Activity Leader
Job overview
This role involves energetically leading our international students through a programme of on-site activities and off-site excursions, planning and preparing engaging sessions, and helping to supervise throughout the day.
It calls for initiative and quick thinking — ensuring the safety and smooth flow of all activities and excursions by managing groups confidently, anticipating challenges, and working proactively with your team.
You’ll also assist with the welfare and pastoral care of the students, reporting any well being and safeguarding concerns as necessary.
You’ll be the glue that keeps the centre running — always ready to lend a hand wherever it’s needed, bringing positivity, energy, and a smile to everything you do. You’ll be someone our students can look up to, embodying our core values of Care, Honesty, Energy, Empathy, Respect, and Smiles (CHEERS!).
Staff stories
Working as an Activity Leader at Dusemond brought out the best in me. It’s a summer job game changer!
You need to be a people person – ready to motivate and inspire the kids as well as adaptable enough to take on challenges each day (wherever they arise) to keep the show running! It’s hard work, but great fun. You’ll gain friends for life and the feeling that you can take on anything.
Job details
Residential
Accommodation and meals provided throughout your contract. For residential positions a charge of £77.70 per week is deducted from your pay.
Salary
AL, under 21- £553.00* per week
AL, over 21 – £647.00* per week
Returners bonus (existing staff) or early application bonus (new staff) of £20 per week
Successful completion of training weekend bonus of £20 per week
Holiday Pay
12.07% holiday pay will be added to your salary.
Expenses
You will be required to cover your travel to and from the centre and the start and end of your contract.
Any movement between centres during your employment will be covered by Dusemond.
Unexpected expenses incurred during the course of your work will be reimbursed at Dusemond’s discretion.
Working Hours
Up to an average of 48 hours per week based on 6 working days.
Reporting to
Centre Director and Deputy Centre Director
Locations
Rugby, Bedales, Royal Russell (London), University of Essex (Colchester), Cheltenham, London South Bank, University of Sussex (Brighton), Heriot Watt (Edinburgh)
Available Contract Dates
Temporary – April, July & August 2026
Pre-joining training dates
Activity staff will receive essential training at the start of their contract.
You are also strongly encouraged to attend one of our training weekends prior to summer.
An online safeguarding course and an online first aid course will need to be completed prior to your arrival at the centre.
Key responsibilities:
Activities
You’ll run a variety of onsite activities at the prestigious schools that host our camps – Disco, Jewellery Making, Dusemond World Cup, Slime Making, Karaoke and Just Dance and many more!
You’ll be expected to:
Set up necessary equipment and run activities safely
Bring the “fun” to the sessions you run and occasionally make a fool of yourself – you might need to start the dancing at the disco!
Always be “switched on” and engaging with the students whenever you’re in uniform!
Familiarise yourself with appropriate risk assessments
Work closely with the other activity staff, managing groups of students of varying sizes, maintaining control and engagement
- Proactively identify and address potential issues before they escalate – from safety and safeguarding concerns to student behaviour or engagement.
Excursions
2-3 times a week there’ll be an excursion. You’ll lead groups on fun trips to various locations and in doing so you’ll be involved with:
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Executing our guided tours and doing some planning in advance
- Familiarise yourself with appropriate risk assessments
- Keeping the students engaged and excited, while maintaining control and oversight of your group at all times
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Working with the students’ Group Leaders – and making sure they’re satisfied with how the day is going
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Staying proactive and solution-focused if plans change unexpectedly, and have an awareness of any safety or safeguarding concerns
- Getting groups to any entrances on time and managing any tickets, and getting everyone back to the coach and home!
Key Performance Indicators
- Consistently demonstrate energy, enthusiasm, and active engagement with students.
- Positive student and Group Leader feedback
- Manages entrances successfully
- Demonstrates proactive problem-solving and takes initiative
- Maintains control, safety, and engagement of student groups at all times
- Read and sign all necessary risk assessments and complete an online safeguarding course prior to your arrival
- Proactively meets and communicates with Group Leaders (GLs) to plan and coordinate excursions.
Student arrivals and settling in
Arrival days are busy and full of energy — they set the tone for the whole stay. You’ll welcome a new group at the airport, accompany them to the centre, and help them settle in and feel at home. This will involve:
- Room checks prior to arrivals to ensure everything is ready
- Show students to their rooms
- Help with suitcases!
- Acknowledge and report any immediate issues raised by the Group Leaders
- Ensure the students are informed as to who they can approach should they have a problem
- Deliver campus tours and get the students to their first meal
Site Logistics
You’ll support the management team with any operational challenges that arise, contributing flexibly and helping to keep the centre running smoothly.
Daily tasks may involve ensuring centre signage and presentation is always of a high standard and acting as a general runner/support for centre management
Centre Supervision
Your support will be invaluable in making sure all aspects of the centre as a whole run smoothly.
You’ll be expected to:
- Supervise the busy meal times and assist with any dietary issues
- Monitor accommodation for room issues, damage etc
- Enforce curfew and quiet times
- Liaising with the centre + welfare management about any accommodation issues
- Follow appropriate risk assessments during activities
- Helping groups around site if necessary
- Assisting with any doctor or A&E visits
- Respond to and escalate any safeguarding concerns
Community & Pastoral Care
All staff have a responsibility for creating a positive, welcoming environment for the students, and should always report any safeguarding or safety issues as necessary.
Your eligibility
You must:
- be over 18 years of age
- be eligible to work in the UK
- get an enhanced DBS check**
You should:
- be able to manage a crowd
- be an energetic team player
- be responsible and proactive
It's a plus if:
- you are first aider
- you have a special skill or talent
- you’ve done this before!
** Dusemond will assist applicants in obtaining an enhanced DBS check and cover the cost.
Working for Dusemond means:
Lasting Friendships
Our staff build close friendships and camaraderie that often lasts well beyond the end of our programmes, with the chance to be re-united the next season!
Career progression
If you thrive in the amazing environments we work so hard to create, you’ll want to grow with us. Many first year staff return to become supervisors and managers.
References Provided
The broad range of skillsets required, make Dusemond centres excellent places to develop and substantiate your abilities for future roles.
Year-round opportunities
Flexible, on and off season opportunities in great places from York to Tuscany! Our best teachers and ALs are first in line to be offered!
Full Board
Our programmes are a great opportunity to work and save as all your meals and accommodation are provided on site.
Materials & equipment
Everything you’ll need to do a great job is provided, along with the support and input of senior staff to help you excel in your role.
Location, location location!
Beautiful, historic locations to live and work in and experiencing a different part of the UK
See the UK!
How many other jobs include a schedule of trips and excursion where you’ll take a lead and experience top UK destinations?
