Job Description
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
Active Communities Network is a registered charity, utilising sports, cultural and educational activities to broaden horizons, raise aspirations and offer pathways to achievement for participants within local communities. Using the mediums of sport, physical activity, arts and cultural activity, our programmes deliver grass roots activities which promote personal, social and community development. ACN promotes vocational training, education, citizenship and work experience as part of a wider education, training and employment network across our own and partner projects. ACN’s key focus is to deliver services to young people within socio–economically deprived communities and address a range of social issues to ensure everyone has the opportunity to succeed regardless of their background.

DUTIES INCLUDE
• Providing youth work and support to children, young people and young adults
• Develop relationships and communication channels with young people
• Offer 1-1 support sessions to young people to address identified needs e.g. housing, benefits, employment etc.
• Deliver sessions/workshops aimed at improving young people’s knowledge and understanding of relevant issues e.g. sexual health, domestic abuse awareness, employability and mental health
• Preparing and coaching sport and physical activity sessions
• Develop and support young people’s voice and influence.
• Promoting activities and projects
• Develop and deliver community projects.
• Promote and encourage empowerment
• Promote and publicise the project to the community
• Organising and supervising activities, developing programmes, completing records and monitoring documents
• Effectively monitor and evaluate activities, sessions and projects using technology platforms to maintain accurate records and produce timely reports
• Perform such other duties as reasonably correspond to the general character of the post
• Maintain a professional attitude ensuring Active Communities Network is positively represented at all times
• (ACN) work with mainstream young people and those with varied needs of social mobility progression and pathway development, and challenging youth matters. Please do not apply for this post if you are unable and/or unwilling to work with a wide range of young people with diverse needs.

PERSON SPECIFICATION
• Experience of Youth work/Community coaching: 1 year minimum – Essential
• Face to face activity delivery, working with children and young people (aged 8 plus) both in groups and individually – Essential
• Experience of delivering sports and / or arts activities and / or targeted personal development programmes – Essential
• Experience of supporting young people who are disaffected, underachieving and / or have social / emotional barriers to participation – Essential
• Experience of working in a team and alongside volunteers – Essential
• Organising a programme of youth/play work activities – Essential
• Experience of working with challenging young people – Essential
• Residential work with young people – Desirable

SKILLS AND ABILITIES
• Ability to work shift including evenings and occasional weekends – Essential
• Delivery of activities within an equality framework – Essential
• Strong commitment to children and young people and an ability to engage and build positive relationships with all young people, including disengaged and disadvantaged young people
– Essential
• Ability to develop good professional relationships with children, young people and adults
– Essential
• Ability to work with young people to develop their social education by providing programmes of activities, services and facilities that are fun and enable young people to develop
– 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 deliver high quality activity programmes with children and young people who face social exclusion, disadvantage and disaffection – Essential
• Ability to identify and challenge discrimination and discriminatory behaviour, taking appropriate action as necessary – Essential
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills – Essential

QUALIFICATIONS
• Youth work qualification Level 3 or above – Essential
• FA Level 1 in Coaching Football or Level 1 Sports Leaders Award – Essential
• Youth and Community Work NVQ / VRQ Level 1 – Desirable

PERSONAL QUALITIES
• Positive and enthusiastic – Essential
• Punctual and reliable – Essential
• Commitment to personal and professional development – Essential
• A flexible attitude to work and a willingness to perform a variety of duties to ensure an efficient and effective service – Essential
• Willing and able to work in the evenings, at weekends and in a residential setting – Essential

HOW TO APPLY
Please send your CV and covering letter detailing why you are best suited for the role – matching your skills, knowledge and experience against the job description and person specification.
Please email this to: Earl@activecommunities.org.uk
For more information please contact the London office on 020 7407 8177.