Sports Coach - About the Role
Role Purpose
School of Outdoors is growing our Education Programmes team to deliver trauma-informed support to young people who aren't currently able to access mainstream education, in particular through our Reimagine Programme.
We're expanding the team now, ahead of need, so that we can respond quickly whenever a young person requires support rather than waiting to recruit once a referral comes in. This means we're bringing several people into the team at once, not filling a single post.
Who We're Looking For
This role is about building trust and re-engagement first. Sport, physical activity, and movement are tools we use to get there, not the main focus of the job. You don't need formal coaching qualifications to apply, though they're a bonus if you have them. What matters most is a genuine ability to build relationships with young people who've struggled to engage with mainstream education, using activity as one of several ways in.
What You'll Do
You'll work directly with young people, primarily through 1:1 sessions with some potential for small group work, building trust, re-engaging them with learning, and helping them move step by step through our five-stage pathway: Discover, Explore, Deepen, Broaden, and Thrive.
This isn't a classroom-based role, and it isn't a traditional sports-coaching role either. It's trauma-informed and relationship-led, using a PACE approach (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy), shaped around each individual young person rather than a fixed activity plan or training programme. You'll use sport, physical activity, and movement across parks, leisure centres, gyms, outdoor spaces, and other community settings, but the goal in every session is re-engagement and wellbeing, not sporting performance. A full driving licence and access to a car are essential, as most sessions happen out in the community rather than on one site.
What Success Looks Like
- Young people building enough trust in you to start re-engaging with learning, often after previous placements haven't worked
- Steady, visible progress through the five Reimagine stages, at each individual's pace
- Sessions that flex to what a young person needs that day, rather than a fixed activity plan delivered regardless
- Strong, honest communication back to schools, carers, and the wider team on how each young person is progressing
Hours
This role is advertised as full-time (5 days/week), but we'd welcome applications from candidates seeking part-time hours (3 days/week) if you're the right fit. Please indicate your preference when applying.
