U-evolve is an Edinburgh mental health charity for 11–21-year-olds. Founded in 2015, we support over 200 young people annually with free to access to mental health support. Each year we deliver over 1,000 hours of individual support to help Edinburgh’s young people feel better. We’re currently hiring for an Art Therapist to join our Service Delivery team.

About the role

We are recruiting for a full-time Mental Health Coach to join our team. In this role, you will provide 1-1 mental health coaching for young people, as well as supporting the delivery of our groupwork and drop-in programmes.

Based at our new space within North Edinburgh Arts, this is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping and delivering a new project that will provide vital mental health support for young people living in Pilton and Muirhouse. You will help create a safe, welcoming environment where young people feel heard, valued and supported to thrive.

Our Mental Health Coaching is person centered, strengths based and incorporates a blend of counselling, coaching and youth work approaches. The aim of all our support services is to help young people to have improved mental health and to feel better. Through mental health coaching we help the young people to learn techniques to manage their wellbeing and work closely with community partners to provide a holistic service.

Who are we looking for

We are looking for someone to join our team who shares our vision, values, and passion for helping young people thrive. It is also important to us that you are someone who learns from the young people you support and can help our young people’s voices to be heard.

We are looking for someone with at least two years’ employment experience of working with young people aged 11–21 to support their wellbeing. This experience can be from a variety of settings, including youth work, mental health services, support work, and education. As this role involves supporting young people within the local community, an understanding of, or lived experience of, Muirhouse and Pilton or experience of working with young people in these communities would be highly beneficial. While experience in therapeutic approaches is beneficial, it is not essential. We provide comprehensive training and ongoing professional development to support you in the role.

Safeguarding Statement

U-evolve is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment and to work in line with our safeguarding policies and procedures. This role includes a safeguarding lead responsibility as well as working directly with young people and therefore requires a strong understanding of safeguarding practice. The successful candidate will be required to join the PVG and will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

U-evolve is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all young people feel safe, respected, and supported. We are equally committed to building a diverse staff team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in the sector, and are committed to ensuring a fair and accessible recruitment process for all.

Working at U-evolve

We are a small team of nine. We value learning and development and view this as a crucial element of mental health support. As such all staff are trauma skilled and trained, alongside taking part in a full and rich annual training programme. All service delivery staff receive extensive and relevant supervision to support the work they do.

Benefits

• Generous holiday package
• Enhanced sick pay
• Flexible working patterns
• Staff wellbeing scheme
• Learning and Development Policy to support staff training and development.
• Opportunity to contribute to the growth and impact of our work

Join Our Team – Supporting the Mental Health and Wellbeing of Ukrainian Young People

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people? Do you want to be part of an innovative partnership supporting Ukrainian young people to thrive in their new communities?

U-evolve and The Junction are delighted to be recruiting for two exciting new roles as part of a partnership project providing dedicated mental health and wellbeing support for Ukrainian young people aged 12–21 living in Edinburgh.

Together, our organisations bring over 30 years of experience supporting young people's mental health across the city. Through this new programme, we will deliver accessible, trauma-informed and culturally responsive support that helps Ukrainian young people build resilience, improve their mental health and wellbeing, strengthen social connections and access the support they need.

Working closely with Ukrainian communities, local organisations and young people themselves, this project will combine individual and group wellbeing support with community engagement and service development to ensure support is shaped by the voices and experiences of the young people it serves.

This exciting new role will lead on building relationships with Ukrainian communities, partner organisations and local services across Edinburgh to ensure the programme reaches those who need it most.

Working alongside the Mental Health Support Worker and colleagues from both U-evolve and The Junction, you will engage with young people, families and community organisations, helping to co-design activities and develop a programme that reflects the needs, strengths and aspirations of Ukrainian young people.

You will be fluent in Ukrainian and have lived experience or a strong understanding of Ukrainian culture and community needs. You'll bring experience of working with young people, developing community-based projects and building meaningful partnerships that improve outcomes for young people.

What we're looking for

We are looking for compassionate, motivated and collaborative people who believe every young person deserves access to high-quality mental health support.

Successful candidates will be passionate about improving the mental health and wellbeing of young people and committed to delivering inclusive, culturally responsive services. You'll be empathetic, approachable and reflective, with excellent relationship-building skills and the ability to work both independently and as part of a supportive team.

For both roles, fluency in Ukrainian and lived experience or a strong understanding of Ukrainian culture and community needs is essential.

Both roles require experience of working with young people, knowledge of trauma-informed approaches, safeguarding and professional boundaries, and a commitment to working collaboratively with young people, communities and partner organisations.

Why join us?

At U-evolve and The Junction, you'll become part of two organisations committed to improving young people's mental health through compassionate, evidence-informed, collaborative and person-centred support.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Make a meaningful difference to the lives of Ukrainian young people.
• Help shape an innovative new service from the beginning.
• Work within a supportive and collaborative partnership.
• Receive regular supervision, reflective practice and opportunities for professional development.
• Be part of organisations that value kindness, inclusion, collaboration and learning.

We will offer you:

• Competitive holiday package
• Flexible working patterns
• Competitive Pension
• Positive supportive working environment which promotes learning and development.

If you're passionate about supporting young people's mental health and want to help build an innovative service that makes a lasting impact, we'd love to hear from you.