Movement Champion Mentor

YMCA South Midlands; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 22,000; Part time

Job summary

YMCA South Midlands in Milton Keynes is seeking a Movement Champion Mentor to help young people improve their physical and emotional wellbeing through movement, mentoring and positive experiences. You'll deliver one-to-one mentoring, group activities, sport and creative movement, helping participants build confidence, resilience and practical strategies to feel their best.

No sports coaching qualification is required; your connection with young people and ability to make movement accessible is

Qualifications

• Experience working with young people in youth work, education, mentoring, community activities or a similar setting.
• Understanding the physical, social and emotional development needs of young people.
• Qualifications in youth work, education, social sciences, coaching or physical activity are advantageous but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Building positive, trusting relationships with young people and creating a safe, welcoming environment.
• Delivering engaging one-to-one mentoring and group-based activities that support physical and emotional wellbeing.
• Using sport, games, creative movement, breathing exercises and other activities to build confidence and resilience.
• Helping young people understand the connection between movement, emotions and behaviour.
• Supporting young people to develop coping strategies and manage challenging emotions.
• Encouraging young people to discover activities they enjoy and develop a positive relationship with physical activity.
• Adapting activities to meet different needs, abilities and confidence levels.
• Working with schools and community partners to identify and engage young people who could benefit from the project.

Skills

Youth mentoring

Physical activity

Sports coaching

Group facilitation

Wellbeing programmes

Job description

Hours: 22 hours per week (part-time)
Contract: 15-month fixed-term contract
Location: Milton Keynes

Sometimes, the best way to help a young person isn't by sitting down and talking. It's by getting moving, trying something new, building confidence and discovering what they're capable of.

At YMCA South Midlands, we're looking for an enthusiastic, compassionate and creative Movement Champion Mentor to help young people improve their physical and emotional wellbeing through movement, mentoring and positive experiences.

You'll use a combination of one-to-one mentoring, group activities, sport, games and creative movement to help young people build confidence, understand their emotions, develop resilience and discover practical ways to feel their best.

You don't need to be a sports expert. What matters most is your ability to connect with young people, inspire participation and make movement accessible, enjoyable and meaningful for everyone.

The opportunity

We believe every young person deserves the opportunity to feel confident, supported and able to thrive. But we also recognise that young people experience challenges differently. For some, traditional approaches to communication, learning or emotional support don't always work.

That's where you come in.

As our Movement Champion Mentor, you'll use movement as a positive tool to help young people explore how they feel, build self‑awareness and develop practical strategies to manage their emotions and wellbeing.

You'll work with young people individually and in groups, creating safe, supportive and engaging experiences where they can try new things, build positive relationships and celebrate their progress.

One day you might be using team games to develop communication and confidence. Another day, you could be supporting a young person through breathing exercises, movement challenges or activities that help them feel calmer, more focused and ready to engage.

You'll also work closely with schools, youth services and community partners to reach young people who would benefit from additional support.

This is about much more than physical activity. It's about helping young people discover what works for them and giving them skills they can use in everyday life.

What you'll be doing

You'll play a hands‑on role in delivering an exciting project that brings together mentoring, movement and wellbeing.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Building positive, trusting relationships with young people and creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment.


• Delivering engaging one-to-one mentoring and group-based activities that support physical and emotional wellbeing.


• Using sport, games, creative movement, breathing exercises and other practical activities to build confidence, resilience and self‑awareness.


• Helping young people understand the connection between movement, emotions, thoughts and behaviour.


• Supporting young people to develop positive coping strategies, manage challenging emotions and improve their confidence.


• Encouraging young people to discover activities they enjoy and develop a positive relationship with physical activity.


• Adapting activities to meet different needs, abilities, interests and levels of confidence.


• Supporting young people to develop communication, teamwork, problem‑solving and positive relationships.


• Working with schools, youth services and community organisations to identify and engage young people who could benefit from the project.


• Monitoring progress, celebrating achievements and maintaining accurate records to demonstrate the difference the project makes.

Above all, you'll help young people feel more confident, connected and equipped to navigate the challenges they face.

About you

We're looking for someone who believes in the potential of young people and understands that small, positive experiences can make a big difference.

You'll enjoy working directly with young people, building relationships and finding creative ways to help them engage, participate and develop.

You don't need to be a qualified sports coach, but you will need to be confident planning and delivering activities that use movement to support wellbeing and personal development.

You'll understand that every young person is different and that success isn't about sporting ability. It's about helping young people feel included, build confidence and make progress in ways that matter to them.

You’ll be someone who:

• Has experience working with young people in youth work, education, mentoring, community activities or a similar setting.


• Understands the physical, social and emotional development needs of young people.


• Recognises the benefits of movement and physical activity for emotional wellbeing, confidence and personal development.


• Can plan and deliver engaging, inclusive activities for individuals and groups.


• Builds positive, trusting relationships with young people from different backgrounds.


• Is creative, enthusiastic and able to make activities fun, accessible and meaningful.


• Is patient, empathetic and able to adapt their approach to different needs and abilities.


• Understands safeguarding responsibilities and the importance of professional boundaries.


• Communicates confidently with young people, schools, families and other professionals.


• Is organised, reliable and comfortable managing their own workload.


• Brings energy, positivity and a genuine passion for helping young people thrive.

Experience in youth mentoring, physical activity, sports coaching, group facilitation or wellbeing programmes would be particularly valuable.

Relevant qualifications in youth work, education, social sciences, coaching or physical activity would be an advantage, but aren't essential.

Why Join YMCA South Midlands?

Because this is an opportunity to make a genuine difference to young people's lives in a creative, practical and rewarding way.

You’ll join an organisation that believes in the potential of every young person and is committed to helping them build brighter futures.

As part of our Youth & Community team, you'll have the opportunity to:

• Deliver an innovative project combining movement, mentoring and emotional wellbeing.


• Build meaningful relationships and see the positive difference your support makes.


• Use your creativity and ideas to develop engaging activities that inspire young people.


• Work collaboratively with schools, community partners and a supportive YMCA team.


• Help young people develop confidence, resilience and skills that can make a lasting difference.

Everyone is Welcome Here

At YMCA South Midlands, we believe everyone should feel they belong.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences and communities. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the people we serve and where everyone is treated with dignity, respect and fairness.

As a charity with a Christian heritage, our faith inspires our values and our commitment to serving others. We welcome people of all faiths and none. All appointments are made on merit.

Safeguarding

YMCA South Midlands is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful candidate will be required to complete appropriate safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check and a children's barred list check where the role is eligible.

Reasonable Adjustments

We want every candidate to have the opportunity to perform at their best throughout our recruitment process.

If you have a disability, long-term health condition or are neurodivergent and would benefit from any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply or contact us at any stage. We'll be happy to discuss how we can support you.

Ready to Apply?

If you're passionate about young people, believe in the power of movement and want to help others build confidence, resilience and a brighter future, we'd love to hear from you.