Youth engagement officer youth engagement officer jobs

Youth Volunteering Officer

35 hours per week, temporary contract until December 2028.

We are Chester Zoo

We're not just an award-winning visitor attraction that's home to 30,000 incredible animals within 128 acres of stunning gardens. We're a major conservation charity committed to preventing extinction and restoring nature, both locally and globally.

As the world faces an extinction crisis, we're making a significant contribution to conservation when it's needed most. We are Chester Zoo and we prevent extinction.

The Role

We have an exciting opportunity for a Youth Volunteering Officer to join our Volunteering Team within the Conservation Education and Engagement Directorate.

As a Youth Volunteering Officer, you will work closely with the Volunteer Manager and the Networks for Nature project staff to deliver an inclusive volunteering programme for young people aged 14-25. The role focuses on creating meaningful opportunities that connect young people with conservation and social action, whilst supporting their personal development and wellbeing.

The Youth Volunteering Officer will recruit, train and mentor young volunteers, ensuring high-quality experiences that are inclusive, safe and impactful. The Youth Volunteering Officer will also recruit, train and support adult Youth Champion Volunteers who will be empower and support the youth volunteers to participate and engage in the volunteer programme.

As Youth Volunteer Officer, you will co-ordinate a supported programme for young people that will include practical conservation, visitor engagement and the Conservation Changemakers programme, designing and delivering their own projects while recognising and evidencing the skills they gain.

The role will also support the delivery of our wider youth programmes including our Environmental Leadership courses, and Youth Network events supporting pathways for young people to access training, events, and volunteer experiences.

We're looking for someone who can:

Programme Delivery

With guidance from the Volunteer Manager, coordinate and deliver youth volunteering opportunities for young people aged 14-25, including practical conservation activities, visitor engagement opportunities and social action projects. Support young people to develop skills, confidence and experience through meaningful volunteering.

Volunteer Recruitment and Support

Recruit, induct, train and support youth volunteers, ensuring they receive a positive and rewarding volunteering experience. Support young people to access pathways into conservation, community action and the wider youth programme. Recruit, train and support Youth Champion Volunteers who play a key role in encouraging and facilitating youth participation within the programme.

Inclusive Participation

Work proactively to reduce barriers to participation and provide tailored support for young people from diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities, neurodiversity, mental health challenges or socio-economic disadvantage.

Youth-led Projects and Co-production

Coordinate and facilitate youth-led conservation and community action projects through the Conservation Changemakers programme. Enable young people to generate ideas, plan activities, take ownership of projects and evidence their learning and achievements.

Events, Training and Activities Planning and Delivery

With support from the Volunteer Manager, deliver volunteer events, training sessions, workshops and networking opportunities for youth volunteers, working with colleagues and partners to provide engaging and high-quality experiences. Support the delivery of youth programme events, including Environmental Leadership courses.

Participant Engagement Monitoring

Monitor participation through surveys, feedback mechanisms and regular check-ins. Collate engagement and outcome data, contributing to project evaluation and reporting for internal stakeholders and funders.

Daily Volunteer Engagement

Manage day-to-day communication with youth volunteers and Youth Champion Volunteers, including responding to enquiries, processing applications, maintaining records, organising rotas and training bookings, and providing ongoing support.

Safeguarding, Safety and Risk Assessments

Work with the Volunteer Manager to ensure all youth volunteering activities operate within safeguarding policies and procedures. Assist with risk assessments and ensure that appropriate welfare, wellbeing and safety measures are embedded throughout all activities.

Partnership Working

Work with the Volunteer Manager to develop effective working relationships with schools, colleges, youth organisations, community groups and relevant internal departments to increase participation, reduce barriers to engagement and strengthen programme delivery.

What makes Chester Zoo a great place to work?

Well, where do we start? Here goes…

We’re a huge team of conservationists, scientists, educators, animal welfare experts, marketeers, visitor experience professionals, environmental policy influencers; the list goes on. Each and every one of us is on a mission to make Chester Zoo the best in the world, and our planet a better place.
As the UK’s biggest and best zoo, we have ambitious goals, exciting plans, and there’s always lots going on here. We’re an inclusive and diverse organisation, made up of over 600 permanent and 500 temporary team members, and we know how important it is to invest in our colleagues to help boost their career development. We have ambitious goals, and we want you to be with us for the long term on our exciting journey.

Our working environment could not be more different from a typical office – where else can you see critically endangered orangutans from your office window, or stroll among rare giraffes and tigers on your lunch break?

The Package

• Fixed term contract until December 2028

• 35 hours per week

• Salary £24,062.50 per annum (pro rata based on 35 hours per week)

• The postholder will work 5 days out of 7 including a regular weekend day

• 33 days annual leave plus the option to buy or sell up to 5 days (pro rota)

• Staff pass so you can visit the zoo during your time off, plus multiple complimentary tickets for your friends and family

• Cycle to work scheme

• Healthcare plan

• Discounted gym membership

• Discounts on cinema tickets, restaurants, high street shops and more via Perks

• Pension scheme with generous employer contributions

Our Requirements

• An understanding of and commitment to Chester Zoo's mission, vision and values.

• Experience of working with young people.

• Experience of coordinating, supporting or working with volunteers.

• Experience of delivering training, workshops or activities with a range of audiences.

• Knowledge of inclusive practice and supporting young people with diverse needs.

• Strong organisational, administrative and planning skills.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Excellent communication and literacy skills including by phone, face to face and via email/online discussion boards

• Ability to build positive relationships with young people, colleagues and partner organisations.

• Sound working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and digital communication tools.

• Experience of working in a busy office environment as part of a team & on own initiative

• Full UK driving licence.

Although not essential, the following would be desirable:

• Knowledge of youth work/ youth engagement which could be demonstrated by a relevant qualification in youth work, education, community development, related field or relevant experience

• Experience of delivering conservation, environmental or outdoor learning activities.

• Experience of supporting young people facing barriers to participation.

• Working knowledge of volunteer management systems.

• Knowledge of safeguarding legislation and best practice.

• Experience of monitoring and evaluating volunteering activities

Additional Information

• Due to the nature of the role, this post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

• The closing date for applications is 27/09/2026.

Networks for Nature is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Lead a pioneering national mental-health service for young people, rooted in nature and underpinned by strong clinical practice.

We are seeking an experienced Clinical or Counselling Psychologist to lead its development, accreditation and quality across the UK.

Salary: £57,528–£64,750 full-time equivalent (£34,517–£38,850 0.6 FTE) depending on experience 
Hours: 22.5 hours per week / three days per week
Contract: 18-month fixed term, with intention to extend subject to service growth and funding
Location: Hybrid, with travel to Dose of Nature locations and member organisations across the UK

Dose of Nature is a mental-health charity improving mental health and wellbeing through structured, evidence-informed engagement with nature.

We are developing a Young Person Memberships service for young people and young adults under 25. We will train and support trusted organisations to deliver the Dose of Nature model in their communities, providing the clinical framework, accreditation, supervision, quality assurance and evaluation needed for safe, effective and consistent delivery.

About the role

As Young People’s Clinical Service Lead, you will establish, deliver and grow this new service. Working with our Head of Clinical and Memberships Operations Lead, you will turn our clinical model into a scalable national service while protecting its quality, safety and integrity.

You will lead the clinical assessment and accreditation of member organisations; develop training and competency frameworks; provide supervision and consultation; establish governance, safeguarding and risk arrangements; monitor outcomes and quality; and build trusted relationships with NHS, voluntary-sector, youth-service and community partners.

About you

You will be a current HCPC-registered Clinical or Counselling Psychologist, with a doctoral-level qualification and experience broadly consistent with an NHS Band 8a role.

You will bring:

• Substantial post-qualification experience supporting young people or young adults experiencing mental-health difficulties;

• Strong skills in psychological assessment, formulation, intervention, clinical decision-making, safeguarding and risk management;

• Experience providing clinical supervision, consultation or reflective practice to other practitioners;

• Experience designing or delivering clinical training and assessing practitioner competence;

• Experience of developing, implementing or improving a clinical service; and

• The confidence to work across organisational boundaries, maintain clear clinical standards and help build a new national service.

• Experience in CAMHS, young-adult mental health, voluntary-sector provision, clinical governance, quality assurance, accreditation or partnership-led services would be valuable.

We offer hybrid and flexible working, employer pension contribution, pro-rata annual leave, professional supervision, CPD support and approved travel expenses.

Dose of Nature is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. This post is subject to enhanced DBS clearance, references, verification of qualifications and HCPC registration, and eligibility to work in the UK.

Please download the full Job Description and Person Specification before applying.

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Marketing Officer – Mass

Participation Fundraising

Directorate: Engagement & Fundraising

Team/Department: Supporter Led Fundraising

Date: August 20206

Context and Background

The NSPCC’s mission is to end cruelty to children by fighting for every childhood.

To carry out its charitable work the NSPCC relies on the fundraising support of

people across the UK for 90% of its income. Within Engagement and Fundraising

our aim is to provide maximum resources for the NSPCC, providing the best

possible supporter experience.

Mass Participation Fundraising is an important acquisition and income stream in

the NSPCC’s Engagement and Fundraising strategy, managing the delivery of a

portfolio of Third Party Events and Schools Fundraising products, as well as

stewarding supporters looking to do their own fundraising activity for the charity

(‘DIY’ fundraisers).

We are looking for a skilled Senior Marketing Officer, who will work across these

audience streams to coordinate marketing activity. This role will focus specifically

on marketing to mass audiences to reflect the breadth of audiences who take part

in Mass Participation Events. This includes parents, grandparents, professionals

who work with children, those with a personal connection to our charity, or simply

those who care deeply about children.

We are looking for a collaborative, enthusiastic marketing professional who has

experience delivering insights-driven marketing strategies that make an impact.

You’ll be a great communicator, able to build effective working relationships and

influence a range of stakeholders. You’ll be able to work independently and will

have a track record of successfully juggling multiple projects and competing

priorities to meet strict deadlines. You will also have experience working across

paid, owned and earned marketing channels.NSPCC

Job purpose

The role of the Senior Marketing Officer is to work with the Mass Participation

Team to coordinate and deliver the planning, execution and evaluation of events

fundraising marketing campaigns across all channels.

• Adopting a holistic view of all Mass Participation Team’s marketing to

ensure consistency, and will have a good understanding of how this fits with

the organisation’s strategic goals.

• Working with colleagues in the Mass Participation Team to strategically

manage the planning and coordination of events marketing across owned,

earned and paid channels, ensuring that all campaigns and activities are

integrated, informed, planned and evaluated, and that participation and

income targets are reached.

• Supporting stakeholder teams with strategic thinking during marketing

planning and delivery. This includes championing an audience-led

approach to ensure all communications targeted at mass audiences are

relevant and useful.

Key relationships - Internal

• Reports to the Associate Head of Mass Participation Fundraising

• Works closely with all members of the Mass Participation Team,

including sub-team managers and event fundraisers

• Works closely with other teams within the Engagement & Fundraising and

Brand and Marketing directorates to deliver integrated marketing plans.

Key relationships - External

• External media agency partner

• Freelance creatives – graphic designers, photographers, videographers.

EVERY CHILDHOOD IS WORTH FIGHTING FORNSPCC

Main duties and responsibilities

• Manage an integrated marketing approach across owned, earned and paid

channels to achieve participation targets and agreed KPIs, working closely with

event and product managers.

• To ensure maximum effectiveness and efficiency of mass participation marketing

activity through application of best practice campaign management.

• To take ownership of paid media campaigns for mass audiences in partnership

with our media agency partner. Tasks include the planning and optimisation of

activity across channels like pay-per-click and paid social media advertising.

• Be thorough and agile about monitoring campaign results and evaluating

campaigns, using insight to make informed decisions and determine future

marketing plans.

• To support with content creation where appropriate – this could include

copywriting, creative briefing, webpage updates, email marketing and photoshoot

coordination.

• Regularly benchmark against external fundraising marketing activity, keeping

abreast of current and emerging brand and marketing knowledge and practice and

equipping the team with knowledge and skills as appropriate.

• To work closely with staff across other departments to ensure marketing plans are

integrated and audience-led, in line with the organisation’s Supporter Centricity

Programme.

• To develop and maintain internal and external stakeholder and supplier relationships,

identifying and incorporating best industry standards and establishing best practice.

• To provide financial administrative support to budget holders, planning, forecasting

and tracking spend, and processing invoices and placing orders, in line with NSPCC

policies and procedures.

Responsibilities for all Staff within the Income Generation Directorate

• A commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and

adults at risk.

• To be responsible for updating databases and supporter information systems on a

regular basis in line with Data Protection legislation and NSPCC policy and

procedures to ensure all records are up-to-date and accurate.

• To actively participate in regular department and team meetings, contributing to

strategy, discussions and decisions which will be beneficial to the NSPCC's

development of fundraising activities.

• To maintain an awareness of own and others' Health and Safety and comply with the

NSPCC's Health and Safety policy and procedures.

• To take personal responsibility for keeping up to date with NSPCC work to end cruelty

to children, including securing updates on project and service developments and

general NSPCC news and also ensuring that the fundraising teams do likewise.

EVERY CHILDHOOD IS WORTH FIGHTING FORNSPCC

Person specification

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Proven experience delivering complex, multi-channel marketing

campaigns from planning through to delivery and evaluation, ideally in the

charity, not-for-profit or public sector

Highly developed written and verbal communication skills to deliver ideas

and activity updates to a range of stakeholders, and audiences, in a clear,

inspiring and confident way.

Well-developed ability to build, manage and develop relationships with

internal and external stakeholders in order to achieve and influence

project outcomes

Knowledge of digital and offline engagement and marketing techniques,

including digital media, social media, content marketing, email marketing

and paid advertising.

Excellent understanding of and empathy with the motivations of

supporters, and experience of working with clearly defined audience

segments.

Excellent understanding of recruitment and retention marketing

techniques, in order to achieve ambitious participation targets.

Well-developed numeracy skills to facilitate recording, interpreting,

analysing and presenting performance data to a range of stakeholders,

including those without a strong foundation of marketing knowledge.

Passionate about audience-led marketing that improves supporter

experience, with a personal commitment to the NSPCC’s values and

safeguarding principles.

Ability to plan and manage your own work, identifying conflicting demands

and establishing clear priorities to meet agreed objectives with a

willingness to work flexibly.

Proven ability of demonstrating initiative and creativity to achieve desired

outcomes.

EVERY CHILDHOOD IS WORTH FIGHTING FORNSPCC

Safer Recruitment

As an organisation, we are committed to creating and fostering a culture that promotes

safeguarding and the welfare of all children and adults at risk.

Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and thorough

process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates

to ensure that all persons appointed are suitable to work with our children and adults.

The recruitment and selection of our people will be conducted in a professional, timely and

responsive manner and in compliance with current employment legislation, and relevant

safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance.

Our principles:

• Always seek to recruit the best candidate for the role based on merit including their

skills, experience, motivation and competencies. Our robust recruitment and

• selection process should ensure the identification of the person best suited to the role

and the organisation.

• Committed to diversity and equality of opportunity and will interview all applicants

(internal and external) who self-declare at application as having a disability and who

• meet the minimum requirements in the person specification of the vacancy they are

applying for.

• We will make reasonable adjustments at all stages of the recruitment process in order

to enable successful candidates who declare disabilities to start working or

• volunteering their time with us.

• Any current member of staff or volunteer who wishes to apply for vacancies and is

suitably qualified will be considered and addressed fairly and objectively based on

their merit.

• As an organisation committed to safeguarding, we will ensure all under 18's joining the

organisation will have ongoing risk assessments to ensure their role and

• activities are safe and appropriate.

• All documentation relating to candidates will be treated confidentially in accordance

with the GDPR legislation.

The Role 

Thank you for the interest in this role – it is an exciting one. 

You would be joining us at an exciting point in our journey as we reach the midpoint of our ambitious five-year Evolve strategy, following the launch of our new identity as the Leadership Skills Foundation. Over the next two and a half years, we will continue working towards our goal of reaching 200,000 young people annually across through education and community leadership programmes, while cementing our position as the trusted voice for leadership skills development. 

This role will play a significant in making that happen via: 

• Identifying and securing new customers.

• Retaining and growing income from our current customers. 

• Building relationships that drive programme registrations. 

• Using data and insights to adapt approaches and drive efficiency. 

Looking ahead, with a new identity for the organisation and new programmes and partnerships emerging, this role requires a dynamic storyteller who can confidently identify the needs of our customers and clearly demonstrate the value our programmes can offer. 

You'll be a proactive and confident development professional, skilled at spotting opportunities and transforming these into tangible outcomes. You'll thrive on creating and delivering development and engagement plans that directly support our departmental income goals and customer service objectives. With a passion for building strong relationships, you'll bring excellent communication and presentation skills to every interaction. 

Previous experience in a business development, or sales role is essential as well as good knowledge of the education systems in the UK. Ideally you will be based within or near the West Midlands, South West or Wales due to potential travel requirements in these regions.

Please note: You must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this vacancy. The Leadership Skills Foundation cannot offer visa sponsorship. 

Role summary: 

 Role purpose: 

Retain and grow relationships with existing centres through tailored engagement strategies that drive programme registrations and increase impact. 

• Identify and convert new opportunities through proactive outreach, lead generation, and effective nurture tactics to deliver new business income. 

• Deliver excellent customer service, ensuring a high-quality centre experience that builds trust and long-term loyalty. 

 Key responsibilities: 

 Retain and grow existing centre relationships 

• Manage a portfolio of existing centres, ensuring regular and meaningful engagement aligned to their needs, delivery patterns, and growth potential. 

• Deliver against annual centre income targets by supporting centres to continue and expand programme delivery. 

• Develop and implement tailored engagement plans that reflect sector priorities, sector and programme maturity, and centre feedback. 

• Analyse Business Intelligence (BI) dashboards to identify retention risks, spot growth opportunities, and respond to trends with proactive support. 

• Coordinate requalification conversations and re-engagement activity to sustain long-term partnerships. 

 Generate and convert new business 

• Identify and research high-potential leads across your allocated sectors (e.g., secondary, Wales, community, international schools) using BI and CRM insights, sector intelligence, and marketing-generated activity. 

• Plan and deliver proactive outreach activity via a Sector, Segment and Region Development Plans. 

• Build and maintain a personal pipeline of prospects and log progress regularly updating conversion insight and forecasts. 

• Support new centre onboarding, from initial conversations through to registration and early delivery support. 

• Collaborate with Marketing on lead nurture campaigns, sales funnel activities, and content that targets sector-specific priorities. 

Deliver outstanding customer experience 

• Proactively communicate and engage with customers to support their delivery of Leadership Skills Foundation programmes. 

• Serve as a primary point of contact for your centres, responding promptly and professionally to queries, issues, and feedback. 

• Ensure every interaction reflects the Leadership Skills Foundation’s values. 

• Proactively use our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system to maintain consistent and accurate records of communications, registrations, and engagement history. 

• Support customer feedback collection and contribute to the analysis of satisfaction and improvement opportunities. 

• Champion a customer-first mindset and share insight to improve performance against our customer experience objectives. 

Use data, systems, and insight to drive decisions 

• Regularly review and report on programme performance, income data, and registration trends for your assigned centres and sectors. 

• Use BI dashboards and management reports to inform your planning, prioritisation, and stakeholder engagement. 

• Report on your own progress against KPIs and contribute to departmental performance reviews and forecasting activities. 

• Use our CRM systems and workflow as a planning and prioritisation tools to anticipate risk and drive quality interactions and personal efficiency. 

 Collaborate across teams and support innovation 

• Work closely with key teams to plan and coordinate campaigns, messaging, and respond to customer feedback. 

• Feedback insight from centres to inform programme development and sector-specific improvements. 

• Contribute to team planning meetings, training sessions, and department-wide initiatives. 

• Support the induction of new team members and contribute to a collaborative, learning-focused team culture. 

 Skills, experience, and knowledge 

 Essential 

Previous experience in a customer supporting role, with an emphasis on relationship management and customer experience.  

• An understanding of education systems in the UK. 

• An understanding of initiating prospect engagement, business development strategies and meeting sales targets. 

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills. 

• Experience of working on own initiative and being a self-starter. 

• Confidence in presenting externally to customers and partners. 

• Experience of working with CRM systems, sales forecasting tools, and Management Information systems. 

• Analytical thinking and evaluation skills, with the ability to interpret data and performance metrics to support decision making. 

• Ability to present information concisely using Microsoft Office programmes. 

• An ability to network, influence and build relationships with key stakeholders andcustomers. 

• An ability to convert external relationships into long standing customers results. 

 Desired 

 Previous experience in a sales environment. 

• An understanding and passion for leadership skills development and the value it provides for young people and centres. 

• Excellent customer service skills. 

• An understanding of awarding bodies and their operating landscape. 

Earliest Start Date: 2nd November 2026

Contract: 12 Months with Potential for Exentension

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

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

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

About the Role

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

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

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

About You:

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

About Carney’s Community

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

ReachOut is a youth development charity and a strategic partner for schools. Through collective mentoring and engaging activities, we build socio-emotional skills that transform outcomes for young people constrained by circumstance. 

The Schools & Universities Partnerships Manager will lead the development, growth, and management of ReachOut’s partnerships with schools, multi-academy trusts, and universities.

This new role is central to delivering ReachOut’s strategy to expand our reach, increase income, and deepen our impact for young people constrained by circumstance. Reporting to the CEO and sitting within the Income & Partnerships Team, the postholder will work closely with colleagues across Programmes & Impact and Volunteering.

The role is responsible for building a strong pipeline of partners, securing sustainable funding, and managing existing relationships to ensure mutual value. Through both new and established partnerships, the postholder will support ReachOut’s mission while helping schools and universities achieve their own strategic objectives.

Who we are looking for

• An ambitious, proactive fundraiser with the ability to develop, deliver, and grow long-term partnerships with schools and universities across London, Manchester, and new locations in line with ReachOut's strategy.
• A confident communicator who thrives in a small, collaborative organisation and can build strong relationships with colleagues and external stakeholders across multiple departments and sectors.
• Someone who can work autonomously, manage competing priorities, and identify opportunities to generate income, raise our profile and increase impact.

How to Apply

• To apply please visit our website.
• We are unable to provide visa sponsorship. To apply for the role you must have the right to work in the UK.

Key Dates

• Applications close: 9am on Friday 18th September 2026
• Interviews (in person in London or Manchester): Wednesday 23rd September 2026 
• Start Date: ASAP

If the date for interviews causes any issues, please still apply and let us know in your email as we may be able to be flexible on the interview arrangements.

Please note: the successful candidate will be required to undergo an enhanced criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service. ReachOut will cover the cost of the check and guide you through the process. All staff have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and adults. The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

ReachOut is committed to being an inclusive and diverse organisation. We therefore welcome applications from people of all ethnicities, ages, religious beliefs, gender identities, sexual orientations and any other protected characteristics, to provide a diverse range of experiences, ideas and insights into our work. ReachOut wants to increase the representation of our young people amongst our staff, so if you are from these ethnic groups, we would particularly appreciate receiving your applications.

Permanent | Full-time 

Salary: £58,560 – £71,480 per annum

Hours: 35 per week

Location: Home-based with regular national travel 

Job reference number: 1766

Help shape the future of Cranstoun’s services 

Cranstoun is a social justice and harm reduction charity supporting and empowering people to live healthier and safer lives. Each year, we support more than 45,000 people through services including substance use, criminal justice, domestic abuse, housing and services for children and young people. 

Following a successful five-year strategy and significant growth, we remain ambitious about the difference we can make. As we enter our next phase, we are investing in the leadership and operational capability needed to support our continued development. We are now recruiting an Assistant Directors of Service to join our senior management team.

This is a significant senior leadership role offering the opportunity to lead substantial service portfolios while helping shape how Cranstoun’s services are led and delivered across the organisation. 

The role

Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will lead a substantial portfolio of complex commissioned services and senior operational managers. 

You will lead eight services with nine direct reports, spanning substance use and services for children and young people. You will have clear accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective and well-led, with strong contractual performance, financial sustainability and positive outcomes for the people and communities we support. 

You will provide operational grip and evidence-based assurance, strengthen safeguarding and management accountability, build effective relationships with commissioners and partners, and ensure risks and underperformance are identified, escalated and addressed early. 

You will also work collectively with fellow senior operational leaders to embed a One Cranstoun approach, strengthening common standards, sharing learning, developing leadership capability and improving quality and resilience across our services. 

What you will be accountable for 

As an Assistant Director, you will take senior operational accountability for: 

• Safe, effective and well-led services – ensuring strong safeguarding, quality, operational risk management and service user outcomes.  
• Contractual performance – ensuring services deliver against contractual requirements and KPIs, with strong commissioner relationships and timely action to address underperformance.  
• Financial sustainability – maintaining strong financial oversight, effective workforce management and oversight of the sustainability of individual contracts.  
• Evidence-based assurance – using reliable performance, quality, workforce and financial information to identify risks and drive improvement.  
• Collective organisational leadership – working beyond individual portfolio boundaries to build consistent standards, stronger leadership and shared ways of working across Cranstoun.  

You will lead and develop senior operational managers, set clear expectations and create a culture in which support and accountability operate together. 

You will also lead and contribute to service mobilisation, transformation, workforce planning and continuous improvement. 

Who we are looking for 

We are looking for established senior operational leaders with substantial experience leading complex commissioned services and geographically dispersed teams. 

You will bring a strong track record of: 

• leading safe, high-quality services for people with complex needs;  
• safeguarding, quality and operational risk management;  
• contract and performance management;  
• managing significant service budgets and improving financial performance;  
• building effective relationships with commissioners, regulators and strategic partners;  
• leading service improvement, mobilisation and organisational change;  
• developing senior operational managers and addressing underperformance; and  
• using performance, quality, workforce and financial information to provide assurance and drive improvement.  

You will need to combine strategic leadership with operational pragmatism, understanding the detail when necessary while maintaining oversight of performance, risk, quality and sustainability across a complex portfolio. 

Above all, we are looking for collaborative, credible and values-led leaders who can support and challenge in equal measure, build leadership capability and bring people together around common standards and organisational priorities. 

Specialist experience 

For this role, significant senior leadership experience within substance use services is essential, including experience of leading CQC-regulated provision and maintaining high standards of quality, safety and regulatory compliance. 

You will also need a strong understanding of safeguarding and the governance required to deliver safe and effective services for children and young people. Direct operational experience of Children & Young People services would be valuable, but we are equally interested in candidates who can demonstrate strong safeguarding and CYP governance experience alongside substantial substance use leadership. 

This permanent appointment offers the opportunity to provide long-term leadership to a significant portfolio and help shape the future development of Cranstoun’s services. 

Be part of Cranstoun’s next chapter 

Our successful five-year strategy has seen Cranstoun grow considerably, extending our reach and the range of services we provide. We remain ambitious and innovative, committed to developing services that respond to the changing needs of people and communities. 

As we look to the future, we are investing in the leadership, operational capability and organisational infrastructure needed to support our continued development, strengthening operational governance, consistency and assurance across our services. 

This role offers the opportunity to do more than manage established portfolios. You will help shape the future of our services and build an Operations Directorate characterised by high standards, clear accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. 

Find out more 

Please refer to the accompanying recruitment pack for the full Job Description, Person Specification and details of the application process.

Please note: All posts are subject to an Enhanced DBS check.

How to Apply:

For more details and to apply, please visit our website via the apply button. Please quote the appropriate Job Ref in all correspondence.

Applicants must be able to provide satisfactory evidence of their right to work in the UK at the application stage.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.

Closing date: Sunday 20 September 2026.

We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work. 

Registered Charity No: 1061582

The Senior Youth Inclusion Officer is a key role within the Youth Inclusion team, helping to connect insights and champion young people’s voices throughout our work.

You will be one of two Senior Officers leading on the day-to-day delivery of the Future Voices Group (FVG) – our flagship youth engagement programme bringing together young people with lived experience of facing barriers to employment. 

This will involve working across the organisation to support teams to work with young people, in line with our strategy.

• You will ensure our youth ambassadors meaningfully and authentically shape our activity, in particular through our engagement and influencing of key audiences and decision-makers across the youth employment system.
• You will bring awareness of the youth employment policy landscape, alongside experience of supporting young people with lived expertise to influence policymaking, programme design or service improvement through youth voice approaches.
• This role requires availability for regular evening sessions and occasional weekend commitments.

We currently operate a hybrid model of two-days per week in the office and three-days from home.

Please download our recruitment pack for more information on this opportunity.

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.

We need a Programme Director to lead a tri-borough initiative tackling serious youth violence across Kilburn, Queen's Park and surrounding communities.

This is a challenging and a rewarding role where you will be exercising your considerable judgement, diplomacy and practical project management skills.

Shared Ground is an innovative, co-funded project, seeking to work for the benefit of young people at risk of serious youth violence, with buy-in from stakeholders including Local Authority senior leads and Central government.

If you have a passion for the value and importance of community-based work in supporting positive futures for young people, why not help ensure that this ambitious programme thrives?

See the job description for more details.

Ambition Aspire Achieve is seeking an exceptional, values-led Chief Executive to lead our much-loved children and young people’s charity into its next chapter.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a practical, relationship-based and strongly rooted Newham charity that makes a real difference to children, young people and families facing disadvantage, vulnerability, SEND, disability or risk.

Founded in 2016 by Kevin Jenkins OBE, Ambition Aspire Achieve has grown from a small number of projects at the Terence Brown Arc in the Park into a well-established charity working across Newham. Today, AAA supports nearly 1,000 children and young people each year through its hubs, with many more reached through outreach, schools-based work and community programmes.

Our work is grounded in the belief that every child and young person should be able to enjoy their childhood, overcome barriers, build confidence and develop the skills and self-belief to achieve positive futures. We deliver a broad programme of support including after-school clubs, holiday programmes, youth clubs, SEND activities, mentoring, outdoor learning, sports, family days, residentials, detached youth work, schools-based youth safety work, community events and targeted family support.

This is an exciting and important moment in AAA’s journey. Following a period of growth, the charity is now focused on consolidation, quality and long-term sustainability. We are financially stable, well regarded and deeply rooted locally, with strong relationships across funders, schools, corporate partners, local agencies and community organisations.

The next Chief Executive will provide clear, steady and values-led leadership, working closely with the Chair and Board of Trustees. They will lead and support the staff team, strengthen organisational sustainability, maintain and develop partnerships, champion safeguarding and inclusion, and ensure children and young people remain at the heart of every decision.

As AAA does not currently have a dedicated senior fundraising post, the Chief Executive will also play a central role in securing and maintaining the income needed to sustain and develop the charity’s work. This will include trusts and foundations, statutory funding, corporate partnerships, individual donors, appeals and wider supporter engagement.

We are looking for someone who can combine strategic leadership with practical operational understanding. You may already be a Chief Executive, or you may be an experienced senior leader ready to step into your first Chief Executive role. What matters most is your ability to lead with clarity, care and resilience; build trusted relationships; secure income; uphold strong governance; and keep AAA’s values at the centre of how the charity works.

AAA’s values are Committed, Caring, Collaborative and Creative. We are looking for a leader who can live these values, promote a positive and inclusive culture, and help ensure AAA remains strong, responsive and ambitious for the children, young people and families who need us most.

This is not a turnaround role, but it is a significant leadership opportunity. The successful candidate will inherit a respected and impactful charity with strong foundations, while also leading it through a more challenging external funding environment and into its next phase of development.

Location: Hybrid working in a CAKLC office base in Gravesend, Dartford, Swanley, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge or Tunbridge Wells in Kent. Regular travel around Kent will be needed to meet young people and community partners. There will be scope for some home working, depending on needs of the service.

Are you passionate about empowering young people and helping them develop the skills, confidence and knowledge they need to thrive?

North & West Kent Citizens Advice and Kent Law Centre is looking for an enthusiastic and creative Youth Engagement Officer to lead an exciting project that puts young people’s voices at the heart of advice and support services.

In this role, you’ll work directly with young people across Kent, supporting them to create engaging digital content including videos, podcasts, graphics and social media campaigns. Together, you’ll transform complex topics such as money management, housing, consumer rights, benefits and employment into practical, accessible information that helps young people make informed decisions about their futures.

What you’ll be doing:

• Engaging and inspiring young people from diverse backgrounds
• Delivering workshops, creative sessions and outreach activities
• Supporting youth-led content creation across digital platforms
• Building partnerships with schools, colleges and community organisations
• Helping young people develop confidence, leadership and life skills
• Measuring impact and shaping the future of our youth engagement programme

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience working with young people or community groups
• Understands how social media can be used positively for education and engagement
• Is creative, organised and full of ideas
• Can build strong relationships and motivate others
• Is passionate about helping young people realise their potential

For further information, please download the job pack on our website via the Redirect button.

How to apply

Please send your CV, together with a short covering statement explaining why you are interested in the post and how your experience meets the role requirements.

There is no closing date — we are accepting applications until the position is filled. Early applications are encouraged.

This role is funded by The Crisis and Resilience Fund, on behalf of the UK government.

Are you passionate about racial justice and supporting young Black people to thrive?

Our Youth Employment Manager role is an exciting new opportunity to lead on Poetic Unity’s innovative Employment programmes, which makes up one of our three priority areas: Mental Health, Employment and Education. This role, forming part of our Senior Leadership Team, will play a critical role in supporting thousands of Black young people across the UK to access safe, inclusive and empowering employment opportunities - changing culture and reshaping systems.

Key responsbilities 

- Be responsible for the development and management of the Chief Operations Officer Senior Leadership Training (COO SLT) - an innovative training programme for 10 Black young people to achieve the skills required to thrive in positions of senior leadership

- Be directly responsible for the management of the annual Cultural Leaders programme - a 12 month employment programme for 5 Black young people each year, working across different areas of Poetic Unity and with partners across the sector to develop transferable skills.

- Design, implement and manage The Blueprint - a national framework of best practice for the employment of Black young people in creative organisations

- Ensure all Employment programmes are effectively meeting the needs of the target demographic and are aligned with Poetic Unity’s strategic Vision

- Ensure all Employment programmes are effectively meeting the objectives and funding goals as outlined in associated funding requirements

- Be responsible for the effective monitoring and evaluation of all Employment programmes

- Be responsible for programme budget and finance management, working in line with awarded funding allocations and following all documentation protocols. 

Person specification 

- At least 2 years experience in leadership, people and project management roles, preferably within the charity sector

- Proven track record of effectively managing programmes and services, including programme development, implementation, and evaluation. To hold the knowledge, skills and confidence to bring programmes to life, oversee and manage their efficiency and deliver against outlined project goals and funding requirements

- Experience in project finance management, including keeping to budgets, managing over or underspend, and maintaining required evidence for efficient fund management

- Strong background in operational management - programme impact and evaluation, risk management and programme development

- Experience in stakeholder engagement, relationship management, and advocacy, with the ability to represent Poetic Unity effectively at various levels and build strong, sustainable partnerships to support the programme goals and our strategic vision. 

About us

Poetic Unity is a Black-led charity committed to addressing systemic racism and its impacts on children and young people’s mental health, education and employment. We use poetry and social action to cultivate joy, connection and empowerment across our communities. Based in Brixton and founded in 2015, we have since worked with over 60,000 young people across the UK in communities, education, cultural spaces and prisons. 

As a Black-led charity working towards racial justice, we strongly welcome applications from people with lived experience of racism. We are also particularly interested in applications from women and people from and/or with knowledge of our local Brixton community.

If this role sounds of interest to you please read full job description below with more details and how you can apply

Regional Youth and Community Director
OASIS UK – Youth and Community (OCP)

0.6 FTE, Permanent

Salary:£31,487 (FTE £52,479)

We’re excited to be recruiting for a key leadership position supporting Oasis’ youth and community work in the North West region (covering delivery in Greater Manchester and Bradford).With accountability to the Oasis Community Partnerships CEO the role of the Regional Youth and Community Director has three main functions:

1 Strategic management oversight of local Youth and Community teams

2 Regional development, working alongside other functions within the Oasis family

3 Being part of the national Youth and Community leadership team

The Youth and Community Director will have strategic management oversight of local Youth and Community teams in the region, providing accountability and support to the local leaders and charity boards. This responsibility area falls into two categories; those the Director is directly responsible for, and those they are responsible for ensuring are carried out by leaders within their region.

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

Oasis neighbourhoods are local places of activity that provide integrated, high quality and diverse services to benefit the whole person and the whole community. The Oasis ethos stems from our Christian roots and is an expression of our character - it is a declaration of who we are and therefore the lens through which we assess all we do. This is encapsulated by the following five statements:

a passion to include everyone

a desire to treat everyone equally, respecting differences

a commitment to healthy and open relationships

a deep sense of hope that things can change and be transformed

a sense of perseverance to keep going for the long haul

An Oasis neighbourhood is a community movement and the joining together of all the work Oasis does in any one place, which could include foodbanks, debt advice centres, family support and advice services, healthcare, youth work, children’s work, alongside other Oasis activities in that community, including formal education through Oasis Academies.

The Youth and Community function of Oasis is responsible for the wider community work that takes place within Oasis neighbourhoods, working closely with the wider Oasis family to outwork our vision. In relation to governance, Oasis Community Partnerships is the national charity, with each local team operating from their own local Oasis charity.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing national organisation, making a difference to communities on a local level, whilst also influencing the national landscape.  As part of the package, Oasis offers:

• A pension scheme, currently offering 7% employer contribution
• A generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year (plus 8 Bank Holidays)

Please contact us to arrange for an informal conversation with our CEO to find out more about the role. If you are interested in this position, please send your CV and a covering letter (ensuring you refer to the job description and person spec).

The successful candidates must have the right to work in the UK.  Oasis cannot assist with sponsorship or visas.

We actively encourage applications from people of all ethnic backgrounds and minority and underrepresented groups. If you require any assistance to overcome potential barriers to application, please let us know.

Completed applications should be returned by 9am on Tuesday 8th September.

Interviews will take place week beginning 21st September. (Shorter more informal calls may be arranged the previous week to assist with shortlisting)

Oasis is committed to making a difference to the lives of the communities it works in, and as such you must show a willingness to demonstrate commitment to the values and behaviours which flow from the Oasis ethos.  We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share this commitment and to undergo appropriate checks, including enhanced DBS checks.

Oasis supports Equal Opportunities.  Registered Charity No. 08749179

Working within Baobab's welcoming and dynamic admin team in our Therapeutic Community, the Engagement and Administrative Assistant is a dual role. In your Admin assistant role you will provide comprehensive administrative support to operational, research and advocacy teams. In your Engagement Assistant role, you will lead on developing a successful programme of youth activities at the Baobab Centre (as Baobab Youth Activities Coordinator) and will focus on prioritising young people’s engagement in advocacy and research.