Job Details:
Job Reference: HCC623001
Salary Range: £24,796 - £25,128 per annum (plus evening and weekend enhancements)
Work Location: Tile Barn, Brockenhurst
Hours per week: 37 (average)
Contract Type: Temporary until 31 October 2026
Closing Date: 19 February 2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Activity Leader to join our team at Tile Barn Outdoor Centre.
Are you looking for a challenging and varied role within a friendly and supportive team—one where you can make a real and lasting difference? Tile Barn, located in the heart of the New Forest near the village of Brockenhurst, has been a thriving camping and outdoor centre since the early 1970s. Our prime location provides easy access to the New Forest National Park and its many natural attractions, offering an inspiring environment for both staff and visitors.
Spanning over 14 acres, the centre caters for up to 300 young people on our fully equipped standing camps. In addition to our extensive camping facilities, Tile Barn also offers a 38 bed indoor bunkhouse and a Glamping Pod Village capable of accommodating up to 80 guests.
Hampshire Outdoor Centres are known for their excellence, professionalism, and commitment to operating to the highest standards. Tile Barn is one of six centres within the Hampshire Outdoor Centres family—five based in Hampshire and one in Wales—each dedicated to providing exceptional outdoor learning experiences that inspire, challenge and support young people.
The Role:
To undertake an initial comprehensive training period and induction into all operational procedures, activities, and systems. To deliver high quality instruction to centre customers and support the outdoor centre management team in the day to day running of the site, while consistently observing and promoting health and safety principles and best practices.
In addition, as an Activity Leader at Tile Barn, to lead and facilitate a wide range of outdoor and adventurous activities tailored to diverse groups, ensuring sessions are safe, engaging, and in line with centre standards. This includes supervising participants, preparing equipment, maintaining activity areas, and contributing to the creation of a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment. The role also involves assisting with residential groups, supporting evening programmes, contributing to site upkeep, and upholding the centre’s values of personal development, teamwork, and outdoor learning.
What you'll do:
As an Activity Leader at Tile Barn, you will spend the majority of your time delivering high quality activity sessions to a diverse range of groups. Tile Barn is committed to the personal and social development of young people, using outdoor learning and shared group experiences to build confidence, teamwork, resilience, and independence.
Your role will involve leading engaging and safe sessions across the wide variety of activities offered at the centre—from outdoor adventure and environmental exploration to team building initiatives and problem solving challenges. You’ll adapt sessions to meet the needs, abilities, and goals of each group, ensuring every participant has a positive and rewarding experience.
Alongside session delivery, you will support the smooth running of the centre by preparing equipment, maintaining activity areas, and contributing to the daily operations of a busy outdoor facility. You will act as a positive role model, upholding the centre’s high standards of professionalism, safety, and customer care while helping young people make the most of their time in the outdoors.
What we're looking for:
We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated individual who is passionate about the value of Outdoor Learning and the positive impact it has on young people. You should bring experience of working within the outdoor industry and be confident leading groups in a dynamic, hands on environment.
It is essential that you hold at least one relevant instructor qualification and have previous experience working in an outdoor centre, with some background in delivering instructional sessions.
Skills in any of the land based activities offered at our centres are highly desirable. However, if you have a broad range of practical outdoor experience and a strong foundation in teaching or leading groups—but may not yet hold formal qualifications—we would still love to hear from you. The right attitude, aptitude for learning, and commitment to delivering high quality outdoor experiences are just as important.
Why join us?
* Work in outdoor environments across Hampshire
* Be part of a passionate, supportive team
* Access to training and development opportunities
* Make a real impact on health, wellbeing, and youth empowerment
Our benefits package includes details of the holiday entitlement, pension scheme, flexi-time scheme, family friendly policies and interest free travel loans and discounts. We offer a flexible, motivating and inclusive workplace. We have created an environment that you can look forward to being a part of, where you are empowered to be your best and a workplace built on teamwork where people can grow and develop in their roles.
If you think you have what it takes to make a real difference in Hampshire, get in touch!
As this is a 24/7 service, you’ll be required to work a shift pattern to respond to the demands of the service. Your working pattern will include working a weekend a month and a variety of shifts including Friday late’s, and on rare occasions a sleep-in shift as well as some bank holidays for which enhancements will be paid in line with the Hampshire County Council salary policy.
Hampshire County Council is recognised nationally as one of the highest performing local authorities in the UK. A modern, forward-looking local authority, it offers a pleasant, supportive, and collaborative working environment.
Hampshire County Council is also a flexible employer interested in making the most of your skills and offers a great work life balance.
Additional Information:
Activity Leader Candidate Pack
Vetting Requirements:
This post is subject to a Criminal Records Check
Contact Details for an Informal Discussion:
Angus Mackay, Lead Instructor on angus.mackay3@hants.gov.uk or 01590 623160.
Hampshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.
In order to combat discrimination, no unnecessary conditions or requirements will be applied which could have a disproportionately adverse effect on any one group. All sections of the population will have equal access to jobs. No applicant or employee will receive less favourable treatment because of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage or civil partnership and pregnancy or maternity, unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement (GOR) applies.
We are a Disability Confident Employer - committed to ensuring that our recruitment and selection process is inclusive and accessible.