A better future for youth isn’t built alone
YOUTHOOD's mission depends on the people behind it.
People who can turn ideas into infrastructure. Who bring judgement as well as expertise. Who are willing to learn, question and take responsibility. And who understand that changing the conditions surrounding adolescence requires patient, collaborative work across organisational and professional boundaries.
Whether you join our permanent Core Staff or contribute through our Impact Staff, you become part of the team building the organisation behind our mission to #RedefineYouthDevelopment.
The People Behind The Mission
YOUTHOOD is building a different kind of youth development organisation. We work across insight, place and national systems, developing infrastructure that connects young people's experiences, professional practice, local contexts and national change.
That requires a workforce capable of doing more than delivering individual programmes.
Our team brings together people working across organisational leadership, youth participation, engagement, learning and practice, campaigns and systems influence, operations, finance and compliance. Around that permanent centre, additional people bring capacity into defined periods of delivery and engagement.
We organise that workforce through two groups:
Core Staff provide YOUTHOOD's permanent organisational centre.
Impact Staff provide additional capacity around defined areas of activity through paid Delivery Associates and Seasonal Volunteers.
Different relationships with YOUTHOOD, connected by the same mission.
Safer Recruitment & Key Information
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YOUTHOOD is a youth-led organisation, and for our founding leadership and early staff team, roles are typically suited to individuals aged under 26 at the point of appointment.
This reflects our commitment to building YOUTHOOD alongside peers at similar life and career stages, enabling shared learning, trust, and collective leadership during our start-up phase. As the organisation grows, we expect to recruit across a broader range of ages and career stages.
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All roles currently listed on this page are unpaid, voluntary roles.
This reflects YOUTHOOD’s early-stage, pre-funding position. We are committed to transitioning roles to paid positions as soon as sustainable funding is secured, and many of the roles listed play a direct part in enabling that transition.
Applicants should only apply if they are able to commit reliably within the stated hours on a voluntary basis at this stage.
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We recognise that experience comes in many forms. Depending on the role, relevant experience may include:
Charity, non-profit, or social impact work
Relevant academic study or training (e.g. Law, Politics, Education, Business, Social Sciences)
Placements, apprenticeships, or voluntary roles
Leadership within student societies, campaigns, or start-ups
What matters most is confidence, reliability, and readiness to take responsibility, rather than a specific job title or length of employment.
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At present, applicants for most listed roles must be based in England.
This reflects current legal, safeguarding, and operational capacity. As YOUTHOOD grows and gains the resources to properly support staff across the devolved nations of the UK, we expect this to expand.
If this requirement disadvantages you from applying, we still encourage you to get in touch. Some roles, such as casual or project-based work, may not require the same locality, and future opportunities may be more flexible.
You may also wish to join Mission Groundwork, YOUTHOOD’s open contributor space, which does not hold geographical limits and enables individuals to support, shape, and contribute to our work from anywhere.
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Some roles may require:
A DBS check
Completion of safeguarding training
Where required, successful applicants will be expected to either:
Already hold the relevant checks/training, or
Arrange and cover the cost themselves
At this stage, YOUTHOOD is not able to fund DBS checks or training, but we will clearly indicate where these are required.
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Regardless of role or remit, all staff and leaders are expected to uphold YOUTHOOD’s core values:
Integrity – acting honestly and responsibly
Presence – being reliable, engaged, and communicative
Inclusion – respecting difference and widening participation
Curiosity – learning, questioning, and improving
Respect – towards young people, colleagues, and partnersWe take these expectations seriously as part of creating a safe, credible, and values-led organisation.
YOUTHOOD Core Staff
Build and steward YOUTHOOD with us.
Core Staff hold the ongoing functions required to lead, develop and sustain YOUTHOOD.
Rather than building our permanent workforce around individual projects, Core Staff roles are organised around the capabilities the organisation needs across its mission. This allows people to work across programmes, frameworks and Levels of Change while maintaining clear areas of responsibility and organisational expertise.
Joining Core Staff means becoming part of YOUTHOOD's continuing organisational team, contributing not only to what we deliver but to how the organisation develops, learns and operates over time.
Current Openings
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This space is resting, the work absolutely isn’t.
We’re not hiring for these roles right now — but we’re actively building, shaping, and preparing what comes next. Check back soon or stay connected as new opportunities begin to take form.
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We’ve hit pause, not stop. Keep your eyes here.
We’re not hiring for these roles right now — but we’re actively building, shaping, and preparing what comes next. Check back soon or stay connected as new opportunities begin to take form.
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Not open, but far from quiet behind the curtain.
We’re not hiring for these roles right now — but we’re actively building, shaping, and preparing what comes next. Check back soon or stay connected as new opportunities begin to take form.
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No vacancies today, but we're alive behind scenes.
We’re not hiring for these roles right now — but we’re actively building, shaping, and preparing what comes next. Check back soon or stay connected as new opportunities begin to take form.
YOUTHOOD Impact Staff
Bring additional capacity where the mission needs it.
Not every role YOUTHOOD needs should become a permanent staff position.
Our Impact Staff provide additional capacity around defined periods of delivery, engagement and organisational activity. This allows us to bring more people into the mission while remaining clear about the difference between ongoing organisational responsibility, paid sessional work and genuine volunteering.
There are two distinct ways to join our Impact Staff.
Current Openings
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Still brewing the perfect mix of local magic.
We’re not hiring for regional roles just yet — but sign up for updates or check back as we begin our outreach across the UK.
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No job title yet, just a lot of potential loitering.
We’re not hiring for regional roles just yet — but sign up for updates or check back as we begin our outreach across the UK.
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Think energy. Think purpose. Hold That.
We’re not hiring for regional roles just yet — but sign up for updates or check back as we begin our outreach across the UK.
WORKSHOPS
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OUTREACH
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CREATIVITY
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SOCIALS
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PLANNING
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VISIBILITY
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ACTION
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INSPIRATION
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COMMUNITY
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IMPACT
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IDEAS
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DELIVERY
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WORKSHOPS | OUTREACH | CREATIVITY | SOCIALS | PLANNING | VISIBILITY | ACTION | INSPIRATION | COMMUNITY | IMPACT | IDEAS | DELIVERY |
YOUTHOOD Regional Legacy Programmes
We’re building something bold for student changemakers — our Impact Teams will lead YOUTHOOD’s work on the ground, connecting with schools, youth, and community spaces. If we’re not at your uni yet… trust us, we’re getting there.
Over summer, you might be leading pop-up workshops, hosting youth stalls, or planning local events. During term-time, expect to co-deliver enrichment sessions and day-long school takeovers that bring youth voice to life.
Current Openings
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This one's still in the group chat.
We’re either mapping your uni, drafting a plan for your city, or sipping coffee thinking about both. Follow us on socials to catch the moment we make it official.
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Outreach pending. Vibes loading.
We’re either mapping your uni, drafting a plan for your city, or sipping coffee thinking about both. Follow us on socials to catch the moment we make it official.
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This is your sign — even if the sign isn’t clickable yet.
We’re either mapping your uni, drafting a plan for your city, or sipping coffee thinking about both. Follow us on socials to catch the moment we make it official.
If you’re passionate about youth development and want to contribute to YOUTHOOD’s mission, you can still get involved through Mission Groundwork — our national community of collaborators and contributors.
You’ll have the chance to support projects, events, and campaigns as a Delivery Associate, gaining hands-on experience while helping us turn vision into impact.