Work With Us

Equity, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of everything we do at 42nd Street and it is essential that our workforce represents the populations of young people we support. With this in mind, we particularly welcome applications from people who identify as being from communities of need, identity and with lived experience.

Current Posts

We are seeking an artist under 30 who identifies as male with South Asian heritage (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Nepal, Sri Lanka or the Maldives) for an artist-in-residency opportunity.

Who we are

42nd Street is an innovative Greater Manchester young people’s mental health charity with 45 years’ experience of providing free and confidential services to young people. aged 11- 25, experiencing difficulties with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

We are here to support young people with their emotional well-being and mental health by offering a choice of effective, creative, young person-centred and rights-based support.

The Horsfall is our Gallery and Creative space located in Ancoats, next to the main service. The space offers opportunities and support for young people to explore creativity in its many forms – supporting sense of self, confidence, skills, voice and careers. From our weekly art drop-ins, studio space, projects and commissions with young people working alongside established and/or emerging artists highlight the impact of choice and therefore we put this at the centre of everything we do. Each young person gets to choose how they wish to use creativity and what for and we support their intentions.

This can range from supporting young people to get involved in external arts and cultural projects, exploring their own medium in our resourced creative spaces, to commissioning young people as artists and hosting their exhibitions in the gallery.

Artist in Residence Opportunity

We are seeking an artist (under 30) to undertake a paid residency project at The Horsfall between December 2025 and mid-March 2026 culminating in an exhibition or showcase at the end of March 2026.

The theme of the work is open – artist can choose to reflect upon the nature of our space – youth led, celebratory, creative, or themes of expression, mental health and identity.

While the opportunity is for artists with a particular identity the work does not need to be about that identity unless the artist wishes. We are seeking artists to propose how they would use the opportunity to create meaningful work.

We are open to all mediums of creative work, and the work can include the involvement of young people if you wish but this is not a requirement of the residency. We would however like you to meet our young people (some will be on the interview panel, and we’d also love you to talk to our creative groups about your work).

You will be supported in the residency with regular check ins with our creative producer and coms person. The exhibition/ showcasing of the work will be promoted through our social media on our website.

Timeline

• Application closing dates: November 28th, 2025 (28/11/25)
• Informal interviews: Week commencing 8th December, 2025 8/12/25)
• Residency Period: Early December 2025- mid-March 2026.
  (Work can be carried out over that period or in a more intense period if you wish – artist can also access space at The Horsfall to develop the work (notice is required.))
• Showcase Set-up week: Late March 2026. Artists will need to be available to set up their Event / Exhibition at The Horsfall with staff in the week leading up to the event/ exhibition
• Showcase: The finished work will be shared and showcased at the end of March 2026 at The Horsfall gallery

Payment

• The successful candidate will receive £1750 for the period, covering materials for creating the work and your time, payable in money or vouchers at three stages.
  throughout the residency
  • On signing the artist-in-residence contract
  • February 15th, 2026 (15/02/26)
  • On successful completion and showcase of the work
• Additional budget: £200 for printing/hanging costs
  Note: Artists are responsible for their own tax records (support/guidance available)

How to apply:

• Please email a proposal (up to 1000 words) for the work you would like to create as part of the residency to rod.kippen@42ndStreet.org.uk, including:
• Theme/Concept: what will the work explore – highlight?
• Medium: What materials/forms will you work with?
• Vision for the showcase: How do you visualise using The Horsfall's gallery space? (Exhibition, event, launch night, etc.)
• Why you: What makes you the right artist for this residency?
• Support needs: What help would you benefit from The Horsfall staff? (We can help with design, installation, hanging, engagement with young people, etc.)
• Include illustrations, rough drafts or examples of the work you would like to create as you wish.

Also include:

• A CV
• A link to social media or online portfolio showing previous creative work
• – we are as interested in your ideas as your previous work so please don’t worry if you don’t have lots of previous work.

Closing date 28th Nov

Informal Interviews will, be held the w/c 1st Dec

Work to start w/c 8th Dec.

Any Questions?

We warmly welcome informal chats to talk through your proposal before submitting, or for any questions. Please reach out by email to Rod at rod.kippen@42ndStreet.org.uk

The general occupational hiring requirement is based on a legitimate aim in line with Schedule 9, Part 1 (1) and (2)(a–b) of the Equality Act 2010, which you can read more about here:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2010/15/schedule/9

About “Genuine Occupational Requirements” in relation to this post:

This post is subject to a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) for the artist to identify as male and be of South Asian heritage (including but not limited to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, or the Maldives), and be under the age of 30.

The GOR is applied to this residency opportunity as it is essential for, and relates directly to, the aims and purpose of the role. The following objective justifications apply:

The Horsfall’s creative residency programme aims to support young artists from backgrounds currently underrepresented in the creative and cultural industries. This includes artists of South Asian heritage and male-identifying creatives.

Representation and visibility of South Asian male artists remain disproportionately low within youth arts and mental health settings. This targeted residency contributes to addressing this imbalance and advancing equality of opportunity under Section 158 of the Equality Act 2010 (positive action).

The residency will offer young people within our community the opportunity to engage with a creative role model who reflects their cultural and gender identity supporting confidence, connection, and wellbeing through shared experience.

42nd Street is committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive arts environment, and this opportunity is a positive step toward that goal.

Opening Date: 22/10/2025
Pay Scale: NJC Pt.20 - Pt.28 £32,597- £39,152 (pro-rata)

Job description:

Here at 42nd Street, we believe in the power of creativity to support mental health and wellbeing. Our Creative Sessional Support Workers are at the heart of The Horsfall, 42nd Street's creative and cultural programme – delivering inspiring, inclusive, and transformative creative sessions for young people aged 13–25 across Greater Manchester.

42nd Street offers a choice of effective, creative, young person-centred and rights-based approaches, demonstrating local impact with national significance, we drive meaningful change that makes a positive difference to the lives of young people.

We celebrate our diverse team and inclusive workplace reflective of our service users; with a people-centric focus for our work-life balance; employee development and learning; wellbeing and mental health approaches.This post is based at our central Manchester office with community-based work in localities across Greater Manchester.

Apply if you can offer:

• Experience facilitating creative sessions with young people
• Supporting young people in designing posters and zines, drawing on your creative experience to help them express their ideas and stories visually.
• An understanding of how creativity can transform mental health and wellbeing
• Commitment to inclusion, accessibility, and anti-oppressive practice
• Skills in any creative discipline – whether that's art, design, performance, writing, music, or something else entirely
• A trauma-informed, youth-centred approach to your creative practice
• Excellent diligence in safeguarding and record keeping
• Deliver confidential and accountable practice
  
  

We Offer:

• People-focused leaders, developmental line managers and an excellent team to work alongside with a strong 42nd Street culture focusing on equal opportunities and continual learning
• Annual personal training budget to support your continued professional development, on successful completion of your probationary period
• 42nd Street is a Real Living Wage Foundation accredited employer
• Role locations are varied offering the service both out in the community and office-based. 42nd Street can offer a hybrid working set-up, in a way that fits both your needs and the needs of the service
• 27 days' annual leave and x8 bank holidays per year (pro rata), rising to 30 days' annual leave after 5 years' service
• Pensions Scheme - 3% employer contributions
• Cycle To Work scheme
• Internal training calendar with modules identified by staff
• x4 paid team wellbeing afternoons off per year to use as you wish

We look forward to receiving your application. To ensure we offer an equal recruitment experience for all, we do not accept C.V. applications. Please read the job description and person specification here and send your applications to: recruitment@42ndstreet.org.uk.

If you have access needs that require additional support to make an application, please let us know and we can discuss best how to support you during the application process.

Thinking about applying as a secondment? We'd love to hear from you – just chat with your employer before you apply to make sure you have approval.

Roles available: 1 x Creative Sessional Support Worker
For more information or to discuss these opportunities in more detail, please contact rod.kippen@42ndStreet.org.uk

Applications open: Wednesday 22nd October 2025 (22/10/25)
Applications close: Monday 17th November 2025 (17/11/2025)

Interview dates: W.C. 24th November 2025

Job Types: Part-time and fixed term. In-Person

Benefits:
Bereavement leave
Casual dress
Company pension
Cycle to work scheme
Enhanced maternity leave
Enhanced paternity leave
Free flu jabs
Free or subsidised travel
Sick pay

All posts

We cannot accept CV's or any applications submitted after the closing date and time.

Unfortunately, interviews dates cannot be changed. Please ensure you are available if shortlisted. Interviews are primarily face to face at our Ancoats base, however we can accommodate video-conference interviews where required.

We reserve the right to close the application process at any stage should we receive a high volume of applications. You are advised to submit your application as soon as possible. Applications that do not meet the person spec points will not be shortlisted.

There is potential for contracts to be extended beyond fixed term, subject to funding / service needs. 

If you have access needs that require additional support to make an application, please let us know and we can discuss best how to support you during the application process.

How To Apply

We look forward to receiving your application. To ensure we offer an equal recruitment experience for all, we do not accept C.V. applications. Please use the application process as directed provided on our website.

To apply please send your application to recruitment@42ndstreet.org.uk. 

Please return the Application Form and Equality & Diversity Form. These forms will be separated upon receipt and the Equality & Diversity Form will not be seen by the recruitment panel.

If you require adjustments or have access needs, please include details at application stage so we are able to make arrangements. All disabled candidates will be interviewed. Please tell us this at application stage. Please download and read our policy and guidance documents.

If you require any documents in an alternative format, you can contact us: recruitment@42ndstreet.org.uk. Please note, we do not accept CVs.

• Application Form (all posts)
• Equality and Diversity Candidate Form
• Cover Letter
• 42nd Street Recruitment Privacy Notice 2021
• Terms and Conditions
• Guidance on completing your application