Youth Engagement & Participation Officer

Job Title:                        Youth Engagement & Participation Officer

Department:                   Voice, Policy and Influencing

Reports to:                     Youth Engagement & Participation Manager

Location:                        Hybrid working – Home working with infrequent travel to London and Lingfield, Surrey

Hours of Work:              21 Hours per week, Part-time, 1-year fixed contract [CM1] [CH2] 

Salary:                            £18,200 p.a. (FTE £32,259, Band 18)

AYR/TTO:                       All year round

Closing Date:                  29th September 2025

Young Epilepsy and St. Piers is committed to safeguarding and protecting our children and young people and promotes the welfare of all learners.

As part of our safer recruitment process and in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2022, online searches will form part of this process. 

An Enhanced Disclosure with relevant Barring Service checks and full referencing will be required before employment can commence.

About the Role 

This is an exciting opportunity to join Young Epilepsy as we launch our new 2025-2030 organisational strategy and take our youth participation work to the next level. We’ve recently achieved Flagship status for our participation work - described by the National Youth Agency as “nothing short of inspirational”.

You’ll be part of our Youth Engagement and Participation team, working alongside the Young Epilepsy Youth Voice Network - an incredible community of over 200 children and young people aged 13-25 from across the UK. Together, we create spaces where young people can share their experiences, influence decisions, and lead change.

A major focus of your role will be leading the launch of our brand-new Youth Council - a forward-thinking leadership group for children and young people aged 8-25 ensuring that lived experiences and the voices of children and young people shape decision-making at every level of the organisation. You’ll also support other participation projects, and work with colleagues and external partners to amplify youth voices nationally.

What we need from you

• Experience of service delivery with children and young people (aged 8-25) in a professional setting, ideally in participation, education, youth work, or engagement roles
• A strong commitment to meaningful youth participation, inclusion, and safeguarding
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work confidently with young people and professionals alike
• Strong organisational skills to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines
• Creativity and enthusiasm for developing new opportunities for young people to have their say
• Confidence in using digital tools and platforms to engage and connect with young people
• Flexibility to work some evenings and weekends to suit young people’s availability
• Willingness to travel occasionally to London, Lingfield (Surrey), and other locations in the UK

Your Benefits

• Comprehensive training and professional development opportunities
• Generous annual leave
• Occupational pension scheme
• Subsidised dining room
• Gym membership options (on and off-site)
• Your Rewards, giving you access to nationwide discounts and benefits
• Free parking on campus
• Access to a working farm and horticultural area

We are accessible by bus, by train via the East Grinstead branch of the Oxted Line and by car.

About us

Young Epilepsy is the children and young people’s epilepsy charity. Our purpose is to create a society in which children and young people with epilepsy are enabled to thrive and fulfil their potential. A society in which their voices are respected, and their ambitions realised.

We work with children and young people across the country, as well as many of those people and organisations who shape their lives - parents, health and care professionals, researchers, teachers, policymakers and more.

Informed by young people and drawing on our strong legacy of expertise in education, health

and research, we have developed and published our 2020-2025 strategy. This focuses our work around 3 key offers: health and research, voice and support and St Piers special education. Within these key offers we aim to:

• Coordinate research that improves diagnosis and treatments, and deliver cutting-edge health services
• Campaign for children’s rights, supporting them in school and college and providing innovation tools, information, and practical help for living day-to-day life
• Provide an innovative and creative environment for children and young people with epilepsy, autism, and severe learning difficulties.

For further details of these and other vacancies, please visit our website: youngepilepsy.org.uk/jobs 

 No agencies please 

Young Epilepsy strives to employ people that reflect the community it serves; therefore, applications from minority groups and people with disabilities are particularly welcomed.
Young Epilepsy is the operating name of the National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy. Registered Charity No: 311877 (England and Wales).

INDJane