Wider World – Inspiring Young Minds

Dan Robinson, Group Leader

Dan has many years’ experience working with young people in the outdoors. After graduating with a degree in Outdoor Education he worked with young people in China, delivering emotional intelligence-centred outdoor learning programmes.

He’s a qualified instructor of many outdoor activities like rock climbing, canoeing and archery, but is mostly driven by a passion for inspiring people to find wonder and appreciation in the natural world around them.

We advertise jobs when they come up throughout the year. Frequently we’re looking out for:

Group Leaders
Activity Trip Volunteer Mentors
Volunteer Minibus Drivers
New roles as new projects emerge

We advertise roles on Indeed. We suggest you get in contact directly by email if you’d like to talk to us about any of these roles, or look on Indeed. Search for Wider World Bristol and the job title.

At present we are seeking:

Minibus Volunteer Drivers

(checked and updated August 2021)

Sign up for one of our September online parenting courses.

Visit our parent support page for further details.

Starts 16th / 17th September (daytime or evening course available).

Register your interest now

Lucy Hayes, Logistics Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator

Lucy is a fourth-year Biology student from the University of Bristol. She organises the logistics of our activity days alongside coordinating our wonderful volunteers!

Lucy enjoys running, climbing and horse riding are outdoor activities. She’s with us because she believes that Wider World is a brilliant charity to make sure all children can experience the physical and mental health benefits of the outdoors.

Colleen Gough, Group Leader

Colleen has a wide range of experience in both outdoor education and outdoor pursuits. She is a qualified Forest School Leader, previously based in a primary school in the Welsh valleys, before which she was an instructor for activities including archery, high ropes, bushcraft and orienteering.

It brings her joy to see children succeed at tasks where they’ve failed in the past, and she also loves it when kids bring her bugs they’ve found.

Ali Wilkins, Trustee

With over 25 years of experience in PR and communications strategy Ali has a deep understanding of the charity, media, marketing, market research and publishing sectors and a keen instinct for news and story-telling opportunities. While working for local hospice, Dorothy House between 2016-2020, Ali’s responsibilities included running high profile PR campaigns in the regional broadcast, print and online media such as their recent ‘Stepping Up’ fundraising campaign which raised £400k to help replace funds lost due to the impact of Covid-19.

Previously, Ali worked in London for 12 years, initially in publishing and then as a Press Officer and PR Account Manager in the advertising sector at OgilvyOne and Direct PR. Since 2003 she ran a PR consultancy in Bath and London called AWPR Ltd and developed PR and communications strategies, campaigns and media relations activity for numerous agency clients such as, Kitcatt Nohr, Underwired, Figtree, Trinity Communications and Barracuda Digital. Ali has also worked on PR projects for many B2B and B2C clients including WWF, NSPCC, National Geographic Society, Milliken Carpet and B&CE Insurance, Lexus, SSAFA, IBM, Royal Mail, The Vegetarian Society, The Department of Health and the Central Office of Information.

Alex Chikhani, Trustee

Alex is a former Military Officer, an experienced SME Director, a Chartered Manager, and Fellow of the CMI, with an MBA from Cranfield University. He is a business growth coach, and co-founder of Sigma Polaris – a software company. He has managed a $1Bn budget and delivered a range of complex projects in demanding circumstances.

He is keen to use his start-up and entrepreneurial background to help the charity scale. Alex is passionate about developing the strategy of the charity as well as advising on operational matters.

Alex enjoys dog walks, running, playing squash, supporting charities, music, and brewing cider.

Claire Wilkins, Trustee

Claire is a specialist education solicitor, currently working as Head of Legal at Anthem Schools Trust, a multi-academy trust with 16 schools across England. Claire has worked in education law for over 10 years working with a wide range of education institutions including academies, independent schools, special schools, nurseries and universities, with a particular focus on education regulation, dispute resolution, exclusions, admissions, data protection and FOI, policies, safeguarding, special educational needs and disability discrimination. Claire also has experience of working in the education and charity sector internationally and has worked in international development with many Ministries of Education across the world including in Kenya, Malawi, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. Claire lives in rural Somerset, just outside of Bristol with her partner, two young children and crazy dog.

Kate Lawson, Trustee

Kate is a Deputy Headteacher at an infant school in Bath. Since 2003, She has taught across the primary age range in a number of schools, including a period working at an international school in Muscat in Oman.

Kate has also been involved in teacher training at Bath Spa University, supporting PGCE students. Outside of school, she loves keeping fit by doing Pilates, weights and dancing, and also spending time with my family and friends.

Claire Barker, Trustee

Claire is a third-year marketing student at the University of the West of England in Bristol. She takes great interest in digital marketing and has recently completed her level 4 qualification in digital marketing focusing on using digital communications in non-profit organisations, under the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). She has worked in sales and customer services in the retail and hospitality sectors, including a ski season in La Plagne, France.

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Volunteer Trip Mentor Application

Sam Marsh, Group Leader

Sam studied outdoor education in the Lake District where he fell in love with nature and walking the hills. He learned about group work and leading young people to help them develop. Understanding the power of active learning and sport to allow children to develop led him to work for Wider World.

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We work with primary and secondary schools across the Bristol area. Usually schools partner to create a group of 12 children, 6 from each partnered school. If you’re interested in working with us, please get in touch.

Three Pillars of Support

All of the activities and programmes we deliver are underpinned by our Pillars of Support. We believe that these three pillars combined, provide the necessary support children need to build and improve their skills, attitudes and behaviours.

Pillar 1
Experiential / practical activities designed to allow beneficiaries to practise and build their skills.

Pillar 2
Theory and learning-based activities designed to illicit a deeper understanding of the programme skills and how to cultivate and refine them.

Pillar 3
Support for parents in the form of workshops and courses, designed to provide parents and carers with the skills the support and encourage the programme skills. This could include parents learning alongside their children and parent-only parenting programmes.

Role Overview

Our Group Leaders lead a group of 12 children on activity trips across Bristol, looking after them, encouraging them, ensuring they’re safe at all times, enjoying their activities and building their skills.

Responsibilities

Inspire and engage the children throughout the programme
Encourage participation from all of the children and support them to get the most out of the programme and achieve the skills elements of the programme
Clearly communicate expectations and required behaviours from the children, positively managing any challenging behaviours and conflicts arising within the group
Ensure activities run to time
Maintain the safety of the group throughout the programme; including taking registers, following risk assessments and appropriate policies, recording incidents and risks
Be aware of and work within Wider World’s policies and procedures including (but not limited to) Behaviour, Safeguarding, Health and Safety, First Aid
Support and manage the activity support staff
Provide written observation notes to record children’s progress
Ensure children complete their workbooks, and encourage parents/carers to provide feedback through our established processes
Visit the children once a term in school to share photos and experiences, discuss achievements and help the children plan their next goals
Work as part of the Wider World team to ensure the successful outcome of the programmes for all involved.

This is a fun role with a real sense of positive purpose. Our leaders go home tired but feeling like they’ve really made a difference to the children’s lives. Their positive impact has the potential to last a lifetime 12 times over. They build a respectful rapport with the children and help them to reach their own personal goals.

Person Spec

Essential

Substantial experience of working with children aged 8-12 in a leadership role
Energetic, enthusiastic, fun attitude – whilst maintaining the authority to lead the group
Ability to engage and inspire, bring out the best in children and encourage participation
Ability to deal assertively and positively with sometimes difficult behaviour / conflict, setting appropriate rules and boundaries
Understanding of group dynamics and ability to deal positively with different personality types
Organisational and time management skills (to ensure days run smoothly and to time)
Reliability and ability to commit to the days offered
Knowledge / interest in activity areas
Good understanding of good practice in relation to Safeguarding and Health and Safety
Currently holds up to date safeguarding and paediatric first aid training certificates (or willing to take these)

Desirable

Teaching or youth work qualification
Experience leading children on trips
Experience of managing others (such as volunteers)

Training

Wider World is committed to the welfare and protection of children and therefore will make appointments based on satisfactory references and criminal record (DBS) checks.
NSPCC Safeguarding training
First Aid Training
Full induction
Ongoing support from Programme Manager
Ad-hoc web-based video conference training

A Typical Activity Day

Group Leaders meet the children, support staff and minibus driver at the children’s school(s) at around 9am, leaving with 6 of them en-route to the second school to collect the final 6. Once all children are onboard they travel to the first activity venue, spending approximately 2 hours taking part in an activity before boarding the minibus for the afternoon activity. After the children have inhaled their packed lunch their next activity will begin, lasting 2 hours before boarding the minibus one final time to be deposited back at school to meet their parents at about 3:30.

Find Out More

If you would like to know more about the role, please email jonothan-hope@wider-world.org.uk

We advertise our vacancies on Indeed. To check current vacancies click here.

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Activity Providers

We’re always looking for activity providers who can help us achieve the outcomes we’re looking for. All of the activities in our enrichment programme explicitly incorporate at least 2 of the 7 life and learning skills: confidence, resilience, teamwork, leadership, goal-setting, problem-solving and curiosity.

If you’re based in the Bristol area, can help us hit our skills development targets and could deliver either a half or full-day activity at your own venue, get in touch. We’d love to talk about what’s possible.

Ismene Cole, Group Leader

Ismene is a passionate individual with many years experience working in environments that support positive change for individuals and groups. She runs her own private practice offering counselling, coaching, workshops, classes and retreats.

She brings enthusiasm, knowledge and a varied skill set to all the work that she does.

Jonothan Hope, Programme Manager, Trustee

Jonothan is an experienced teacher, trainer, tutor, activity leader and manager. He runs a freelance business (Skillset Learning), delivering workshops and courses for children, teenagers and parents, including, circus skills, maths and English, parenting, skills development, team-building, play and behaviour management, amongst others. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Music Composition, Level 5 Management BTEC, Triple P parenting practitioner accreditation and Qualified Teacher Status.

Since graduating in 2001 he worked as a playworker and childcare manager, designing & delivering activity programmes, managing staff and supporting parents. Between 2005-07 he worked for Reading Borough Council as Extended Services Co-ordinator, moving to Wiltshire Council to take the position of Study Support Co-ordinator in the Extended Services Team. From there he worked in schools in Wiltshire as Extended Services Co-ordinator before training as a teacher and starting his freelance business. Since 2011 he has worked with local authorities, schools, charities, business and individuals delivering training, activities, courses, tutoring and projects across the South West.

As Lead Tutor for the first Lumiar School in Europe he worked as teacher, tutor and mentor for 18 children as part of the pilot project from September to April 2018. He continues to deliver a range of adult learning courses in Bristol and South Glos and run regular team-building holiday workshops for Wiltshire’s Youth Adventure Trust. He took on the role of Project Manager and Trustee for Wider World in 2018, delivering the charity’s enrichment programme and driving the development of the programmes on offer, with the support of Claire and Alex.

Making a difference through our three pillars of support.

Enrichment, Boost, Challenge 7, Transition, Enterprise, Parent Support.

Schools, group leaders, volunteer mentors, fundraisers. Get involved.

What We Do

We’ve been supporting children aged 8 to 12 years and their families across Bristol since 2014 working closely with primary and secondary school, Bristol University, UWE, The Civil Service, a multitude of activity providers and venues and have supported over 200 children so far.

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