Young People
Job Alert: Programmes Coach (Youth Justice)
Would you like to play an integral role in improving the mental health, housing and employment outcomes of young people experiencing the criminal justice system? We are looking for a new programme coach to join our London team.
Location: London
Contract: £27,500 Full-time fixed term of 3 years subject to ongoing funding and progression
About The Running Charity
The Running Charity is a pioneering organisation that uses running and physical activity to empower young people aged 16-25, supporting them through holistic programmes focused on mental health, youth work and advocacy.
About The Role
We are currently looking for a dynamic and compassionate programme coach (Youth Justice) to lead our work with young people involved in the criminal justice system, your work will include delivery within secure centres, as well as supporting and growing our work with young people experiencing the criminal justice system.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead Group and 1:1 Sessions: Run regular running and physical activity sessions alongside workshops and key work sessions within greater London as well as secure centres aimed at improving the physical and mental wellbeing of young people.
- Provide Tailored Support: Offer one-to-one personalised support to participants, developing action plans to help them achieve their goals and address individual challenges such as housing, and employment.
- Post-Release Mentoring: Continue supporting young people after their release to ensure they stay engaged and successful in their personal growth and reintegration into the community.
- Build Strong Relationships: Develop positive connections with young people, staff, resettlement teams, probation officers, and external partners to ensure a smooth transition after release as well as provide greater access to The Running Charity Programmes.
- Expand Support Networks: Collaborate with agencies in the youth justice system to provide young people with access to housing, employment, education, and mental health services.
- Track Progress & Impact: Monitor and evaluate the impact of our work using The Running Charity’s monitoring and evaluation systems alongside collaborative research bodies to ensure that our programme continues to meet participants’ needs and impact lives.
- Promote Inclusivity: Deliver culturally sensitive and trauma-informed sessions that cater to the diverse backgrounds of the young people we work with, ensuring a safe and inclusive environment.
- Championing young people’s voices: Ensure that our work remains relevant and inclusive, particularly for underrepresented groups by championing youth-created services that put young people’s voices at the heart of decision-making.
- Advocate for Systemic Change: Highlight the importance of physical and mental wellbeing in supporting young offenders and push for changes in the youth justice system.
- Manage Crises: Be ready to manage crisis situations by using de-escalation techniques and referring young people to appropriate services when needed.
Person Specification
Essential:
- A passion for running and young people
- Experience working with young people, particularly those from challenging backgrounds or within the criminal justice system.
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to deliver physical activity sessions in a group setting.
- Understanding of trauma-informed approaches and inclusivity.
- Commitment to supporting the holistic development of young people.
- The flexibility and willingness to support existing services such as evening group running sessions as well as the occasional weekend event, such as parkrun, The Big Half, and The London Marathon.
Desirable:
- Experience working in secure centres, and working with probation and youth offending teams, or similar settings.
- Lived experience of the criminal justice system
- Knowledge of the youth justice system and resettlement processes.
- Previous experience in mentoring or coaching roles.
- Relevant qualifications in sports, physical activity, mental health or youth work.
How to Apply
If you would like to have an informal conversation about this role or are interested in applying for this role, please reach out or send your CV and a cover letter to lucy.richards@therunningcharity.org by 31/10/2024.
As a charity we are passionate about providing opportunities for people that are experts by experience, if you have any lived experience of the needs of our young people experience or the issues we work to support young people with, please do get in touch with any questions you may have.
In your cover letter, please outline your experience working with young people and how you meet the relevant criteria alongside how you would contribute to the mission of The Running Charity.
