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.

The Mental Health Support Worker will provide direct mental health and wellbeing support to Ukrainian young people through one-to-one and group interventions, helping them develop resilience, confidence and positive coping strategies.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will build trusted relationships with young people, deliver evidence-informed interventions and contribute to a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where young people feel heard, supported and empowered.

You'll have experience supporting young people's mental health, a strong understanding of trauma-informed practice and safeguarding and be passionate about helping young people achieve positive mental health outcomes.

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.

The Junction is seeking an enthusiastic and skilled manager to lead the delivery of our high-quality, innovative projects and services. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in ensuring our work meets the needs of young people, delivers meaningful outcomes, and creates lasting impact within our communities.

About The Junction

The Junction is an award-winning charity in North East Edinburgh that supports and improves young people’s health and wellbeing.

Last year, we supported more than 1,800 young people and supported around 150 young people through one-to-one support. As a result of the service:

• 100% of young people learned practical ways to look after their wellbeing
• 88% felt more able to cope with difficult situations
• 94% reduced or stopped substance use or learned how to reduce harm associated.

About this Role

Within this role you will champion youth participation, ensuring that young people have a genuine voice in shaping both our services and the wider development of the organisation. You will build and maintain strong relationships with partners, funders, and stakeholders, helping to strengthen The Junction’s reputation and reach.

You will lead and support a dedicated team of Project Workers, fostering a collaborative, reflective, and supportive working environment where staff and volunteers can thrive. Alongside this, you will take organisational responsibility for safeguarding as The Junction’s Child Protection Officer, ensuring the highest standards of practice and compliance.

Person Specification Summary

Essential

• Experience of supervising and managing others to deliver high-quality services
• Experience managing and leading issues related to child protection and safeguarding
• Experience of developing effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms
• Experience of working with young people or providing one-to-one support
• Experience of reporting to and building relationships with funders
• Experience of working collaboratively with partners
• Understanding of a range of health wellbeing issues that affect young people (including mental health needs)
• Understanding of inclusive and accessible service delivery
• Passionate about improving the lives of young people
• Empathetic, approachable and positive motivator of others.

Desirable

• Professional qualification in Community Education, Counselling, Social Work, Health Promotion or equivalent
• Experience of managing waiting lists
• Knowledge of trauma informed practice.

What We Offer

• Flexible Working – We offer flexible working hours to accommodate families and childcare, caring responsibilities. Home working is anticipated and welcome for this role.
• Competitive Annual Leave Entitlement - 38 annual leave days in total, pro-rated for part-time positions.
• Competitive Pension Contribution – Auto enrolment in our pension scheme with a 5% contribution from The Junction.
• Positive Working Environment – An opportunity to work with a values-based organisation that is committed to equality & inclusion.

Join Young Scot

Young Scot is the national youth information and citizenship charity for young people aged 11– 26 in Scotland. We are a constant in the lives of young people. Delivering direct services for over 40 years, we are woven into the very fabric of growing up in Scotland.

Within our strategic vision, our focus is to continue to build an organization with a growth mindset that is financially sustainable, adaptable to change and has a strong team and infrastructure to deliver consistently excellent work for young people. To find out more about who we are and what we do, visit youngscot.net

Chair of Young Scot

We are seeking an exceptional and dynamic leader, who is forward-looking and shares our commitment to improving outcomes for young people. We welcome applications from people with a diverse range of backgrounds, industries and experiences.

The Chair will be appointed for an initial term of three years, with the possibility of re-appointment in line with Young Scot’s governing documents.

About The DRC Youth Project (SCIO)

The DRC Youth Project is a modern, innovative and ambitious youth charity based in North-West Glasgow. We create opportunities that help young people develop confidence, resilience, practical skills and aspirations through high-quality youth work, personal development, employability and training programmes.

Working alongside schools, funders, local authorities, employers and community organisations, we deliver a diverse range of programmes and initiatives including school support, employability and training, accredited learning, youth clubs, outdoor learning, volunteering opportunities, our Community Pantry and community-based projects.

We're a proactive organisation that isn't afraid to roll up our sleeves. When challenges arise, we work together to find practical solutions. We learn from experience, adapt and keep moving forward. That approach has helped shape the organisation we are today and continues to create new opportunities for the young people we support. As we continue to grow, we're developing an exciting new training centre that will further expand the opportunities available to young people across Glasgow.

We're now looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Group Worker to join our team. If you're passionate about working with young people, enjoy variety and want to play a key role in helping young people achieve positive outcomes while contributing to the future of a growing organisation, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role

As a Group Worker, you'll play a key role in delivering group work programmes that engage young people and help develop confidence, resilience, practical skills and positive aspirations. Working across a range of DRC programmes and partnership initiatives, you'll support young people to overcome barriers, recognise their strengths and take positive steps towards education, training and employment.

This is a varied and rewarding role where you'll combine youth work, employability and training, accredited learning and practical activities to create engaging experiences for young people. You'll work alongside an experienced team of specialist workers, supporting everything from outdoor learning and community projects to educational visits, workshops and new initiatives, while bringing your own ideas, interests and skills to the team.

As part of the wider project, you'll also contribute to our community youth work programme by supporting two evening youth club sessions each week. Together, these programmes give you the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with young people, support their progress and make a lasting difference in their lives.

Who We’re Looking For

We're looking for someone who is enthusiastic, motivated and committed to making a positive difference in the lives of young people. You'll enjoy building positive relationships, working as part of a team and supporting young people to overcome barriers and achieve their full potential.

You'll thrive in a varied and fast-paced environment where no two weeks are the same. You'll be proactive, adaptable and willing to get involved, whether that's delivering a group session, supporting an outdoor activity, contributing to a new project or working alongside colleagues to achieve the best outcomes for young people. You'll take ownership of your work, contribute ideas and embrace opportunities to help young people and the organisation continue to grow.

As travel forms part of the role, applicants must hold a full UK driving licence. If you're someone who enjoys working collaboratively, brings energy and initiative to your role, has life experience to share and wants to be part of a team that is committed to making a lasting difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Why Join the DRC?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing organisation where you'll have the chance to make a genuine difference in the lives of young people every day. As the DRC continues to grow, you'll have the opportunity to help shape new programmes, strengthen existing services and contribute to the future of an organisation that is committed to creating better opportunities for young people across Glasgow.

What We Offer

• Salary of £28,000-£30,000 per annum (dependant on experience).
• Full-time post (37 hours per week).
• Ongoing training, team development days and opportunities to develop your skills and career.
• A supportive, experienced and ambitious team that values collaboration, creativity and continuous improvement.
• Opportunities to contribute to the development of new programmes and initiatives.
• A varied and rewarding role where you can make a lasting difference to young people’s lives.