Experienced Learning Mentor at Future Roots Young People's Service

Posted on 18 June 2026
Applications close on 10 July 2026

All Locations:

Sherborne

Salary Details:

£14.50 to £15.50

Vacancy Type:

Permanent

Function:

Schools

Employer:

Future Roots Ltd

Job Working Pattern:

Full time

Closing time of advert

9am

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Experienced Learning Mentor at Future Roots Young People's Service

About the role

Experienced Learning Mentor Vacancy, between 30 to 37 hours a week during term time

Based on a 30-acre care farm.

Salary range: £14 to £15.50 an hour

This role is offered as Term Time Only or, as a degree of flexibility, the role can be offered as
Full Time, Part Time (minimum of 30 hours) for the right candidate.

Do you want to support young people and help to deliver positive outcomes?

Do you have a love and passion for animals?

Based in rural West Dorset, Future Roots is a long and well established provider of complimentary education and re-engagement services for children and young people. Working with schools and Local Authority Children’s Services we use a farm environment and our animals to offer young people learning and therapeutic experiences to help them overcome trauma and challenges.

We are currently expanding so are now looking for someone to join our team who can bring demonstrable skill and experience from a background of working with children and young people, and who has an affinity with the outdoor environment and animals.

For further information about the role contact Julie Plumley (Director Future Roots) on 01963 210703 or via email: [email protected]

Please visit our website www.futureroots.net to see the full range of what we do.

Closing date: 9:00am Friday 10th July 2026

Further Information

Thank you for your interest in our vacancy for a Learning Mentor at Future Roots. Future Roots is a young person’s service based at Ryland’s Farm. Ryland’s Farm is a small working farm that is approximately 30 acres in size. We are currently expanding so looking for another mentor to join the team.

We started in 2006 as Farming for Life and registered our enterprise in 2008 as Future Roots. We’ve now been supporting young people for over nineteen years and hope to continue for many years to come. You can find out more about us on our website but these links will give you a better understanding of our vision, ethos our work and impact of the work we do with Young People.

Future Roots is a young person’s service based at Ryland’s Farm. Ryland’s Farm is a small working farm that is approximately 30 acres in size – Future Roots (drone video)

To learn a little bit more about us please watch this short introductory video

To hear from some of young people and to learn about some of impact please watch this video and stay on after the credits roll too.

To understand more about our Post 16 Programme.

We were also on the front cover of The Sherbourne Times in January and an article about us is on page 58 - Sherborne Times January 2025 by Sherborne Times - Flipsnack

We are looking for an individual, who really understands young people and who can:

engage with and understand young people and build effective, developmental relationships that will increase resilience and emotional wellbeing
plan and implement Future Root’s group work programmes on the farm using the outdoors and animals to build resilience, personal responsibility and qualities and employability skills
planning will include delivering accredited qualification opportunities and/or therapeutic activities as well as appropriate programmes to meet individual need
visits will not be possible until we receive your application, and will form part of the recruitment process. We have the right to close this advert early if a suitable candidate is found, so apply early!

Closing date for applications is 9am Friday 10 July 2026

About Us

Future Roots is a social enterprise. That means we are a business, but unlike a traditional business, any profit we make is reinvested back into our community. It does not get paid to directors or shareholders.

We started in 2006 as Farming for Life and registered our enterprise in 2008 as Future Roots. We’ve now been supporting young people for over a decade and hope to continue for many years to come.

Future Roots was the vision of our founder, Julie Plumley. Julie’s a Dorset farmer’s daughter, but went on to have a long career in social work. Future Roots combines the best of both worlds.

Why we are called Future Roots (it is all in a name!)

The name ‘Future Roots’ originated as we want the people who need us to feel that their ‘Future’ prospects are better because of what we offer. This might be happiness and wellbeing or improved resilience giving the ability to cope with a personal situation. It might be about gaining qualifications and having better job prospects. Each of the above leads to hope that their ‘Future’ will be better than they had previously thought and a belief they can achieve.

‘Roots’ came from knowing that everyone needs ‘Roots’ to provide the key nutrients to strengthen and grow. ‘Roots’ are also a stretchable anchor, being a safe and secure place to return that will ground you when you feel lost. Our aim is to provide stability and direction through any tough times for young people and their families.

Future Roots, provides a safe space, support and mentoring, qualifications eg. functional skills in English and Maths, land-based qualifications, as well as therapeutic opportunities for young people up to 25 to develop confidence, resilience and skills to give hope which will improve their mental health and future prospects to live a healthy and positive life using a countryside and farm environment with access to experienced mentors.

We are well respected within the local community, with establish strong links with Dorset Council, Dorset’s VCSE sector, Dorset’s Youth Forum. We are commissioned and approved by Dorset Council, delivering the following services at Future Roots:

Dorset Family Matters
Alternative Provision, 11 to 18years, offering NOCN qualifications and functional skills, John Muir awards, therapeutic animal assisted therapy
Dorset Short Breaks Holiday provision, 8 to 18 years
We have other funding streams through bids for:

Rural Remedies Programme, 8 to 13 years
Futures Programme Post Intern Programme, 16 to 18years
Supported Internships. 16 years and over, for young people with EHCP’s
Ambassadors Programme. Young people who still connect to Future Roots
Potter’s Garden, 18 years and over
How it works

Young people don’t come to Future Roots because they are ‘naughty’ or ‘bad’. They are referred because they need a safe and secure learning environment, where they feel they can achieve, in order to reach their potential. We believe there are always reasons for behaviours (not excuses) and that there is always a solution.

Future Roots can accept referrals from any registered school or local authority, provided the young person is on roll. We work in partnership to compliment the curriculum as part of a re- engagement or therapeutic programme to enhance young people’s opportunities and achievements. Parents can contact us to discuss referrals.

We operate an inclusive environment where inclusion means offering opportunities and environments where a young person can learn and develop positively without feeling marginalised. We work in partnership with schools and with young people if they are experiencing challenges that prevent them from reaching their potential within traditional educational settings.

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