Our Community Liaison Team (CLT) focuses on coordinating interventions and preventing crises among at-risk youth.
As a Community Liaison Officer, you become the single trusted point of contact for an at-risk young person and their family, taking full responsibility for their case and outcomes. Instead of letting fragmented services operate in silos, you serve as the “nerve centre” connecting all the dots across schools, police, social services, mental health providers, and more.
This integrated approach closes the gaps that allow youth to “fall through the cracks.”
By continuously monitoring and coordinating support, you will ensure no small issue escalates into a crisis and if a youth is in crisis, you will rally the necessary resources to bring them back from the brink through intensive management.
Key Responsibilities
Single Point of Contact: Act as a dedicated case manager and trusted ally for the youth and their family.
You coordinate all services involved, from school and counsellors to law enforcement, so that one person (you) is accountable for guiding the intervention plan from start to finish. This eliminates confusion caused by having “too many professionals” with no clear lead and prevents disjointed care. You make sure everyone is on the same page and nothing falls through the cracks.
Cross-Agency Coordination: Proactively liaise with partner agencies to develop and execute a joined-up support plan. Ensure each agency knows its role and no intervention is neglected or deemed “below threshold.” If a partner is slow to respond or reluctant to engage, you escalate the issue to the proper authorities to prompt action. In short, you hold agencies accountable and persist until every needed service is delivered. Research shows that without clear coordination, professionals often work in silos and may unintentionally overlook issues, jeopardising effective support. As a liaison, you prevent that fragmentation by uniting everyone toward the common goal of helping the youth.
Persistent Engagement: Embrace a “no one gives up on this youth” philosophy. Even if a young person is initially unresponsive or resistant, you maintain caring outreach and find creative, culturally competent ways to engage them over time. We never force participation, but we use every tool at our disposal from relatable mentoring and peer support to recreational activities to build trust and motivate re-engagement. This persistence is critical; evidence and experience show that at-risk youth only begin to invest in getting help once they trust that adults would not abandon them. As their liaison, you send the consistent message: “We are here for you, whenever you are ready.”
Parental Support & Advocacy: Extend your support to the family unit as well. Many youths’ challenges are tied to family circumstances, so helping the parents/guardians is often key to success. You will identify when the family needs assistance be it counselling for trauma, parenting guidance, or other social support and ensure they get connected to those services too. For example, if a youth’s parents are struggling with their own trauma or confusion about navigating social services, you would help link them to mental health providers and community resources for their well-being. By strengthening the family’s capacity to support the young person, you improve the odds of a positive outcome. You are not just an advocate for the youth, but for the entire family. Crisis Prevention & Management: Closely monitor the youth’s situation to catch emerging issues early and defuse them before they spiral. Because you know the young person’s environment and stressors, you can spot warning signs perhaps a drop in school attendance or new negative peer influences and intervene proactively. In cases where a youth is already in acute crisis, engaged in dangerous behaviour, at risk of harm, etc., you will spearhead a coordinated emergency plan, quickly rallying resources: urgent counselling, family meetings, even law enforcement if needed to ensure safety and stabilize the situation. Throughout any crisis, you provide steady guidance and reassurance to the youth and family, never abandoning them at their most vulnerable moment. Your goal is to prevent crises when possible, and to manage them effectively when they do arise, always with an eye toward getting the youth back on a positive track.
What We Look For
We are seeking committed, compassionate, and proactive individuals for this role. Important qualities and skills include:
Commitment & Persistence: You never give up on a young person, no matter how challenging the case. The role requires patience, tenacity, and a long-term view you might work with a youth for many months, guiding them through ups and downs. Showing up consistently and keeping promises is crucial to build trust our youths need to see unwavering support.
Strong Communication & Coordination Skills: You should be an effective communicator who can collaborate with professionals across various agencies and speak up to advocate for your youth’s needs. Leadership ability is a plus, as you will often be “in charge” of case meetings and must ensure everyone follows through on their tasks. Being organized and detail-oriented will help you track multiple threads of an intervention plan.
Cultural Awareness & Empathy: Our community is diverse, and at-risk youth come from Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) backgrounds or marginalised groups. You must be culturally sensitive and able to relate to people from all walks of life. Empathy and non-judgmental listening are key families need to feel respected and understood. Many will have trauma histories or mistrust of authorities, so a caring, respectful approach is essential to engage them.
Resilience & Emotional Strength: This role can be intense. You will be dealing with crises, complex family issues, and sometimes setbacks. We need someone who can handle stress, bounce back from challenges, and stay positive. Your personal resilience will set an example for the youth. You are a model of perseverance and hope. If you have overcome significant challenges in your own life, that experience can empower you to mentor others with authenticity and credibility.
(If you are excited about this role but unsure whether you have the exact background, we still encourage you to apply. Passion and dedication are the most important qualities!)
Application Requirements and Process
To apply for the Community Liaison Officer (Volunteer) position, please submit the following:
CV: Provide an overview of your background. This does not need to be a traditional job resume if you are not from a social services field. The main purpose is to understand your experiences and achievements. Be sure to include any volunteer work, coaching, leadership roles, or relevant personal experiences e.g. involvement in youth organisations, clubs, overcoming personal challenges. If you have a particular skill or passion sports, music, tech, etc., mention that too. We try to match mentors and mentees with shared interests when possible.
Cover Letter or Personal Statement: This is your chance to shine beyond the paper credentials. Tell us why you want to be a mentor and what you hope to contribute. We are especially interested in hearing about your life journey. What do you consider your exceptional achievement or defining experiences? How do you think those will help you connect with and guide a young person?
You might share a bit about why you care about supporting youth. For instance, did you have a mentor or wish you had one at that age? Do you see needs in your community that move you? Also, let us know if you have preferences or limitations regarding the youth you’d mentor. For example, if you feel you would work best with a certain age range or gender. We take such preferences into account when matching.
References: Because this role involves direct one-on-one work with a minor, we strongly prefer at least two references who can speak to your character and suitability as a mentor. These could be professional references or personal. If personal, not family members but community leaders, faith leaders, teachers, etc., who know you well. If you have previous experience working with youth or vulnerable groups, a reference from that context is ideal. Please provide their contact information. We will reach out to them as part of the screening.
Screening & Training: All mentor volunteers must pass an enhanced DBS background check required by law for those working with children. We will facilitate this. You will also be invited to an interview or meeting with our mentorship program coordinator. This is not meant to be high-pressure. It is partly for us to know you better and partly for you to ask questions and understand the commitment. We want to ensure that we match you with the right youth and set you both up for success.
Once accepted, you will undergo our Mentor Training, typically a series of evening or weekend workshops. In training, we cover mentoring best practices, communication skills, setting boundaries, safeguarding, youth development basics, and scenario role-plays. You will also hear from experienced mentors about what to expect. By the end, you will feel ready to embark on this journey with confidence.
Program Commitment: As mentioned, we ask for about a 6-12 month commitment if possible, meeting your mentee regularly exact frequency can be negotiated, but consistency is key e.g. an hour or two every week or every other week. We understand life happens, and we will support you through any adjustments, but continuity is important for the youth. We also host group activities and mentor support meetings periodically, which you will be invited to these allowing you to connect with fellow mentors, share experiences, and engage in fun outings with other mentor-mentee pairs.
Volunteer Benefits & Future Prospects: While the Youth Mentor/Coach position is unpaid, the reward is immeasurable. You will directly witness the growth and confidence your guidance can instil in a young person. We provide ongoing support from staff. You are never alone in handling a tough situation and cover any expenses related to mentor activities e.g. tickets to an event for you and your mentee, or simple outing costs within reason.
Many mentors form bonds that last well beyond the formal program. Furthermore, excelling as a mentor could open doors for future roles with our organisation or partners for instance, a paid Youth Worker or Program Coordinator position as opportunities arise. More immediately, we write recommendation letters or serve as references for our standout volunteers. In essence, by helping a youth carve out a better future, you just might be carving a new path for yourself as well.
Ready to Apply? Please send your CV and cover letter for any of the above roles to hr@bmementors.com. Be sure to specify which volunteer position you are applying for. You may apply for more than one if you feel drawn to multiple roles.
If you have questions or want to discuss any role before applying, feel free to contact us at info@bmementors.com We would be happy to chat. Remember, volunteers are the heart of our mission. By joining as a Community Liaison Officer, Resource Link Officer, or Youth Mentor, you will play a pivotal part in transforming young lives and strengthening our community. We look forward to reading your application and potentially welcoming you to our team.
Non-Discrimination Policy: We welcome applications from all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or background. What matters to us is your passion and commitment. If you need any accommodations during the application process, please let us know.
Thank you for considering volunteering with us. Together, we can ensure no young person falls through the cracks.