YUAF Futures Lead (Maternity Cover)

Young Urban Arts Foundation | Creative pathways into wellbeing, skills and employment

Hours: 24 hours per week (3 days)

Contract: PAYE, 12 month fixed term

Start date: ASAP, no later than 4 July 2026

Location: Hybrid. London-based, with travel to delivery sites

Reports to: Operations and Programmes Advisor

Reporting in: Volunteer mentors and industry professionals

Why this role and why now

Our current Futures Lead is on maternity leave from 5 August 2026. We need someone in the seat by 4 July at the latest so she can hand over fully before she finishes on 4 August.

The handover is structured but compressed. Training and shadowing days are available up to 24 June, then a full month working alongside the current Lead from 3 July to 5 August. You will need to absorb the programme quickly, ask sharp questions, and run with it. If that energises you, this is the right role. If you need a long runway to find your feet, it is not.

In return, you inherit a programme that already works, a team that backs you, and an established partner database built over a number of years. You will also be expected to grow it. Identifying new creative industry partnerships, conducting due diligence and ensuring partners are safe and appropriate to work with young people is core to this role. Every young person and every partner organisation has different needs, so this work is constant.

About YUAF

Young Urban Arts Foundation is a UK charity. We use creativity to build pathways into wellbeing, skills and employment for young people aged 13 to 25, including those with SEND. We work with young people from communities affected by inequality including the Global Majority, LGBTQ+ young people, disabled young people, and those living in poverty.

Our Studio Bus, a double‑decker converted into a multimedia studio, has reached more than 22,000 young people in 10 years. Alongside the bus, we run YUAF Elevate, our aftercare and progression offer made up of Futures, Pathways and Backstage.

About YUAF Futures

Futures is the brainchild of our current Futures Lead. She built it, designed it, and has been a pillar of growth and mentorship for the young people she has supported. The programme is a structured cohort offer for young people aged 16 to 19. It moves them from creative engagement into employability, work placements and onward progression in the creative industries and beyond. Participants are selected, inducted and supported through initial, midway and exit assessments. Futures sits alongside Pathways (1‑to‑1 mentoring) and Backstage (alumni creative community) inside YUAF Elevate.

What the role does

You lead Futures end to end. You design themes and run cohorts, hold the relationships with industry partners and work placement hosts, manage Session Leads and volunteer mentors, and own reporting against funder outcomes. You are the named lead for the programme inside YUAF and the point of contact for partners outside it.

• Running Futures cohorts
• Design cohort structure, content and timeline in line with funder outcomes
• Lead participant recruitment, selection and onboarding
• Place participants into the right YUAF programmes alongside Pathways and Backstage colleagues
• Run initial, midway and exit assessments
• Facilitate workshops where your own skills apply, or co‑facilitate and support volunteers from the creative industries
• Hold periodic check‑ins with participants to keep engagement, confidence and wellbeing high
• Work placements and industry pathways
• Identify safe, relevant work placements with credible industry partners
• Prepare participants for placement and stay close to them through it
• Brief partners before sessions and gather feedback after
• Grow the Futures partner base and develop B2B opportunities that extend reach
• Team and freelancer management
• Hold weekly meetings with the volunteer industry experts who attend and deliver bespoke sessions, review debriefs, and respond on content
• Manage and support volunteer mentors with regular check‑ins
• Undergo Level 3 safeguarding training and be capable of managing disclosures if they arise, escalating to the DSL where needed
• Handle programme admin including feedback forms and documentation
• Partner and stakeholder relationships
• Develop and maintain relationships with industry hosts, work placement partners and venues
• Respond to partners, team members and enquiries promptly and professionally
• Represent Futures externally at partner meetings, sector events and convenings
• Reporting and data
• Maintain accurate case records on Upshot
• Update tracking sheets and provide figures for programme reports
• Contribute summaries and figures to the board report
• Attend team meetings and one‑to‑ones with your line manager

Who we are looking for

• Experience leading a structured creative youth or employability programme, with 16 to 19 year olds
• A track record of engaging young people from all backgrounds
• Confident managing a small team of freelancers or volunteers
• Track record of building and maintaining partner relationships, especially with employers or industry hosts
• Sharp on admin and data. Comfortable with CRM systems (we use Upshot) and tracking sheets
• Strong safeguarding instinct. Understands when to elevate
• Able to absorb information fast and run with it. Comfortable working in a compressed handover
• Lived or worked experience of communities affected by inequality, or a clear understanding of the young people we work with
• Eligible to work in the UK and willing to complete an enhanced DBS check and register with the DBS Update Service
• Working knowledge of the creative industries (music, content, broadcast, production)
• Practical skills in music production, sound engineering, content creation or artist management
• Experience designing workshops or masterclasses
• Familiarity with funder reporting against employability outcomes
• Experience working with young people with SEND

Safeguarding

YUAF is committed to safeguarding young people. This role is subject to an enhanced DBS check with barred list, two references, and completion of YUAF safeguarding induction. We would expect Safeguarding Level 3 to be completed before engaging with young people. All staff are expected to uphold our safeguarding policy and report concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

We particularly welcome applications from people from the Global Majority, LGBTQ+ applicants, disabled applicants, and people with lived experience of the issues we work with. We will make reasonable adjustments at every stage of the process. Tell us what you need.

How to apply

• Send a CV (maximum 2 pages) and a supporting statement (maximum 2 pages)
• Your supporting statement should tell us how you meet the essential criteria and what you would prioritise in your first 30 days
• Email applications to jess@yuaf.org.uk
• Closing date: 10 June 2026

We are interviewing as applications come in and may offer the role before the deadline. A prompt response is encouraged.

If you want an informal conversation before applying, email kerry@yuaf.org.uk and we will arrange a 20 minute call.