Recreation Assistant

Wigan Council; Wigan; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 29,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Exclusive rewards & benefits

Flexible working patterns

Job summary

Wigan Council’s BeWell team invites applications for a BeWell Recreation Assistant to join Leisure Centre operations across the Borough. Based at Leigh Leisure Centre, you will help maintain high cleanliness standards, set up equipment, and support a range of leisure activities while ensuring a safe environment.

You may undertake Lifeguard/First Aider duties; a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification pathway is available and a swimming teacher qualification is advantageous.

Qualifications

• Experience in a leisure or similar environment.
• Customer service-focused and safety-conscious.
• Ability to react quickly to emergencies.

Responsibilities

• Maintain high standards of cleanliness in all facility areas.
• Set up equipment for leisure activities.
• Support day-to-day operations and services in BeWell facilities.
• Provide Lifeguard/First Aider duties where required.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Teamwork

Emergency response

Health & safety

Education

National Pool Lifeguard Qualification

Swimming teacher qualification

Job description

Priority Candidates will be considered in the first instance

Work Base Leigh Leisure Centre

Salary: Grade 3, £26,427 per annum. £13.70 per hour hours per week

We're on a journey to build a workforce reflective of our Borough.

We are committed to fostering diverse teams where everybody can bring their authentic selves to work and feel that they belong. If you want to work for a Council where everybody is encouraged to meet their full potential and make a difference in our neighbourhoods, we would love to hear from you!

Your Role:

We are offering an exciting opportunity to join our team within Wigan Leisure Centres. As a BeWell Recreation Assistant, you will work within the various leisure facilities across the Borough and will support, enhance, and deliver the day-to-day operations and services in our BeWell facilities. Working as part of a team, you will be required to undertake a range of operational duties such maintaining high standards of cleanliness in all facility areas, setting up equipment for various leisure activities and maintaining a safe environment. You will support programmed activities and take on duties of a Lifeguard / First Aider. Holding a swimming teacher qualification is also advantageous.

About You:

Using your experience in a leisure or similar environment, you will work as part of a team to provide a welcoming and safe environment for all Leisure Centre users. You will ensure all health and safety policies are adhered to and customer service is at the forefront of everything you do. You will be flexible, adaptable and must be able to react quickly to emergency situations. You will possess a valid National Pool Lifeguard Qualification or provide evidence of being booked on a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification course within the next 8 weeks. You must be able to undertake ongoing training as required to maintain the highest level of operational efficiency and competency relating to the job role.

These are highly visible roles, so excellent interpersonal skills and confidence are pre-requisites for the posts.

Applicants must be able to work daytime, evenings, and weekends.

About us:

The BeWell Team are committed to support the health and wellbeing of our residents across the Wigan Borough. Whether this be supporting our youngest residents embark on their first swimming lesson or supporting individuals and community groups with existing exercise and wellbeing programmes. We pride ourselves on offering an extensive and diverse range of physical activities to support our residents and encourage everyone to get active and achieve a healthier lifestyle and increase sport participation.

Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home (My Place), the office (Our Place) or the community (Your Place).We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits.

Wigan Council prides itself onequality, inclusion and promoting diversity within the borough and aims to recruit a workforce that reflects our diverse communities.We invest in training and developing our staff, in a positive learning environment, and aim to be a consciously inclusive employer. We welcome applications from everybody in the community and would particularly encourage applicants from our underrepresented groups to apply. At Wigan, it is really important to us that applicants demonstrate our Team Wigan behaviours, and we do all we can to make sure that everyone feels like they belong.We have guidance in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process.

The Progress with Unity plan is a place movement for change for the next decade, bringing a new era for Wigan Borough. It draws on the strengths of our individual organisations, recognising that together we can achieve much more for our communities by delivering on our 2 place missions; create fair opportunities for all children, families, residents and businesses and make our towns and neighbourhoods flourish for those who live and work in them. Here at Wigan, we are proud to support flexible working patterns, when the service can accommodate this. We also take a blended approach to where we work, depending on the work we do. This may include working from home, the office, or the community. We like to thank our employees for their hard work and commitment by giving them the opportunity to access a range of exclusive rewards and benefits click here to find out more about working for #TeamWigan. To be appointed to this role you must be able to prove your right to work in the UK, and you must maintain a valid (active) right to work. Please note, at present we are not a licenced sponsor. Please visit the link below to check you qualify to apply. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK www.gov.uk Prove your right to work to an employer

Wigan Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment. Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility. As part of this commitment, Wigan Council operates robust Safer Recruitment procedures

We recognise that on occasion candidates may use AI tools. Please read our applying authentically section below before submitting your application.

For an informal discussion about the position please contact Lisa Tierney or David Boardman on 01942 487800 or email [e-mail] [e-mail] Interview date: Friday 9th October 2026

This position is subject to Enhanced Disclosure Procedures plus child barred list check.

The employer is committed to safeguarding

To view the details relating to this position, please click the links below:

Supporting Documents

• Job Description
• Privacy Notice
• Applying Authentically With AI: Our Greater Manchester Approach