Join Caudwell Youth as our Chief Executive Officer as we move into our next strategic phase of growth, change and evolution, ensuring a brighter future for young people.
- Location: Remote - with some travel required across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes and Berkshire
- Salary: c.£80,000 (The terms of this role are flexible; it can be performed at 0.8 FTE, as a job share, and is fully remote.)
About us
Caudwell Youth mentors at-risk young people aged 11-24 years into new futures. Founded in 2022 by four co-leaders with experience of charity-led mentoring provision and philanthropist John Caudwell, we are determined to ensure that the needs of at-risk young people are properly addressed.
We currently work across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, and Slough, filling the gap that statutory services cannot meet due to a lack of sufficient resources and overwhelming demand - but with significant ambition to reach at-risk young people across the UK.
About the opportunity
We now seek a values-led Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Caudwell Youth to play a pivotal role in steering the organisation through its next phase of development. This is a hugely exciting and diverse leadership position for a decisive and dynamic leader who thrives on organisational growth, building teams and structures, and cultivating relationships.
This role has a strong ambassadorial focus in addition to strategic and operational leadership. As the CEO, you will be the face of Caudwell Youth, representing the organisation to stakeholders, funders, partners, and the public. You will champion the charity's mission, advocate for the needs of at-risk young people, and raise the profile of our work at every opportunity.
You will be responsible and accountable for the strategic direction and delivery, providing dynamic leadership throughout the organisation. While ultimately responsible for governance, financial growth, and stability, you will also work closely with the leadership team, the Chair, and Trustees to drive sustainable income growth.
As CEO, you will ensure that the charity's strategic objectives are met efficiently and effectively, laying sustainable foundations for ambitious future growth plans. You will also lead high-level engagement with high-net-worth individuals, government bodies, and other key stakeholders, ensuring Caudwell Youth is recognised as a thought leader and a driving force in the sector.
People are at the heart of our organisation. As a collaborative leader, you will be skilled at working effectively and confidently across a broad range of stakeholders. Crucially, you will continue to develop an ethos for Caudwell Youth with shared values and a positive, inclusive culture where everyone feels valued and respected.
About you
We are looking for an exceptional and inspirational people leader who is focused on the mission, vision, and values of our organisation.
You will be someone who can empower and motivate our skilled, high-performing staff and volunteers while fostering positive working cultures and galvanising the wider team.
This role requires an inclusive and enabling entrepreneurial and purpose-driven leader. You will lead the charity through its next phase of growth while engaging with and inspiring all stakeholders.
Acting as a compelling ambassador for Caudwell Youth, you will advocate for the young people we support, build relationships with funders and government bodies, and raise the charity's profile on a regional and national level.
We seek a leader who shares our values, has a vision aligned with our direction of travel, and wants to build on all that we've achieved so far.
Key attributes and experience we are looking for include:
- A proven track record of success in senior leadership within the non-profit or social impact sector.
- A deep connection to and understanding of the challenges faced by at-risk young people.
- A passionate dedication to improving outcomes for vulnerable young people.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain high-value relationships with stakeholders, funders, and government partners.
- Strong commercial acumen with proven success in developing strategic partnerships and securing sustainable growth.
- The ability to inspire confidence and act as a credible spokesperson for the organisation, engaging audiences at all levels, from local communities to national policymakers.
Your strategic vision will enable you to translate passion into measurable impact, increasing our reach and ensuring that Caudwell Youth continue to make a significant difference in the lives of the young people we support.
For further information about the role, or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners.
If you would like to know more about this role please contact Clare Chesworth.
Thank you for your interest in the CEO position at Caudwell Youth.
We're looking for a CEO who shares our values and can drive forward our strategy, working collaboratively with key stakeholders and the senior leadership team in delivering our mission.
Our aim is to grow our charity sustainably and responsibly to become a UK-wide charity that meets the evolving needs of at-risk young people in effective and life-changing ways.
In our first two years, we have extended our mentoring service across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes and Slough. We currently support 265 young people.
We have also developed a short-term intervention programme to meet the needs of high-risk young people, particularly those with offending behaviours.
We have a strong Board of trustees guiding Caudwell Youth with effective governance and resource management.
Diverse funding streams, including corporate partnerships, donations, grants, and public sector funding, support our mission alongside our founder, John Caudwell's generous contributions.
But let's not shy away from the stark realities that underscore our vision.
- In the UK, 10% of children have diagnosable mental health conditions, with many lacking the support they deserve.
- 41% of care leavers are not in education, employment or training, a stark contrast to the 12% of their peers.
- The harsh reality is that young people not in education, employment, or training are 5 times more likely to end up entangled in the youth justice system and 3 times more likely to suffer from depression.
- Gang-associated children are 77% more likely to have identified mental health needs and twice as likely to have a history of self-harm.
Caudwell Youth was founded in 2022 to address these challenges, supporting at-risk youth aged 11-24 with various needs, from mental health to care experience and exploitation.
Our commitment extends further, with our desire to engage with young people, empowering them to take active roles within our charity - ensuring that our work is not only for young people but led by them.
Debbie Denyer
Chair
Our values
Our values come from years of knowledge and experience within the charity sector and input from our team. Our values define who we are as individuals; they guide us in all our decisions and relationships with each other, our young people, volunteers, partners and funders.
Caudwell Youth is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity and providing a service and following practices free from unfair and unlawful discrimination.
We will actively support equity, diversity and inclusion and ensure our colleagues and volunteers are valued and treated with dignity and respect.
We want to encourage everyone in our charity to reach their potential. All colleagues will be treated fairly and with respect.
Applicants with a disability are invited to contact us in confidence at any point during the recruitment process to discuss steps that could be taken to overcome operational difficulties presented by the role.
Timetable
Closing date: By 9 a.m. Monday 20th January 2025
Candidates informed of outcome: Friday 24th January 2025
First stage interviews: Thursday 30th or Friday 31st January 2025
Second stage interviews: Thursday 6th or Friday 7th February 2025
