Advertised from 4 May 2026

Role

U-evolve is an Edinburgh mental health charity for 11–21-year-olds. Founded in 2015, we support over 200 young people annually with free to access to mental health support. Each year we deliver over 1,000 hours of individual support to help Edinburgh’s young people feel better. We’re currently hiring for an Art Therapist to join our Service Delivery team.

About the role

This role involves providing art therapy to young people aged 11–21, supporting their mental health and wellbeing through creative, therapeutic approaches. Young people may access the service through self-referral or referrals from CAMHS, schools, social work, and other youth organisations. The postholder will deliver both short-term and longer-term therapeutic support, primarily through individual sessions, with opportunities to develop and facilitate art therapy groups as the service grows. The role is part of a wider service team and will work closely with other practitioners, with support and supervision from the Head of Services. Support is flexible and tailored to each young person’s needs, and the role may involve working in partnership with other services as part of a multi-agency, coordinated approach, including making onward referrals where appropriate. This is an opportunity to be part of a service that is responsive, inclusive, and focused on achieving positive outcomes for young people.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for a qualified Art Therapist who is passionate about supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people and brings a strong understanding of their needs and experiences. You will be committed to working in a trauma-informed way, creating safe and supportive spaces where young people feel able to express themselves. You will be creative, empathetic, and flexible in your approach, able to adapt your work to meet the diverse needs of the young people you support. Alongside strong therapeutic skills, you will be able to work both independently and as part of a wider team, contributing positively to a collaborative and reflective working environment. We are looking for someone creative and reflective, with the ability to build strong relationships with young people and partner organisations. You will be motivated to make a meaningful difference to the lives of children and young people and be comfortable working in a developing service, where flexibility and responsiveness are key.

Safeguarding Statement

U-evolve is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment and to work in line with our safeguarding policies and procedures. This role includes a safeguarding lead responsibility as well as working directly with young people and therefore requires a strong understanding of safeguarding practice. The successful candidate will be required to join the PVG and will be subject to appropriate pre-employment checks.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Statement

U-evolve is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all young people feel safe, respected, and supported. We are equally committed to building a diverse staff team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those who are underrepresented in the sector, and are committed to ensuring a fair and accessible recruitment process for all.

Working at U-evolve

We are a small team of nine. We value learning and development and view this as a crucial element of mental health support. As such all staff are trauma skilled and trained, alongside taking part in a full and rich annual training programme. All service delivery staff receive extensive and relevant supervision to support the work they do.

Benefits

• Generous holiday package
• Enhanced sick pay
• Flexible working patterns
• Staff wellbeing scheme
• Learning and Development Policy to support staff training and development.
• Opportunity to contribute to the growth and impact of our work

Application notes

Please feel free to reach out via email to discuss the role in more detail. Alternatively, to apply, please send a copy of your CV and a cover letter detailing your motivation for applying and how you meet the requirements of the role to hello@u-evolve.org by midday on 29th May 2026. Interviews will take place w/c 8th June 2026 with a view to the successful candidate starting mid/end of July. Please ensure you have reviewed the job description before applying, this can be found on the U-evolve website https://u-evolve.org/were-hiring-art-therapist/.

Thank you for your interest in joining the U-evolve team, we look forward to hearing from you!