Context of the post:
Attracting young people from across the borough with its fantastic facilities, the Way Youth Zone provides positive activities and practical support, especially for those who are disadvantaged. The Youth Zone enables young people to make constructive use of their leisure time and to raise their aspirations. The centre is open 6 days a week (5 nights), at weekends and during school holidays. The Youth Zone also develops and delivers targeted projects to improve the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable young people in the area. With over 4,400 members at the end of our first year of opening, we provide 20+ activities each evening to over 1,200 young people, 52 weeks a year.
We are more than just an activity centre. We provide young people with ‘somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to’. Our team of around 55 staff and over 100 volunteers provide a safe, supportive and inspiring space for young people to make the very best use of their leisure time and acquire the skills, knowledge and confidence to lead healthy and successful adult lives. We inspire young people to be ambitious, raise their aspirations and help our members to define and realise their goals.
Our service is in an award winning iconic two-storey building with an impressive array of facilities including a dedicated sports hall, a climbing wall, gym, boxing ring, dance and performing arts studio, art room, media suite, kitchen, music spaces, cafe, social areas and an outdoor floodlit all-weather pitch.
Job Purpose:
The Way Youth Zone is proud to have secured additional funding to expand our outreach initiatives across Wolverhampton. As part of this exciting development, we are looking to recruit experienced and passionate youth workers to support both city-wide and targeted outreach efforts.
Our outreach programme will include regular visits to schools, active participation in community days, and engagement with young people in local neighbourhoods during session hours—particularly those who may not currently access our universal services. We will also be delivering activities at Family Hubs throughout the city, ensuring our support reaches as many young people and families as possible.
A key feature of our outreach strategy will be the introduction of a ‘walking bus’ from the bus station to The Way Youth Zone, designed to improve accessibility and encourage participation.
We are seeking candidates who are enthusiastic, adaptable, and committed to making a positive impact. The ideal youth worker will be quick-thinking, able to thrive in a dynamic environment, and skilled at building meaningful connections with young people and community partners.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Design and Deliver Outreach Programmes: Support both targeted and city-wide outreach initiatives that engage young people and encourage membership in TWYZ.
- Collaborate Internally and Externally: Work closely with TWYZ staff, volunteers, young people, and external partners to achieve outreach and engagement goals.
- Facilitate Youth Participation: Encourage young people to take part in TWYZ activities and ensure their voices shape the design, delivery, and evaluation of programmes.
- Deliver High-Quality Youth Activities: Provide safe, inclusive, and engaging programmes that build social skills, confidence, and respond to the diverse needs of young people.
- Promote Accessibility and Inclusion: Ensure activities are accessible to all, including disadvantaged youth and those with disabilities or additional needs.
- Monitor Impact and Promote Success: Support the evaluation of outreach efforts and help showcase the programme’s achievements.
Essential Requirements:
- Experience working with young people (8–25) in a youth work setting, including those who are disengaged or face social/emotional barriers.
- Experience delivering youth outreach and engagement activities with both geographical and thematic focus.
- Proven ability to build positive relationships with young people, including those from diverse communities.
- Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with confidence in public speaking and engaging at all levels.
- Ability to design and deliver inclusive, developmental youth programmes that promote social education and personal growth.
- Experience working collaboratively with teams, volunteers, and external partners across sectors.
- Knowledge of safeguarding, health and safety, and diversity best practices relevant to children and young people.
Desirable Requirements:
- Experience in a third sector organisation, including meeting monitoring and reporting requirements.
- Relevant qualifications in youth work, social care, communities, or related fields.
- Ability to analyse and interpret data and use various systems for monitoring and evaluating project activities.