Youth Work Co-ordinator, Sports and Recreation (Barnsley Youth Zone)

At Base71, we’re building something bold. A state-of-the-art Youth Zone, dedicated to giving young people aged 8–19 (up to 25 for those with additional needs) access to the opportunities, support, and inspiration they deserve.

We’re looking for dynamic, passionate, and creative Sports and Rec Coordinator to join our team ahead of opening. This is more than a job – it’s your chance to lead exciting, inclusive, and impactful programmes that reflect the diverse needs of young people in Barnsley.

Your Role:

As a Youth Work Coordinator, you’ll play a crucial role in our delivery team. You’ll take the lead on designing, coordinating, and delivering engaging activities across one of our core areas –  Sports (including climbing, boxing, gym, and pitch sports), and Recreation in our flagship open access space, The Rec!

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead the design and delivery of a dynamic sports and recreation programme, using spaces including the Sports Hall, Kick Pitch, Gym, Climbing Wall, Boxing Room and Rec Area.

• Ensure all activities are inclusive, engaging, and tailored to young people aged 8–19 (up to 25 with additional needs), encouraging health, wellbeing and personal development.

• Manage and inspire a team of staff and volunteers, role-modelling high-quality youth work, teamwork, and positive behaviour.

• Champion youth voice – creating youth-led sessions that reflect young people’s interests, ideas, and ambitions.

• Oversee safe practice across all areas, including safeguarding, health and safety, and behaviour management.

• Contribute to a strong transition pathway between Junior and Senior Club, working closely with Club Managers to support progression and participation.

• Track and share the impact of your work, collecting case studies and data in line with OnSide’s Excellence Framework.

• Collaborate with schools, partners and the local community to expand opportunities for physical activity and engagement.

Read the full role profile here.

About you:

We’re looking for a passionate sports and youth work practitioner who’s excited to get stuck in and help shape Barnsley’s newest space for young people. You’ll bring:

• Experience delivering sport and recreation activities with young people aged 8+.

• A commitment to inclusion, with experience working with young people with additional needs.

• Confidence leading sessions, managing teams, and engaging a wide range of young people.

• A strong understanding of youth development, safeguarding, and the role of recreation in building life skills.

• A positive, flexible attitude with a readiness to work evenings, weekends, and school holidays.

How to apply:

To apply, please email a CV and a cover letter (no more than one page) in response to the person specification including the questions below to recruitment@base71yz.org

1. Why do you want to work for us?
2. Looking at the person specification, briefly describe how your skills and experience (including any lived experience) make you a goo candidate for this role (200 words max)
3. How you demonstrate your commitment to faireness, equity and respect
4. Confirmation you are eligible to work in the UK (the successful candidate will be required to provide documentary evidence before a job offer is confirmed).
5. Any reasonable adjustments we can make to assist you in your application or the selection process
6. This role will be based in the Youth Zone, and therefore requires an Enhanced DBS.

• Do you have any unspent conditional cautions or convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974?
• Do you have any adult cautions (simple or conditional) or spent convictions that are not protected as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020?

Stage One Interviews: 21 or 22 July 2025
Stage Two Interviews: Likely 28 July 2025 (with our Youth Development Group)

We welcome applications from all backgrounds and actively encourage those from underrepresented groups to apply.