Residential Youth Leader

Our Second Home is a youth movement that empowers migrants and refugees to flourish in the place that they call home. Our overnight activity camp for young people aged 14‑18 is a chance for young people to come together and have five days of fun and excitement, supported by a dynamic and dedicated team of leaders and staff.

Youth leaders for this project will be responsible for facilitating the camp and will be directly in contact with, and responsible for, the participants. During the camp they will be “on duty” full‑time, meaning that they will spend the whole time with the participants, including at meals.

Events (dates to be found on the application form):
Training – Pre‑Residential Prep Day (on‑site) – Residential, in full – Feedback & thank you afternoon

We will arrange Zoom interviews with applicants separately.

Quotes:
“Having the professional [welfare] support made me feel very support and more comfortable with the work” – BT
“The atmosphere of fun, respect, care, and community is what made the young people so comfortable and connected” – BT
“The leaders were all awesome – it was incredible to work in a team so full of hard working, intelligent, experienced people” – BT
“Seeing the kids bursting out of their shells and that being the norm rather than just exceptions was just incredible.” – CA
“It honestly surpassed anything I could have hoped for” – LK

• Interact and form a bond with the participants
• Create and run fun and engaging activities for the participants
• Look after the participants’ welfare, ensuring that they feel cared for and secure
• Manage the participants’ behaviour and set clear boundaries

• All applicants must be interviewed and willing to provide references on request.
• Youth leaders must set a positive example of behaviour and involvement for all participants, and adhere to the volunteer guidelines.
• Youth leaders may be required to prepare activities for participants at the camp. If asked, this must be completed in plenty of time to allow any materials or equipment to be sourced.
• Applicants should be aged 20 or above.
• Applicants must be eligible for DBS clearance (no criminal record that prevents applicants from working with children).
• Youth leaders must raise any safeguarding concerns swiftly and follow safeguarding procedures.
• Youth leaders must follow all Our Second Home policies and procedures of which will be explained at the Camp training days.

Youth leaders will be supported by the Welfare Support Lead(s), who will be their main contact through the build‑up and throughout the camp. The Welfare Support Lead(s) will run team meetings at the end of each day and be on hand to advise and manage the Youth Leaders.

You will help create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space where young people feel valued, supported, and confident to be themselves. By building positive relationships, running engaging activities, and responding sensitively to individual needs, you will support young people’s wellbeing and help them grow in confidence, connection, and belonging.

• Experience working with and/or caring for young people aged 14‑18
• Flexibility, adaptability and ability to improvise
• Ability to build connection quickly with peers and young people
• Ability to work in a team and communicate effectively
• High level of organisation
• High levels of empathy and patience
• Awareness and sensitivity that some participants might be suffering from trauma

• Experience working with refugees and/or asylum seekers
• Experience working with young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities
• :
  Arabic, Dari, Pashto, Tigrinya, Somali
• First Aid training
• Creative or artistic abilities
• Sports leadership
• Ability to prepare fun and engaging activities for young people

We particularly encourage applications from those who have lived experience of being a refugee.

Training in youth facilitation, trauma‑informed practice, safeguarding, and first aid.

• Real leadership experience on residential camps
• Ongoing…