Weekend support worker jobs in london

We’re an award-winning charity running local learning centres in the heart of the communities where the young people we support live. Our centres provide a high-impact education programme which includes practical learning support, pastoral care, and motivational and confidence-building activities for young people aged 7-18. Our aim is to enable students from the least advantaged neighbourhoods to realise their ambitions and achieve their wonderful potential.

As the UK’s leading university access organisation,
our staff team is helping 56,000 young people each year at its 44 learning centres and extension projects across England and Scotland, and we plan to scale-up our provision to 50 centres over the coming years.

We are looking for a high-calibre candidate to take on the role of Regional Operations Manager for our centres in South London (Walworth, Kennington and Brixton) along with our centres in Southampton and Brighton.

As a Regional Operations Manager you will line manage the Centre Leaders in your region to ensure that centres are working effectively, that the high quality of programme delivery to young people is maintained across the cluster, and that targets are monitored and met. 

And of course, you will need to have a genuine passion and enthusiasm for working with young people and helping them achieve their ambitions.

The role at a glance

Conract:  

This is a permanent role. This role can be either full-time or part-time (0.8 FTE) - responsibilities will be adjusted proportionally for part-time candidates.

Start date:

September 2025 (or as otherwise agreed)

Working hours:

Mon and Thurs: 09:30-18:00
Tues, Weds, Fri: 09:00-17:30

We are a delivery organisation providing frontline educational services for young people. We are an organisation with team members at different stages of their career, including many in their first roles: We are committed to nurturing talent and providing a developmental culture for all. Our team works in-person 4 days per week (or 3 days for a 0.8 FTE staff member) with 1 day working from home.

Location

The role would be based at one of our centres in the South London and South Coast cluster:
South London: Walworth, Kennington, Brixton  
South coast: Southampton, Brighton 

Regular travel to all centres in the region will be required. 

Application deadline: 9am Monday 4th August 2025

About The Role

An exciting opportunity to join one of London’s leading city farms and play a key role in providing opportunities, education and training to the local community and beyond. As a small yet growing charitable organisation, this also offers candidates an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

In this role you will lead the development of our educational hub making use of our unique setting and offerings of animal husbandry, gardening and therapeutic activities to support the learning experience and personal and social development of children and young people and community groups particularly for those experiencing educational disadvantages.

Main Purpose of the Job

To design, deliver and manage a structured education programme to schools, alternative education settings, youth organisations, volunteers and our wider community. To engage with the local community by providing outdoor learning opportunities and promote environmental awareness. To increase the outreach of our educational opportunities of Vauxhall City Farm to schools and organisations in Lambeth and targeted London Boroughs and to maintain strong working relationships with schools and partners.

Main Responsibilities

Programme Leadership and Delivery

· Promote, deliver and staff a range of educational programmes at Vauxhall City Farm focusing on farming, animal care, food production, wellbeing, and environmental sustainability.

· Create engaging, accessible programmes in line with the National Curriculum, with a focus on reaching under-represented groups and people with additional needs.

· Lead the facilitation of inclusive, interactive and engaging workshops.

· Design and conduct formative and summative assessments to measure the impact of educational programmes.

· Use assessments, data and feedback to measure the impact of education programmes. Prepare reports for funders, trustees, and partners.

· Create high quality educational resources to support on-site and outreach learning.

· Work across teams to enhance the educational interpretation across The Farm to support learning for a wide audience.

Staff Management

· Recruit, train, support and supervise education staff and freelance workers.

· Foster a culture of continuous professional development and excellence in teaching practice.

Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement

· Design, develop and manage outreach programmes to schools and community organisations.

· Build and maintain strong relationships with schools, educational institutions, and community groups in Lambeth and surrounding boroughs.

· Attend education-related meetings and forums, representing Vauxhall City Farm.

Administration and Operations

· Oversee the administration and logistics of all education programmes and outreach activities.

· Work with Senior Management Team to contribute to strategic direction.

· Develop and maintain systems to ensure efficient scheduling, delivery and tracking of all activities.

· Work closely with the Marketing team to promote educational programmes, events, and activities.

· Prepare and manage the Education budget.

· Identify relevant funding opportunities that align with the organisation's goals and projects, supporting the application and project development process.

Safeguarding and Compliance

· Ensure all activities follow Vauxhall City Farm’s policies and procedures, especially in relation to equal opportunities, health and safety, and child protection.

· Ensure that all safeguarding and health and safety requirements for visiting groups are met and maintained to a high standard.

Other Duties

· Foster a culture of organisation wide learning.

· Work flexible hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.

· Carry out other duties as required to support the wider work of Vauxhall City Farm.

Person Specification

Essential:

· Proven experience as an educator (minimum of 2 years)

· Experience of working with the 8-18+ year age groups.

· Understanding of diversity and the varied needs of children/young people and families.

· Experience in planning, delivering and evaluating educational programmes for children and/or young people.

· Experience of leading workshops or informal education sessions in outdoor, farm, or community settings.

· Experience of managing or supervising staff, freelance workers or volunteers.

· Experience of developing partnerships with schools and community organisations.

· Experience with programme evaluation and using data to demonstrate impact.

· Experience of managing bookings, administration and logistics for public programmes.

· The ability to communicate effectively in written materials as well as presentations, workshops and public-facing activities.

· Interpersonal skills and an ability to relate to people of all ages.

· Knowledge of safeguarding, child protection, and health and safety procedures.

· Excellent organisational and time management skills.

· The ability to work on own initiative, using judgement and common sense.

· Computer literate – with the ability to use basic software such as Word, Excel, Email etc.

Desirable:

· Teaching Qualification

· Forest School Leader Certification

· First Aid certification 

· An enthusiasm for environmental conservation and sustainable development.

· Full Drivers Licence

Job Summary

Location : Requirement to attend our sites in Basildon, Harlow and Thurrock if required and to team meetings quarterly.

Type: Remote

Salary: £48,000.00 per annum

Hours :  37.5 hours per week

Term: Permanent

Main Responsibilities:

Leadership

1. As a member of the Operational Leadership Team and wider Senior Leadership Team, work collaboratively and take collective responsibility for the strategic management and leadership of the organisation.

2. Work closely with the CEO, Treasurer and Board of Trustees to facilitate good governance and risk management.

3. Manage, maintain and develop all financial systems and control; increasing their impact and quality, and implementing best practices in financial management.

4. To supervise finance assistants and ensure that they are adhering to financial code of practices.

Financial Management

1. Lead and manage all aspects of the financial cycle, including budgeting, forecasting, fixed asset management, reserves & designated fund management and financial reporting.

2. Work with HR & Payroll Officer to manage and retain oversight of the day to day financial operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, banking and general ledger maintenance, including the reconciliation of petty cash, credit cards and all bank accounts on a monthly basis reviewing and approving payment runs and payroll.

3. Work with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team to prepare the annual budgets and forecasts.

4. Lead and manage the provision of regular budget monitoring and reports to budget holders.

5. Assist with the budget preparation for funding bids. Manage, monitor and keep track of any grants, funding or commissioned income, working with relevant managers to provide relevant financial information for inclusion in monitoring reports.

6. Lead and manage the provision of quarterly financial reports to the Board and advise them on financial issues as appropriate

7. Provide insightful financial analysis and reporting to inform and support organisational management, development and decision[1]making, and funding applications across the organisation.

8. Work with the CEO to prepare medium term financial forecasts for the organisation to support strategic decision-making and delivery of strategic priorities.

9. Lead on the audit process and the preparation of year end accounts to trial balance including preparation of the audit file and the closing down of the accounts on our accounting management system to ensure that the organisation is compliant with legal requirements and good practice.

10. To work closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and designated Trustees to advise, review and cost the annual pay award.

11. To provide back-up and holiday cover for the processing of monthly payroll.

12. To work with and support the HR & Payroll Officer in providing payroll information and reconciling payroll monthly.

Governance and compliance

1. Ensure compliance with all relevant financial regulations and reporting requirements (e.g. Companies House, HMRC and the Charity Commission).

2. Attend Trustee Board meetings to report on financial matters, including the identification and management of financial risk, and provide any relevant reports.

3. To support the Trustees, SLT and line managers in managing our finances carefully and within our financial means, through provision of advice, guidance, support and training.

4. To be the main point of contact with external auditors.

5. To ensure that robust financial controls are in place, underpinned by appropriate financial policies and procedures and to ensure that they are adhered to and that the organisation is protected from fraud and error.

Closing date for applications : 21st July 2025