Role Characteristics
- Plan and talk with people about the types of activities they’d like to do
- Organise activities that are designed for the needs and abilities of individuals, as well as group activities that will bring everyone together
- Book external suppliers to provide entertainment
- Organise trips out in the local community, considering transport arrangements and accessibility
- Assist people so they can take part
- Review the planned activities and engagements to continuously improve the opportunities available
- Work with people with varying levels of movement, communication, and understanding
Skills
- Communication
- Creative thinking
- Organisation
- Planning
- Team work
- Working with groups
Day in the life
Watch this video to learn about the role of an Activities Coordinator.
Routes into this role
Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.
- Apply directly
- GCSEs
- Volunteering or work experience
- An apprenticeship
- BTEC, T-Level or A-Levels
How to become
There are several ways to start a career as an Activities Worker, whether you're leaving education, looking for your first job or changing careers.
Here are some ideas, and you can explore current opportunities in the section below.
- Study a course or qualification – useful qualifications include GCSEs in English and Maths, health and social care, or sport as well as T Levels and BTECs. These can all help you to develop knowledge, skills and prepare for work.
- Volunteer – for a care home, charity, community group, or other organisation that supports older people or people with disabilities to develop skills in communication, creativity, empathy, teamwork, organisation and building relationships.
- Build workplace experience – this could be paid work, volunteering, or work experience online or in person. Experience working with people in care, education, community, leisure or support settings can be particularly valuable.
- Apprenticeships – you can gain experience in the workplace whilst also studying a qualification in Adult Care, Health and Social Care, or another relevant programme.
- Applying directly – employers will want you to have good English, maths and IT skills. This doesn't always mean you need a qualification, but you may need to do an assessment or skills test.
- Moving from another role – think about how you'll be able to transfer your skills in customer service, care, communication, planning, and patience activity planning into an Activities Worker role. Consider whether you need to focus on building your knowledge of supporting people with care and support needs.
Where can this role lead
From your role as an activities worker, you could continuing supporting people to engage in meaningful activity in their communities as either a Community Development Support Worker, or a Community Champion. You could also specialise in helping people to achieve health-related goals as a Health Trainer.
Developing more direct support skills while focusing on your experience with positive behaviour-change could lead to a role as a Care Assistant.
Your co-ordination, communication, and relationship-building skills as an activities worker would also translate well to sideways moves such as a Care Navigator, or Social Prescriber.
Progression might look like seeking a management role within Adult Social care, applying your skills to train as a Social Worker, or progressing into Project Manager or Service Manager roles in the community.
If you enjoy improving people’s lives but want to focus less on the hands-on support, you could look at roles such as Employment Advisor, or Debt Advisor.
Location
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Community Settings
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Hospitals
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Schools, colleges and universities
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Prisons
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Care Homes
Working hours
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Full Time
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Part Time
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Weekdays
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Weekends
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Casual Hours
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Overtime
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Flexible Hours
Opportunities
Leeds City College Public Services courses
- Organisation
- Leeds City College
BSc Health and Community Care
- Organisation
- Leeds Beckett University
Essential Skills for Volunteers
- Organisation
- University of Leeds
Volunteering in Health and Care
- Organisation
- Volunteering Opportunities
We Care Academy
- Organisation
- Leeds City Council