Youth Ambassador

We are delighted to share this new and exciting opportunity for a Youth Ambassador to join our dynamic organisation.

As the voice of the UK’s co-operative movement, we empower and support co-operative enterprise with specialised knowledge and expertise, to grow the co-operative economy and create a fairer society. From football clubs and farms to convenience stores and pubs, there are more than 7,000 co-operatives in the UK, each owned and controlled by their members and based on a set of shared principles and values. By promoting shared wealth through member ownership, we are committed to enable anyone in the UK to form, or join, thriving and sustainable co-ops.

As Youth Ambassador you will support the implementation of our youth strategy by engaging young people with the co-operative sector. This role is crucial for advocating for youth voices within the wider community and raising awareness of the benefits of co-operatives among younger audiences, ensuring that the perspectives and ideas of young people are integral to our initiatives and programs. You will also support the communications team, contributing to the success of youth-focused campaigns, including the National Youth Summit.

As an organisation we are led by our unwavering values of solidarity, self-responsibility, equity, and honesty, therefore if you share these core values, we would be delighted to receive your application.

Core responsibilities

We invite all interested parties to learn more about the role and our organisation within the recruitment pack, which can be downloaded from the recruitment documents section.

• Assist in the development and implementation of programs and initiatives designed to enhance youth involvement in co-operative, including the National Youth Summit.
• Chair the Youth Advisory Group (YAG), facilitating discussions that empower young people to share their perspectives and ideas.
• Foster an inclusive environment that encourages youth participation and representation in co-operative initiatives.
• Work closely with communications teams to create promotional materials and digital content to engage young audiences and raise awareness of co-operative opportunities.

• Coordinate workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities that facilitate dialogue among young people and leaders in the co-operative sector.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of youth initiatives and provide recommendations for improvement based on feedback and research.
• Collect feedback from young people to inform program development and policy recommendations.
• Attend and represent Co-operatives UK at youth-focused conferences, events, and forums to share insights and gather best practices from other organisations.
• Establish and maintain relationships with youth organisations, educational institutions, and community groups to promote co-operative values.
• Prepare regular reports summarising the progress and achievements of youth initiatives for Leadership Team.
• Provide marketing, events and social media support as agreed with line manager.
• Contribute to the development of commercial and grant funded leads for youth development for co-operatives.
• Work with infrastructure bodies to ‘join up’ the Co-operative Youth Offer in the UK.
• Stay informed about trends and best practices in youth engagement and the co-operative sector.

Essential skills:

• Willing to learn and develop skills in youth engagement and co-operatives
• Strong interest in working with youth organisations, community groups, or in roles focused on youth engagement
• A proactive approach to supporting event coordination or organising community initiatives
• Awareness of current issues affecting young people and trends in youth engagement
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and engage young people
• Proficient in digital tools and social media platforms for engagement, including creating digital content to support campaigns and event
• Good organisational and administrative skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
• A collaborative mindset, open to working with others and contributing to team goals.

Benefits

At Co-operatives UK we are a mindful, inclusive, and equal opportunities employer. As an organisation that is owned and controlled by its members, we put our people at the forefront of all that we do. We offer:

• Flexible working options
• Pension scheme
• Discounted travel to work schemes
• Employee wellbeing assistance programme including free eye tests
• Personal and professional growth and development, including coaching
• Trade union

To apply please follow our application process and complete the application form – CVs cannot be accepted: www.uk.coop/careers

Application deadline: Midnight, Thursday 2^nd January 2025

Interviews: Week commencing 13^th January 2025, in Manchester.