Holiday Club Play & Youth Workers

Winter 2022 - 19-22 December

Ages 5-12 & 11-16

Due to the huge success of our outdoor holiday clubs, we are expanding and need new paid crew members & volunteers to work with us.

The Rewild Project CIC is a not-for-profit environmental education project, dedicated to enacting radical social change by teaching a range of heritage crafts, land-based and self-organisation skills, connecting people with nature and building community.

The Holiday Club

The Rewild Project are commissioned for the next 3 years by Department for Education via Gloucestershire County Council in conjunction with FVAF (Forest Voluntary Action Forum) to deliver 3 x Holiday & Food (HAF) Schemes per Year. 4 weeks during Summer, 4 days during Winter, and 4 days at Easter. We plan to make a bid to Children in Need to cover Half term holidays too.

We deliver Heritage Crafts and Land based activities from our Permaculture Demonstration Site at Noxon Farm and our community craft centre Kensley Sheds. Each session includes preparing locally sourced organic, nutritious food for lunch and 2 snack time of oat cakes / porridge and fruit.

We are looking for energetic, organised, practical people to support us in delivering these sessions - no formal childcare experience required for the right candidates, full training will be provided. We just ask for a willingness to learn and share your passion for outdoors, nature, crafts / land-based skills.

Job Purpose:

To work as part of a team delivering a School Holiday Activity Scheme based at a number of sites in The Forest of Dean.  The theme of the session is around heritage craft and land-based skills.  Initially the role is for delivery for 4 days 19-22 December 2022 - there are opportunities to expand to afterschool, and half term provisions.

Job Role: Holiday Club Play / Youth worker

Circle (Team): Holiday Club

Site: Various

Pay: £15 per hour

Hours 8:30am – 4:30pm

During Gloucestershire County Council School Holidays.  Plus, team meetings / training as follows: Holiday Club Circle reflection meeting the week after each holiday club and planning meetings before each holiday club.  In addition, 2 hours per month whole team meeting.

Closing Date for Initial Expression of Interest Form: Midnight Sunday 27th November.

Closing Date for Full Application Pack: 9am Wednesday 30th November

Interview: Sunday 4th December 10am-3pm.

Interview Process: Our interview process is unlike most others - it is not a competitive process, more of a getting to know each other. On the interview day you will have the opportunity to share skills and experience with other candidates as well as learning more about working at The Rewild Project and the range of opportunities available.

Job Description

Main duties

1.      Primary Responsibility: To work as part of a team delivering fun, interactive sessions including circle time games, wholesome food preparation, crafts and games. Prioritising the welfare of the children attending. Liaising with parents at handover and passing on relevant information.  Nurture the healthy development of the children’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive skills, in an age-appropriate way. Contribute to the creation of a harmonious environment where children feel safe, happy and can play and take part effectively. This includes: supporting the creative play, artistic and domestic activities; the celebration of festivals, both seasonal and multi-cultural; creative discipline, ensuring good habits are developed and working with parents, carers and families.

2.      Special Education Needs: To be aware of any special educational needs and disabilities a child may have and, where possible, to familiarise oneself with relevant play and learning plans, in collaboration with other workers.

3.      Locally sourced nutritious food: To contribute to the planning of the food for each day and involving the children in preparing food.  The meal is usually vegetable soup (known to the children as the famous ‘Rewild Soup’) or vegetable dhal & rice, or veg & meat skewers cooked on an open fire.  Where possible we aim to produce food which is locally and ethically sourced, organic and does not contain any allergens.  We use food grown on the allotment and picked by the children.

4.      Policies and Procedures, Regulations and Rules: To be familiar with and follow The Rewild Project policies and procedures, including the Health and Safety policies, Safeguarding and Child Protection Policies.

5.      Preparation, Planning and Record-Keeping: To contribute to planning heritage handicrafts and land-based activities which link in with the heritage handicrafts already provided within the project and linking earth-based celebrations.  Contribute to risk assessments and to maintaining a daily register, ensuring this is stored in line with data protection protocols.

6.      Site Care: Ensuring the setting is well cared for during the clubs by contributing to the education of the children around caring for their environment, as well as modelling care and nurture of the environment.

7.      Team work: To work effectively as part of the holiday club team, and the overall organisation in line with sociocratic training provided.

8.      Sharing Skills: To contribute to the team and planning your creative ideas for age appropriate crafts, land skills and activities.

9.      Attendance at Team Circle & Training Meetings & Full Moon Gatherings:  Project specific circle meetings relevant to the holiday club delivery are an integral part of forming a cohesive delivery team.  Meetings will be more frequent in the lead up to, and just after the holiday times. Full Moon Gatherings are a chance to get to know your community better & are an integral part of the overarching community building we are working towards.

10.  Confidentiality and Discretion: At all times to respect professional confidentiality with regard to information about children, parents and other crew (team) members.  Crew must at all times comply with our Confidentiality and Data Protection Policies and Code of Conduct.

11.  Sociocratic Circle Groups: To be willing to join and contribute to other Rewild Project Circle Groups as appropriate to their skill, interest, and ability.

Person specification

Essential and desirable skills, abilities, experience, knowledge and special requirements for the post. 

Education and Qualifications - Essential

  • Good standard of education (GCSE, NVQ level 3 or equivalent) 

The post holder will be expected to gain the following if they are not already held, and the probationary period will not be considered complete until that point:

  • Outdoor First Aid (includes Paediatric).

  • Food Hygiene Level 2.

  • Safeguarding Children Level 1 & 2.

  • Live Enhanced DBS Disclosure

Education and Qualifications - Desirable

  • Accredited Level 4 Alternative Educational Training or working towards, such as Steiner Teacher training, Montessori Teacher (guide) training, Reggio Amelia.

  • BA (hons) Children’s Health, Play and Wellbeing or equivalent.

  • Foundation Degree or Level 5 Diploma in Steiner or Montessori Pedagogy.

  • Playwork Qualifications (Level 3, 4 or 5).

  • Level 3 Forest School Lead.

  • Special Educational Needs Awareness training.

Personal Qualities

  • Person centred, highly skilled communicator, able to develop strong relationships with colleagues, children and parents and carers.

  • Enjoy being outdoors & integrating with the natural world and passionate about sharing this with children.

  • Dynamic and energetic, yet a calming presence. Patient and tolerant.

  • Unflappable. Pro-active. Versatile. Able to turn your hand to a range of practical skills, embodied and/or spiritual practices.

  • Empathic and understanding, understanding the needs of children and team members.

  • Be good at listening to and socialising with children.

  • Demonstrate professionalism in approach to managing all issues.

Further Skills & Qualities

  • A creative individual, with skills in the arts and ability to lead group in singing with voice or instrument.

  • Understanding of the emotional, physical and spiritual needs of children.

  • Ability to hold space for a group of children.

  • Self-motivated - Ability to work under own initiative, but also work collaboratively as part of a team.

  • Ability to balance health and safety issues with free play and healthy risk taking. 

  • Have a reasonable level of physical fitness.

  • Ability to manage self and work calmly under pressure.

  • A personal self-development practice / Rewilding practice is essential to work within The Rewild Project. 

Commitments

The postholder will need to be committed to:

  • Completing The Rewild Project Training programmes prior to taking on the main duties of the post.

  • Attending training and preparation sessions prior to the start of the holiday club.

  • Attending further training where relevant.

  • Team-work, including good personal relationships, good communication, fun and good humour.

  • Respecting each child and family with regard to protected characteristics.

  • Uphold the Aims and Ethos of The Rewild Project.

 

Skills and Experience - Essential

  • Experience working with children, ideally in an alternative education setting working with children aged 5-12 yrs, engaging children with a range of outdoor activities, including risky play.

  • Understanding / experience of an alternative education pedagogy such as Steiner / Montessori / Forest School / Reggio Amelia.

  • Experience of teaching basic traditional handicraft skills to children (see Holiday Clubs for types of crafts offered).

  • Experience of leading a group circle time, keeping children interested and engaged.

  • Authentic relating / communication skills / Non-Violent Communication (NVC) / or other similar modality.

  • Experience living or working in cooperative or non-hierarchical work settings, alternative settings, using Sociocracy /S3 (method of organisational structure) or consensus decision making.

Skills and Experience - Desirable

  • Play a musical instrument (or vocals) to a level where you can lead a group musically.

  • Experience working / engaging with Special Educational Needs.

  • Understanding of Heritage Craft Skills, Edible Forest Skills and Off-grid outdoor living & ancestral skills movement.

What can we do for you

  • An authentic working environment, in a team where you are invited to bring your whole self.

  • Regular 1:1 support /check in, specific to you and your role.

  • Gratitude and appreciation for your hard work.

  • A generous holiday entitlement. As well as bank holidays, you'll get 25 days paid holiday (pro rata if part-time). This increases by one day per year to 30 days when you have been employed for 5 years.

  • Discounted playscheme places for your children.

  • Working outdoors in the fresh air.

  • Autonomy balanced with responsibility.

  • Job share and reduced working hours if applicable.

  • Learning and development programme where relevant.

  • Financial assistance with a course of study (where appropriate to the job).

  • Employee well-being and counselling services are being developed.