Physical Activity Coordinator (Senior Youth Worker)
Salary £ 28768 - 30973
The Way Youth Zone
Vacancy listed 22/07/2026
Application deadline 21/08/2026
Details
Job Purpose / Summary 
 
The Physical Activity Coordinator (Senior Youth Worker) is a practice-leading role responsible for delivering high-quality youth work through inclusive physical activity, movement and wellbeing opportunities, while contributing to the overall culture, safety and effectiveness of the Youth Zone. The role combines front-line youth work delivery with leadership responsibilities, including supporting staff, modelling excellent practice, and maintaining strong safeguarding, behaviour and inclusion standards. Through activities such as fitness, running, yoga, Pilates, recreational sport, group exercise and outdoor activity, the postholder will help young people build confidence, resilience, wellbeing and positive relationships. Senior Youth Workers act as trusted adults for young people and role models for colleagues, ensuring every session reflects Our Way and provides safe, welcoming, aspirational and youth-led experiences. 
 
Working closely with other Senior Youth Workers and the Youth Services & Safeguarding Manager, the postholder will lead the development of a broad and accessible physical activity offer, support staff confidence and accountability while ensuring high-quality delivery. They will also develop and coordinate partnerships with schools, colleges, community organisations, physical activity providers, health and wellbeing partners, governing bodies and employers to enhance opportunities for young people. Acting as an ambassador for The Way Youth Zone, they will help increase participation, create progression pathways and secure new opportunities through effective partnership working. 
 
Key Duties & Responsibilities 
 
Youth Work Delivery & Session Leadership 
 
  • Lead and deliver high-quality, youth-led physical activity and movement sessions that are engaging, inclusive and aligned with the Youth Work Curriculum and Our Way. 
  • Use physical activity, movement and wellbeing as tools to build confidence, resilience, teamwork, positive behaviour and a sense of belonging. 
  • Build strong, trusted relationships with young people and ensure their voice actively shapes activities and delivery. 
  • Lead at least one session per week alongside another Senior Youth Worker, modelling inclusive practice and high-quality session leadership. 
 
Safeguarding, Health & Safety 
 
  • Uphold safeguarding responsibilities at all times, acting promptly and appropriately on concerns in line with organisational policy and training. 
  • Ensure safe delivery of physical activity sessions, including appropriate use, storage and checking of equipment and spaces. 
  • Maintain clear expectations around behaviour, boundaries and safe participation within physical activity spaces, including weekly sweeps of the MUGA and other relevant activity areas. 
  • Complete and review risk assessments for sessions, activities and off-site delivery, ensuring agreed control measures are followed. 
 
Staff Support & Practice Leadership 
 
  • Support and mentor Youth Workers, bank staff and volunteers within physical activity delivery, providing guidance and informal supervision on session. 
  • Model high‑quality youth work practice, professionalism and accountability. 
  • Contribute to inductions, briefings and reflective conversations to support staff confidence and development. 
  • Where required, formally line manage staff and volunteers connected to the role, ensuring clear expectations, support and accountability. 
 
Programme Coordination & Development  
 
  • Coordinate a broad physical activity and movement offer, ensuring activities are accessible to young people of all abilities, interests and backgrounds. 
  • Work collaboratively with other Senior Youth Workers to ensure a balanced and complementary Youth Zone programme. 
  • Work with physical activity Youth Workers, sessional staff and partners to continually evolve the offer in response to young people’s interests and needs. 
  • Develop clear progression pathways for young people into coaching, physical activity leadership, volunteering, qualifications, employment, community activity and wellbeing opportunities. 
 
Partnership Working & Organisational Contribution 
 
  • Develop and maintain productive relationships with schools, colleges, community organisations, physical activity providers, local clubs, charities, governing bodies, health and wellbeing partners and local employers. 
  • Coordinate partner-delivered sessions and projects, ensuring quality, safeguarding and positive outcomes for young people. 
  • Act as the key point of contact for physical activity, movement and wellbeing partnerships within The Way. 
  • Represent The Way Youth Zone at external forums, meetings, events and networks to promote the organisation and strengthen community connections. 
  • Work with the fundraising and communications team to identify and showcase partnership impacts and opportunities. 
 
Monitoring & Reporting 
 
  • Ensuring all projects are monitored and reported on accurately 
  • Base and end MeApps are completed to an appropriate timeline 
  • Develop reports and dashboards to track progress alongside data team 
  • Gather impact stories across universal activities and projects 
     
Required Qualifications / Experience / Skills 
 
Essential 
 
  • Significant experience delivering youth work with children and young people aged 8–18 (up to 25 with additional needs). 
  • Experience planning and delivering inclusive physical activity, movement, fitness or sports sessions in a youth, education or community setting. 
  • Strong understanding of safeguarding, health & safety and risk management within physical activity environments 
  • Experience supporting, mentoring or guiding Youth Workers, volunteers or sessional staff 
  • Ability to manage behaviour positively and respond calmly to challenging situations 
  • Enhanced DBS clearance & DSL training (or willingness to obtain) 
  • Experience developing, maintaining and coordinating effective partnerships with external organisations. 
  • Relevant qualification or experience in physical activity, fitness, coaching, sports leadership, dance, movement, health and wellbeing, yoga or Pilates, or a similar area. 
 
Desirable  
 
  • Recognised youth work qualification (Level 3 - 6) 
  • Experience using physical activity, movement or sport as a tool for engagement, inclusion or youth development. 
  • First Aid qualification (or willingness to undertake) 
  • Experience working with schools, community organisations, activity providers, sports clubs, National Governing Bodies or health and wellbeing partners. 
 
Skills & Competencies 
 
  • Strong ability to engage and motivate young people through physical activity, movement and wellbeing opportunities. 
  • Confident session leadership and positive behaviour management 
  • Sound understanding of safe practice and risk within physical activity environments 
  • Ability to coach, encourage, motivate and appropriately challenge young people. 
  • Confidence supporting staff and volunteers to deliver high‑quality sessions 
  • Commitment to inclusion, equality and youth‑led practice 
  • Ability to influence and engage a wide range of stakeholders. 
  • Strong organisational and project coordination skills. 
  • Ability to identify opportunities and turn ideas into practical programmes. 
  • Confident written communication and reporting skills. 
 
Accountability & Success Measures 
 
We define accountability as taking ownership of your responsibilities, being equipped and empowered to fulfil your role, and continuously reflecting and adapting through self-awareness to grow and support others. 
 
In this role, success looks like: 
 
  • Young people regularly engage in physical activity and movement sessions and feel confident, included and motivated. 
  • Physical activity sessions are safe, well-run, inclusive and positively managed. 
  • Young people demonstrate confidence, teamwork, resilience, wellbeing and positive behaviour through participation. 
  • Staff supporting physical activity delivery feel confident and supported. 
  • Physical activity provision contributes to retention and regular attendance and is clearly embedded as part of a balanced Youth Zone offer. 
  • Young people regularly access progression opportunities through external partnerships. 
  • Positive, sustainable partnerships ensure The Way is viewed as a trusted and valued organisation to work with. 
  • Partnership-funded projects are delivered successfully and achieve agreed outcomes. 
 
You’ll be accountable for: 
 
  • Delivering safe, inclusive and youth-led physical activity and movement sessions. 
  • Maintaining safeguarding, health & safety and risk management standards 
  • Supporting staff and volunteers to deliver quality physical activity provision. 
  • Coordinating physical activity and movement provision in line with organisational values and priorities. 
  • Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships which enhance opportunities for young people across physical activity, movement, wellbeing and progression routes. 
  • Coordinating partner-delivered activities and ensuring they align with The Way's standards and values. 
  • Monitoring and reporting partnership outcomes and impact. 
 
Equal Opportunity Statement 
 
The Way Youth Zone is committed to being an inclusive employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, and we’re proud to be youth-led in everything we do. 
Benefits

33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays); birthday day off; free gym access; subsidised on-site canteen; Employee Assistance Programme; access to bespoke training and mentoring.

Notes

Interviews will commence the week of 24th August

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