British Red Cross Youth Engagement and Early Careers Internship 2026: Paid Opportunity in London

The British Red Cross is recruiting for a Youth Engagement & Early Careers Internship in London. The paid internship offers young people the opportunity to gain practical experience while supporting projects focused on youth engagement, career development and access to employment opportunities.

The role is a six-month full-time internship running from November 2026 to May 2027. It is based on a hybrid arrangement between the intern’s home and the British Red Cross London office.

The application deadline is September 27, 2026.

Internship Overview

Organisation: British Red Cross
Position: Youth Engagement & Early Careers Intern
Location: London, UK
Working arrangement: Hybrid
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 6 months
Expected period: November 2026 – May 2027
Salary: £24,479 per year
London allowance: £3,344 pro rata if residing and working in London
Eligible age: 18–25
Application deadline: September 27, 2026
Assessment Centre: Expected during the week commencing October 5, 2026

About the Youth Engagement Internship

The internship is designed for young people who want to develop their career while contributing to projects that create better opportunities for other young people.

The successful intern will work with British Red Cross teams to gather feedback from young people, support engagement activities and contribute to projects designed to make paid opportunities more accessible and inclusive.

The role provides practical experience in a professional environment while allowing the intern to contribute to youth-focused programmes.

What Will the Intern Do?

The successful candidate will support a range of activities, including:

Engaging with young people and gathering feedback
Supporting youth engagement events and workshops
Analysing recruitment data related to young people
Identifying ways to improve access to paid opportunities
Developing resources and case studies
Producing insights related to youth engagement and career resilience
Supporting projects focused on early-career opportunities

The role combines communication, research, organisation and project support.

Who Can Apply?

The internship is open to young people aged 18 to 25 who can commit to the full-time placement from November 2026 to May 2027.

The British Red Cross states that it particularly welcomes applications from people who are underrepresented in the organisation and wider charity sector, including people with disabilities, people from ethnically diverse backgrounds, those with caring responsibilities and people from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Applicants should have a genuine interest in supporting young people and creating positive opportunities for others.

Skills and Experience Required

The British Red Cross is looking for candidates with:

Strong communication skills
Good relationship-building abilities
Good organisational skills
The ability to manage competing priorities
Confidence using Microsoft Office applications
A willingness to learn new skills

Previous experience in the charity sector is not stated as a requirement. The role is intended to provide early-career development and practical workplace experience.

Salary and Benefits

The position offers a salary of £24,479 per year for 35 hours per week.

An additional London allowance of £3,344 pro rata may apply to people residing and working in London.

The British Red Cross also lists benefits associated with the position, including:

36 days annual leave including bank holidays
Option to purchase additional leave
Up to 6% contributory pension
Employee discounts
Wellbeing support
Learning and development opportunities
Employee assistance support
Free will-writing service
Death-in-service benefit
Cycle to Work scheme

Working Arrangement

The internship is based in London and operates on a hybrid basis, combining work from home with attendance at the British Red Cross London office at EC2Y 9AL.

The position requires 35 hours per week from Monday to Friday.

Candidates should make sure they can meet the placement’s full-time commitment before applying.

Assessment Centre

Shortlisted applicants are expected to attend an in-person assessment centre in London, likely during the week beginning October 5, 2026.

Candidates should therefore be prepared to attend in person if selected for the next stage of the recruitment process.

How to Apply

Applications should be submitted through the official British Red Cross careers website.

Before applying, candidates should prepare a clear CV highlighting relevant education, volunteering, employment, youth engagement, community work, communication skills and other experience relevant to the internship.

Applicants should also demonstrate their interest in supporting young people and explain how their skills could contribute to the role.

Application Deadline

The closing date for applications is:

September 27, 2026 at 23:59 UK time.

Because the organisation expects a high volume of applications, candidates should submit their applications before the deadline rather than waiting until the final day.

Important Information for International Applicants

This is a London-based paid internship, so applicants should check the British Red Cross recruitment requirements and their own UK work eligibility before applying.

The vacancy does not state that it provides visa sponsorship. Applicants who are not already eligible to work in the UK should verify the applicable work-authorisation requirements directly with the British Red Cross before applying.

The British Red Cross separately states that its volunteering opportunities are not open to people living outside the UK and that it does not offer sponsorship for volunteering visas.

Why Consider This Internship?

The internship provides young people with an opportunity to gain professional experience within a major humanitarian organisation while developing skills in communication, research, project support and youth engagement.

It may be particularly relevant to young people interested in careers in the charity sector, humanitarian work, youth development, human resources, community engagement or early-career programme management.

Key Details

Details	Information
Organisation	British Red Cross
Position	Youth Engagement & Early Careers Intern
Location	London, UK
Work Arrangement	Hybrid
Hours	35 hours per week
Duration	6 months
Start	November 2026
End	May 2027
Salary	£24,479 per year
London Allowance	£3,344 pro rata if applicable
Age Requirement	18–25
Deadline	September 27, 2026
Assessment Centre	Week commencing October 5, 2026