At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Board to champion safeguarding and protect young people from exploitation.
- Company: Dynamic charity focused on supporting vulnerable youth in East London.
- Benefits: Make a real impact while gaining governance experience and networking opportunities.
- Other info: Lived experience welcomed; hybrid role with a passionate team.
- Why this job: Help shape a safer future for young people and amplify their voices.
- Qualifications: Expertise in safeguarding and strategic governance mindset required.
We are seeking a Trustee with safeguarding expertise to join our Board and Charity, helping protect young people affected by exploitation and serious harm, strengthening our safeguarding culture and compliance, and enabling Streets of Growth to grow safely and with impact across East London.
What difference will you make? Safeguarding is central to everything we do. Your expertise will help Streets of Growth maintain a strong safeguarding culture as we deliver and expand our model in supporting young people to significantly reduce harm and re‑engage with education, employment and training. A trustee joining us now would be coming at a point to take the Charity forward to strengthen and support our senior team, bringing strategic insight, constructive challenge, and strong governance as we continue to innovate and deepen our impact.
You will be joining a progressive Board alongside a dynamic, dedicated senior and front‑line team, and be part of a wider commitment to building a safer, fairer society in which young people are not left behind by the changes happening around them. Your expertise will steer the Charity to ensure:
- Safer outcomes for young people with improved oversight of contextual safeguarding risks (exploitation, extra‑familial harm and youth violence), helping us strengthen protective factors and reduce risk of significant harm.
- Stronger governance and compliance with Board‑level assurance that our policies, reporting and decision‑making meet safeguarding expectations and build public trust.
- Better support for staff and partners with clearer escalation routes, learning from incidents, and confident multi‑agency practice—so our frontline teams can work consistently and safely.
- Growth with integrity as we pursue ambitious 2026–2030 goals (strengthening delivery and evidence, diversifying income, and expanding the model), ensuring safeguarding keeps pace—protecting quality while enabling scale.
- Amplifying youth voice by keeping lived experience at the centre, ensuring services and partnerships reflect what young people need to stay safe and progress.
What are we looking for?
Qualities And Experience
- Safeguarding expertise: strong working knowledge of safeguarding children/young people.
- Strategic governance mindset: able to operate at Board level, providing scrutiny, assurance and constructive challenge at a strategic and advisory level.
- Sound judgement and integrity: confident handling sensitive risk and incident matters.
- Policy and compliance capability: experience of reviewing/strengthening safeguarding policies and procedures, comfortable with regulatory expectations and good practice.
- Youth-centred approach: commitment to equity, inclusion and amplifying youth voice, ensuring decisions reflect young people’s rights and lived realities.
- Collaborative style: able to build trusted relationships with the Chair, CEO and safeguarding leads, and work effectively as part of a diverse Board.
Desirable
- Experience in one or more relevant sectors (e.g., youth services, social care, education, community safety, criminal justice, health or violence reduction).
- Trustee/non‑executive experience, or confidence contributing to governance, risk and assurance processes.
- Understanding of the East London context and the systems young people navigate locally.
- Experience of trauma‑informed practice and/or designing services for young people facing complex harm.
Lived Experience
We welcome applications from people with lived experience that connects to our mission (for example, experience of the realities facing young people and communities affected by exploitation, violence, poverty or systemic disadvantage). If you have lived experience you want to draw on in the role, we will support you to do so safely and appropriately.
Hybrid
What will you be doing? Streets of Growth supports young people aged 15–21 who are experiencing criminal harm and exploitation outside the home. As we grow our harm‑reduction and employability model, we’re seeking a Trustee with safeguarding experience to provide strategic oversight, robust challenge and steady leadership, helping us protect young people, support staff, and scale safely.
Key Lead areas would be:
- Champion safeguarding at Board level, ensuring it is embedded in strategy, risk management and decision‑making.
- Provide scrutiny and constructive challenge on safeguarding practice, contextual safeguarding risk, and serious incident response.
- Overview and strengthen safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Help us amplify youth voice, so organisational choices, partnerships and external engagement reflect the lived realities and rights of the young people we serve.
Trustee with Safeguarding experience - Volunteer employer: Streets of Growth
Streets of Growth is an exceptional employer dedicated to safeguarding young people in East London, offering a collaborative and progressive work culture that values strategic insight and governance. As a Trustee, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our safeguarding practices while working alongside a dynamic team committed to making a meaningful impact in the community. With opportunities for personal growth and the chance to amplify youth voices, joining us means being part of a mission-driven organisation that prioritises integrity and social justice.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Trustee with Safeguarding experience - Volunteer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the charity sector, especially those involved in safeguarding. They might know of opportunities or can put in a good word for you. Don’t be shy—people love to help when they see passion!
✨Tip Number 2
Get involved in relevant events and workshops. This is a great way to meet like-minded folks and showcase your safeguarding expertise. Plus, it’s a fab chance to learn more about the current challenges and innovations in the field.
✨Tip Number 3
When you’re at interviews or networking events, share your experiences and insights on safeguarding. Show how your background aligns with the mission of the charity. Remember, it’s all about making that personal connection!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Trustee with Safeguarding experience - Volunteer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Safeguarding Expertise:Make sure to highlight your safeguarding experience in your application. We want to see how your knowledge can help us strengthen our safeguarding culture and compliance, so don’t hold back on sharing relevant examples!
Be Strategic and Insightful:When writing your application, think about how you can contribute at a Board level. We’re looking for someone who can provide strategic insight and constructive challenge, so share your thoughts on governance and risk management.
Keep It Youth-Centred:Remember, our mission is all about young people! Make sure your application reflects a commitment to equity and inclusion, and how you plan to amplify youth voice in our decision-making processes.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this impactful role. Let’s make a difference together!
How to prepare for a job interview at Streets of Growth
✨Know Your Safeguarding Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your safeguarding knowledge before the interview. Be ready to discuss specific policies and practices you've implemented or reviewed in the past. This will show that you not only understand the importance of safeguarding but also have practical experience to back it up.
✨Show Your Strategic Mindset
Think about how you can contribute at a Board level. Prepare examples of how you've provided strategic oversight or challenged decisions in previous roles. This will demonstrate your ability to think critically and contribute to the governance of the charity.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Highlight your experience working with diverse teams and building relationships. Be ready to share examples of how you've collaborated with other stakeholders, as this role requires a strong collaborative style to work effectively with the Chair, CEO, and safeguarding leads.
✨Bring in Lived Experience
If you have personal experience related to the challenges faced by young people, don’t hesitate to mention it. This can provide valuable insight into the realities of those you’ll be serving and show your commitment to amplifying youth voice within the organisation.
