The Role: The Afterschool Activities Coordinator will be part of the team responsible for developing an afterschool activities programme of free afterschool activities for children from the Downham estate based at St Mark’s Downham.
The focus of this role will be on providing groups that are safe and supportive spaces for young people which enable them to flourish and thrive, as well as providing opportunities for learning new skills and seeing aspirational examples. A key part of this projects is supporting young people to address the issues they see in the community, through which they become empowered to make a change, and also act as an example to the adults in our community.
The successful applicant for this role with be working as part of our team to improve and develop the following afterschool groups:
- Two days a week providing a group exploring one of the following: music/art/life and practical skills /project work looking at areas of interest to the young people. This would include inviting professionals from the local community to talk about their work and fields of expertise; manual skills training and workshops (perhaps alongside a repair café model for adults – appropriately risk assessed and safeguarded). The post holder will lead on these.
- A group focused on health/wellbeing supported by our Parish Nurse and Mental Health worker. This would include running the Kintsugi Hope wellbeing course; sessions on digital and online health; mindfulness and relaxation; and fitness/nutrition. The post holder will co-lead with the Parish Nurse(s)
- Gardening Club with food growing – existing group, the post holder will support the gardener to run this
- A social youth Café space – existing group, the post holder will support the Youth Worker to grow this project
The post holder will also work with the Children, Youth and Families Worker to provide activities and groups during the school holidays.
St Luke’s and St Mark’s Community: St Luke’s and St Mark’s Community aims to promote the mental, physical, social and economic wellbeing of people and families from the Downham Estate. We do this by providing group sessions, events and one-to-one support; giving people a safe place where they will feel empowered to help themselves. St Luke’s and St Mark’s Community is based on the Christian values of compassion, hospitality, love for our neighbour, and everyone has a valuable part to play. We are committed to offering local people the opportunity to learn new skills, identify and follow their passion for what they want the community to look like, autonomy, and learn how to run an organisation well.
Downham: The Downham estate is located in the London Borough of Lewisham, in 2025 Downham marked 100 years since the first residents moved in. Originally intended to provide a step out of poverty for residents of the East London slums, sadly 100 years later many of the issues of poverty, isolation and deprivation are still present; exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis. The Church of England parish of Downham has a population of 31,293 people and our purpose is to serve the community of Downham and enable residents to flourish and thrive. As well as the challenges, Downham has a lot of opportunities and a unique character which we seek to celebrate and build upon.
To Apply: Please send your CV and covering letter detailing why you are suited to the role and highlighting relevant skills and experience to [email protected]
If you are interested in this role as a job share please indicate this clearly in your application, stating which days you are available to work.
The successful applicant must be able to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications from those who do not hold a valid visa or work permit.
For specific questions related to the role or application process please email [email protected] or call/text 07512384653
Closing Date: 14th August 2026
Job Description:
Key Responsibilities:
- Consult with young people to develop projects which are of interest and use to them
- Support the staff leading existing projects to grow their groups.
- Set up and run new groups on days with no existing provision
- Actively promoting the projects via social media and other means; and encouraging others to do so.
- Collect feedback from young people and work with the whole team to act on it
- Identify and arrange speakers and facilitators for sessions
- Develop relationships with local schools and other stakeholders
- Supervise Afterschool Activities sessional workers
General Responsibilities as Part of the Team:
- Enable young people to take ownership of the activities
- Keeping St Mark's tidy and in good order
- Recruit and oversee the work of volunteers in the relevant areas
- Compliance with safeguarding and legal requirements
- To ensure that the projects integrate with all activities provided by St Luke’s and St Mark’s Community
- Cooperate as a team with other staff and volunteers
- Take the lead in Session Reviews and collecting feedback for funding bodies
The Person: Most importantly the right person for this role will be in full sympathy with the aims of the St Luke’s and St Mark’s Community project and work well with a mixed team of different faiths and denominations. They will also:
- The ability to build meaningful relationships, without judgement, across a wide age range, responding sensitively to the diversity within our church family and wider community and to those who do not conform to middle class or religious values.
- Reliability and consistency and able to commit to the required working hours of the role
- Demonstrates leadership qualities, be willing to lead by example and be committed to further training.
- Experience of working with young people and community groups in some capacity either voluntary, within community, family and/or within paid employment
- Able to ensure that the views of young people are central to service planning, delivery and evaluation
- Understanding of life in areas of urban social housing and other socially disadvantaged areas.
- Willing to serve practically and ‘get stuck in’ the mundane (for example, chairs will need moving and washing up will need doing and some sessions will be quieter than others!)
- Have patience and a good sense of humour;
- Be able to maintain confidentiality.
- Know how to handle conflict
- Have good boundaries in their interactions with young people and parents.
- Be able to identify and access opportunities for creative activities and partnerships with other organisations.
Terms, Conditions and Pay:
The salary for the role will be at the London Living Wage (currently £14.80 p/h) working 15 hours per week (Monday to Friday 3pm to 6pm) and comes with 84 hours of annual leave.
The post is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund.
Pay: £14.80 per hour
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
