The Charity

The Youth Adventure Trust is a youth development charity working with vulnerable young people aged 11 to 16 years old from Wiltshire and Swindon. Our outdoor activity based Youth Adventure Programme enables young people to challenge themselves, experience success, learn to go beyond their own expectations and grow in confidence. Through a series of residential camps and day activities they are able to build resilience, self esteem and develop social and life skills. The Mentoring Scheme is an additional offer for those young people identified as in need of some further individualised support at the end of the main programme. Volunteer mentors work with a young person for up to a year, supporting them with issues they are experiencing, continuing to develop their confidence, resilience and life skills, and working towards the outcomes the young person has identified for themselves. The Trust’s Bursary Scheme is open to all those young people who have completed the main programme to assist their next steps into further activities. All our services are provided completely free of charge to the young people who are nominated to take part. Our aim is to make a lasting improvement to the lives of vulnerable young people.

The Role

We are looking for a motivated individual to support the delivery and expansion of our Mentoring and Bursary Schemes. You will be involved in all aspects of the schemes, supporting the Mentoring Manager to ensure they run effectively. You will need experience of direct work with young people, as well as experience working with or managing volunteers.

This role includes responsibility for:

• Supporting the young people’s transition from the main programme into the Mentoring Scheme including attending their Pathway Days, and acting as a key point of contact for young people and their parents.
• Assisting the recruitment of volunteer mentors including fulfilling our commitment to Safer Recruitment.
• Organising, preparing and information sharing with volunteers to ensure they are ready to fulfil their role.
• Supporting the matching process to establish the best fit between young people and mentors.
• Acting as a key point of contact and support for volunteers throughout their time as a mentor, including being available on-call during session times which may occur in the evening and occasionally at weekends.
• Working in partnership with the young people’s families, referral agencies and other organisations to maximise the benefits for the young people involved.
• Creating and delivering training opportunities for new and existing volunteers in conjunction with the Mentoring Manager.
• Administrating all aspects of a volunteer and young person’s involvement with the Mentoring Scheme, including completing the relevant checks and references, record keeping and database maintenance.
• Facilitating young people’s access to the Bursary Scheme including promoting the scheme, assessing applications, identifying and acquiring items and requesting follow up feedback.
• Supporting the effective monitoring of the schemes and measurement of young people’s outcomes.
• Participating in sector networking and awareness raising on behalf of the Youth Adventure Trust.
• Acting as an ambassador for the Youth Adventure Trust at all times.

The post is subject to a six months’ probationary period.

The Candidate

To be up to the challenge you will need excellent understanding and a proven track record of working with vulnerable and challenging young people. You will need comprehensive knowledge of volunteering, and demonstrable skills at building effective relationships with volunteers, parents/carers, and professional organisations. You will need strong engagement skills to effectively support both the young people and volunteer mentors. You’ll be an excellent communicator, a strong team player and an exemplary role model.

We need someone with:

• Experience of direct work with vulnerable young people, ideally within a mentoring context.
• Experience of recruiting, supporting and working with volunteers.
• Experience of working in partnership with parents/carers and other professionals.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A positive attitude, high energy and enthusiasm for the work of the Youth Adventure Trust.
• Self-motivation and the ability to work on their own initiative to plan and manage their workload.
• Excellent time management and prioritising skills.
• Excellent administrative skills and a methodical and thorough approach.
• The ability to perform well and problem solve in high-stress and changing situations. A flexible and dynamic approach.
• Strong IT skills including experience of e-mail, MS Office, databases and social media.

In addition:-

• The ability to work flexible hours, evenings and weekends as required, is essential - if you are looking for a predictable 9-5 work environment, this won’t be the right fit.
• A full clean driving licence and access to your own vehicle is required.

Safer Recruitment

The Youth Adventure Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and expects all employees to share this commitment. The suitability of all prospective employees will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. Therefore;

• a satisfactory Enhanced DBS Disclosure will be required for this post;
• we will seek references on shortlisted candidates before interview, and may approach previous employers for information to verify particular experience or qualifications;
• if the applicant is shortlisted, any relevant issues arising from his or her references or application will be taken up at interview;
• if the applicant is currently working with children, on either a paid or voluntary basis, his or her current employer will be asked about disciplinary offences relating to children, including any in which the penalty is “time expired” (e.g. where a warning could no longer be taken into account in any new disciplinary hearing), and whether the applicant has been the subject of any child protection concerns, and if so, the outcome of any enquiry or disciplinary procedure. If the applicant is not currently working with children but has done so in the past, then contact will be made with that employer who will be asked about these issues; and
• applicants should note that providing false information is an offence and could result in the application being rejected, or dismissal if the applicant has been selected, and possible referral to the police.

Please review our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy available on our website.

How to Apply

Please complete the Application Form which includes the opportunity to outline why you think you are suitable for this role, making specific reference to the Role and Candidate descriptions above.

Applications Closing Date: Monday 18th January 2021 at 9am

Interview Date: Tuesday 26th January 2021 (Frome, Somerset)

A second interview will be held for selected candidates on Saturday 30th January 2021 (Wiltshire)

Unfortunately we are unable to reimburse interview expenditure incurred.

The Youth Adventure Trust sincerely thanks all those who apply, however only those considered for an interview will be contacted.