Youth engagement jobs

Every childhood is worth fighting for. This is our belief. It drives us. And it motivates our award-winning Policy and Influencing  team to maintain the NSPCC's position as an influential, informed and forceful voice at every level. Join us as a Policy and Public Affairs Assistant (Wales and Child Safety Online) and be part of progress that means more

The postholder will use their skills and experience to strengthen the NSPCC's impact on public policy and legislation, and in doing so make a significantcontribution to keeping children safe. Theywill be responsible for undertaking a range of work to achieve the NSPCC's strategic goals. This will include: 

•  providing an effective and efficient administrative support service to the team 
•  supporting policy analysis and development, policy research and publicaffairs and influencing activities
• supporting participation work in Wales and across the Child Safety Online workstream. 

The post holder will be based in the Policy and Influencing Team in Wales, assisting with parliamentary monitoring, research and policy analysis, managing engagements with external audiences and organising events. The post holder willalso support colleagues in our UK Child Safety Online work, with a particularfocus on supporting the organisation of participation activities with children and young people and project delivery across the team's work. This is a great opportunity to develop policy and public affairs skills in an authoritative and well-respected children's charity. 

We're looking for someone with a clear commitment to the NSPCC's vision to working together to stop child abuse and neglect, and excellent administrativeand IT skills to support with managing engagements with external audiences and organising events.Our new colleague will also have strong skills in researching, analysing and summarising key information. Finally, we're looking for someone who works well across different teams and can support a range of policy projects. 

Join us and you'll become part of a team that cares about the work they do and the people they work with. You'll discover opportunities to grow, along withchallenges and a shared purpose that'll bring the best out in you. And you'll get to find your own way to make a difference that means more, and that impacts millions of young lives.

If you are interested in applying for this role, we encourage you to apply early. To help us manage the process we may close the vacancy before the advertised closing date should we receive a strong response to the role.

In keeping with our values and our policies, if any individuals who are regrettably at risk of redundancy apply for a role and meet the minimum essential criteria they will be given priority consideration. We hope that you understand our position on this and that this will not discourage from applying.  We cannot predict who, internally, will apply for a role, or whether they will meet the minimum essential criteria.  Where no at-risk candidates meet the minimum essential criteria, all applications will be considered as normal.

Food Project Coordinator

This role will primarily coordinate our growing food club project, Bristol Goods, but will also provide support for our other services that utilize food to engage people in support and build community connections. 

Caring in Bristol has a legacy of food-based projects; from our inception as Caring at Christmas, through to Cheers Drive, our pandemic response service. We have a fantastic network in the city’s food and hospitality sector which enables us to work in creative ways to alleviate housing insecurity. 

As Food Project Coordinator, you will play a central role in organising our food club operations and ensuring Caring in Bristol upholds food safety standards. A significant part of the role will be centred around building relationships with our food club members and the volunteers that help deliver the service. 

The postholder will also have the opportunity to contribute to other food-centred activity within the charity, including food provided to our young people’s services and Caring at Christmas. 
 

Key responsibilities 

The workload for the role is split in approximately the proportions: 

~60% of the role 

Food logistics and coordination  

• Support the Senior Project Coordinator to oversee the sourcing, supply and distribution of food, ensuring a consistent and balanced provision of fresh and ambient products for service users each week. This includes driving the Caring in Bristol van (full UK driving licence essential).

• Coordinate and monitor the stock of food, ensuring there’s always sufficient stock levels to cover all the food clubs

• Coordinate the weekly Fareshare delivery and sorting/preparation of food in line with organisational procedures 

• Support the Bristol Goods Team to uphold food safety management within the organisation, ensuring our warehouse space is adequately clean and organised at all times 

• Manage Bristol Goods volunteers on shift to ensure they understand how to carry out their role safely, and enjoy their experience

• Supervise the on-site running of the food clubs on a Rota basis with other Caring in Bristol staff. This does involve cash handling and taking payments.

• Support Senior Project Coordinator to form working relationships with our food suppliers and food sector contacts, and seek out potential new opportunities that could benefit the resilience and breadth of Caring in Bristol’s food offer 

• Supporting the delivery of our other food projects including Bristol Youth Goods. 

• Follow organisational safeguarding, health and safety, data protection, COSSH and van procedures. 

~30% of the role 

Food Club Member Support 

• Interact with members and signpost them to relevant services within Caring in Bristol, in the local community, and city wide.

• Keep up to date with support services across the city to provide appropriate signposting and referrals. 

• Provide support and build relationships with Food Club members through informal check-ins and identify those who may be experiencing challenges impacting their housing or wellbeing. Provide appropriate assistance, including but not limited to, form filling, applying to external volunteering opportunities or training and referring to additional services.

• Uphold the safety and safeguarding of members in the delivery and development of the Bristol Goods service.

• Record members’ attendance, support provided and engagement on our database in line with data protection policies and regulations. 

• Take ownership of our community noticeboard, sharing opportunities and support options in the area. 

~10% of the role  

Other Responsibilities 

• Organisational development work, including; attendance at team meetings, safeguarding reviews and participating in the volunteer support and training. 

• Follow Caring in Bristol policies and procedures and observe our Code of Conduct. 

• Actively participate in and attend supervisions, reflective practice, annual appraisal processes and identified training. 

• Promote the aims and objectives of the charity and present a positive image of Caring in Bristol through good public relations, communications with visitors, young people, guests, people who use our services and the local community. 

#Food_Project _Coordinator #Project_Coordinator #Project_Coordination 

Purpose of the job

As Major Donor Manager, you will support the delivery of UK Youth's major donor programme, cultivating high-value, long-term relationships with high-net-worth (HNW) individuals in support of UK Youth's mission and vision. You will build and manage a pipeline of major donors and prospects, working towards income targets that grow year on year, and play a critical role in securing unrestricted funding, programme funding and transformational capital investment.

This role requires a strategic, relationship-led approach and a deep understanding of major gift fundraising. You will work closely with senior leadership to ensure credibility, effective stewardship and meaningful donor engagement. The Major Donor programme prioritises depth of relationship and long-term value over short-term income targets, and you will be instrumental in embedding this culture across the organisation.

The role sits within the strongly performing and highly motivated Fundraising department, including events, corporate, trust and foundation fundraising.

Why work at UK Youth?

Every young person deserves a youth worker. UK Youth exists to make that a reality. As the UK’s infrastructure body for youth work, we support a network of thousands of youth organisations to improve young lives every day. At the same time, we are transforming the policies, investment, and ideas needed to future-proof youth work for generations to come.

UK Youth exists to widen the reach and deepen the impact of youth work and outdoor learning. By joining UK Youth, you can help create a society that backs young people – through each spark, struggle and success.

Key responsibilities

• Major Donor Fundraising and Pipeline Development

• Cultivation, Stewardship and Events

• Capital Appeal Support – Avon Tyrrell

• Communications and Engagement

• Strategy and Performance

Experience we're after

• Proven experience in major donor fundraising, with a track record of cultivating and securing five or six figure gifts from HNW individuals.

• Experience of building and managing a major donor pipeline from prospect identification through to solicitation and stewardship.

• Experience of senior stakeholder management, including working with CEOs, trustees and senior volunteers.

• Experience of managing a diverse workload with multiple deadlines, stakeholders and deliverables.

• Experience of thinking strategically and developing compelling fundraising propositions aligned to organisational priorities.

• Experience of delivering cultivation and stewardship events for major donors.

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 April 2026 at 23:59 (midnight)

Provisional Interview Dates: TBC

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.

Role Overview

This is an exciting opportunity to shape Shine’s strategic direction while managing the operational delivery of our services for children, young people, and families aged 0–25. Building on the success of our Little Stars/Ser Bach programme for members aged 0–12 and the development and extension of the FIRE (Friendship, Independence, Resilience, Empowerment) programme for those aged 13–25, you will play a key role in shaping the future of our support for children, young people and their families.

Working across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, you will lead the delivery of an established, evidence-based programme that improves health, social, and emotional outcomes for those living with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and associated conditions.

You’ll lead a passionate team and work closely with Shine’s Adult Services Team (25+), Health Team, Wales and Northern Ireland Managers and wider colleagues across the organisation to ensure work is coordinated, complementary, and beneficial to members. At the same time, you’ll forge strong partnerships with NHS professionals, statutory services, and voluntary organisations—driving collaboration that will support our vision of providing consistent, high-quality support for children, young people and families nationwide.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Management
• Programme Development & Delivery
• Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting
• Member Support & Engagement

Please see the full Job Description & Person Specification below and on our website. 

Benefits to working at Shine:

• Competitive salary: Review due April 2027
• Regular working hours, and no shift work (some very occasional weekends or evenings)  
• 3% pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with additional discretionary leave between Christmas and New Year
• Additional annual leave awarded for ‘long service’
• Opportunity to purchase additional annual leave
• Broadband allowance for home-based roles
• Life insurance after 12 months’ employment  
• Access to our Employee Support Programme and Mental Health First Aiders 
• Support to learn and develop 

How to apply 

Shine is a Disability Confident employer and will offer guaranteed interviews if a disabled applicant meets the minimum criteria for the job. 

If you would like to discuss the role with our Deputy CEO, Gill Valentine, please contact Shine to arrange a convenient time for a call. 

To apply please submit your CV and supporting statement, which should outline your interest and explain how you meet the role criteria. 

We understand that you may wish to use AI tools to help you with some aspects of your application but we do expect tailored applications which are personalised to your experiences and not generic applications which are completely AI generated. We encourage candidates to be transparent about AI usage in their applications. 

*Please note applications without a supporting statement will not be accepted* 

Closing date: Thursday 16th April 2026 at 11pm 

Interviews:  Monday 27th April 2026  

Please note: we reserve the right to interview suitable candidates before the closing date, therefore we encourage applications as soon as possible. 

Job Title: Independent Living Capital Appeal Manager
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £47,377
Location: The Rowe, London
Closing Date: 21st April 2026
Interviews: w/c 27th April 2026

About Centrepoint

Centrepoint works with young people aged 16–25 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. We provide accommodation, health support, and life skills to help young people move into education, training, and employment so they can build independent, sustainable futures. Together with our partners, we support over 15,000 young people each year and aim to end youth homelessness by 2037.

About the Independent Living Programme

Centrepoint’s Independent Living Programme (ILP) is delivering 300 genuinely affordable homes across London and Greater Manchester for young people moving on from homelessness. With 50 homes already built and £23m secured, the Independent Living Capital Appeal is raising a further £27m to complete the programme.

The Role

The Independent Living Capital Appeal Manager will play a key role in delivering this ambitious programme. You will be responsible for helping to deliver the £27m appeal target by managing and growing a portfolio of high-value donors and grant-makers, securing five and six figure gifts, and developing a strong pipeline of new prospects.

Working closely with the Head of Independent Living Appeal, you will lead the cultivation and solicitation of high-value supporters while delivering an outstanding donor experience. You will also work closely with development and programme colleagues to align fundraising with live housing developments and future pipeline opportunities.

You will:

• Lead and grow a portfolio of donors and prospects, securing new and repeat five and six figure gifts
• Identify, qualify and cultivate new prospects to strengthen the appeal pipeline
• Develop and deliver tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies
• Write compelling proposals, reports and donor communications
• Deliver excellent stewardship, designing supporter journeys that connect donors to the impact of their support
• Support senior leaders and volunteers in donor cultivation and solicitations
• Collaborate across fundraising and programme teams to maximise opportunities for support
• Line-manage the Independent Living Appeal Officer, supporting their development and contribution to the appeal

This is an opportunity to play a central role in one of the UK’s most ambitious youth homelessness initiatives, helping unlock hundreds of new homes for young people leaving homelessness.

About You

We are looking for a motivated, relationship-focused fundraiser with a strong track record of securing significant philanthropic gifts. You will bring:

• Experience securing five and six figure gifts from individuals, trusts, foundations or corporate partners
• Proven ability to build and progress a pipeline of high-value prospects
• Strong experience managing and stewarding major donor relationships
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including developing persuasive proposals and reports
• Confidence engaging with senior stakeholders and donors
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deliver targets
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and functions

Desirable:

• Experience working on a capital appeal or major fundraising campaign
• Experience working with senior volunteers in fundraising

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days
• Healthcare cash plan (dental, optical, complementary therapies)
• Private medical insurance
• Income protection
• Employer pension contributions of 5%
• Cycle to Work and interest-free travel loan schemes

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Centrepoint is committed to fairness, equality, and inclusion. We welcome applications from all backgrounds, including those with lived experience of homelessness or youth services.

Apply now to play a key role in delivering Centrepoint’s Independent Living Capital Appeal and creating hundreds of new homes for young people moving on from homelessness

About Spear Stockton

Spear Stockton is a partnership between Spear and Stockton Parish Church!

Stockton Parish Church 
Stockton Parish Church (SPC) is an Anglican Church in the Diocese of Durham located in the centre of Stockton on Tees. Using Church Urban Fund information, the parish is the 30th most deprived parish in the country. Their mission at SPC is: ‘for everyone to know who they are, whose they are, and the difference they are called to make in the world around them’. 

As part of this vision, SPC is committed to the long-term transformation of Stockton, seeking the peace and prosperity of the town for generations to come. This is expressed through a number of initiatives and partnerships, including the development of the Spear Centre. Spear Stockton forms part of this wider strategy, supporting young people into work and education as a key contribution to the flourishing of the local community.

Key Information:

• Salary: from £24,598 - £26,458 FTE
• Part-time, 3 days a week - Tuesday to Thursday
• 25 days annual leave pro rata, including bank holidays
• A DBS check will be requested in the event of a job offer
• The Spear Programme offers a rewarding opportunity to work with young people, but it requires a dedicated commitment. Due to the term-based nature of the programme (i.e. two consecutive 4-week programmes in autumn, spring and summer), we expect annual leave to be taken between, rather than during terms

Recruitment Process

Application Deadline: 28th April 2026

Informal Call

Short Administration Task

Assessment and Interview Day: 5th May 2026

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with us pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process please let us know.

Person Specification

• Passionate and committed to the vision, values, and purpose of SPC and Spear.
• Self aware and teachable with the ability to accept feedback and change working 
  practices as a result.
• Experience of managing responsibilities independently, including prioritising workload and using initiative.
• Experience of building positive relationships and supporting individuals to make progress towards goals. 
• Good organisational skills with the ability to operate as a team member.
• Strong communication including written and verbal communication.
• Friendly, with the ability to build positive relationships and relate well to people from a range of backgrounds.

About Spear Stockton

Spear Stockton is a partnership between Spear and Stockton Parish Church!

Stockton Parish Church 
Stockton Parish Church (SPC) is an Anglican Church in the Diocese of Durham located in the centre of Stockton on Tees. Using Church Urban Fund information, the parish is the 30th most deprived parish in the country. Their mission at SPC is: ‘for everyone to know who they are, whose they are, and the difference they are called to make in the world around them’. 

As part of this vision, SPC is committed to the long-term transformation of Stockton, seeking the peace and prosperity of the town for generations to come. This is expressed through a number of initiatives and partnerships, including the development of the Spear Centre. Spear Stockton forms part of this wider strategy, supporting young people into work and education as a key contribution to the flourishing of the local community.

Key Information:

• Salary: from £27,088 - £31,691 FTE
• Part-time, 4 days a week - Monday to Thursday
• 25 days annual leave pro rata, including bank holidays
• A DBS check will be requested in the event of a job offer
• The Spear Programme offers a rewarding opportunity to work with young people, but it requires a dedicated commitment. Due to the term-based nature of the programme (i.e. two consecutive 4-week programmes in autumn, spring and summer), we expect annual leave to be taken between, rather than during terms

Recruitment Process

Application Deadline: 28th April 2026

Informal Call

Short Administration Task

Assessment and Interview Day: 5th May 2026

For more information please read through our Job Specification and Work with us pack.

If you require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process please let us know.

Person Specification

• Passionate and committed to the vision, values, and purpose of SPC and Spear.
• Self aware and teachable with the ability to accept feedback and change working 
  practices as a result.
• Experience in leading, motivating and developing others, including line management or informal leadership experience.
• Experience of managing a varied workload independently, using initiative to solve problems and prioritise effectively.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage workload, prioritise effectively and deliver outcomes against targets.
• Strong communication including written and verbal communication.
• Friendly, with the ability to build positive relationships and relate well to young people from a range of backgrounds.

About Spear Wolverhampton

Spear Wolverhampton is a partnership between Spear and Tabernacle Baptist Church.

Tabernacle Baptist Church is a large and lively multicultural and multi-generational church located in the heart of the diverse and multi-religious Whitmore Reans area of Wolverhampton. Their mission statement is ‘Love God, Love People, Share Jesus, Make Disciples’ and their current text is “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful”. They want to see people’s lives transformed by Jesus. They run monthly evangelism in the community, meet in 8 house groups during the week and run discipleship and other training programmes.

Tabernacle Baptist Church are excited about the opportunity to work with Spear in this new chapter in our church life - helping transform the lives of young people and young adults in Wolverhampton who are looking for work and new opportunities.

The successful candidate would be employed by Tabernacle Baptist Church with Spear Wolverhampton as a key missional activity. Prayer and worship are embedded into daily working practices, so there is an Occupational Requirement for applicants to be practicing Christians and to subscribe to their statement of beliefs. Spear will provide an informal conversation to discuss Tabernacle Baptist Church’s statement of beliefs early in the application process.

Key Information

Salary: £13,800

Hours: 9.00am – 5.00pm, Tuesday – Thursday, Part-time (with some flexibility and occasional evening or weekend work for events such as Spear Celebrations)

Location: Tabernacle Baptist Church, Wolverhampton

Closing date: Sunday 26th April

Interviews: Friday 1st May

Application: We will not process applications through this page, please apply through Tabernacle Baptist Church.

For more information please read through our Work With Us Information Pack and Job Specification.

Role Responsibilities

Spear Programme

• Support in group coaching sessions of up to 12 young people. Coaching them around skills and mindsets to support them in returning to work or education and equipping them with the skills to stay there.
• You’ll be given all the training needed to deliver Spear through our professional coaching methodology.
• This coaching continues for Spear Career – the 6 months’ worth of follow-up support. You will oversee a caseload of trainees and support them in work, beyond the initial Foundation Phase of the programme.
• Lead weekly 1:1s with a cohort of young people to monitor their progress and support them in their journey to employment.
• As part of this you will help trainees evaluate their progress and determine their work readiness throughout the programme – coaching them through challenges, creating moments of breakthrough and setting goals.

Relationship Management 

• You’ll build relationships with relevant professionals at local organisations, and communicate directly with young people, to encourage referrals to the Spear programme.
• You will support with job fairs, mock interview days and welcoming external visitors to the centre.

Church Community 

• The Spear Coach is directly employed Tabernacle Baptist Church, meaning you are part of a vibrant church team and immersed in an exciting faith community.
• Help to raise the profile of the Spear programme within the church and build a network of supporters and volunteers from the congregation.
• Other relevant ad hoc church responsibilities from time to time.

Person Specification

• An active Christian, dedicated to representing the values and ethos of Spear and Tabernacle Baptist Church.
• A commitment to grow and learn spiritually and as a Christian leader, and a desire to learn and understand coaching techniques.
• Passion for social justice, especially supporting young people in employment or education.
• Confident communication and interpersonal skills, both over telephone and face to face, particularly in group facilitation.
• An ambitious and self-motivated individual with the ability to prioritise workload, exercise initiative and work well under pressure.
• High emotional intelligence, a sense of humour and fun!

Barnardo's is seeking an empathetic and child led individual who can work within a dynamic and fast-paced environment using their strong organisational, communication and time management skills to support children in the secure estate.

This part-time position (Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is based within Oakhill Secure Training Centre, which accommodates children aged between 12-18 years, who are in custody, either sentenced or on remand.  Barnardo's refers to Young Offender Institutions (YOI) and Secure Training Centres (STC) as the ‘Secure Estate'.

Barnardo's is commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy (ICRAS) Service to children accommodated in a secure setting. The service is known to children as Barnardo's: Your Rights, Your Voice, and currently works within  four Young Offender Institutes,  one Secure Training Centre and one  Secure Children's home. The ICRAS service is child led and independent of the secure estate; our service is delivered within Oakhill STC to ensure children can freely access support for a range of issues linked to their needs, rights & experiences of custody, resettlement, and safeguarding.  As such this is a child-facing service, and at times involves lone working in the establishments, so we are seeking someone who can see the child, not the offence.

We hold ‘voice' at the heart of all we do, therefore we feel the role is best described by someone who is currently working in this sector: “The role is a Children's Rights and Advocacy role, which means it is our job to empower the children we work with and help them to understand that what they think, what they feel and what they want, really matters. We can speak on behalf of children to ensure their voice is heard and we also have the opportunity to help them to find the tools and confidence to raise their voices for themselves.  Advocacy and Children's Rights support is particularly crucial in the secure estate because children are away from home, family and champions, and also because children in secure estate are some of the most vulnerable children in society; they have often faced considerable adversity, disadvantage and discrimination prior to arriving into custody and they might not, therefore, be equipped with the skills needed to articulate their concerns. Through the work you do with a child such as  simply helping them make contact with friends or family on the outside, to helping them with concerns they may have in relation todiscrimination, resettlement or safeguarding issues, you  may be the one person telling them that  they matter for the very first time.”

The position (Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is line managed by a Team Manager, reporting to an off-site manager. The post holder will need to be able to work autonomously, working to the requirements of the contract and the regime of the STC. The secure estate is a highly structured environment; as a Barnardo's service we deliver independent advocacy and support for a range of issues, whilst still having to follow and adhere to this structure.

This role includes lone working in this challenging secure environment. It is, therefore, critical that the successful candidate can follow guidance and policy and is able to take proactive and individual responsibility to understand and access the service support mechanisms.  This role requires the worker to be onsite for their contracted hours, working remotely only for occasional training or meetings. The advocacy team work on a rota system with set hours each week, which includes weekends and bank holidays. Applicants should also be aware, that due to the nature of working within secure estate, the vetting and induction process can take several months to complete.

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Additional Information, Person Specification and Job Description document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described, including advocacy and safeguarding.  

This is a part-time vacancy with 25.5 hours available per week.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values.  We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people. 

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay. 

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours.  More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application. 

Fitzrovia Youth in Action (FYA) is looking for an experienced, passionate and enthusiastic person for our Peer Mentoring Officer role. If you feel like this is you, we would love to hear from you!

The successful post holder will work with our peer mentoring team to empower young people to co-produce and deliver peer support programmes which draw on their own knowledge and lived-experience to help others.

The post holder will train youth facilitators to deliver our peer mentoring service through one-to-one peer mentoring and peer support group work. The post holder will also support the wider FYA peer mentoring team in training professionals working with young people around good practice in mentoring and mental health support work.

We are particularly keen to hear from candidates with experience of supporting participatory, youth-led group work, youth mental health programmes or peer support programmes.

You can find the role description and personal specification below. 

To apply, please submit your CV and a cover letter (no more than two sides of A4) explaining your experience and why you are suited for this role.

Working closely with the Participation Manager, you will help shape and develop programmes using collaborative approaches with community groups, schools and youth organisations. This will include building partnerships that support sustained engagement with underserved audiences and encourage young people and families to explore ongoing opportunities within Wakehurst.

An Enhanced DBS Check is required for this role.

We are looking for someone with significant experience of working with young people, families and community groups, with a strong emphasis on outreach and partnership development. You will have a proven track record of building and maintaining relationships with schools, youth organisations and community partners, and of successfully bringing new audiences into programmes or engagement opportunities.

You will be confident working externally and proactively developing connections, with significant experience of engaging under-served communities and a strong understanding of the barriers that can prevent people from accessing nature, science and cultural spaces.

You will play a key role in contributing to the growth of youth and family audiences at Wakehurst by identifying participation trends, developing targeted outreach approaches and working with partners to remove barriers to participation and improve access to engagement opportunities. You will support the development of clear pathways that enable participants to move from initial engagement into deeper involvement with Wakehurst’s programmes, including opportunities linked to the Community Access Scheme.

You will be an excellent communicator with strong organisational skills, able to manage multiple relationships and coordinate projects effectively while working collaboratively with colleagues across different teams. An interest in nature, conservation or environmental engagement is important, alongside a genuine passion for supporting people to connect with the natural world.

Experience of developing new participation initiatives, and embedding inclusive practice within programmes, as well as knowledge of evaluation and safeguarding, would be beneficial.

This role is based at Wakehurst with the option of regular home working, subject to operational requirements.

About Us

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RBG Kew) is a leading plant science institute, UNESCO World Heritage Site, and major visitor attraction. Our mission is to understand and protect plants and fungi for the well-being of people and the future of all life on Earth.

We are working to end the unprecedented extinction crisis and to help create a world where nature is protected, valued by all and managed sustainably. We will achieve these goals by drawing on our leading scientific research, unrivalled collections of plants and fungi, global network of partners, inspirational gardens at Kew and Wakehurst, and our 260 years of history.

Join us on our journey as protectors of the world’s plants and fungi. 

Our fantastic benefits package includes opportunities for continuous learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, flexible working to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, an Employee Assistance Programme and other wellbeing support such as cycle to work scheme and discounted gym membership. We also offer a competitive pension, an employee discount scheme and free entry into a wide range of national museums and galleries, as well as access to our own beautiful gardens at Kew and Wakehurst.

We are dedicated to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to interview disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

No agencies please.

Barnardo's is seeking an empathetic and child led individual who can work within a dynamic and fast-paced environment using their strong organisational, communication and time management skills to support children in the secure estate.

This part-time position (Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is based within HMYOI Parc, which accommodates children aged between 15-18 years, who are in custody, either sentenced or on remand.  Barnardo's refers to Young Offender Institutions (YOI) and Secure Training Centres (STC) as the ‘Secure Estate'.

Barnardo's is commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy (ICRAS) Service to children accommodated in a secure setting. The service is known to children as Barnardo's: Your Rights, Your Voice, and currently works within  four Young Offender Institutes and  one Secure Training Centre. The ICRAS service is child led and independent of the secure estate; our service is delivered within HMYOI Parc to ensure children can freely access support for a range of issues linked to their needs, rights & experiences of custody, resettlement, and safeguarding.  As such this is a child-facing service, and at times involves lone working in the establishments, so we are seeking someone who can see the child, not the offence.

We hold ‘voice' at the heart of all we do, therefore we feel the role is best described by someone who is currently working in this sector: “The role is an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy role, which means it is our job to empower the children we work with and help them to understand that what they think, what they feel and what they want, really matters. We can speak on behalf of children to ensure their voice is heard and we also have the opportunity to help them to find the tools and confidence to raise their voices for themselves.  Advocacy and Children's Rights support is particularly crucial in the secure estate because children are away from home, family and natural advocates, and also because children in secure estate are some of the most vulnerable children in society; they have often faced considerable adversity, disadvantage and discrimination prior to arriving into custody and they might not, therefore, be equipped with the skills needed to articulate their concerns. Through the work you do with a child such as  simply helping them make contact with friends or family on the outside, to helping them with concerns they may have in relation todiscrimination, resettlement or safeguarding issues, you  may be the one person telling them that  they matter for the very first time.”

The position (Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is line managed by a Team Manager, reporting to an off-site manager. The post holder will need to be able to work autonomously, working to the requirements of the contract and the regime of the YOI. The secure estate is a highly structured environment; as a Barnardo's service we deliver independent advocacy and support for a range of issues, whilst still having to follow and adhere to this structure.

This role includes lone working in this challenging secure environment. It is, therefore, critical that the successful candidate can follow guidance and policy and is able to take proactive and individual responsibility to understand and access the service support mechanisms.  This role requires the worker to be onsite for their contracted hours, working remotely only for occasional training or meetings. The advocacy team work on a rota system with set hours each week, which includes weekends and bank holidays. Applicants should also be aware, that due to the nature of working within secure estate, the vetting and induction process can take several months to complete.

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Additional Information, Person Specification and Job Description document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described, including advocacy and safeguarding.  

This is a part-time vacancy with 18.5 hours available per week.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.

Are you passionate about supporting children and young people affected by domestic abuse? Do you want to make a real difference through therapeutic support in a trauma-informed, child-centred environment? Join Acorns as a Mental Health & Wellbeing Project Worker.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and empathetic Mental Health & Wellbeing Project Worker to contribute to the development and delivery of flexible support services which address the psychological and emotional needs of children, young people and families living with the effects of domestic abuse, in North Tyneside and Northumberland. You will help to develop, organise and facilitate key aspects of the service as requested by the Team Coordinator such one-to-one support interventions, group work, and youth participation opportunities in a variety of settings including in-house, schools and community venues. Post is to be predominantly based in Northumberland.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver flexible one to one support sessions, using a range of interventions to assess and positively contribute to the individual wellbeing needs of children and young people impacted by domestic abuse.
• Support service users, particularly within the 11-16 age group to develop personal and life skills, promoting self-esteem and independence, and raising awareness of other support services and opportunities available to them and their families.
• Contribute to the planning and delivery of group work, activities and events, including the continued development of service user participation
• Work in partnership with statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure coordinated care and refer service users to additional sources of help and protection as needed.
• Adhere to safeguarding, confidentiality, and equal opportunities policies while maintaining accurate and confidential records, reporting appropriately, and complying with organisational guidelines.
• Participate in training, supervision, and team activities, contributing flexibly to service development and supporting broader organisational goals as required by management.

About You

• Holds qualifications and relevant experience in social care, childcare, youth work, or a therapeutic field
• Experience working directly with children and young people with an excellent understanding of common issues relating to child development, mental health and wellbeing
• Experienced in one-to-one casework, group facilitation, youth programmes, and multi-agency working, with a proven ability to assess needs and connect individuals to appropriate support services.
• Effective communicator with the ability to engage sensitively and non-judgementally with service users, demonstrating empathy, professionalism, and a commitment to empowering individuals.
• Skilled in managing workloads, maintaining accurate records, writing reports, and meeting deadlines under pressure, with strong time management and attention to detail.
• A motivated, flexible team player who values equality and diversity, and brings creativity and initiative to their practice.
• Driver with access to a reliable vehicle for work purposes. This role involves frequent travel to and from locations across North Tyneside and Northumberland to meet the varied needs of service users.

Please note, that an enhanced DBS check will be required.

Why join us?

This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a positive, compassionate and impact-driven team. You’ll enjoy flexible working arrangements and autonomy in your role, opportunities for professional development and training, a supportive environment, reflective supervision, and the chance to help shape our systems for the better.

We warmly welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to equal opportunities.

Ready to apply? Download the candidate pack and get started! We’ll invite you to send us your CV and a short supporting statement outlining your experience and fit for the role.

If you are committed to empowering children and young people and want to be part of a team making lasting change, we’d love to hear from you.

Please make sure you include in/with your CV and personal statement:

• Name, previous names, and address.
• Education and training history, including any qualifications and the awarding body, any relevant training recently undertaken and any professional memberships.
• A full employment history in chronological order.
• Details of any convictions, spent and unspent. Details of any relation to the organisation or staff.
• A signed & dated declaration confirming that information provided is true, with no omissions. You must understand that providing false details can lead to rejection or dismissal, plus a possible referral to the police.
• All of the above information is only used to assess the candidate suitability, and will be treated with the strictest confidentiality, and stored and retained according to our GDPR policies and procedures which are available upon request.

Equality & Diversity Statement

Acorns will be proactive in all matters relating to equality of opportunity and diversity. We value and will celebrate the benefits brought to our organisation by a diverse population within our communities, services, staff and volunteers team, and Board of Trustees. We commit to creating an environment, through training, practice and policy, where Trustees, employees, volunteers and service users are encouraged by example and guidance to confront and challenge discrimination where and whenever it arises, whether between colleagues or in any other area of the organisation’s work.

Acorns commits to:

• Actively challenge discrimination;
• Ensure that all staff, volunteers and service users are treated fairly;
• Make sure that our activities and services are truly accessible to all who might benefit;
• Work collaboratively with other organisations to address inequality; 
• Work to promote an organisational culture of diversity;
• Strive to ensure that the profile of trustees, staff and volunteers reflects the wider communities within which we operate.

Everyone engaging with Acorns, as a servicer user, volunteer, or staff member, will be expected at all times to treat other people with respect and consideration. Our full Equality & Diversity Policy is available upon request.

Safeguarding Statement

Acorns believes that no child, young person or adult should ever experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them, to promoting their well-being and enjoyment and protecting their health, safety and general welfare while in the company, employ or care of Acorns staff or volunteers. Safeguarding and protection of those at risk is everyone’s business; it is everyone’s duty to report any safeguarding concerns to the relevant agency. We also practice Safer Recruitment practices. Our full safeguarding policies are available upon request.

Barnardo's is seeking an empathetic and child led individual who can work within a dynamic and fast-paced environment using their strong organisational, communication and time management skills to support children in the secure estate.

This part-time position (Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is based within HMYOI Werrington, which accommodates children aged between 15-18 years, who are in custody, either sentenced or on remand.  Barnardo's refers to Young Offender Institutions (YOI) and Secure Training Centres (STC) as the ‘Secure Estate'.

Barnardo's is commissioned by the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to provide an Independent Children's Rights and Advocacy (ICRAS) Service to children accommodated in a secure setting. The service is known to children as Barnardo's: Your Rights, Your Voice, and currently works within  four Young Offender Institutes,  one Secure Training Centre.  The ICRAS service is child led and independent of the secure estate; our service is delivered within HMYOI Werrington to ensure children can freely access support for a range of issues linked to their needs, rights & experiences of custody, resettlement, and safeguarding.  As such this is a child-facing service, and at times involves lone working in the establishments, so we are seeking someone who can see the child, not the offence.

We hold ‘voice' at the heart of all we do, therefore we feel the role is best described by someone who is currently working in this sector: “The role is a Children's Rights and Advocacy role, which means it is our job to empower the children we work with and help them to understand that what they think, what they feel and what they want, really matters. We can speak on behalf of children to ensure their voice is heard and we also have the opportunity to help them to find the tools and confidence to raise their voices for themselves.  Advocacy and Children's Rights support is particularly crucial in the secure estate because children are away from home, family and natural advocates, and also because children in secure estate are some of the most vulnerable children in society; they have often faced considerable adversity, disadvantage and discrimination prior to arriving into custody and they might not, therefore, be equipped with the skills needed to articulate their concerns. Through the work you do with a child such as  simply helping them make contact with friends or family on the outside, to helping them with concerns they may have in relation todiscrimination, resettlement or safeguarding issues, you  may be the one person telling them that  they matter for the very first time.”

The position (Independant Children's Rights and Advocacy Worker – Project Worker 2) is line managed by a Team Manager, reporting to an off-site manager. The post holder will need to be able to work autonomously, working to the requirements of the contract and the regime of the establishment. The secure estate is a highly structured environment; as a Barnardo's service we deliver independent advocacy and support for a range of issues, whilst still having to follow and adhere to this structure.

This role includes lone working in this challenging secure environment. It is, therefore, critical that the successful candidate can follow guidance and policy and is able to take proactive and individual responsibility to understand and access the service support mechanisms.  This role requires the worker to be onsite for their contracted hours, working remotely only for occasional training or meetings. The advocacy team work on a rota system with set hours each week, which includes weekends and bank holidays. Applicants should also be aware, that due to the nature of working within the secure estate, the vetting and induction process can take several months to complete.

When completing your application please refer to your skills, knowledge and experience in relation to the Additional Information, Person Specification and Job Description document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described, including advocacy and safeguarding.  

This is a part-time vacancy with 18.5 hours available per week.

Please note due to the high volume of applications for some posts, this advert might close before the displayed closing date. We recommend that you apply for this role as soon as possible.