Volunteer - SOS+ Peer Mentor

ST GILES TRUST; York and North Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 10,000 - 40,000; Part time

Job summary

A charitable organization in the UK is seeking a Peer Mentor to support vulnerable children and young people affected by exploitation. The role involves mentoring victims and conducting educational sessions on topics like weapons awareness and gangs. Ideal candidates should have knowledge of the Criminal Justice System and/or experience with socially excluded youth. Full training, including qualifications, is provided, making this an excellent opportunity for personal growth and impactful work.

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate and understand different experiences without judgement.
• Experience providing advice and guidance (not essential).
• Lived experience of criminal or sexual exploitation.

Responsibilities

• Mentor children and young people affected by exploitation.
• Provide support to SOS+ caseworkers.
• Deliver educational sessions on various topics.

Skills

Relevant knowledge of the Criminal Justice System

Experience with socially excluded children

Communication skills

Education

Award in Education & Training or Mentoring Level 3

Job description

Ref: CYP-252

Closing date: Monday 2 February 2026 at 9:00am

Are you a personable, resilient and reliable individual with the commitment – and, above all, the understanding – to build trusted professional relationships with vulnerable children and young people?

If so, St Giles has opportunities to join us in the volunteer role of SOS+ North Yorkshire Peer Mentor – working on an award-winning project that educates children and young people around the risks and signs of exploitation, serious violence, and gangs, through group facilitated sessions and tailored one-to-one intervention sessions in schools and other community settings.

About St Giles Trust

An ambitious, well‑established charity that helps people facing adversity to find jobs, homes and the right support they need. Central to our ethos is our belief that people with first‑hand experience of successfully overcoming issues such as an offending background, homelessness, addictions and gang involvement, hold the key to positive change in others.

About this key role

You’ll join us in mentoring children and young people who are victims of, or have been affected by exploitation, or who are frequently missing from home. Receiving full training, including a Level 3 Information Advice and Guidance qualification, you’ll provide support to SOS+ caseworkers developing and delivering educational sessions to children and young people between the ages of 10‑25 years, on topics such as: weapons awareness; the reality of prison; gangs; county lines; and child sexual exploitation.

We positively encourage applications if you’ve previously worked on a client‑led support project, and/or have had personal adverse experiences such as homelessness, substance misuse, debt, involvement with gangs, etc. This includes having had experience of the criminal justice system and serving a prison sentence. (You will need to demonstrate how your lived experience supports your ability to benefit our clients).

What we are looking for

• Relevant knowledge/understanding, preferably with lived/personal experience of the Criminal Justice System, and/or having been affected by criminal or sexual exploitation.
• Experience with socially excluded children, young people and/or adults.
• Experience of providing advice and guidance and/or mentoring (not essential).
• Award in Education & Training and/or Mentoring Level 3 qualification (or willingness to work towards).
• Ability to communicate and understand different experiences and perspectives without judgement.

Please note: this role requires that successful candidates must undergo an Enhanced DBS check, on the basis that the post involves contact with vulnerable participants and colleagues.

We are an equity and inclusion confident employer. We welcome all applications, and we particularly encourage applications from people of the global majority (black, brown, multi‑heritage) and those who identify as disabled, neuroexpansive, neurodiverse, with any protected characteristics and/or social barriers or challenges. We value the empowering and informative impact that all lived experiences and diversity of thought can offer the organisation.

St Giles will guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria set out in the Job Description for the vacancy.