Are you passionate about creating better opportunities for young people? UK Youth is inviting applications for four new Trustee positions in 2026, offering individuals the opportunity to influence strategy, strengthen youth services, and help shape the future of youth work across the United Kingdom.

The opportunity is designed for people who want to contribute their experience, expertise, and lived knowledge to an organisation committed to ensuring every young person has access to support, development opportunities, and positive youth experiences.

UK Youth is seeking Trustees who can strengthen and diversify its Board, champion youth voice, support effective governance, and help deliver the organisation’s ambitious new strategy.

Application Deadline: 17 July 2026

About UK Youth

UK Youth works to create a society where every young person is supported through every stage of their journey — from moments of opportunity and growth to challenges and uncertainty.

The organisation believes that youth work and outdoor learning have the power to transform lives by helping young people develop:

• Confidence.
• Skills.
• Resilience.
• Leadership abilities.
• Positive relationships.
• Strong connections with their communities.

As the UK’s national infrastructure body for youth work, UK Youth supports and strengthens a diverse network of youth organisations, helps unlock investment, influences policy, and builds evidence around effective youth programmes.

Overview of the Trustee Opportunity

UK Youth is recruiting four new Trustees in 2026 to strengthen Board expertise, improve representation, embed youth voice, and support the organisation’s future direction.

Successful Trustees will play an important role in:

• Providing strategic leadership.
• Supporting good governance.
• Helping shape organisational priorities.
• Ensuring young people remain central to decision-making.
• Bringing specialist knowledge and lived experience to Board discussions.

This is an opportunity for individuals who want to contribute to meaningful social change and help improve opportunities for young people throughout the UK.

Available Trustee Positions

UK Youth is looking for candidates for four specific Trustee roles.

1. Two Young Trustees (Aged 18–22)

UK Youth is seeking two young Trustees who can bring youth perspectives and lived experience into Board decision-making.

Ideal candidates should have:

• Experience of youth work.
• Engagement with youth programmes.
• Experience in the youth sector or outdoor learning sector.
• Understanding of challenges and opportunities affecting young people.

Applicants are also encouraged to demonstrate skills or experience gained through:

• Education.
• Volunteering.
• Employment.
• Community involvement.
• Personal lived experience.

These roles aim to ensure young people have a meaningful voice in shaping the organisation’s future.

2. Trustee With Grant-Making Expertise

One Trustee position is available for someone with professional experience in grant-making and funding.

Applicants should have knowledge or experience in areas such as:

• Developing funding strategies.
• Grant-making governance.
• Ensuring fairness and equity in funding decisions.
• Measuring impact.
• Maintaining accountability.

This Trustee will help strengthen UK Youth’s approach to investment and funding decisions.

3. Trustee With Outdoor Learning Operations and Safeguarding Expertise

UK Youth is also seeking a Trustee with specialist knowledge of outdoor learning programmes and safeguarding.

The ideal candidate should understand:

• How to deliver safe outdoor learning experiences.
• Management of residential programmes.
• Operational leadership.
• Safeguarding responsibilities.
• Creating high-quality experiences for young people.

This expertise will support UK Youth’s ambitions around developing outdoor learning opportunities.

Why Join UK Youth as a Trustee?

Becoming a Trustee provides an opportunity to make a lasting difference by contributing to an organisation focused on improving young people’s lives.

Benefits of joining include:

Influence Positive Change

Trustees help guide decisions that affect youth organisations and young people across the UK.

Use Your Skills for Social Impact

Your professional knowledge, personal experience, or community insight can help strengthen youth services.

Support Youth Voice

Trustees help ensure young people’s experiences and perspectives influence important decisions.

Contribute to Future Strategy

UK Youth is entering an important phase focused on:

• Long-term organisational resilience.
• Income diversification.
• Expanding impact.
• Developing outdoor learning opportunities.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

UK Youth is committed to building a Board that reflects the communities it serves.

The organisation particularly encourages applications from people who:

• Come from global majority backgrounds.
• Live outside London.
• Have experience working across the four nations of the UK.
• Identify as disabled.

UK Youth believes diverse leadership strengthens decision-making and helps ensure that different experiences and perspectives are represented.

Trustee Responsibilities

All Trustees will be expected to:

• Support UK Youth’s mission and values.
• Provide strategic oversight.
• Participate in Board discussions.
• Uphold strong governance standards.
• Follow the Nolan Principles for Standards in Public Life.
• Help guide the organisation toward achieving its goals.

UK Youth’s Future Strategy

The organisation is entering a new stage of development focused on creating stronger foundations for youth work.

Key strategic priorities include:

• Building long-term resilience.
• Diversifying income streams.
• Expanding investment opportunities.
• Delivering a transformational Capital Appeal.
• Developing Avon Tyrrell as a national centre of excellence for outdoor learning.

Trustees will play a key role in supporting this future vision.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should:

1. Review the Trustee Recruitment Pack.
2. Understand the available Trustee roles.
3. Complete the required application materials.
4. Submit the diversity monitoring form.
5. Apply before the closing date.

Click here for more and to apply

Application Deadline

The deadline for applications is:

17 July 2026

Applicants are encouraged to apply early and carefully demonstrate how their skills, experience, and values align with UK Youth’s mission.

Conclusion

The UK Youth Trustee opportunity is a chance to contribute to meaningful change by helping shape the future of youth work across the United Kingdom.

Whether through lived experience, professional expertise, governance knowledge, or passion for youth development, successful Trustees will help ensure more young people can access opportunities that support their growth, confidence, and success.

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