Youth Engagement Officer (Wigan Athletic Community Trust)

Organisation: Wigan Athletic FC
Salary: TBC
Location: Robin Park Leisure Centre, Loire Drive, Robin Park, WIGAN, Lancashire, WN5 0UL
Contract type: Fixed Term (Full time)
Closing date: 6 March 2026
Job Description: Fixed term until: 31st August 2027

The Community Trust is recruiting a Youth Engagement Officer to support the planning, delivery and development of engaging community and school-based programmes for young people aged 8–17 who have been referred due to involvement in, or being at significant risk of, offending behaviour, low school attendance, or being NEET (not in education, employment or training). Working closely with the project lead, the Youth Engagement Officer will play a key supporting role in creating safe, structured and inclusive environments where young people feel motivated, valued and supported to participate.

The role will involve assisting in the delivery of high-quality sessions, building positive and professional relationships with young people, and providing consistent encouragement, mentoring and guidance to support their personal and social development. The successful candidate will help young people to re-engage with education, develop confidence and resilience, and make positive choices about their future.

By supporting the Head Coach in delivering targeted interventions and meaningful engagement opportunities, the Youth Engagement Officer will contribute to promoting positive behaviour change, improving wellbeing, and enhancing the life chances of the young people involved.

You will:
· Work with young people aged 8 – 17 years old to improve behaviour, reduce offending and improve NEET status through community initiative led programmes
· Work with selected secondary schools and alternative education providers to run activities for pupils who are at risk of not reaching their potential.
· Plan and deliver a range of activities and workshops to engage the referred young people and support a measured positive change in behaviour
· Signpost young people to access universal social, leisure and educational activities delivered by the Community Trust and other partners in Wigan outside of school hours.
· Be flexible to the needs of the young people, delivering in evenings and weekends where necessary
· Record all engagements with young people, monitoring interventions and outcomes achieved
· Conduct 1-1 interventions and activities with young people where applicable, identifying their needs and tailoring sessions to support them.
· Complete the monitoring and evaluation requirements of the projects and compile evidence on the progress of individuals in order to report to key funders.
· Ensure all activities are monitored with the appropriate risk assessments, safeguarding and health and safety procedures put in place.

The successful candidate will have:
· A clear passion to enhance life chances of young people
· A proven track record of working with hard to reach young people in a youth work setting to achieve successful outcomes
· Patience and empathy
· Relationship building skills
· Experience and knowledge in working with young people taking part in risky behaviour
· Excellent time management and multi-tasking skills
· A full driving licence
How to apply: https://wiganathletic.com/news/2026/february/18/vacancy-youth-engagement-officer/