Are you passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people? Do you want a flexible, varied and meaningful job in a supportive team? Do you value great employee benefits such as 360 Wellbeing membership and an annual training budget? Apply to join us!

Bridges Project is a leading youth work charity that helps young people aged 12-25 in East Lothian and Midlothian overcome challenges and adapt to adulthood. For nearly 40 years, we have helped young people develop their life skills, improve their educational attainment and move into employment or further education.

We have a vacancy for an Educational Support Worker to deliver an effective casework and group work service to young people experiencing a range of challenges such as non-attendance at school, low attainment, poor mental health and family poverty.

The successful candidate will:

• Support young people to gain employability skills, life skills and accreditation; helping them in to work, apprenticeships, further education or vocational training
• Provide vocational/industry specific accreditation and training to groups of young people alongside individual support to address particular barriers
• Take the lead on the service and to provide an effective interface between young people, partners and stakeholders involved in the service.

This is an exciting position in which the successful candidate will take pride in developing a programme of delivery which will provide young people with clear pathways to positive destinations.

It is essential that candidates have a full, clean driving licence and constant use of a car. Membership of the PVG scheme will be an essential requirement of the post. A contributory company pension scheme is offered with a 10% employer contribution.

At Columba 1400 we enable young people, especially from tough realities, and the key adults in their lives to lead lives of meaning, purpose, and contribution. Since 2000 we’ve helped more than 12,500 young people and adults transform their lives.

Through our bespoke values-based leadership experiences, we create a nurturing environment where participants can explore their strengths, build confidence, and embrace their unique talents.

Our founding principles of warmth of welcome, warmth of hospitality, and the sense of being on a shared journey guide everything we do.

Participants emerge from our academies with greater confidence, clarity about their goals, and a renewed sense of purpose, ready to make a positive difference.

Overall Purpose of Role

The purpose of this role is to facilitate the delivery of our Young People’s Leadership Academies and to be alongside participants as they realise their true potential.

The successful candidate will work in partnership with the Columban Team to ensure the highest standards of delivery are maintained throughout our leadership academies as well as supporting the information and data gathering to demonstrate our impact.

In this post you will help to provide a supportive, warm, and nurturing environment for young people, and key adults. Through your compassionate approach and values-based leadership, you will inspire and uplift young people, helping them to realise their inherent strengths and capabilities.

Want to help children and young people from armed forces communities to realise their potential and thrive?

Deliver life-changing experiences to develop new skills, build confidence, and forge friendships through a sense of belonging, shared experiences, and collective purpose.

Co-produce impactful projects, services, and campaigns that amplify lived experience, transform attitudes, and lead toward meaningful change in local communities in the West of Scotland and for over 12,500 peers across Scotland.

Establish and maintain a network of youth forums in Helensburgh, West Dunbartonshire, and Lomond. Promote and develop active involvement to reach and support greater numbers from early learning settings and with additional support needs (ASN).

Some of the essentials we are looking for in candidates

A relevant qualification, to a minimum standard of HNC/SVQ 3 (SCQF level 7) in a discipline related to working with children and young people, or equivalent work experience.

Ideally, you will have experience working with children in Early Years settings.

You will also need a minimum of two years’ experience working in youth work, community, or education settings, as well as demonstrate knowledge of co-production, child protection, participatory decision-making, and much more.