Chief Executive Officer

Job Description

Would you like to enable young people growing up in challenging and dynamic environments to feel inspired, supported, happy and safe Do you want to be the change And proud to work for an organisation that in 2019, was named North West Charity of the YearWere seeking an exceptional individual to take up the reins as CEO to enable Manchester Youth Zone to continue to provide and build on the high standard of provision its developed over the years and lead the organisation as it enters a new phase post Covid-19 and beyond.Talent is evenly distributed, but opportunity is not. Since our beginnings in 2012, when we were established as an independent charity under the OnSide Network, we have had one simple belief, that all young people should be able to access the same opportunities. Our charitable aims are to provide young people aged 6-19, up to 25 with additional needs, with the tools to raise their aspirations, enabling them to choose a positive, independent lifestyle by offering: Somewhere to go, something to do, and someone to talk to. We continue to be a member of the OnSide network and seek to learn from other similar organisations.The breadth of what we do has expanded dramatically since we began working in North Manchester - we continue to offer a safe space for young people to thrive, whilst simultaneously creating links across the city, ensuring that North Manchester is recognised for all the right reasons, highlighting the issues surrounding child criminal exploitation across the region and implementing programmes which have a significant impact in reducing the vulnerabilities of young people. In these strange times we have taken our delivery online - offering a Virtual Youth Zone. What separates us from most Charities is our Northern soul, our Manchester grit, perseverance, persistence and our inability to accept defeat. We are relentless in our pursuit of a level playing field for all young people and we wont stop until we get there.Importantly, Manchester Youth Zone acts as the "Prime Contractor and Accountable Body" for the North Manchester Youth Partnership - a cohort of organisations with the objective to ensure that there is a co-ordinated youth and play offer across North Manchester, and an aim to attract other funding to North Manchester to enable the partnership to address issues that prevent young people realising their potential. Last year this amounted to around £350,000 of resource being made available. The approach is a real partnership of action and thought, and Manchester Youth Zone plays a critical part in articulating the needs of young people in this place-based approach and in working with other partners to design and deliver solutions.At the heart of what we do is our passion to make a difference for young people and to inspire them to become part of the success story which is Manchester. We are only 3 miles from the city centre, yet a significant number of our young people do not feel connected to the city. In all that we do, we seek to align young people, who are often the most marginalised with the opportunities that are available to them, with the right support - raising aspirations and hopes for their futures.MYZ is based in Harpurhey, a ward rated 2nd in England for the effect of long-term deprivation on children and young people. Many in the surrounding area are vulnerable and living in challenging circumstances, often with poor role models and with low expectations about what life will bring, as evidenced by the statistics below:

16.2% unemployment (national average 7.5%)

48% families live below the poverty line

11% of 16-18-year olds are not in employment, education or training

We expect all of these statistics to worsen, probably very significantly, as the country starts to face up to the economic challenges presented by the pandemic. The demand for our services has increased, just as we are most pressed to ensure our survival. The crisis has magnified the needs of young people, presenting increased; wellbeing concerns, loneliness and isolation, disconnect from education and a lack of trusted relationships.This unique moment in time requires a CEO to lead a committed team, and support them in testing new ways of working, providing opportunity for unprecedented innovation, responsiveness, creativity and imagination and for learning that can inform long-term change.Our Youth work offer is multi-faceted and covers:Centre based youth work - Offering universal youth and play provision to young people aged 6-19 and up to 25 for those with additional needs. We open each evening to provide young people with "Somewhere to do, something to do and someone to talk to"Targeted work - In responding to the safeguarding needs of young people in North Manchester, since 2014 we have developed work combating child criminal exploitation, working with partners to develop early interventions models. We are proud of our achievements as a leader in this field, but we are aware that we need to do more to protect our young people, first class safeguarding practice is at the heart of all we do.Careers and Enterprise - We see only too often the scarring created by years of unemployment on the young people we work with. Our Careers Advisor and Enterprise Youth Workers strive to raise the aspirations and careers horizons of our young people to be the best they can be.Family work - We know that if a young person is to be successful, they need the support of their family. For the last three years weve offered Holiday Hunger provision for young people, and food interventions for families.Community provision - Our Café for young people on our evening sessions becomes a community café during the day, which is used by the community for lunch and meetings. We are also a SafeZone offering young people wellbeing support from qualified practitioners. Joe Gallaghers Boxing Academy is based with us during the day offering young people education programmes which are sports based. We are also the I-Thrive hub for North Manchester with health staff based at the youth zone.If youre passionate about developing exceptional provision which provides young people with an exceptional service, wed love to hear from you!YOUR RESPONSIBILITIESMAIN PURPOSE

To ensure MYZ provides activities and services which meet the needs of our young people.

To act as an advocate for young people and ensure that their voice is reflected in youth and play provision across North Manchester and the wider Manchester community.To pro