CashBack Connections supports young people (aged 10-16) across deprived areas of Lanarkshire who are at risk of involvement in antisocial behaviour/offending by providing one-to-one and group befriending/mentoring opportunities. The project aims to guide young people away from negative influences and towards positive pathways of their choosing, while also supporting families facing challenges such as poverty, poor mental health, or substance misuse.

Young people will take part in activities that interest them, helping them to gain new experiences, develop skills, build confidence, and (importantly) have fun. Alongside developing trusting relationships with volunteers and peers, the project will reduce isolation, improve wellbeing, and strengthen community connections. Where appropriate, families will also be offered support to address barriers affecting a young person’s progress.

With the delivery of the project about to begin, COVEY is now seeking compassionate, motivated and engaging Group Facilitators to support the delivery of the project.

Group Facilitators will play a hands-on role in delivering high-quality group activities for young people. Working under the guidance and supervision of the CashBack Connections Coordinator, they will help create safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces where young people feel supported, heard and encouraged to engage positively.

Successful candidates will work closely with Service Managers, Family Support Workers, Volunteers and Coordinators to ensure safe, effective and high-quality delivery that aims to reduce the risk of antisocial behaviour/offending, helping young people to realise their potential and move towards education/training or employment.

A key part of the role will involve supporting volunteers, maintaining strong safeguarding practice and ensuring all activity is impactful and aligned with COVEY’s values. For young people with more complex or intersecting needs, the Facilitator will work with the Coordinator to refer into COVEY’s Family Support team who will deliver integrated, whole-family interventions. This will include providing targeted support during periods of heightened risk, or early intervention to prevent escalation to crisis.

Community Volunteers Enabling You Registered Charity No: SCO20754

As this is a new project, the role offers an exciting opportunity to bring fresh ideas, shape the development of CashBack Connections and directly influence the positive outcomes we aim to achieve for disadvantaged young people and their families.

What we offer

We offer a rewarding role with the opportunity to develop your skills and future career in an enriching environment with the following benefits:

• 6% employer pension contribution

• 22 days A/L (rising to up to 27 days) and 10 public holidays (pro-rata).

• One special leave day to celebrate your birthday

• Flexible working

• HSF Health plan (including dental, optical, physio claim back, personal accident coverage, GP, mental health counselling, legal support, and discounts for gym, cinema, and shopping)

• Quarterly staff wellbeing activities

• Access to ScotWest Credit Union (loans, mortgages, and savings accounts)

• Access to learning and development opportunities

CashBack Connections supports young people (aged 10-16) across deprived areas of Lanarkshire who are at risk of involvement in antisocial behaviour/offending by providing one-to-one and group befriending/mentoring opportunities. The project aims to guide young people away from negative influences and towards positive pathways of their choosing, while also supporting families facing challenges such as poverty, poor mental health, or substance misuse.

Young people will take part in activities that interest them, helping them to gain new experiences, develop skills, build confidence, and (importantly) have fun. Alongside developing trusting relationships with volunteers and peers, the project will reduce isolation, improve wellbeing, and strengthen community connections. Where appropriate, families will also be offered support to address barriers affecting a young person’s progress.

With the delivery of the project about to begin, COVEY is now seeking a compassionate, skilled and proactive CashBack Connections Coordinator to lead the delivery of the project.

The CashBack Connections Coordinator will develop and deliver a blend of group support and one-to-one befriending and mentoring support, using a relationship-based and trauma-informed approach to build trust, strengthen resilience and promote positive engagement.

They will work closely with Service Managers, Family Support Workers, Volunteers and Group Facilitators to ensure safe, effective and high-quality delivery that aims to reduce the risk of antisocial behaviour/offending, helping young people to realise their potential and move towards education/training or employment.

A key part of the role will involve coordinating and supporting Volunteers and Group Facilitators, maintaining strong safeguarding practice and ensuring all activity is impactful and aligned with COVEY’s values. For young people with more complex needs, the Coordinator will collaborate with COVEY’s Family Support team to provide integrated, whole-family interventions, including more intensive support during periods of heightened risk or early intervention to prevent escalation.

As this is a new project, the role offers an exciting opportunity to bring fresh ideas, shape the development of CashBack Connections and directly influence the positive outcomes we aim to achieve for disadvantaged young people and their families.

What we offer

We offer a rewarding role with the opportunity to develop your skills and future career in an enriching environment with the following benefits:

• 6% employer pension contribution
• 22 days A/L (rising to up to 27 days) and 10 public holidays.
• One special leave day to celebrate your birthday
• Flexible working
• HSF Health plan (including dental, optical, physio claim back, personal accident coverage, GP, mental health counselling, legal support, and discounts for gym, cinema, and shopping)
• Quarterly staff wellbeing activities
• Access to ScotWest Credit Union (loans, mortgages, and savings accounts)
• Access to learning and development opportunities

About the role

We are looking for a proactive and relationship-focused individual to join our team as a Volunteering and Mentoring Coordinator.

This is a varied and rewarding role at the heart of our work with children and young people. You will work as part of our mentoring team to coordinate our mentoring provision, supporting children and young people to build confidence, develop positive relationships and improve outcomes through high-quality, volunteer-led mentoring. This includes contributing to established programmes such as intandem (for care experienced young people) and Plusone (preventative and early-intervention focussed mentoring support).

Alongside mentoring, you will play a key role in supporting and developing volunteering across YMCA Edinburgh — supporting the full volunteer journey from enquiry through to onboarding and ongoing engagement, and contributing to a positive, inclusive and welcoming volunteering culture across our services.

The role offers the opportunity to work across different parts of the organisation, building strong relationships with young people, volunteers and partners, and supporting the continued development of youth volunteering opportunities. As part of a collaborative team, you will contribute to how our mentoring and volunteering work continues to evolve in response to the needs of those we connect with.

What you’ll be doing

• Coordinating volunteer-led mentoring for children and young people
• Supporting and developing volunteer mentors
• Managing volunteer processes including recruitment, onboarding and support
• Building strong relationships with young people, families and partners
• Supporting youth volunteering opportunities across services
• Maintaining records, monitoring activity and contributing to reporting
• Providing occasional direct support to young people where needed, including in situations where mentoring relationships are not in place or have broken down

About you

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has experience working with children and young people
• Can support and coordinate volunteers or groups of people
• Builds strong, trusting relationships with a wide range of people
• Is highly organised and able to manage competing priorities
• Has strong communication skills, both written and verbal
• Shares our commitment to working with integrity, inclusion, transparency and resilience

Our approach

Based in Leith, YMCA Edinburgh supports children, young people and families in the community and across the city. At YMCA Edinburgh, we take a relationship-based and participatory approach to our work. We believe in creating opportunities for young people and volunteers to shape and influence what we do, and in working collaboratively to support positive outcomes for children, young people and families. We are committed to working with integrity, inclusion, transparency and resilience in all that we do.

Additional information

• This post is subject to a PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Scheme check.
• Appointment will be subject to satisfactory references (one of which should be from your current or most recent employer).
• Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Equal Opportunities

An equal opportunities monitoring form is included as part of the application pack. Completion of this form is voluntary. The information is used for monitoring purposes only, is kept separate from your application, and is not shared with the recruitment panel.

Accessibility and Adjustments

We are committed to making our recruitment process accessible. If you require this information in an alternative format or need any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please contact jobs@ymcaedinburgh.com

Informal Enquiries

If you would like to have an informal conversation about the role before applying, please contact Mike Kerracher at mike.kerracher@ymcaedinburgh.com

Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people? Do you want a flexible, varied and meaningful job in a supportive team? Do you value great employee benefits such as generous holidays and an annual training budget? Apply to join us!

Bridges Project is a leading youth work charity that helps young people aged 12-25 in East Lothian and Midlothian overcome challenges and adapt to adulthood. Since 1984, we have helped young people develop their life skills, improve their educational attainment and move into employment or further education. Join our team and take pride inspiring young people!

We have a vacancy for a Support Worker to deliver a support programme to young people aged 13 – 21 from East Lothian who are experiencing a wide range of challenges including family poverty and family substance use.

The successful candidate will:

• Support young people in areas such as reducing social isolation and improving mental health
• Provide mentoring support to young people enabling them to engage in activities within their local communities

This is an exciting position in which the successful candidate will take pride in developing a programme of delivery which will improve the lives of young people in East Lothian.

It is essential that candidates have a full, clean driving licence and constant use of a car. Membership of the PVG scheme will be an essential requirement of the post. A contributory company pension scheme is offered with a 10% employer contribution.