Adventure Youth Coach

We are seeking adventurous, energetic and people-focussed Adventure Youth Coaches to join us on our journey with young people. If you want to support, empower and inspire young people, whilst experiencing epic adventures, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and working towards a shared vision, we'd love to hear from you.

What is Basecamp?

Basecamp is a registered charity and the Basecamp Programme is a 1-year adventure-led personal development programme that empowers disadvantaged young people from Leeds to thrive. Our programme takes 30 young people on a 6-module personal development and adventure curriculum, with the help of mentoring + coaching relationships. We support young people to discover self-belief, resilience and increased aspiration, with the aim of improving their wellbeing and ability to thrive in the long-term.

The Role

We are looking for Adventure Youth Coaches to deliver this mission. You'll be working directly with the young people, and with our Programme Manager on our adventure trips. This is a blended adventure and coaching/mentoring role, meaning you will take part in all the outdoor adventure activities alongside the young people and demonstrate a real passion for transforming the lives of vulnerable young people. Adventure is an exhilarating and impactful vehicle for personal change, but the real magic lies in high-quality, trusting relationships and vulnerable conversations.

NB: This is a freelance role comprising of 21 days guaranteed work every year. Our programmes run to academic years (Sep - June) and in this period you would come on 6 adventure trips. There are also a few ad-hoc days in June/August for induction and training days.

The day events will be paid at a day rate of £125, which includes contribution towards travel expenses. The 3-day adventure trips will be paid at a comprehensive trip rate of £500, which also covers a pre-trip briefing, feedback writing after each trip and 2 mid-programme supervision check-ins, as well as travel expenses. Food and accommodation (with exception of lunch on Day 1 is provided).

We are looking for individuals that can commit to attending all our trips over the course of at least one 1-year programme. They will either be Mon-Weds or Weds- Fri, during term-time. Dates are in the process of being secured but provisional ones are available upon request.

Responsibilities

• Taking part in all outdoor activities with our young people whilst on residential (these are mostly delivered by our Outdoor Instructor partners, meaning you're free to have fun with and support the young people)

• Delivering in-house adventurous activities such as low-level walks, treasure walks and outdoor cooking (in tandem with the other AYC’s).

• Being responsible for a Basecamp Huddle: this is a group of 10 students, for whom you will run 30-45 minute check-in coaching circles; offer individualised mentoring support and support pastorally as regards wearing the right layers, packing enough food, tying laces etc.

• Helping run evening activities on residential such as games, quizzes, escape rooms and challenges.

• Working long days and be able to keep energy high!

• Writing up a short paragraph of feedback on each of your Huddle members after each trip.

• Managing day-to-day unplanned situations that arise (including behaviour management strategies, emotional support, and spontaneous crises)

• Referring safeguarding issues immediately if they qualify as a ‘Cause for Concern’

  
  
  
  

On a not-so-quantifiable level, you'll have the pleasure of helping young people to:

• Push themselves out of their comfort zones and do things they never though themselves capable of

• Help them to identify their strengths, talents and weaknesses

• Feel more confident in their skin and know their worth

• Understand what they could be capable of becoming or achieving, with increased aspiration to do so

• See themselves as drivers of their own future

• Be more confident meeting new people, forming friendships and engaging in social situations

• Get more involved in classroom environments and have increased confidence to speak up and take the lead

• Be more determined, resilient and less likely to give up easily

Person Specification

We are looking for people who can reliably commute to the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District where our residential trips are held. There will also be the occasional day event in the Leeds area.

Most importantly, you'll be:

• Someone who has an empathetic and compassionate approach to vulnerable young people.

• A strong relationship and trust builder who can get alongside young people and build rapport with them.

• Someone with a genuine passion to see young people grow and thrive.

• Someone who can positively model the kinds of behaviours we look to instill. These include a willingness to show vulnerability, empathy, a willingness to step outside the comfort zone, taking personal responsibility and resilience.

• An optimistic life-lover who embodies the Basecamp culture of energising and inspiring.

• Someone who can engage in potentially vulnerable and difficult conversations with young people, either to support them or challenge them towards their personal targets.

You'll also be:

• Willing to participate in training sessions, post and pre-trip debriefs and our Basecamp Weekend Away

• Physically fit and active

• Organised, punctual and good at managing your time

• Aligned with the Basecamp mission

• A team-player

• Knowledgeable/experienced/willing to train in issues of child protection and safeguarding

• An excellent communicator

• Able to handle stressful situations calmly and professionally

• A problem-solver

• Professional in your manner and approach

Desirable:

• Experience of working with vulnerable/challenging young people in a relevant context, such as school or youth work setting

• Knowledge or experience of psychological/developmental research relevant to working with vulnerable young people (such as ADHD/ASD/ACES and Trauma-informed approaches)

• Clear Enhanced DBS check (please note we will be doing our own Enhanced DBS check)

• Current First Aid certificate

• Outdoor/nature experience (we’re not talking qualifications here, but any experience in map-reading, the use of outdoor stoves, bushcraft skills, nature-based practices etc is helpful)

How to Apply

Please apply to emily@basecamp.org.uk by Friday 7th June 2024 by submitting the two documents below.

• Current CV including contact details for two referees (one from your current/most recent employer)

• A covering letter (500 words max.) that outlines your personal vision, values and motivations for this role, as well as any skills you have developed through working in this field.

Note: All documents should either be in PDF or MS Word format and be attached to the application. (Documents should not require passwords or links to cloud systems, such as Google Drive).

Applications will start to be processed as soon as they are received. If we think you might be a good fit, you will be invited to meet with us for an informal chat over Zoom and thereafter we will invite you to an assessment day on 19th or 20th June where you'll get the chance to interact with some of our young people. Please make us aware on interview if you cannot make these dates.