British Red Cross Youth Engagement & Early Careers Internship 2026: Paid London Opportunity for Young People

The British Red Cross Youth Engagement & Early Careers Internship 2026 offers young people an opportunity to gain practical workplace experience while contributing to projects designed to improve opportunities, career development and resilience for young people.

Based in London, with hybrid working between home and the British Red Cross offices, this six-month internship provides hands-on experience in youth engagement, early careers, recruitment data, project support and resource development.

The internship offers a salary of £24,479 per annum, with an additional Inner London Weighting (ILW) of £3,344 pro rata for eligible employees residing and working in London. The position is full-time at 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, and is scheduled to run from November 2026 to May 2027.

Applications are currently open, and interested candidates should submit their applications before the 27 September 2026 deadline.

British Red Cross Youth Engagement & Early Careers Internship 2026 Overview

The internship is designed for young people who want to develop their professional experience while helping create meaningful opportunities for other young people.

As a Youth Engagement & Early Careers Intern, the successful candidate will work alongside colleagues across the British Red Cross and contribute to projects focused on improving young people’s access to opportunities.

The role combines practical workplace experience with youth-focused project work. Interns will have opportunities to engage directly with young people, collect feedback and insights, support events and workshops, analyse recruitment information and help develop resources related to youth engagement and early careers.

Key Details

• Organisation: British Red Cross
• Position: Youth Engagement & Early Careers Intern
• Location: London, United Kingdom
• Working arrangement: Hybrid, between home and the London offices
• Office location: EC2Y 9AL
• Salary: £24,479 per annum
• London weighting: £3,344 pro rata, where applicable
• Working hours: 35 hours per week
• Working days: Monday to Friday
• Contract: Fixed-term
• Duration: Six months
• Expected period: November 2026 to May 2027
• Application deadline: 27 September 2026 at 23:59
• Assessment Centre: Expected to take place in London during the week commencing 5 October 2026

About the Youth Engagement & Early Careers Internship

The internship focuses on helping young people access opportunities, develop confidence and strengthen their career resilience.

The successful intern will contribute to work that seeks to understand the experiences and needs of young people and identify ways to make paid opportunities more accessible and inclusive.

Rather than being limited to administrative tasks, the position involves several areas of practical project work, including youth engagement, events, data analysis, research, resource development and communication.

The role can therefore provide experience across different areas of organisational work while maintaining a strong focus on young people and early-career development.

What Will a Youth Engagement & Early Careers Intern Do?

The intern will support several activities throughout the placement.

1. Engage With Young People

A key responsibility will be engaging with young people and gathering their feedback.

The information collected through these interactions can help the British Red Cross understand young people’s experiences and use those insights to shape projects, resources and opportunities.

This may give the intern experience in:

• Youth engagement
• Gathering feedback
• Listening to young people’s perspectives
• Understanding user experiences
• Supporting project development
• Contributing to improvements in youth-focused opportunities

The role therefore places young people’s experiences at the centre of some of the work the intern will support.

2. Support Youth Engagement Events and Workshops

The intern will also help with youth engagement events, workshops and activities.

This could provide practical experience in supporting activities that involve groups of young people and colleagues from across the organisation.

Through this work, the intern can develop skills in areas such as organisation, communication, event support and relationship building.

3. Analyse Recruitment Data

Another important part of the position involves analysing recruitment data relating to young people.

The purpose is to help identify ways of improving access to paid opportunities.

This gives the intern exposure to the relationship between data and organisational decision-making. Instead of simply collecting information, the role involves looking at what the information can reveal and considering how it could inform improvements.

4. Develop Resources and Case Studies

The intern will contribute to the development of:

• Resources
• Case studies
• Insights
• Youth engagement materials
• Career resilience materials
• Early-career opportunity resources

This aspect of the role can help the successful candidate develop experience in research, writing, communication and turning information into useful resources.

Skills and Qualities Required

The British Red Cross is looking for candidates who demonstrate an interest in helping young people and contributing to positive opportunities.

Genuine Interest in Supporting Young People

Applicants should have a genuine interest in supporting young people and helping create positive opportunities for others.

Previous professional experience is not the only factor highlighted in the requirements. The organisation states that talent and potential can be developed in different ways and welcomes people who are motivated to learn and contribute.

Communication and Relationship-Building Skills

Strong communication skills are important because the role involves working with young people and colleagues across the organisation.

Applicants should be able to communicate effectively and build positive working relationships.

Organisation and Time Management

The intern will need good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.

Because the position involves multiple activities, such as events, engagement, data analysis and resource development, being able to organise work effectively will be important.

Microsoft Office Skills

Candidates should be confident using Microsoft Office applications.

The organisation also expects applicants to be willing to learn and develop new skills during the internship.

Eligibility for the Internship

The opportunity is specifically open to young people aged 18 to 25 who can commit to a full-time placement from November 2026 to May 2027, in accordance with the funding criteria for the role.

The British Red Cross also places emphasis on diversity and inclusion and particularly welcomes applications from people who are underrepresented within the organisation and the wider charity sector.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• People living with disabilities
• People from ethnically diverse backgrounds
• People with caring responsibilities
• People from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds

The organisation states that it recognises that talent and potential can develop through different experiences and backgrounds.

Apply HERE

Commitment to Inclusion and Diversity

The internship is part of an organisational environment that aims to promote equity, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing.

The British Red Cross describes its workplace approach as focused on creating an environment where people feel safe, valued and able to thrive.

The organisation also highlights:

• Belonging
• Psychological wellbeing
• Physical wellbeing
• Removing barriers to fair opportunities
• Listening to diverse voices
• Valuing lived experience
• Anti-racist practice
• Supporting staff and volunteers

For prospective applicants, this means the internship is presented not simply as an early-career role but as part of a broader commitment to creating more inclusive opportunities.

Salary and Working Arrangements

The internship provides a salary of:

£24,479 per annum

Employees who reside and work in London may also receive:

£3,344 pro rata Inner London Weighting (ILW)

The position requires 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday.

The working arrangement is hybrid, meaning the intern will work between home and the British Red Cross London offices.

The London office is located at:

EC2Y 9AL

The contract is fixed-term and is expected to run for approximately six months, from November 2026 to May 2027.

Learn more HERE

Benefits of the British Red Cross Internship

In addition to the salary, the role provides access to a range of employment benefits.

Flexible Working

The British Red Cross offers remote and hybrid working, supporting flexibility within the role.

Annual Leave

Employees receive 36 days of annual leave per annum, including bank holidays.

There is also an option to purchase additional leave.

Pension

The organisation provides access to a contributory pension scheme of up to 6%.

Recognition Programme

Managers can recognise and reward excellent work through a recognition platform that includes retail vouchers.

Employee Discounts

Employees can access discounts through programmes including:

• Reward Gateway
• Blue Light Card
• Tickets for Good
• Other available offers

Wellbeing Support

The role provides access to wellbeing resources, including:

• Peer Supporters
• CiC Employee Assistance Programme
• Headspace App

Learning and Development

Interns can access a range of career and learning opportunities designed to support professional development.

This can be particularly relevant for someone at an early stage of their career who wants to develop new skills and gain experience in a large organisation.

Will Writing Service

Employees have access to a free will-writing service.

Death-in-Service Benefit

The organisation provides a tax-free lump sum to a nominated beneficiary in the event of an employee’s death, subject to the relevant scheme terms.

Cycle2Work

Employees can also access a Cycle2Work scheme through which they can lease a bicycle.

Assessment Centre

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an in-person Assessment Centre in London.

The assessment centre is expected to take place during the week commencing 5 October 2026.

Candidates should therefore be prepared to attend in person in London if they progress to this stage of the recruitment process.

High Application Volumes

The British Red Cross expects to receive a high number of applications for the position.

Because of the expected volume, the organisation notes that it may not be practical or appropriate to interview every person living with a disability who meets the minimum criteria.

The organisation may therefore limit the overall number of interviews offered both to applicants applying through the Disability Confident scheme and to applications made outside the scheme.

Applicants should make sure their application clearly demonstrates how they meet the requirements of the role.

Why This Internship Could Be Valuable for Early-Career Development

The role combines several forms of professional experience within one placement.

An intern could gain exposure to:

• Youth engagement
• Project support
• Event and workshop coordination
• Recruitment data
• Research and insights
• Resource development
• Case-study development
• Career resilience
• Early-career programmes
• Communication
• Relationship building
• Organisational working
• Microsoft Office applications

The role may therefore be particularly relevant to someone who is still developing their professional experience and wants to understand how a large humanitarian organisation designs and delivers programmes for young people.

How to Prepare Your Application

Applicants should focus on demonstrating the qualities specifically requested in the vacancy.

1. Demonstrate Your Interest in Young People

Explain clearly why supporting young people matters to you and how your previous experiences demonstrate that interest.

This does not necessarily have to come from formal employment. Relevant experiences may include volunteering, education, community activities, youth organisations or other experiences where you have supported or worked with young people.

2. Highlight Communication Skills

Provide examples that demonstrate your ability to communicate with different people and build positive relationships.

3. Show Organisation

Think about situations where you have had to manage several responsibilities or deadlines at the same time.

4. Demonstrate Your Willingness to Learn

The role is an early-career internship, so showing curiosity and willingness to develop new skills can be important.

5. Highlight Relevant Digital Skills

Mention your experience with Microsoft Office and any other relevant digital, research, data or communication tools you have used.

6. Connect Your Experience to the Role

Rather than simply listing everything you have done, explain how your experience relates to the responsibilities of the internship.

For example, experience involving:

• Youth activities
• Community engagement
• Volunteering
• Research
• Data collection
• Events
• Workshops
• Writing
• Case studies
• Project coordination

may be useful when demonstrating your suitability.

Application Deadline

The closing date for applications is:

Sunday, 27 September 2026 at 23:59

Because the organisation expects a high volume of applications, candidates should avoid waiting until the final hours to submit their application.

The next stage for shortlisted applicants is expected to be an in-person Assessment Centre in London during the week commencing 5 October 2026.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through the British Red Cross careers website.

Apply for the Youth Engagement & Early Careers Internship

Applicants should review the official vacancy information carefully and ensure that they meet the age, availability and other requirements before applying.

Key Information at a Glance

Conclusion

The British Red Cross Youth Engagement & Early Careers Internship 2026 offers young people an opportunity to gain practical professional experience while contributing to work designed to improve access to opportunities for other young people.

The six-month placement combines youth engagement, events and workshops, recruitment data analysis, resource development and career-resilience work. Alongside a salary of £24,479 per annum, eligible London-based employees may receive Inner London Weighting, while the role also provides annual leave, pension contributions, wellbeing support, learning and development opportunities and other employee benefits.

The internship is particularly suited to young people aged 18–25 who are interested in youth engagement, early careers, community-focused work and developing their professional skills. The British Red Cross also particularly welcomes applications from people who are underrepresented in the organisation and wider charity sector.

With the application deadline set for 27 September 2026 at 23:59, eligible candidates should prepare their applications carefully and demonstrate their communication, organisation, interest in supporting young people and willingness to learn.

For more opportunities HERE