Youth Project Officer
Youth Project Officer
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Unit 9-11 Business Development Centre, Eanam Wharf, Blackburn, BB1 5BL www.imocharity.org | info@imocharity.org | 01254 781310
OUR MAIN VALUES
Over at IMO, our values are important to us in ensuring that the work environment is a fair and enjoyable place to be. Our team takes pride in representing these values through their decisions, actions and responsibilities in their day to day life. Our values include:
Trust
Empathy
Inclusvitiy
Partnership
"Inspire, Motivate, Overcome"
About the Role
This Youth Project Officer role focuses on leading the planning, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of innovative youth programmes for IMO Charity across Blackburn with Darwen. The role includes delivering both indoor and outdoor learning activities that are engaging, inclusive, well-structured, and designed to create measurable outcomes for young people.
You will play a key role in developing wider youth projects across the organisation, including partnership working, monitoring, reporting, and ensuring activities are high quality and impactful. A strong STEM background is highly valued, as the role requires using science-informed and evidence-based approaches to create handson learning experiences that encourage curiosity, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.
The position also involves supporting young people through youth-led learning, exploration, experimentation, and outdoor engagement, with a strong focus on understanding and connecting with the natural environment.
"As a grass roots charity, we have been supporting the vulnerable and deprived adults and young people of Blackburn with Darwen. Over the years, we have seen many barriers and challenges the local community are facing. We aim to ensure that we are targeting these issues to help people be inspired, motivated and to help them overcome any situation."
Mohammed Sidat (CEO)
Job Title: Youth Project Officer
Department: Community, Development & Resilience
Responsible to: Universal Youth Lead
Place of work: Various venues across Blackburn with Darwen
Hours of work: 20 hours per week (Mon-Fri), with evening and weekend work
Annual Leave: 25 days plus 8 bank/public holidays (Pro rota)
Salary: £13.45 hourly rate
Benefits:
25 days plus 8 bank holidays
Flexible working arrangements
Pension Scheme
Sick pay
Internal staff well-being group to support staff welfare
Personal development opportunities
Free staff parking
Health Benefits
Main Objectives
Design, deliver and coordinate inclusive indoor / outdoor youth engagement programmes.
Act as a Youth Project Officer, supporting planning, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of youth projects.
Deliver engaging, science-informed sessions for young people aged 5–18.
Use innovative and creative approaches to engage young people.
Work collaboratively with key partners to develop and maximise use of local green spaces.
Ensure programmes are well-structured, outcome-focused, and responsive to young people’s needs.
Duties and Responsibilities
Innovatively plan and deliver inclusive, engaging indoor / outdoor sessions that promote curiosity, exploration, and scientific thinking.
Create safe, supportive, and stimulating outdoor environments to upskill and enhance development.
Creatively use local natural spaces to deliver hands-on learning experiences.
Encourage youth-led exploration and active participation during sessions.
Develop clear session plans, project timelines, and delivery frameworks.
Maintain accurate monitoring, evaluation, and reporting records.
Contribute to measuring impact and outcomes of youth programmes.
Work with partners and stakeholders to support effective project delivery.
Contribute to continuous improvement through reflection and evaluation.
Safeguarding & Relationships
Always adhere to safeguarding policies and procedures.
Build strong, trusting relationships with young people, families, colleagues, and partners.
Promote inclusion, equality, and anti-discriminatory practice.
Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns.
General Responsibilities
Carry out administrative duties linked to project delivery and reporting.
Work collaboratively within a team to achieve shared outcomes.
Manage time effectively across delivery, planning, and project work.
Maintain high standards of professionalism and communication.
Stay alert to potential hazards and take proactive measures to reduce or remove risks.
Person Specification
Lived experience is far more important than acedamic qualification to IMO Charity.
Experience and a passion for youth work is our number one priority.
You are required to have a minimum of 5 GCSE’s including English, Maths and Science to ensure you can successfully complete report writing and data input and analysis.
A degree in natural sciences, geography or a similarly relevant and related field (Strongly Desirable)
| Experience | Essential/DesirableCriteria |
| Working professionally with young people in a youth work setting. | Essential |
| Expereince of leading outdoor learning programmes. | Essential |
| Experience of designing age-appropriate outdoor learningprogrammes | Essential |
| Having a good understanding of safeguarding practices andensuring you know what to do when a safeguarding concern arises. | Essential |
| Proven experience of increasing young people's engagement andachievement. | Essential |
| Working collaboratively as part of a team and with externalpartners. | Essential |
| Working to targets and deadlines. | Esential |
| Working to clear policies and procedures. | Essential |
| Knowledge of working with young people with SEND & SEMH needs. | Desirable |
| Skills/Attributes | |
| Assessing young people's needs to tailor appropriate programmes. | Essential |
| Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. | Essential |
| Strong people management skills | Essential |
| Strong time management skills. | Essential |
| Trauma-informed, empathetic approach. | Essential |
| Excellent writing skills | Essential |
| Creating healthy, trusting relationships with young people;important for safety and engagement outdoors. | Essential |
| Ability to speak in more than one language besides English, with afocus on those languages commonly spoken within the South Asiancommunity. | Desirable |
| Role Requirements | |
| Understanding good youth work principles. | Essential |
| Knowledge of the green sector and related industries,with a particular focus on employability skills and routesinto careers in this sector. | Essential |
| Committed to keeping up to date with wider guidelines andprinciples related to youth work. | Essential |
| Ability to identify and challenge discrimination and discriminatorybehaviour, taking appropriate action as necessary. | Essential |
| Understanding issues affecting young people's lives (including localcontext). | Essential |
| A believer: a genuine passion for making a difference to the lives ofchildren and young people. | Essential |
Safeguarding Recruitment:
IMO Charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undertake appropriate safeguarding checks as well as providing proof of right to work in the UK. The successful applicant can expect to have their personal information entered on to a Single Central Record, which will be shared governing bodies and organisations where applicable.
The person appointed to this post will have contact with vulnerable young people and adults. Therefore, the post holder will require an enhanced Disclosure Barring Service check.
Equality & Diversity:
As we are a diverse charity that respects differences in race, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith, background or personal circumstance we welcome all applications. We want everyone to feel valued and included in the IMO Charity and to achieve their full potential. IMO Charity is opposed to any form of discrimination and commits itself to the redress of any inequalities by taking positive action where appropriate.
To Apply
Please send your CV and a cover letter to hr@imocharity.org by 12 June 2026th
Your CV should include the names and contact details of two referees. It should also include your notice required from an existing employer.
Please thoroughly read through this document before applying as it contains the person specification. Your cover letter should specifically address your qualities and attributes, which are outlined in the Person Specification and linked to the duties and key responsibilities.
Finally, appointment to this role is subject to satisfactory references and DBS clearance.
For an informal discussion, please call Umar Mulla on 01254 781310/07394 653921