Youth Mental Health Intern – Operations & Services

This is a small but growing London-based children’s emotional wellbeing charity. Through joy, adventure and the power of the outdoors, the organisation works to transform the mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable young people referred by social workers, schools and mental health services.

The young people supported may be experiencing complex challenges such as abuse, poverty or neglect. The charity helps them feel valued, successful and resilient through therapeutic adventures, mentoring programmes and countryside-based respite residentials.

Largely volunteer-led, the organisation is supported by hundreds of passionate individuals each year. It has a warm, close-knit culture and is looking for an intern who shares its commitment to changing young people’s stories.

Role Overview

The Youth Mental Health Intern will work across the Operations and Services teams, supporting the planning, coordination and delivery of programmes for young people experiencing social and emotional difficulties resulting from trauma.

This is a varied and meaningful opportunity to gain experience in youth services, charity operations, stakeholder communication and programme delivery. The intern will contribute to work that has a tangible, positive impact on vulnerable children and young people.

Key Responsibilities

The intern may support the team with:

• Assisting with the design and development of programmes for young people experiencing social and emotional difficulties.

• Supporting the planning, implementation and delivery of therapeutic adventures, mentoring activities and residential programmes.

• Helping coordinate programme schedules, resources, logistics and administrative tasks.

• Communicating with key stakeholders, including schools, social workers and other referring organisations.

• Liaising professionally and sensitively with parents and carers.

• Supporting communication and coordination with vendors and external service providers.

• Maintaining accurate programme records and assisting with monitoring and evaluation.

• Helping prepare materials, equipment and information for programme delivery.

• Responding proactively to changing priorities and helping solve day-to-day operational challenges.

• Working collaboratively with staff and volunteers to ensure programmes run safely and effectively.

• Participating in one of the charity’s countryside-based residential projects, gaining supervised, face-to-face experience supporting young people.

• Following safeguarding, confidentiality and professional conduct procedures at all times.

As a small and collaborative charity, responsibilities may evolve according to current programmes and organisational priorities.

What Are the Required Skills for This Position?

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

• Excellent organisational and time-management abilities.

• A proactive, adaptable and dependable approach.

• The ability to problem-solve and use initiative appropriately.

• Empathy, patience and emotional awareness.

• Confidence communicating with a range of stakeholders.

• The ability to handle sensitive information professionally and confidentially.

• A genuine interest in young people’s welfare, emotional wellbeing or mental health.

• Willingness to work collaboratively as part of a close-knit team.

• An understanding of the importance of safeguarding and professional boundaries.

Previous experience working with young people, mental health services or charities is helpful but not essential.

This Position Enhances the Following Skills

• Programme design and delivery.

• Charity operations and service coordination.

• Project management.

• Stakeholder and relationship management.

• Written and verbal communication.

• Safeguarding knowledge and practice.

• Youth engagement and support.

• Programme administration and record-keeping.

• Event and residential programme logistics.

• Problem-solving and adaptability.

• Teamwork and collaboration.

• Understanding of trauma-informed and youth-centred approaches.

• Experience working with young people.

What Will the Intern Gain?

By the end of the internship, the intern will have:

• Contributed to programmes making a meaningful difference in vulnerable young people’s lives.

• Gained practical experience in charity operations and service delivery.

• Developed an understanding of how youth mental health and wellbeing programmes are designed and coordinated.

• Built experience communicating with schools, social workers, parents, carers, vendors and volunteers.

• Strengthened their project management, organisation and problem-solving skills.

• Developed greater awareness of safeguarding and responsible youth engagement.

• Gained supervised, face-to-face experience supporting young people during a countryside-based residential project.

• Built transferable skills relevant to careers across the charity, mental health, education and youth services sectors.

What Career Areas Would Be a Good Fit for a Candidate Interested in This Position?

• Youth and community work.

• Mental health and wellbeing.

• Social work and social services.

• Psychology and counselling.

• Charity and nonprofit management.

• Programme and project management.

• Education and student support.

• Public health.

• Children’s services.

• Community outreach.

• Operations and service delivery.

• Corporate social responsibility.

What Majors Would Be a Good Fit for This Internship?

• Psychology.

• Social Work.

• Sociology.

• Youth or Community Studies.

• Education.

• Child Development.

• Counselling.

• Public Health.

• Human Services.

• Nonprofit Management.

• Criminology.

• Social Policy.

• Healthcare Management.

• Business or Operations Management.

Applicants from other academic backgrounds with a strong interest in youth welfare, mental health or charitable work are also encouraged to apply.

What Industries Does This Organisation Most Closely Align To?

• Charity and nonprofit.

• Children and young people.

• Mental health and emotional wellbeing.

• Youth development.

• Social and community services.

• Education and mentoring.

• Outdoor learning and therapeutic recreation.

• Programme and service delivery.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be compassionate, organised and motivated by the opportunity to improve young people’s lives. They will be comfortable balancing administrative responsibilities with stakeholder communication and practical programme support.

This role would particularly suit someone interested in combining youth mental health and wellbeing with hands-on experience in charity operations, project coordination and service delivery.

Free to Be Kids

We are a growing London based charity supporting children & young people who are struggling with social or emotional difficulties, and helping to create lasting change for vulnerable children's emotional health.

Our volunteers work with disadvantaged children across London to rebuild self-esteem, boost resilience and to help explore challenging emotions and ways of managing. We do this via a range of therapeutic adventures & countryside based respite residentials, in all seasons, as well as through creative term time after school groups.

We work using the inherent power of the outdoors, animals, nature and the arts. We believe in childhood, muddy trainers, new challenges, self expression, and real human relationships. Our aim is to open up a sense of adventure, freedom and possibility for children who are struggling, whatever life's circumstances.

Above all we believe that every child deserves to feel wanted, special and valued and to experience joy and adventure within their childhood. We are largely volunteer run and rely on the support of hundreds of like minded individuals each year.

This internship is unpaid and requires an API program fee starting at $10,599. The fee covers the broader international program, including pre-departure services, housing, local logistics, on-site support, team-building activities, and post-program career support—including career coaching and access to the API Career Hub. Program fees vary by destination, duration, and included services.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

On-site Supervision and Support
Our internships include 24/7 on-site staff to support students working and living abroad. All students will also report to a supervisor at their internship site. Supervisors provide and oversee daily tasks, introduce the intern to team members, and mentor the intern in organizational agility, skill acquisition, and career readiness. Interns complete a midpoint and final evaluation, and supervisors complete a final evaluation of their interns. All work responsibilities and projects are approved in advance.

Academic Credit
Students on an internship have the opportunity to enroll in their home university for credit, or enroll in a course through API to transfer back to their university for credit. Email support-internships@apiexperience.com for more information and a syllabus.

Housing and Excursions
Housing and excursions are included in your internship and will be selectable during the application process.

Visa Sponsorship
This position does not offer visa sponsorship for non-US citizens

Visa Sponsorship (London, Edinburgh, Sydney only)
Selected candidates will be responsible for obtaining a temporary work visa with support from API, please note that this has an additional expense on the candidate. For more information visit our visa page