ABOUT VAULT YOUTH ZONE
Preston is a growing city with huge potential—but too many young people are being held back. Around one in four live in poverty, rising to one in three in some areas, creating barriers to aspiration and opportunity. Vault Youth Zone will break down those barriers, empowering thousands of young people to unlock their potential and shape a brighter future for the city of Preston.
We're about levelling the playing field, giving young people somewhere safe, supportive, and inspiring where they can explore their passions, build confidence, and achieve their goals—whatever success means to them.
At its heart, Vault is about aspiration and opportunity. Preston's Youth Zone—named Vault by local young people— will be a vibrant, purpose-built space fizzing with energy and packed with incredible facilities. Skilled youth workers will be at its core, dedicated to helping young people unlock their potential to grow, create, connect and thrive.
ABOUT ONSIDE AND THE NETWORK
OnSide exists to make sure every young person, no matter where they live, has the same chance to thrive. They build state-of-the-art Youth Zones, like Vault, and connect them through a national network where ideas, successes, and inspiration are shared. It's passionate, properly funded youth provision—giving young people the space and support they need to shine.
ABOUT THE ROLE
At Vault Youth Zone, great quality youth work is at the heart of what we offer young people. Across a range of activities including sports, art, cooking and wellbeing, you'll take the lead on delivering our iconic programme, ensuring young people have access to sessions that are fun, safe, challenging, and developmental.
You'll create a welcoming and energetic environment in any number of incredible spaces within the youth zone, helping young people of all abilities build skills, discipline, confidence and fun Alongside delivering high-quality coaching in your area, you'll provide encouragement and guidance, support and challenge, and act as a positive role model.
ABOUT YOU
Do you love sport and fitness? Do you have a flair for performing arts? Are you a musician or coding whizz? A dab hand with acrylic nails? And most importantly, do you believe in the positive impact you could have on young people's lives? We're looking for a people who are passionate about giving young people in Preston the chance to build healthy, active, and confident futures.
If you have a particular skill set in a technical area like boxing, climbing or dance or simply have a passion for engaging with young people in a high energy environment, we want to hear from you.
This is your opportunity to use your passion to inspire young people, helping them stay active, grow in confidence, and achieve their potential.
You'll enjoy coaching and motivating, and be just as focused on supporting young people's personal growth as you are on developing their skills.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
* To become part of a forward thinking, innovative and motivated team and assist with the delivery of all aspects of the youth zone sessions with young people.
* To work well in a team bringing fresh skills & ideas to the current offer.
* Ability to deliver a high quality program of activities with young people
* To motivate, encourage and support young people to try activities and participate fully in sessions.
* To become part of sessional staffing requirements for the youth team department.
* To support volunteers on sessions, coaching them to achieve their full potential within their given roles
* To deal with any problems that arise during Youth Zone sessions.
* Develop and maintain a professional relationship with the young people who attend Vault Youth Zone.
* Understand the needs of Vault Youth Zone and communicate them in a clear, consistent way to the young people, parents and guardians.
* Work within the performance framework of Vault Youth Zone and OnSide.
* Represent Vault Youth Zone positively and effectively in all dealings with internal colleagues, and external partners.
* To be alert to issues of safeguarding and child protection, ensuring the welfare and safety of Youth Zone members is promoted and safeguarded, and to report any child protection concerns to the designated Child Protection Officers using the safeguarding policies, procedures and practice (training to be provided).
* To assist with any promotional activities and visits that take place at the Youth Zone.
* To actively promote the Youth Zone and positively contribute towards increasing Youth Zone membership.
* To adhere to Vault Youth Zone Youth's mission and deliver high quality youth work that supports young people in their personal, social and educational development.
* Comply with all policies, procedures, and codes of conduct, with particular reference to Safeguarding, Health & Safety, and Equality and Diversity.
* Any other duties that may be required.
SELECTION CRITERIA
* Some experience of working with young people is beneficial.
* Understanding of the principles of working with children and young people.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills .
* Excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills .
* Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team .
* Excellent timekeeper .
* Some experience of working with young people from diverse backgrounds and with challenging needs
* Experience of working in a team.
* Knowledge of health and safety, diversity awareness and safeguarding best practice .
* Ability to plan and evaluate programs of activity including production of session plans and evaluations .
* Ability to engage and build positive relationships with young people .
* Ability to communicate effectively with young people, parents, team members and members of the public.
* Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team .
* A willingness to work unsociable hours when required .
* Flexible and a willingness to cover events, holidays and staff absence .
* Satisfactory DBS clearance and committed to safeguarding children.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply, please visit our website and fill in an application form and email it to You may wish to apply for more than one role. Please check the Vault website for other role profiles.
Closing date for applications:
12pm on Wednesday 29th October
Interview day:
Either Saturday 15th November (daytime), Sunday 16th November (daytime) or Tuesday 17th November (afternoon and evening). Please specify your preference upon application and we'll do our best to facilitate your choice.
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Pay: £12.60 per hour
Expected hours: 4 – 24 per week
Benefits:
* Company pension
* On-site gym
Work Location: In person