Activity Worker

Job title: Activity Worker (2 positions available)

Salary: B3 £27,274 - £29,071 pro rata

Hours: 18 hours

Contract: Permanent

Location: West Leeds Activity Centre (LS12 2RE)

As an Activity Worker, you’ll thrive on inspiring children, young people and adults through inclusive, high‑quality outdoor activity programmes that build confidence, team building, resilience and wellbeing.

It’s not about just leading activities, it’s about actively shaping safe, meaningful experiences which make a real difference to lives across Leeds.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As an Activity Worker, you will bring to the role:

• An NVQ / VRQ Level 3 qualification related to working with young people, or equivalent relevant experience, –canoeing, paddleboarding, climbing, bushcraft & survival skills, archery, history/ science curriculums, team activities or other outdoor education skills
• Experience of working directly with children and young people, including those with diverse emotional, behavioural, educational or physical needs
• The ability to plan and deliver engaging, inclusive activity sessions
• A passion for helping others achieve though outdoor adventure
• A strong understanding of health and safety, risk awareness and safe working practices
• A clear understanding of safeguarding relating to work with children and young people

About the role

If you’re passionate about the outdoors and making a real difference, this is a role where no two days are the same. As an Activity Worker, you’ll help deliver exciting, purposeful outdoor activity programmes at our activity centres, working with schools, youth groups, children and adults taking part in adventurous experiences. You’ll play a key role in creating welcoming, supportive environments where people feel safe, confident and encouraged to challenge themselves.

You’ll help deliver a broad and vibrant programme of activities, including school visits, team‑building sessions, birthday parties and holiday clubs. Activities range from climbing, bushcraft and archery to problem‑solving challenges, paddle sports, environmental and outdoor learning, all thoughtfully adapted to meet a wide range of abilities and needs.

There are also opportunities to deliver curriculum‑linked sessions to history, science and sustainability in our nature-based school trips, making this an ideal role if you love bringing learning to life beyond the classroom.

As part of our commitment to reaching more communities, we also deliver activities at schools, community events and public fairs. We are particularly keen to hear from climbers who can drive and tow equipment to support this outreach work.

You’ll work closely with the team to plan, deliver and review high‑quality sessions, help maintain equipment, and ensure everything we do is underpinned by strong health & safety, equality, diversity and safeguarding principles.

The role requires a flexible approach to working hours. The position is 18 hours per week, delivered across three days. This will include some evening and weekend work, across both term-time and holiday periods, to meet operational needs. There may also be opportunities for additional hours during peak periods (April to September).

The main location for this role is West Leeds Activity Centre, although you will at times be required to work at our other activity centre Herd Farm Residential and Activity Centre to support business needs.

This role offers the chance to grow your skills through training, reflection and teamwork, while making a lasting, positive impact in communities.

What we offer you

• Inclusive and welcoming workplace.
• Friendly and vibrant team who are passionate about the outdoors and helping others achieve.
• Access to high quality activity specific training and support.
• A competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
• Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
• A range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact: Vince Foster – West Leeds Activity Centre Manager, [phone removed], [phone removed] [email removed]

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Special conditions: This post is subject to a higher-level check with the Disclosure & Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.

Job purpose: To deliver activity programmes working directly with young people to develop innovative and inclusive activity sessions (curriculum linked) for children and young people with a wide range of emotional / behavioural educational and physical needs.

Responsibilities:

• Plan deliver and monitor activities to ensure smooth operation of services to meet the needs of children and young people.
• Encourage young people to participate in activities.
• Ensure basic maintenance of activity equipment is built into session time.
• Assist in the development of the service, by planning, delivery, reviewing activity programmes.
• Encourage young people to participate in design, delivery, and review of programmes.
• Encourage young people to take responsibility for their learning and actions.
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