Salary:

£13.50 per hour

Hours:

Part-time role- 20 hours per week

Location:

Belfast City Council Area

About the role:

We are looking for a passionate and dedicated individual to inspire and empower young people aged 11-18 years old through sport.

You will play an important role in the implementation of Active Communities Network’s (ACN) delivery strategy. The central focus of the role includes coaching and developing a variety of sports in schools, community settings and sports clubs. The projects work with children, young people, and young adults across Belfast City Council Area.

The successful applicant will have key responsibilities around programme development and face to face delivery with children, young people and young adults whilst ensuring they are engaged in sessions that are developmental, innovative, and meaningful. The individual will be an instrumental addition to the team who supports the on the ground delivery ensuring the best experience for all users.

This is a Fixed Term contract subject to external funding and performance.

DUTIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Coaching & Development: Delivering high-quality coaching across a variety of sports in schools, community settings, and sports clubs.
• Youth Engagement: Actively recruiting young people to participate in dynamic sports and leadership programs.
• Partnerships & Collaboration: Working closely with youth organisations, schools, and sports clubs to create meaningful opportunities for young people.
• Leadership & Growth: Delivering leadership programs that use sport as a tool to build confidence, teamwork, and essential life skills.
• Multi-Sport Experience: Bringing experience in coaching a variety of sports to engage and develop young athletes with different interests and abilities.
• Ensure the maintenance of internal electronic and hard copy information systems that record relevant client outcomes and support the requirements of funders and partners.
• Ensure compliance with ACN policies in relation to safe-guarding, health and safety, equal opportunities, and working with volunteers and young people.
• Carry out all administrative tasks relating to delivery including provision of paperwork, monitoring, and filing debriefs, reviewing and authorising timesheets, ensuring the ACN System is updated consistently and in a timely manner.
• To work with partners to identify and promote volunteering and development opportunities for participants and external volunteers and record progress of these developments. A culture of volunteering and project support should be encouraged with all participants.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work flexibly where appropriate on evenings, weekends and during school holidays to ensure full and supportive delivery of the programme.
• Undertake training in order to develop work related skills and knowledge.
• Undertake any other related responsibilities commensurate with the evolving objectives of the post and the evolution of the organisation.
• Work with due regard for ACN core values and objectives.
• Ensure the effective implementation of, and adherence to ACN’s Equal Opportunities and Health and Safety policies and procedures.

This project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).

Essential experience / knowledge:

Qualifications:

Essential

• A Level 1 or above recognised national coaching badge in any sporting field.

Desirable

• A Level 2 qualification in Youth Work or equivalent.
• OCNNI accessor trained

Experience and Knowledge:

Essential

• A minimum of 1 year experience of youth work or community coaching
• Face to face delivery of activities, working with children and young people (aged 11 plus) both in groups and individually.
• Experience of planning and delivering sports and targeted personal development programmes
• Experience of supporting young people who are disaffected, underachieving and / or have social / emotional barriers to participation.
• Experience of working in a team and alongside volunteers
• Experience of working with challenging young people
• Understanding of the principles of working with children and young people and of issues affecting their lives
• Knowledge of health and safety, diversity awareness and safeguarding best practice and how these relate to children and young people.

Desirable

• 2 or more years’ experience in a sport and youth engagement setting
• Plan and organise off-site activities including trips.

 

Essential skills and abilities:

Skills and abilities

Essential

• Ability to work shifts including evenings and occasional weekends and holiday periods
• Excellent communication skills
• Strong commitment to children and young people and an ability to engage and build positive relationships with all young people, including disengaged and disadvantaged young people
• Ability to develop good professional relationships with children, young people and adults
• Ability to work with young people to develop their social education by providing programmes of activities, services and facilities that are fun and enable young people to develop
• Ability to coach, encourage, motivate and provide reliable support to children and young people
• Confident in managing a group of children and young people
• Ability to deliver high quality activity programmes with children and young people who face social exclusion, disadvantage and disaffection

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Positive and enthusiastic
• Punctual and reliable
• Committed to personal and professional development

NB: Criteria may be enhanced to assist with shortlisting.

About ACN:

Active Communities Network was established in 2007 in response to the closure of Sport England’s Active Communities Development fund. The charity has developed from a collective of small grassroots groups in south London to a global provider in the sport for development collective. The charity currently supports c6,000 young people per annum across its own delivery sites in London, Belfast and Manchester, with a network of c200 groups working with us to support the delivery of our mission – create opportunities, inspire change, tackle inequality.

How to apply:

Apply online. Click the apply now button to submit your application.

Additional information:

• In accordance with our Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, this position requires an enhanced Access NI check.
• 6 months probationary period / extendable on performance and funding secured.

Closing date:

24/11/2025 12:00 pm