Outdoor Activity Instructor Apprentice

Summary

Bendrigg Trust aims to promote inclusion, encourage independence and build self-confidence through the safe provision of adventurous activities. Situated near Kendal in Cumbria, Bendrigg is an outdoor education centre specialising in working with people with disabilities. Bendrigg Trust have vacancies for Apprentice Instructors for 2025!

Annual wage: £13,728 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course: Outdoor activity instructor (level 3)
Hours: Full time (normal hours of work will be 8.45am to 5.00pm.) You will normally be required to work 5 days each week and any evenings or duties worked will accrue lieu days which can be taken at other times.
41 hours a week
Possible start date: Monday 13 January
Duration: 1 year 1 month
Positions available: 2

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

To run activity sessions in a wide variety of activities for all user groups of the centre
To assist and support the Bendrigg tutors in a wide variety of activities and courses for all user groups of the centre
To train towards running courses for the user groups of the centre
To undertake other duties associated with the running of a residential centre. This will include, but is not limited to: cleaning and maintaining equipment; cleaning the centre and serving food
Apprentices will be expected to work towards completing the Level 3 Outdoor Activity Instructor Apprenticeship and to gain qualifications and experience in the instruction of a wide variety of outdoor activities
To run evening sessions and carry out overnight duties
The centre is open all year round and is operational during weekends, thus making it necessary to have flexible working hours

Where you’ll work

BENDRIGG LODGE

OLD HUTTON

KENDAL

LA8 0NR

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

CHANNEL TRAINING LIMITED

Your training course

Outdoor activity instructor (level 3)

Equal to A level

Course contents

Find information on: the activity type and timings; outcome requirements; participant age; medical information; equipment and resourcing allocation; venue; weather conditions.

Prepare sessions to achieve the required outcomesg. enjoyment, thrill seeking, personal or team challenges, acquisition of new knowledge or skills.

Select methods to meet all participant needs g. visual impairment, mental and physical ability.

Select methods to respond to potential changes in the environmentg. wind increasing in a sailing session or rain making conditions slippery underfoot.

Collect appropriate equipment and resources.

Ensure the venue is set-up and ready to be used.

Maintain self and group safety when delivering the session.

Deliver an effective session briefing with clear instruction and following organisational procedures.

Perform a competent demonstration of the skills required for the activity or subject at the appropriate level for the session.

Provide on-going instruction to encourage learning and progression.

Follow organisational operating procedures to adapt to changes in the environment. E.g. thunderstorm, a wind shift to offshore in a surfing session.

Select and implement organisational procedures to deal with routine problems.g. broken equipment.

Provide basic First Aid to respond to accidents in a safe, prompt and effective manner. e.g. injured participant.

Initiate organisational procedures to summon support in the case of incidents or accidents.

Use the organisations set approaches for learning delivery.

Support individual and group engagement and participation in the session g. energisers, sharing responsibilities, appropriate pace.

Change the pace of the session to match participants’ speed of learning.

Identify and support the individual participants’ needs g. give personal attention, active listening, allow additional time, encouragement.

Apply simple techniques to deal with conflict and challenging behaviour g. redirection, increasing responsibility.

Use simple review techniques to check the achievement of required outcomes e.g. thumbs up; rounds; memorable moments.

Signpost participants to progression routes.

Complete a session within time, including the restoration of the venue, return of equipment and resources and any logging or recording requirements.

Use participant feedback and own reflection to suggest improvements to sessions.

Communicate with customers and colleagues in a clear, concise and effective manner.

Handle information in a way that conforms to policy and protects data.

Assist with the development and preparation of resources and support colleagues delivering sessions

Actively encourage whole group participation and promote equality and diversity.

Undertake activities to further develop knowledge and personal skills.

Reflect on own performance and make refinements.

Your training plan

Bendrigg Trust have vacancies for Apprentice Instructors for 2025!

This is a 13 month scheme for people of any age wanting to gain skills, qualifications and experience working in the outdoors with people with disabilities.

Candidates should have a keen passion for the outdoors and a desire to lead others but with no previous experience. Apprentices will be inducted and trained to work with Bendrigg groups and will work towards the Level 3 Outdoor Activity Instructor Apprenticeship.

Experience of working with disabled people, holding a C/4 for maths and English and a driving licence (held for at least 12 months) will also be an advantage.

Benefits:

Holidays: Holiday entitlement will accrue at a rate of 2½ working days per month (30 days + bank holidays per year).

Training: Channel Training, an external training provider, will provide training and support towards the Level 3 Outdoor Activity Instructor Apprenticeship. Further appropriate in-house and external training opportunities will be available through consultation with the Trainee Coordinator at Bendrigg Trust.

Subsistence: Food, drinks and refreshments are provided

Accommodation: Accommodation is available in the trainee accommodation block. (£110 per month will be deducted at source for accommodation)

More training information

Channel Training has been at the forefront of Apprenticeship development in the outdoor learning sector since 2012. We believe that Apprenticeships are an incredibly powerful tool to attract and develop diverse talent in outdoor learning and to provide cost-effective solutions for employers in our sector.

Channel Training is a national provider and we support a wide range of employers across England. Our staff have decades of experience in the delivery of Apprenticeships that meet the needs of outdoor centres, schools, adventurous activity and recreation providers and outdoor learning charities, social enterprises and voluntary organisations.

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE in:

English (grade 4 / C)
Maths (grade 4 / C)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Customer care skills
Team working
Initiative
Non judgemental
Physical fitness

About this company

Bendrigg Trust is a registered charity (no. 508450) we provide residential activity breaks for people of any age or ability at our centre in Cumbria and believe us when we say that ANYTHING is possible. You may never have dreamt of flying down a zip wire or exploring the depths of a cave, but Bendrigg, we make the "impossible" possible!

https://www.bendrigg.org.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

Possible full time Outdoor Activity Instructor role.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

CHANNEL TRAINING LIMITED

Sam Litten (Activity Manager)

sam@bendrigg.org.uk

01539 723766

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000280613.

Apply now

Closes in 13 days (Sunday 3 November)

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

For an application pack please email vacancies@bendrigg.org.uk for a full job specification and more information.

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