Recreational (Activity) Youth Worker

BENEFITS:

• 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) pro rata. Plus additional leave for length of service
• Hybrid work
• Birthdays off
• Gym access
• Training and CPD including first aid, safeguarding and health and safety
• Career development opportunities
• Employee assistance programme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Strong team culture
• Workplace pension
• Free eye tests
• Discounted to £2 access to holiday club for WYZ staff
• Access to Virtual Medical Care
• Access to Work Well programme

SPECIALISM: Youth Work/Activity

Hours: Part time– Flexible: 3-5-hour shifts

There are a range of hours and days available ranging from Monday – Saturdays, typically 3-5 hour shifts. Please enquire for further information.

WORK PATTERN:

There may be opportunity for cover shifts also.

All hours will be face-to-face delivery with young people and will include a weekend shift.

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for someone fun, creative with high energy and a passion to work with young people.

An activity youth worker who is enthusiastic to run recreation activities to help with the wellbeing of our members. They will provide additional support to young people, where needed, to enable equal opportunity access to the wide range of activities on offer at Wigan Youth Zone.

The role requires the creation of a space that is warm, welcoming, active and full of life and challenge.

Knowledge and Understanding

• Knowledge of the issues affecting young people and an ability to work with challenging behaviour
• Understanding of the principles of working with children and young people
• Knowledge of health and safety, diversity awareness and safeguarding best practice and how these relate to children and young people
• Delivery of activities within an equality framework

Qualifications

• Introduction to Youth Work and Community Work NVQ/VRQ Level 2 – Desirable

What will you need to succeed:

EXPERIENCE

• Experience in delivering a recreation activity, working with children and young people (aged 8 plus) both in groups and individually - Essential
• Experience of working with young people with additional needs or disabilities -Desirable
• Experience of supporting young people who are disaffected, underachieving and / or have social / emotional barriers to participation - Desirable
• Experience of working in a team and alongside volunteers - Desirable
• Experience of dealing with safeguarding issues within a multi-agency setting -Essential

SKILLS

• Ability to work with young people providing programmes of activities, services and facilities that are fun and enable young people and adults - Essential
• Ability to develop good professional relationships with children, young people and adults - Essential
• Ability to coach, encourage, motivate and provide reliable support to children and young people - Essential
• Confident in managing a group of children and young people - Essential
• Ability to identify and challenge discrimination and discriminatory behaviour, taking appropriate action as necessary - Essential

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

• Understanding the principles of working with children and young people - Essential
• Understanding of issues affecting young people’s lives - Essential
• Ability to deliver high quality activity programmes with children and young people who face social exclusion, disadvantage and disaffection - Desirable
• Knowledge of Health and Safety, diversity awareness and safeguarding best practice and how these relate to children and young people - Essential

What you will be doing

• Work with your line manager to prepare and implement a well-structured and progressive recreational programme for the young people of Wigan Youth Zone;
• To encourage attendance in recreational activities, particularly by young people who do not usually participate in such activities, and provide appropriate inductions;
• To assist in identifying talented young people and encourage further development through a number of different opportunities;
• To be a positive role model and create a positive and fun environment in which to motivate and encourage young people to participate in fitness activities;
• To help record and evaluate the sessions, and involve young people in the evaluation process;
• To ensure that the members maintain a high standard of behaviour and discipline during sessions;
• To ensure the participation of young people in activities and that their ideas contribute fully in the delivery and evaluation of activities;
• To promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people at all times;
• To be an active member of the team and operate in line with the values and principles of Wigan Youth Zone.

General

• To be alert to issues of safeguarding child protection, ensuring the welfare and safety of Youth Zone members is promoted and safeguarded, and to report any child protection concerns to the designated Child Protection Officers using the safeguarding policies, procedures and practice (training to be provided);
• To assist with any promotional activities and visits that take place at the Youth Zone;
• To actively promote the Youth Zone and positively contribute towards increasing Youth Zone membership;
• To adhere to Wigan Youth Zone policies at all times, with particular reference to Health and Safety, Child Protection and Equal Opportunities.

Other duties

• To carry out any other duty with the Youth Zone provision and facility operations, and within the competencies of the post holder, as directed by your line manager or a senior manager.

Special Requirements

• A willingness to work evenings and weekends
• DBS clearance (paid for by Wigan Youth Zone) and committed to Safeguarding children
• The ability and willingness to travel to meetings and events both in the region and beyond

The job holder will be required to adhere to the Youth Zone’s policies at all times, with particular emphasis on Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding. Attendance at events and conferences will sometimes be required.

In accordance with our Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, this position requires an enhanced DBS check and business satisfactory references.

Please note that in line with our Safeguarding Policy, you must be age 21 or over to work in our Senior Sessions and 18+ to work on our Junior Sessions and Holiday Clubs. All applicants must also be inactive as members for at least 12 months.

What is Wigan Youth Zone?

Wigan Youth Zone is a purpose built, state-of-the-art youth facility in Wigan town centre which opened in June 2013. It offers young people from across Wigan the opportunity to meet friends, have new experiences, learn new skills and access the support they need to develop and achieve their potential.

The Youth Zone is open to all young people across Wigan aged from 8 to 19 (up to 25 with additional needs), striving to offer something for everyone, regardless of their interests or abilities. With almost 15 dedicated areas to choose from including our four 40-metre floodlit football pitches, art room, music room and climbing wall – there’s something for everyone here at Wigan Youth Zone.

Our aim is simple, to provide the town’s young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.

What do you need to do next

Please contact [email protected] to request an application form

88% of our Team would recommend Wigan Youth Zone as an employer to their family and friends

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: £12.35 per hour

Benefits:

• Additional leave
• Casual dress
• Cycle to work scheme
• On-site gym

Application question(s):

• Are you aged 21 or above?

Work Location: In person