnerships including our lead corporate partner Bank of America.

In partnership with the National Association of Head Teachers the charity has developed a version for primary schools called Primary Futures and over 6,500 primaries have already signed up. To see a short clip on how it works please click here.  All campaigns run through Inspiring the Future share a common objective: to broaden young people’s horizons, raise their aspirations and show them the range of opportunities and careers routes e.g. apprenticeships and university open to them. Over 5 million interactions between young people and volunteers from the world of work have already taken place.

Since the Charity’s launch it has sought to understand what difference employer engagement in education makes to young people and the economy. It works with academics and researchers from around the world and its own research is regularly cited by government and international organisations like the OECD. The research, which has informed and influenced a range of government policies, shows that employer engagement helps improve social mobility, reduces the likelihood of young people becoming NEET (not in education, employment of training), increases the amount they earn in adult life, helps them make better informed career choices and leads to improvements in educational attainment.

Who we’re looking for

We are looking for a passionate and skilled development professional who wants to make a real difference for children, young people, and families in Bury. The main aim of this role is to strengthen the capacity of VCSE organisations in Bury to deliver safe, inclusive, and impactful services for children and young people.

This role is about more than delivering projects. It’s about shaping systems, amplifying voices, and building capacity across the voluntary sector. You will be a connector, advocate and facilitator: supporting grassroots organisations to thrive, embedding safeguarding and better practice, and championing youth voice in decision-making.

If you believe in co-production, equity, and the empowerment of communities, this is your opportunity to lead work that transforms lives and strengthens the VCSE sector in Bury for the future.

Main Responsibilities

• Scope the children’s and young people’s sector in Bury, building positive relationships in the process.
• Create and maintain relationships with children & young people’s VCSE groups and organisations
• Supporting the work of our VCSE organisations and helping them to increase their capacity and capabilities, including their safeguarding skills, through information, advice and guidance (IAG) and training
• Working closely with Bury Integrated Safeguarding Partnership to develop and deliver high-quality, accessible child safeguarding materials, training, workshops and support packages that enable VCSE groups and organisations to build strong and effective safeguarding policies and procedures to meet safeguarding requirements
• To enable the VCSE sector to develop its safeguarding practices and policies with children, and to meet their safeguarding requirements
• Develop and deliver Trauma Informed Training to VCSE groups and Organisations. · Facilitate the Bury VCSE Children, Young People's and Families Forum, including ensuring the production of the forum’s communications, paperwork and resources.
• Represent Bury VCFA and the Bury VCSE Sector as appropriate at key boards, forums and meetings. · Build positive working relationships with VCSE groups and organisations, statutory partners, commissioners and funders.
• Advocating for the role of the VCSE sector in strategic plans/as delivery partners in line with Bury memorandum of understanding between the public and VCSE sector.
• Lead youth engagement initiatives, including youth-led grant-making and civic leadership development · Support co-production activities with young people and families to influence local service design.

We’re looking for a creative and data-driven Product Marketing and Engagement Manager to strengthen how schools and staff connect with our products, particularly the Boxall Profile® Online and our wider nurture-based professional learning and recognition product offerings.

You’ll lead campaigns and engagement strategies that grow adoption and retention across our user base, working closely with product managers, the communications team, and partners. This role sits at the heart of translating our mission into action and helping schools see, use, and value nurtureuk’s evidence-based tools.

Nurtureuk is a charity that has been working with schools for many years to improve the social and emotional development of children and young people. We help schools remove barriers to learning by promoting nurture in education. 

We believe in a whole-school approach to promote access to education for all. With increasing numbers of children and young people affected by social, emotional and behavioural difficulties inhibiting their progress and limiting their life chances, nurtureuk has developed a range of interventions and support to give vulnerable children and young people the opportunity to be the best they can be. 

With the continued school attendance crisis, rise in exclusions and misunderstood behaviour support, the need for our work has never been greater, and the potential is clear. We have a dedicated team, trustees, and a CEO who is passionate about education and the development of young people.

Reporting to the Director of Products and Services, you’ll take ownership of developing and delivering marketing and engagement strategies that strengthen our product portfolio and deepen relationships with our customers.

You’ll work closely with Product Managers and the External Relations team to plan and deliver targeted campaigns, design engaging content, and improve how our products are positioned, experienced, and valued by schools and practitioners.

Your main duties will be in five main areas:

• Designing and delivering regular marketing activity and campaigns
• Product positioning and messaging
• Content and collateral development
• Designing and delivering email and other engagement activity for existing and new customers
• Customer engagement and retention

Please see the attached job description and person specification for further details.

Mentivity is seeking 2 Senior Youth Workers to support the delivery of high-quality, safe and engaging youth work sessions for young people across our Southwark youth clubs and school holiday provision. Female applicants are particularly encouraged to apply as part of our commitment to building a diverse and representative workforce.

This role is ideal for an experienced youth work professional who is passionate about empowering young people, creating inclusive spaces, and supporting positive personal, social and emotional development.

About Mentivity:

Founded in 2016 by Sayce Holmes-Lewis alongside co-founders Leon Wright and Tyson Holmes-Lewis, Mentivity is an award-winning, inspirational mentoring organisation that provides aspirational support for young people, schools, families and communities.

Through Mentivity House, we provide a dedicated space for youth development and community engagement, including youth clubs, tailored programmes and respite provision. Our work focuses on raising aspirations, improving life outcomes and ensuring young people feel seen, heard and supported.

What we do:

Youth Work & Mentoring
High-quality, relationship-led youth work that supports young people to develop confidence, resilience and life skills.

Mentivity House & Community Delivery
Inclusive youth clubs, community programmes and safe spaces rooted in the needs of the local Southwark community.

Holiday & Enrichment Programmes
Structured, engaging school holiday provision offering activities, trips, meals and enrichment opportunities for young people who benefit from additional support outside term time.

The Role:

As a Senior Youth Worker, you will play a key role in delivering engaging, youth-led sessions across community and holiday settings. You will build trusted relationships with young people, model positive behaviour, uphold safeguarding standards and contribute to a safe, welcoming environment where all young people can thrive.

You will also support inclusive practice, particularly for young people facing additional challenges or vulnerabilities, and work collaboratively with staff, volunteers and partners to ensure high-quality delivery.

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference within a values-driven organisation that is deeply committed to young people and the communities we serve.

#Senior Youth Worker #Mentor #Youth #Youth Worker #Youth Work #Youth Mentoring #Senior Youth Work 

We’re offering an opportunity to support the delivery of the Trust’s flagship Lessons from Auschwitz Project, and the Trust’s Youth Advocacy Programme (AKA Ambassador Programme), including all content and quality assurance related to the delivery of a portfolio of activity that falls within these programmes. Ensuring that the young people we work with, through these programmes, understand what the Holocaust was, inspiring them to be part of ensuring this history is remembered, and empowering them to recognise and address antisemitism when they see it today. Driving our youth engagement strategy, developing high quality and empowering content, and advocating for youth engagement and youth advocacy.

About the Role
The Senior Programme Development Lead (Lessons from Auschwitz Project and Ambassador Programme) Maternity Cover is accountable for the delivery of the Trust’s flagship Lessons from Auschwitz Project, and the Trust’s Youth Advocacy Programme (AKA Ambassador Programme), including all content and quality assurance related to the delivery of a portfolio of activity that falls within these programmes. The remit of the Senior Programme Development Lead (Lessons from Auschwitz Project and Ambassador Programme) Maternity Cover will include two areas of leadership:

1. The continued development and delivery of our Youth Advocacy/Ambassador Programme – the Trust’s youth engagement initiative. The SPDL is responsible for ensuring that through this programme the Trust engages young people across the country, ensuring they understand what the Holocaust was, inspiring them to be part of ensuring this history is remembered, and empowering them to recognise and address antisemitism when they see it today. The SPDL is responsible for driving a youth engagement strategy, which actively scales up the reach of the programme – bringing it to new audiences. They will be responsible for developing high quality, inspiring, engaging and empowering content to young people in England, Scotland and Wales – quality assuring the programme and all associated initiatives. The SPDL will be an advocate, internally and externally, for youth engagement and youth advocacy, ensuring the Trust’s voice and reputation plays a role in leading and shaping the sector and a future where young people play an active role in Holocaust remembrance and tackling antisemitism today.

2. Oversight of the Trust’s Government funded Lessons from Auschwitz Project, ensuring that the programme continues to reach students across the country each year; that it continues to be regarded as a globally recognised site-based learning initiative; that we are delivering in line with all associated KPIs; and importantly that the content continues to educate in-line with objectives, and continues to inspire young people to continue to engage with the Trust’s cause. This role will work closely with the Chief Programmes and Outreach Officer to drive delivery across programmes in line with the Trust’s strategic vision and strategic plans. The SPDL will work closely with the Senior Logistics Manager who will be accountable for schools marketing; engagement with and registration for all Trust programmes; all associated logistics for schools’ programmes; and ticketing and logistical support for the Ambassador Programme.

For information on the key responsibilities of the role and the person specification, please see the full application pack on our website. This also contains information on how to apply. 

Responsible to: Youth Services Manager

Hours: Full time 37 hours (Job share considered)

Salary: £27,500

Based: Hybrid (Bedford + one day per week in Q:alliance Head Office, Milton Keynes)

Contract: Fixed term for 2 years, with possibility of extension (subject to funding)

Closing Date: 18th February 2026 at 23:59

Interview Date: Tuesday 3rd March

Context

Q:alliance provides support, information, and representation for LGBTQ+ young people in Bedford, drawing on our wider experience delivering established services across Milton Keynes for the last 50 years.

We have detailed knowledge of the issues and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals and organisations locally, and it is our goal to create more safe spaces and resources to ensure the LGBTQ+ community in Bedford is visible, well represented, and supported.

Scope

This is a newly created role within our Bedford services, delivering Q:alliance’s established youth support model developed in Milton Keynes and shaping pathways and support that respond to local need in Bedford Borough and Central Bedfordshire.

You will manage a one-to-one caseload of support for LGBTQ+ young people, while building relationships with schools and developing a collaborative schools’ network informed by young people’s insights. You will also develop and deliver LGBTQ+ inclusion training for teachers, education staff, and youth workers. This work will contribute to safe, affirming environments that strengthen resilience, wellbeing, and mental health.

You will work closely with the Youth Services Manager and youth teams across our service areas, building on existing Q:alliance provision in Bedford, where a dedicated youth team already leads on LGBTQ+ youth group delivery.

The role includes outreach across Bedfordshire’s urban and rural communities, supporting young people who may experience increased isolation due to limited access to LGBTQ+-affirming spaces.

You will work collaboratively with the Youth Services Manager to agree outreach and engagement targets, contributing to effective monitoring and reporting systems to ensure robust evidence of impact.

What you’ll bring to the team

This role is a key opportunity for Q:alliance to grow our work in Bedford, build local relationships, and better understand and respond to the needs of LGBTQ+ young people across the area. You will play a central role in shaping a new service, reaching young people who may not yet be connected to support, and helping both staff and the board of trustees develop a strong, place-based understanding of LGBTQ+ youth experiences in Bedford.

You will act as a first point of contact for schools, colleges, and youth settings in Bedford, building trusted relationships and establishing a collaborative network of school and college leads. You will share insights gathered through this work with the wider Q:alliance team, helping to strengthen our responses to local need and inform the development and sustainability of services, including future funding.

You will help ensure continuity of support between schools, our support spaces and Q:alliance’s wider youth service provision.

Main Responsibilities

· Networking – Support teachers, education staff and youth workers to access resources, implement inclusive learning environments and provide support for LGBTQ+ young people in their settings. Develop a network of school representatives to provide peer-support on shifting needs, priorities, and situations in a local and national context.

· Data capture and intelligence - Support Q;alliance’s commitment to sustaining a contemporary data and monitoring mechanism, guaranteeing we can deliver thorough evaluations of our services and competent feedback to our funders and stakeholders on the efficacy of our work. Analyse local intelligence directly from LGBTQ+ youth communities and use this to co-produce plans with young people to ensure our youth services are engaging and meeting needs.

· Support, information and empowerment – develop and implement resources for 1:1 education and resilience work with LGBTQ+ young people, provide support and advocacy for young people, ensuring effective signposting to relevant services and collaboration with parents, guardians, teachers and education staff where appropriate.

· Innovation – work with the Youth Services Manager, school representatives and young people to innovate a schools accreditation system that will acknowledge and cultivate schools’ competence to provide safe spaces and support for LGBTQ+ young people.

· Stakeholder and community engagement – Forge and support enduring relationships with key partners, strengthening our commitment to building an alliance of cross-sector compassionate advocates for the LGBTQ+ community in its diverse forms.

· Education – Plan, develop and deliver positive and engaging classroom workshops and school assemblies to a wide range of young people, ensuring key messages are inclusive of diverse perspectives, including those from black and minoritized communities.

· Training - Develop and deliver training for teachers, education staff and youth workers with the aim of improving the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth communities and the capacity of those with the power to assist in this endeavour.

Skills and Experience

Expertise

· Experience working with and supporting young people

· Experience of developing and sustaining a network

· Ability to deliver innovative education and training packages, delivery, and evaluation

· Knowledge of the challenges affecting young LGBTQ+ people

· Knowledge of issues affecting young people’s mental health and the skills required to build resilience

· Excellent planning, organisation and administrative skills

· Expertise in safeguarding young people, ensuring welfare of all by following policy and procedures in relation to recognising, recording, and responding to safeguarding concerns and liaising with the Designated Safeguarding Lead

· Ability to observe strict confidentiality at all times with respect to matters concerning young people and the schools, colleges and youth settings in which you support through your role in the developing network

· Capable to respond to a young person in crisis, signposting to appropriate resources and support.

Communication

· A high standard of written English, including an ability to write thorough reports, make referrals to partner agencies, maintain outreach files, and record minutes of forum meetings

· An engaging and charismatic public speaking style with the ability to adapt delivery style dependent on context and audience

· Ability to adopt a positive constructive language style when talking to young people 1:1

· Confidence to communicate with relatives, guardians, social workers and related professionals or advocates of young people

· Knowledge of social media and a recognition of the role it plays in young people’s lives

Behaviours

· Skills in forming constructive working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels

· Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of professional boundaries when working with young people and the importance of consistency

· Passionate about equality, the rights of LGBTQ+ people and neurodiversity.

· Evident desire to improve service delivery using co-production initiatives with young people

· An ability to listen with empathy and act compassionately

· Competence to work on own initiative and demonstrate innovation and creative problem solving

· Model conduct essential for successful teams, such as reliability, honesty and courage

Desirable

· Qualifications in youth work, teaching or mental health support

· LGBTQ+ lived experience

Other

· Full driving license and use of own vehicle

· Ability to work flexibly, with occasional evening and weekend working

· Commitment to further personal development and training

· Please note: Enhanced DBS is required for this role

The LGBTQ+ Youth Outreach Practitioner will have responsibility for the following documents.

· Contact Evaluation forms/data capture

· Monthly Outreach Report

· Resource library pertaining to our work with young people

· Network minutes (schools forum)

Apply via our website and complete an application form

Youth Delivery Mentoring Officer

We are looking for a skilled, committed, and passionate individual with experience within the youth work sector (this could be in a voluntary capacity). Whilst developing our focus around youth engagement and early intervention techniques, we recognise the importance of having individuals who really want to make a difference in the lives of young people. The successful applicant will understand our values, ethos and principles as an organisation and will demonstrate a strong desire to contribute to and deliver meaningful and effective youth work. 

Main Purpose of this Role

This is an exciting role at Reaching Higher and demonstrates our uncompromising commitment to playing our part to positive impact the lives of young people and their families. This role has been designed to lead on the delivery of our work and play a central role in creating meaningful experiences for young people via school and community-based youth projects.The purpose of this role is help ensure high-quality support for young people across our various programmes, in line with our mentoring ethos, helping to build an even stronger rapport with those we currently serve and improving accessibility for new young people being referred to us. 

About Reaching Higher 

Reaching Higher is a youth organisation which works with almost 2000 young people aged 10 - 18 each year across Croydon and surrounding boroughs. Developed in partnership with local churches, we are a youth-led charity with a Christian ethos.We place particular emphasis on providing mentoring support to young people and facilitating their development as leaders. We have established strong links with key local, London and UK-wide organisations and our approach leads us into regular working contact with partner schools, community groups and churches. 

Merseyside Youth Association is seeking an energetic and visionary Outdoor Education Centre Manager to lead our lakeside Outdoor Education Centre (based on the Lord Derby Estate in Knowsley) into its next exciting chapter.

You’ll be the driving force behind the Centre’s direction, designing imaginative outdoor programmes for children and young people including those who may never have experienced the outdoors before.

Alongside the outdoor delivery, you’ll bring strong commercial flair: developing and delivering a robust income generation strategy, managing budgets, securing grants, expanding school and corporate bookings, and positioning MYA as the provider of choice for outdoor education locally and beyond.

You’ll build meaningful partnerships, drive targeted marketing, track both impact and financial KPIs, and ensure our programmes not only change lives but also sustain the long-term future of the Centre.

If you’re driven, innovative, and passionate about shaping inclusive outdoor experiences that help young people grow in confidence and joy, this is your opportunity to lead something remarkable.

Note: As part of your application please make sure you highlight how you meet both the Essential and Desirable elements of the job specification.

Merseyside Youth Association Limited Actively Promotes the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Adults, Young People and Children. 

The above post will be subject to Enhanced Disclosure,

Please note, CV’s will not be accepted and should not be part of your supporting information.

Closing Date for Completed Applications:  Midnight Tuesday 3rd February 2026

Merseyside Youth Association Limited is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to maintaining a non-abusive environment

The Partnerships Manager will play a pivotal role in delivering Youth Futures Foundation’s Employer Strategy.

You will embed and scale evidence-based practice across employer networks to create systemic change in how employers recruit, develop and retain young people.

This role focuses on influencing employer behaviour at scale – using evidence, partnerships and networks to embed the evidence of what works across organisations, sectors and places. It does not involve delivering employability support or 1:1 services to employers or young people.

You will be skilled at:

• Influencing organisational or systems-level change
• Translating research and evidence into practical action
• Working through partnerships, intermediaries and networks to achieve scale.

You will work with employer organisations, networks, sector bodies and system actors to ensure that Youth Futures’ evidence shapes decision-making, practice and investment – improving young people’s access to good work over the long term. 

You will have a passion for tackling youth unemployment and a strong interest in equity, diversity and inclusion issues.

This role can be based at our Birmingham, Leeds or London hub. We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

For more information and a full job description, please download the Recruitment Pack.

HOW TO APPLY

Click on the 'Apply on website' button below to apply online. The closing date for applications is Sunday 1 February 2026 at 23:59.

As part of Youth Futures Foundation’s safeguarding policy, all employees are subject to a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, some positions may require an enhanced level disclosure. 

Due to receiving high volumes of interest in our opportunities, this vacancy may close earlier than the advertised deadline. To ensure your application is considered, please submit it as soon as possible.

JOB TITLE: SEND Engagement and Participation Officer
LOCATION: Slough
HOST ORGANISATION: Together As One
RESPONSIBLE TO: Senior Manager – Together As One

Purpose of the Role:
To work across Slough to develop and embed processes that enable the participation of children and young people (CYP) with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in decision-making and service planning, delivery, and evaluation.

This role involves empowering CYP with SEND to make a difference, helping them develop their skills, abilities, and confidence to contribute positively to outcomes for other children and young people. The postholder will work collaboratively with partners across education, health, social care, and the voluntary sector to ensure best practice in participation, and that SEND CYP have a strong voice in shaping local services.

This is a specialist role requiring a senior participation officer with knowledge of reasonable adjustments, safeguarding, service design, and co-production, as well as experience of working with CYP with SEND. Creative, enthusiastic candidates with a desire to learn are encouraged to apply.

The post links directly to Slough’s SEND improvement outcomes, particularly empowering CYP with SEND to influence local policy, service design, and review services to better meet their needs.

Interview Process: Shortlisted candidates will be invited to deliver a presentation or lead a short activity with a small group of young people with SEND as part of the interview process. Interviews are scheduled to take place in the afternoon and early evening of Wednesday 11th February.

Key Tasks

1. Work collaboratively with relevant partners (education, health, social care, voluntary sector, parents/carers) to promote an ethos of inclusive participation.

2. Build and coordinate a network of participation and co-production across Slough to enable CYP with SEND to give their views and contribute meaningfully to service development.

3. Co-produce a range of additional participation opportunities with CYP and partners to ensure their input informs services, policy, and decision-making.

4. Apply a range of participation and engagement methodologies, including face-to-face, digital, and social media, to engage CYP with SEND.

5. Identify and support CYP with SEND to participate, providing appropriate mechanisms and support for diverse communication needs.

6. Collaborate with other ‘Youth Voice’ workers and youth participation initiatives to share best practice and develop training/resources for authentic inclusion.

7. Act as an advocate for SEND CYP’s rights to be heard in decision-making, recruitment, training, and policy development.

8. Promote accessibility and inclusivity, championing diversity across age, gender, gender orientation, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, socio-economic status, and disability.

9. Promote understanding of inclusive participation practices, challenging under-representation and unconscious bias.

10. Establish processes to report findings strategically and via diverse communication channels.

11. Engage in regional or national youth participation projects as required.

12. Demonstrate understanding of inclusion, diversity, and equality in all aspects of work.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

(assessed at application and interview stage)

• Strong understanding of the needs of CYP with SEND, including autism, learning disabilities, speech, language and communication needs, and social, emotional and mental health needs, demonstrated through professional experience in a variety of settings.

• Knowledge of, or willingness to learn about, different communication needs, including non-verbal communication and alternative and augmentative communication (AAC), and the ability to make reasonable adjustments to enable meaningful participation.

• Ability to plan, design, and deliver fun, creative, and inclusive sessions for CYP with SEND that actively engage participants, build confidence and skills, and meet pre-identified objectives.

• Direct experience supporting CYP to engage in social action, youth forums, consultations, campaigns, or other participation initiatives.

• Confidence in applying a range of engagement techniques for both face-to-face and digital settings, including creative use of social media to reach CYP with SEND.

• Demonstrated empathy and understanding when working with CYP, parents, and carers.

• Ability to inspire and build positive relationships with CYP, recognising potential barriers and difficulties they may face in participation.

• Positive attitude towards diversity and inclusion, with experience of embedding equality of opportunity into daily practice.

• Knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, and frameworks relating to CYP and participation (e.g., Children and Families Act 2014, Equality Act 2010, UNCRC, Children Act 1989, safeguarding procedures).

• Experience of producing engaging reports and communications for different audiences, including CYP, parents/carers, commissioners, and partner organisations.

• Flexible and able to manage priorities across a fast-moving workload, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

• Ability to meet the travelling requirements of the role and availability to work evenings and occasionally weekends.

Desirable Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

(assessed at application and interview stage)

• Knowledge of the role of key services (education, health, and social care) in the lives of CYP with SEND.

• Experience in planning, coordinating, and delivering projects or events with/for CYP, on time and within budget.

• Experience of empowering young people to develop their own projects and articulate their views to decision-makers.

• Experience in planning and facilitating engaging training or group work with young people and/or professionals.

• Experience in service user evaluation programmes or youth consultation initiatives.

• Knowledge of relevant social media channels and creative methods for engaging CYP with SEND.

• Experience of innovative methods to promote participation and co-production with CYP, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility.

• Qualifications or experience relating to youth engagement, youth work, social work, teaching, volunteering, or similar professional settings.

• Professional qualification in Youth Work, or working towards one.

Reasonable Adjustments and Accessibility

Together As One is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of our work, including recruitment. We welcome applications from candidates with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and are happy to make reasonable adjustments throughout the application and interview process.

If you require any support or adjustments, such as accessible formats, additional time, alternative ways to complete assessments, or assistance at the interview, please contact Rob Deeks (details below). We will work with you to ensure the process is accessible and allows you to demonstrate your skills and experience fully.

Location: Loughborough, England (Travel required to all Baca Services locations)
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £24,754 - £28,454 per annum FTE
Working Hours: 37.5 hrs per week (including evening and weekend hours on a rota)
Start Date: February 2026

About Us
Baca is dedicated to providing support and care to 16 to 18 year old unaccompanied asylum seeking children who are newly arrived in the country, helping them rebuild their strength, dignity, and hope for the future. We work closely with social workers and representatives from other agencies to benefit the young people in our care.

Role Overview
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

• Provide high-quality support and care to young people, ensuring their holistic development.
• Work proactively to safeguard young people and resolve any issues that arise.
• Be a role model, offering care and compassion without discrimination.
• Support young people in developing essential life skills and preparing for independent living.
• Engage young people in education, vocational training, and hobbies.
• Foster positive relationships within the community and support social engagement.
• Plan and participate in day trips and annual residential weeks.
• Develop partnerships with social workers, solicitors, teachers, volunteers, and other partners.
• Maintain excellent communication and keep accurate records.

Requirements

• 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, organizational, and ICT skills.
• Driving licence and access to a car.
• Enhanced DBS check required.

Personal Attributes

• Approachable, reliable, and a strong team worker.
• Supportive, responsible, and personable.
• Flexible and able to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Holidays And Benefits

• 33 days’ holiday a year (pro rata for part-time staff) including bank holidays.
• Pension scheme
• Health & Wellbeing programme
• Free parking
• Casual dress

How To Apply
If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of young asylum seekers and have the skills and attributes we are looking for, we would love to hear from you.
Please note: You must have the right to work in the UK for this role as Baca is not on the Home Office list.

*Please get in touch with us via the email in the job pack to access a copy of our Q&A webinar held in mid January*

Our CEO, Daisy Srblin, has served since May 2022, and is expecting to take maternity leave from May 2026. We are looking for an excellent Interim CEO, to steward YCF in her 9-12 months away, lead our team and keep our charity on track.

2026/27 is set to be a busy period for Young Camden Foundation, as we navigate a complex ecosystem for the voluntary sector, embed new projects, and drive forward the objectives of our 2025-28 strategy. This is also a pivotal year for fundraising efforts, as is the case for many in our sector, and maintaining strong leadership on behalf of our dynamic and talented team will also be essential.

We are looking for an experienced Interim CEO, who brings particular proven expertise around fundraising, people and budget management, and reporting, as well as confidence in stakeholder relationships and proven leadership experience.

You will be responsible for a team of 7, reporting to a board of twelve, and managing a budget of around £1.3m. You will be responsible for the effective management and delegation of responsibilities throughout the team, via your three direct line reports. You will be responsible for reporting to funders on a regular basis, who fund everything from YCF’s core operations to our grants and onward projects. You will oversee YCF’s complex functions, including grant giving, membership and training, and youth engagement.

You will lead on YCF’s fundraising goals for 26/27 and beyond, helping to put YCF on a firm and confident footing as we look to the future. You will also lead external engagement work at the charity, ensuring YCF is represented and advocating in high-level spaces in Camden, whether with Camden Council, local Councillors, sector and member leaders, and local businesses. 

Please download the full job specification for a complete breakdown of responsibilities and essential skills and experience. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The job of a CEO is hard to define, especially in a small charity, so the list below is by no means exhaustive, or reflective of all the responsibilities you will undertake in post.

However, these summarise the key areas of responsibility and priority as Interim CEO in the 9-12 month period:

1. Fundraising on behalf of our objectives

2026 is a pivotal fundraising year for YCF, as with so many in the sector. You will lead on our fundraising efforts (including identifying and writing bids) for both core and project funding in this important year, to put YCF on the strongest financial footing possible in delivering our objectives to 2028.

2. Team management and leadership

The YCF team is a dynamic mix of individuals, ranging from longer-serving staff to newer staff. You will effectively lead our people (YCF’s key asset) driving performance by identifying development opportunities, and effectively delegating to get the most out of our team. You will also be called upon to make judgement calls on behalf of the team, when these come up.

3. Stewarding our finances

In our small organisation, the CEO is chiefly responsible for the effective stewardship of our finances. Working closely with our Finance Manager, you will set our 27/28 budget and steward and monitor our performance across both financial years (including around fundraising targets). You will oversee an effective audit process in 2026, and ensure records and invoicing are meticulous and kept up to date.

4. Supporting project management and delivery

While staff members hold responsibility for their work streams, YCF is a small team, and you will have overall responsibility and oversight for all delivery, including two sizeable projects in the 26/27 year (the delivery of the UK Government’s Holiday Food and Activities programme, (HAF) on behalf of the Borough of Camden, and YCF’s new cross-borough programme tackling Serious Youth Violence). You will ensure strong delivery across each workstream, identifying opportunities for development throughout, and stepping in where needed.

5. Ensuring effective communication

YCF has a wide range of stakeholders, including members, funders, partners and many others from our cross section of voluntary, public and private sector partnerships. You will be an effective communicator (verbally and in written form) and able to represent YCF in the spaces needed, including with prospective partners, on strategic boards, and with high-level stakeholders. You will lead the team in our written reporting to funders, guiding the team to harness our data to communicate our impact.

6. Oversee governance 

Bringing experience with Board accountability, you will report to the board quarterly, and work closely with the Chair to ensure progress is being driven forward on YCF’s strategic objectives.

[While your closest working senior relationship will be with the Chair, YCF benefits from a very engaged board. As such, the trustees can be available to support you on an on-going or ad-hoc basis. Collectively, they have deep local connections, excellent sector knowledge and expertise in various functional areas such as HR, governance, finance and more.]

PERSON SPECIFICATION

We are looking for the following essential experience in our prospective Interim CEO candidate:

- Successful fundraising experience: You will have proven experience in fundraising in a VCS context, including from Trusts & Foundations, corporate sources, and Local Authorities. You will have direct experience in writing applications, making pitches and so on.

- Proven finance experience: As a proven sector leader, you will have experience managing complex and large organisational budgets. You will be able to demonstrate how you have set and managed budgets in the past, including stewarding budgets to effective use.

- Leadership and team management: You will have experience of leading teams, including in contexts without an internal HR function where these are held by the CEO. You will be well versed in all aspects of team leadership, including managing performance, supporting morale and maintaining YCF’s positive team culture. You will have held the position of Director or CEO before, and have experience reporting to a Board of Trustees, and knowledge of governance arrangements that support a healthy charity.

- Exceptional communication: You will demonstrate proven exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal. You will be well versed in compiling strong reporting to funders and stakeholders, as well as producing high quality reports for Trustees. You will also be an exceptional verbal communicator, representing YCF and the needs of our members in advocacy spaces.

- Project start up and management: While YCF has senior leaders to oversee work delivery, you will bring your own experience in project management, to help support existing and new projects at YCF, namely the Tackling Serious Youth Violence Project, which will begin in 2026.

- A positive attitude: Working in a small charity is tremendously rewarding, but it can be tough to lead a small organisation. You will demonstrate proven maturity in navigating those challenges, while bringing an optimism and positive attitude to your work, including all of the (many) responsibilities that fall outside of the ‘usual’ CEO job description, in a small charity.  

We would also ideally be looking for some of the following desirable areas of expertise and experience:

- Working in a youth setting: Our Interim CEO will need to share our passion for a stronger Camden for all children and young people. Ideally you will also bring experience of working in a youth setting or for a youth focused charity in the past, and be familiar with some of the challenges facing children and young people

- Grant making: Our Interim CEO will steward a significant grant-making budget of around £1m per year. Our ideal candidate would bring knowledge of hyper-local grant giving for community led organisations

- Working with and for community groups: Our team works predominantly (though not exclusively) with members who are micro, small and medium sized. Ideally you will be well versed in the unique challenges facing grassroots community VCS organisations. You may bring experience leading a small charity yourself, proving your understanding of the unique leadership challenges in doing so

- Understanding Camden: YCF’s work is unapologetically rooted in our borough, with all its challenges and opportunities. Our ideal candidate brings an understanding of the challenges of living within inner London, particularly for communities facing disadvantage.

WHAT WE OFFER IN RETURN

We firmly believe you’ll be working in one of the best teams in the sector, with a collaborative and supportive culture.

You will be working with a dynamic and enthusiastic team, and will also benefit from regular check-ins with a present and supportive Chair, as well as support from our experienced Board of Trustees. Flexible working is also available, after discussion and agreement with the Chair.  

You will also benefit from:

· 25 days of annual leave per year (pro-rata’d for part time employees)

· In addition, your Birthday off (or closest working day) as paid leave

· Access to our Employee Assistance Programme, 360 Wellbeing, including 6 free in-person counselling sessions per year and unlimited 24/7 online and telephone GP consultations

· Training and development opportunities

· Free on-site gym access and access to free creative and fitness classes (and access to on-site showers) as part of our Labs membership

· Access to tea, coffee, biscuits and fruit each day at our office

· Discount on food and drink in Camden Stables Market

Please download the full job description for further information. Pease note the deadline for applications is Sunday 8th February - however the Charity Jobs advert will expire on Thursday 5th February, so please be sure to download this application and details of how to apply before this date.