Youth Endowment Fund Youth Voice Officer 2026: Apply for a £34,200 Youth Engagement Role in London

The Youth Endowment Fund (YEF) is accepting applications for a Youth Voice Officer (Maternity Cover) position in London, United Kingdom. This 12-month fixed-term opportunity is designed for someone with experience working directly with young people who is passionate about ensuring that young people’s experiences, perspectives and ideas meaningfully influence work aimed at preventing youth violence.

The successful candidate will join the Youth Endowment Fund’s Youth Understanding team and play an important role in supporting the organisation’s Youth Advisory Board (YAB). Responsibilities range from planning and delivering activities for young people to providing pastoral and safeguarding support, facilitating lived-experience involvement, and working with communications colleagues to amplify young people’s voices.

The position offers an annual salary of £34,200, alongside professional development funding, generous annual leave, pension contributions, flexible working hours and other employee benefits. It is based in Central London, with employees expected to work from the office for at least two days each week. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on 7 October 2026.

About the Youth Endowment Fund

The Youth Endowment Fund works to prevent children and young people from becoming involved in violence. Its approach combines research, evaluation, funding and testing interventions to identify effective approaches to violence prevention and help put that evidence into practice.

A central part of this work is understanding how and why young people become involved in violence. YEF combines rigorous evaluations and research studies with the stories and perspectives of young people themselves. The organisation also believes young people should be central to the messages it communicates externally. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

The Youth Voice Officer will contribute directly to this mission by helping young people use their experiences and voices to shape, support and amplify YEF’s work through its Youth Advisory Board.

Youth Voice Officer 2026: Position Overview

The main details of the opportunity are:

• Position: Youth Voice Officer (Maternity Cover)
• Organisation: Youth Endowment Fund
• Reports to: Youth Understanding Manager
• Salary: £34,200 per annum
• Contract: 12-month fixed-term maternity cover
• Location: Central London, United Kingdom
• Working arrangement: Hybrid, with at least two days per week in the London office
• DBS requirement: Enhanced DBS with Children’s Barred List
• Application deadline: 5:00 p.m., 7 October 2026

The role requires regular direct engagement with children and young people, both online and in person. For this reason, an Enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List is required. YEF states that having a criminal record does not automatically prevent someone from working for the organisation; disclosed information will be considered fairly and in relation to the requirements of the position. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

What Does the Youth Voice Officer Do?

The Youth Voice Officer will work closely with young people, colleagues and external partners to ensure youth perspectives are embedded throughout YEF’s activities.

The position has three major areas of responsibility.

1. Co-Lead the Youth Advisory Board

One of the primary responsibilities is helping to lead an accessible, safe and effective Youth Advisory Board.

The successful applicant will be expected to:

• Plan, lead and review engaging activities for young people, including meetings and events.
• Build and maintain trusting relationships with Youth Advisory Board members.
• Provide pastoral support and care to YAB members.
• Support young people’s personal development planning.
• Apply appropriate safeguarding practices.
• Help recruit and induct new Youth Advisory Board members.
• Participate in interviews and manage elements of YAB recruitment.
• Monitor members’ attendance and engagement.
• Coordinate Youth Advisory Board participation in external events.

Youth Advisory Board members are young people aged 16 to 25. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

Most YAB activities take place online, but applicants should be comfortable with some evening work, normally around one to two evenings per week. YEF states that these meetings will finish no later than 7:45 p.m., with later starts on the previous or following day to recognise the additional working time.

There may also be occasional weekend and in-person activities. Time off in lieu is provided for weekend work. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

2. Champion Young People’s Lived Experience Across YEF

Another major component of the role is ensuring that young people’s lived experiences genuinely contribute to YEF’s work.

The Youth Voice Officer will work with colleagues to create meaningful opportunities for Youth Advisory Board members to contribute to the organisation’s priorities.

Responsibilities include:

• Leading working groups focused on lived experience.
• Supporting young people to contribute to YEF’s emerging priorities.
• Creating safe and trauma-informed environments.
• Helping young people feel confident and supported when communicating their experiences and opinions.
• Ensuring young people’s voices are heard.
• Communicating back to young people about how their involvement has influenced the organisation.
• Developing positive relationships with relevant external providers.
• Helping young people in settings such as secure environments contribute their perspectives.
• Preparing Youth Advisory Board members to participate in external events and conferences. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

This makes the position particularly relevant to candidates interested in youth participation, youth advocacy, safeguarding, violence prevention, lived-experience engagement and social impact.

3. Amplify Youth Voices Through Communications

The Youth Voice Officer will also collaborate with the YEF Communications team to help ensure young people’s perspectives reach wider audiences.

The successful applicant will help:

• Plan and create effective communications outputs.
• Serve as a bridge between the Youth Advisory Board and YEF’s external communications team.
• Amplify young people’s voices through social media and other media opportunities.
• Support young people in communicating their opinions, experiences and stories through different formats.
• Explore creative ways for young people to communicate.
• Collaborate with external companies and creative professionals on projects involving Youth Advisory Board members. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

The position therefore combines elements of youth work, communications, project coordination, safeguarding, advocacy and stakeholder engagement.

Who Is YEF Looking For?

YEF is seeking someone who genuinely believes in young people’s potential and has practical experience supporting them.

Experience Working With Young People

Applicants should have worked with young people and understand the positive contribution they can make to social change.

Candidates should have experience and knowledge of safeguarding processes and should be able to work flexibly according to young people’s needs, including adapting plans at short notice when necessary. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

Passion for Helping Young People Be Heard

The successful applicant should have experience supporting young people to communicate their experiences and stories in safe and strength-based ways.

This should include the ability to work both with groups and with young people individually, while understanding the care and support that may be required when people discuss sensitive experiences. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

Ability to Manage Multiple Priorities

This is a varied position, and applicants should be comfortable moving between different responsibilities.

On one day, this could involve leading a Youth Advisory Board session; on another, it might mean supporting an individual young person’s development or helping young people create communications content.

YEF is therefore looking for someone capable of prioritising effectively, managing a substantial workload and balancing several projects simultaneously. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

Strong Collaboration Skills

Applicants should understand the importance of placing young people’s voices at the centre of YEF’s mission.

They should be comfortable collaborating with colleagues and other stakeholders to identify suitable spaces and approaches for involving young people in ways that support both YEF’s objectives and the young people participating. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

Lived Experience of Youth Violence

YEF states that lived experience of youth violence is not a requirement for the position.

However, the organisation is particularly interested in hearing from candidates who do have lived experience of youth violence. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

Candidates should therefore not assume they are ineligible simply because they do not personally have this experience.

Diversity and Equal Opportunity

The Youth Endowment Fund states that it is committed to inclusion and giving applicants an equal opportunity to succeed.

Applications are welcomed from people of all backgrounds regardless of:

• Age
• Sex
• Gender identity
• Disability
• Marriage or civil partnership
• Pregnancy and maternity
• Religion or belief
• Race
• Sexual orientation
• Transgender status
• Socioeconomic background Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

Location and Hybrid Working Arrangements

Although the position follows a hybrid model, it is not a fully remote job.

YEF’s office is located in Central London, and the successful candidate must be based in London and work from the office for at least two days each week.

The remainder of the role combines office-based and remote working. YEF also states that, as part of its commitment to flexible working, it will consider a range of working options for the successful applicant. These arrangements can be discussed during the interview process. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

Salary and Employee Benefits

The Youth Voice Officer position comes with an annual salary of:

£34,200 per annum

In addition to the salary, YEF lists a range of employee benefits.

£1,000 Annual Professional Development Budget

Employees receive a £1,000 professional development budget annually, providing financial support for professional learning and development.

28 Days of Holiday Plus Bank Holidays

The successful candidate will receive 28 days of holiday, in addition to Bank Holidays.

Employee Assistance Programme

Employees have access to a 24-hour confidential support telephone line through YEF’s Employee Assistance Programme.

Volunteering Days

Staff receive four half-days per year for volunteering.

Death-in-Service Benefit

The benefits package includes death-in-service cover equivalent to four times the employee’s annual salary.

Flexible Working Hours

YEF provides flexible working hours, with core office hours of 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Financial Support

Financial support is available through measures including travel and hardship loans.

Pension Contribution

YEF provides an employer pension contribution of 5%. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

UK Right-to-Work Requirement

International applicants should pay particular attention to the organisation’s work authorisation requirements.

The Youth Endowment Fund explicitly states that it does not sponsor work permits.

Applicants will therefore need to provide evidence that they are already eligible to work in the United Kingdom. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

This means the opportunity should not be treated as a UK visa-sponsored job opportunity.

How to Apply for the Youth Endowment Fund Youth Voice Officer Position

Candidates must complete the application process before the deadline.

Applicants are required to submit:

1. A CV
2. A cover letter
3. The required monitoring form

Applications should be submitted through the Youth Endowment Fund’s online application system using the “Apply for this” button.

Importantly, applicants should not submit a generic cover letter. YEF specifically asks candidates to use their cover letter to respond to two areas.

Within a maximum of 1,000 words, applicants should explain:

1. Their experience supporting young people, including young people affected by violence, to share their experiences and insights.
2. How they believe young people can contribute to the Youth Endowment Fund’s mission. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

Candidates should use these questions to demonstrate relevant experience clearly and provide concrete examples wherever possible.

Application Deadline

The deadline to apply for the Youth Endowment Fund Youth Voice Officer (Maternity Cover) 2026 position is:

5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 October 2026. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

Applicants should aim to prepare and submit their CV, cover letter and monitoring form well before the deadline.

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Youth Endowment Fund Interview Process

Shortlisted applicants should prepare for a two-stage interview process.

The current timetable is:

• First-stage interviews: Week commencing 19 October 2026
• Second-stage interviews: Week commencing 26 October 2026

These dates are particularly important for candidates who may need to make arrangements around existing work or other commitments. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

DBS and Safeguarding Requirements

Because the Youth Voice Officer will regularly work directly with children and young people, both virtually and face-to-face, the role requires an Enhanced DBS check with Children’s Barred List. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

Safeguarding knowledge is also an important part of the candidate profile. Applicants should therefore consider demonstrating relevant safeguarding experience clearly in their application, particularly where it relates to supporting young people.

Why This Role Matters

The Youth Voice Officer position places young people at the heart of work intended to address youth violence.

Rather than treating youth participation as a separate activity, the position involves embedding lived experience throughout different areas of YEF’s work—from research priorities and advisory activities to events and external communications.

The successful candidate will have opportunities to work directly with young people while helping create environments where they can contribute safely and meaningfully. At the same time, the officer will work across teams and with external partners to ensure those contributions are reflected in organisational activities and communications.

For professionals with relevant experience in youth engagement, safeguarding, youth participation or related fields, the position offers an opportunity to combine direct support for young people with wider organisational and social-impact work.

Conclusion

The Youth Endowment Fund Youth Voice Officer (Maternity Cover) 2026 opportunity offers a 12-month role for an experienced and committed youth-engagement professional who wants to help young people’s voices influence efforts to prevent youth violence.

Based in Central London with a hybrid working arrangement, the successful applicant will earn £34,200 per annum and receive benefits including a £1,000 annual professional development budget, 28 days of holiday plus Bank Holidays, a 5% employer pension contribution, flexible working hours, volunteering time and access to an Employee Assistance Programme. Job-Advert-Youth-Voice-Officer

The role is particularly suited to someone with experience supporting young people, knowledge of safeguarding, an ability to create safe spaces for young people to share their experiences, strong organisational skills and a collaborative approach.

Candidates should remember that YEF does not provide work-permit sponsorship, so applicants must already have eligibility to work in the United Kingdom. Applications require a CV, a cover letter of no more than 1,000 words addressing YEF’s specified questions, and completion of the monitoring form.

The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on 7 October 2026.

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