Holiday Club Activity Leader (Camp Sandcastle) (Bank) in Scarborough

Camp Sandcastle is YMCA Yorkshire Coast’s holiday club programme, running in Scarborough, Eastfield and Filey. We provide safe, structured and genuinely fun days for children and young people during the school holidays, with a mix of games, creative activities, sports, themed sessions and trips, alongside consistent routines and positive support.

As a Bank Holiday Club Activity Leader you help deliver the whole experience day to day. You will be hands on with setting up, welcoming families, leading activities, supervising children, supporting behaviour and wellbeing, and making sure safeguarding and safety standards are followed. The aim is simple, children have a great time, parents trust the service, and the programme runs smoothly across all venues.

Tasks Purpose of the role

To help deliver a safe, fun and well organised holiday club for children and young people. As a bank member of staff you will support the day to day running of Camp Sandcastle, including activities, supervision, behaviour support, safeguarding, set up and pack down, and communicating with parents and carers.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver high quality, engaging sessions that are suitable for the age group and needs of the children attending.
• Supervise children and young people throughout the day, maintaining appropriate ratios and positive behaviour expectations.
• Create a safe and welcoming environment, including supporting children with additional needs so they can take part fully.
• Support safeguarding by following YMCA policies, responding appropriately to concerns, recording information clearly, and escalating immediately to the designated lead.
• Support smooth daily operations, including registration, sign in and sign out, headcounts, transitions, lunch times and breaks, and communicating essential information to parents and carers.
• Prepare spaces and resources, including set up, risk checks, cleaning and tidying, and storing equipment correctly.
• Contribute to a consistent team approach, including briefing, debriefing, following direction from the session lead, and supporting newer staff.
• Represent YMCA Yorkshire Coast professionally in the community and uphold expected standards of conduct at all times.

Main tasks

• Plan and lead activities such as games, arts and crafts, sports, group challenges, trips, themed days and wellbeing activities, with clear instructions and safe boundaries.
• Adapt activities in the moment to match the group, weather, venue constraints, behaviour needs and available resources.
• Carry out basic risk checks before and during sessions (space, equipment, hazards, first aid kit, allergies, toilet routes, exit routes).
• Complete registers, headcounts and handover notes accurately and on time.
• Support safe arrival and departure, including checking authorised collectors and maintaining a calm sign out process.
• Support behaviour positively and consistently, including de escalation, restorative conversations, and seeking support when needed.
• Support children’s wellbeing, including building relationships, noticing changes in mood or behaviour, and responding appropriately.
• Handle minor first aid within your competence and report all accidents and incidents using YMCA processes.
• Set up and pack away activity areas, equipment and materials, and leave venues clean, safe and ready for normal use.
• Follow food hygiene and allergen processes where food is provided or served, including cleaning surfaces and supporting safe eating arrangements.
• Attend short briefings, contribute to debriefs, and complete any required paperwork such as incident logs, risk notes, and session feedback.

Requirements

Essential

• Experience of working with children or young people in a paid or voluntary setting (for example, schools, holiday clubs, youth clubs, sports clubs, uniformed groups, childcare, coaching, tutoring, or residential settings).
• Ability to lead or support activities with groups of children, keeping them engaged, safe and included.
• Confidence to supervise groups, set boundaries, and manage behaviour positively and calmly.
• A clear understanding that safeguarding comes first, with willingness to follow policy, record concerns, and escalating immediately.
• Reliable and punctual, with the ability to work as part of a team and take direction on the day.
• Willingness to work across Scarborough, Eastfield and Filey during school holidays (hours are variable as this is a bank role).
• Right to work in the UK and willingness to complete safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS.

Desirable (rated highly)

• Safeguarding training (current or previous) or experience working within safeguarding procedures.
• Paediatric or Emergency First Aid at Work, or willingness to complete first aid training.
• Relevant qualifications or training, for example childcare, youth work, teaching, coaching, playwork, health and social care.
• Experience supporting children with additional needs (for example SEND, neurodiversity, anxiety, behaviour support, SEMH).
• Experience planning and delivering structured activities or sessions (sports, arts, drama, outdoor learning, STEM, etc.).
• A driving licence and access to transport (helpful for working across multiple venues and trips, but not essential).

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds, what matters most is the right attitude, experience with children, and a strong commitment to keeping them safe. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

We are a Disability Confident Committed employer.

Benefits

• Holiday entitlement: Holiday pay is accrued at 13.04% of hours worked and paid in lieu.
• Flexible working on a zero hours contract for school holidays only.
• Paid in arrears.

If you want to help deliver brilliant holiday experiences for children and young people across Scarborough, Eastfield and Filey, we would like to hear from you. Please apply via our website and include a short statement outlining your experience working with children and why you are a good fit for Camp Sandcastle.

What happens next: we will review applications against the essential requirements in the person specification. Candidates who meet these requirements will be invited to interview. Offers will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including references and an enhanced DBS.