Casual Activity Assistant - Educational Play and Support Service, Active Reading

Reading Borough Council; Reading; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 17,000; Part time

Job summary

Reading Borough Council is seeking a Casual Activity Assistant to support Prospect Park’s outdoor activities, events and visitor experiences. You will help prepare facilities and equipment, assist with bookings, welcome visitors and ensure a safe, clean site.

The role offers flexible casual hours with evenings and weekends most likely, with potential term-time or school-holiday shifts. You’ll gain hands-on outdoor work experience while delivering engaging activities for all ages.

Qualifications

• Experience working with children in community, playwork or similar settings.
• Strong communication skills and ability to engage with visitors of all ages.
• Comfortable working outdoors and following safety procedures.

Responsibilities

• Assist with delivery of outdoor activities, events and visitor experiences.
• Prepare facilities and equipment, support bookings and welcome visitors.
• Help maintain a safe, clean and well‑organized site and assist with group visits.

Skills

Experience with children

Customer service

Job description

Casual Activity Assistant - Educational Play and Support Service, Active Reading

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Contractual hours 0

Basis Part time

Region Casual / Sessional

Job category/type Early Years Services, Education, Youth Work

Do you enjoy working outdoors, helping people and supporting fun, safe activities? We are looking for an enthusiastic and reliable Ranger Station - Casual Activity Assistant to join our team at Prospect Park. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a varied role where no two days are the same, supporting the smooth operation of our outdoor facilities and activities while providing excellent customer service. As part of the team, you will help prepare and maintain facilities and equipment, support activity sessions and group bookings, welcome visitors and customers, and ensure our sites remain safe, clean and ready for use. As a casual member of the team, this is an opportunity to work flexibly and support our programmes when you are available. There may be opportunities to work term time, during school holidays, after-school sessions, evenings and some weekends subject to your preference and availability, depending on service requirements. Flexible casual hours to fit around your studies, work or other commitments. This role is mainly supporting evening and weekend shift and cover. The Ranger Station operates family activities and facilitates tennis and football bookings. The site is open weekends until 4.00pm and evenings up to 10.00pm. We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

About The Role: As a Casual Activity Assistant, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery of outdoor activities, events and visitor experiences at Prospect Park. Working as part of a friendly team, you will help prepare facilities and equipment, welcome customers, assist with bookings and ensure activities are delivered safely and efficiently. You'll be one of the first points of contact for visitors, providing excellent customer service and helping create a positive experience for everyone using the site. This varied and hands-on role also involves carrying out routine inspections, basic maintenance and safety checks, maintaining high standards across the facility, and supporting group visits, educational sessions and special events. No two days are the same, and you'll enjoy a mix of practical outdoor work and customer interaction while helping to provide an enjoyable, safe and well-maintained environment for visitors of all ages.About You: You will have experience or be passionate to be working with children and young people, including children with special educational needs, ideally within community, playwork or similar settings. You will understand child development, the principles of play and the importance of listening to and consulting with children and families. You will be a confident communicator who can build positive relationships with children, young people and adults. You will also be creative, adaptable and able to use your initiative to deliver engaging activities with limited supervision. We are looking for someone who:

• Enjoys working with members of the public and delivering excellent customer service.
• Has experience working in a customer-focused environment.
• Ideally has experience within leisure, recreation or outdoor activities.
• Understands the importance of health and safety and can follow procedures effectively.
• Is a strong team player with a positive and flexible approach.
• Has good communication skills and can confidently provide information and guidance to customers.
• Is physically fit and able to undertake manual tasks and work outdoors in all weather conditions.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place. Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this: Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we doDrive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance - striving to be even better - and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed. For more information on this position please contact Daniel Peters, Reading Education Play and Support Service Manager at [e-mail] Closing Date: Wednesday 21 st October 2026 Interview Date: To be confirmed Interview Setup: In person at Prospect Park Pavilion, Liebenrood Road, Reading, RG30 2ND