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Being a playworker

Discover a rewarding role supporting children at school holiday play schemes in South Gloucestershire and choose the shifts that work for you.

A life changing career

Is This You?

We find the right people with the right values to best support children and young people with a learning disability, autism, or both:

  • Team Player
  • Flexible & Creative
  • Kind & Compassionate
  • Provide 1-1 Support
  • Ask Questions
  • Problem Solver

About children's play schemes

We offer holiday play schemes to approximately 200 disabled children and young people. The schemes run in Yate, Little Stoke, Kingswood, and Thornbury.

Running during Easter, Summer, October, and February school holidays, they provide respite for parents and carers, and offer a setting where children can enjoy fun activities.

Our teenage workshops provide opportunities for teenagers to engage in interesting age-appropriate activities.

What do playworkers do?

The role of a casual playworker is to provide a safe, stimulating environment for children and young people with learning disability, or autism, or both, and to ensure that activities at school holiday play schemes, meet their needs. A playworker focuses on supporting one particular child each day and helps them take part in activities organised by the playscheme leader, as well as encouraging them to join in with others.

They’re full of ideas for children's' games and activities, and respect children’s individual differences.

You’ll need to undertake some e-learning and face-to-face training in your own time before working on the play schemes, including safeguarding training.

Casual & buddy playworker opportunities

We run play schemes in South Gloucestershire. If you join us as a casual playworker or buddy playworker, you’ll be sent an availability form before each school holiday (Easter, Summer, October and February). You then let us know the days you’re available to work and the most convenient venue(s). If you can travel then you may be asked to work at other venues too.

Schemes run Monday to Friday during the school holidays, as well as some hours during term time in after school settings and clubs. The hours of work are generally 9.30am–4.00pm.

Supporting Children to Play

We’re looking for people with experience of working with 5-18 year olds in a play environment. Good team players, playworkers are also able to use their initiative and work independently. You'll need an understanding of the principles of play and the role of the adult, and an awareness of the Children’s Act 1989. We will support you with:

Flexible Working

As a casual playworker you can choose the venues and playscheme dates that suit you.

Mutual reward

This is a highly rewarding role where you can make a real impact working with children and young people. There will be challenges, but in building a relationship with a child, you'll find their achievements inspire you, and make you feel valued too.

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