Young people are growing up in a complex and increasingly challenging world. There are severe pressures on their mental health, employment prospects, and hope for the future.

Youth work is an essential tool to help young people navigate these difficulties and set them up with skills for life. But over ten million young people are currently unable to access this life changing, and even life-saving, support.

We cannot change this by doing more of the same.

Who we are

UK Youth is a leading charity that is unlocking youth work for all young people.

We bring together young people and youth workers with business leaders, teachers, social workers, doctors, policy makers and other professionals to learn, spread effective ways to support young people, and campaign for social change.

Only by working together can we tackle the systemic problems that keep letting our young people down.

The role

We are looking for an experienced designer, who is confident taking a human-centred-design approach to tackle some of the youth sector’s knottiest problems.

This role will lead the design of UK Youth’s support to young people and youth workers. This could include structured youth work programmes, grant funds, professional development programmes, and campaigns.

In 2024, our priority topics for youth work programmes and network development are: mental health, employability, youth social action, outdoor learning and physical literacy.

This is a career highlight role for candidates with expertise in human-centred design and experience of developing high quality initiatives for young people and/or the professionals that support them.

Why work at UK Youth?

UK Youth wants all young people to be equipped to thrive and empowered to contribute at every stage of their lives. Youth work can be life changing (and even life saving.) We have developed a strategy to unlock youth work so that every young person in the UK can benefit. We work with others to ensure that the youth sector is strengthened and that provision is youth-led, evidence-informed, and delivers high-quality outcomes.

UK Youth plays a unique role in addressing the lack of investment in the youth sector, the lack of cross-sector understanding in how youth work makes a difference, and the limited opportunities to embed effective solutions. These factors lead to mass inequality of access to youth services for young people. Come and be part of this change.

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 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: 28th February 2024 at 11:59pm (Midnight)

First Round Interview dates proposed: 6th & 7th March 2024

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.