Activity Worker Casual in Leeds

As a Casual 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.

As a Casual Activity Worker, you will bring to the role

• NVQ / VRQ Level 3 qualification related to working with young people, or equivalent relevant experience – canoeing, paddleboarding, climbing, bushcraft & survival skills, archery, history, 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 through 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 a Casual 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.

Supporting our established teams on a casual basis, 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 iron‑age and 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 work will be available on a casual, "as and when" basis and cannot be guaranteed.

Some work will take place at weekends only, some during the week, and some on evenings, depending on the programme.

Demand is seasonal, with winter months typically quieter than summer months.

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.
• Membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
• 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.
• Create an environment in which it is safe and appropriate to challenge young people's thinking, attitude, and behaviour.
• Contribute to performance targets.
• Ensure that all aspects of the work are underpinned by the principles of equality and diversity.
• Create and maintain a safe environment in accordance with health and safety policy and legislation.
• Work with young people on activity related maintenance of equipment.
• Hours of work are primarily determined by the needs of the service the position requires flexible working arrangements involving weekly activity rotas, evening activity sessions and weekend working.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and development programmes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e. g. child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti‑discriminatory manner, upholding and promoting the values, standards and equal opportunities of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment or victimisation and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

NVQ / VRQ level 3 related to work with young people or relevant experience is essential.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION

Essential requirements

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview and Certificate.

Skills Required

• Work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
• Flexible approach to working hours with the ability to take part in weekly activity rotas, including evening and weekend activity sessions.
• Establish and maintain a constructive and purposeful relationship with young people.
• Work effectively with children and young people in groups.
• Involve young people in design and development of sessions.
• Safeguard the welfare of young people.
• Support young people to use learning to enhance their future development.
• Record and evaluate sessions.
• Respond to immediate health and safety issues.
• Recognise and challenge prejudices, stereotypes, and discrimination.
• Deliver a range of activities and resources which promote confidence and ensure all can participate.
• Lead on a range of activities such as climbing, art, environment.
• Contribute to all activities on offer.
• Knowledge Required
• NVQ / VRQ level 3 related to work with young people or relevant experience.
• Activity specific qualification, e. g., climbing, cycling, art.
• Issues affecting young people.
• Safeguarding and welfare issues.
• Local and national policies and their relationship to the centre's work.
• Understanding of responsibilities in terms of health and safety, security, confidentiality, and data protection.

Experience Required

• Working in a youth work or school environment.
• Enabling young people to work effectively in groups.
• Enabling young people to explore their values and self‑respect.
• Enabling young people to use their learning to enhance their future development.
• Working with young people to safeguard their welfare and developing awareness for self‑identity.
• Effectively planning, recording and evaluating activity sessions with young people.
• Working as an effective and reflective practitioner.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

• Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
• Understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee's responsibility under health and safety policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training and development activities.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
• Support difference and ensure equality for all, acting in an anti‑discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements

Desirable criteria may distinguish between candidates but are not mandatory.

Equal Opportunities Statement

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.

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