Background Information for applicants Manchester Young Lives (MYL) is a registered charitable company that has been working with children and young people in some of the most disadvantaged areas of Manchester for over 40 years. MYL's work originated in the development of local community managed adventure playgrounds across the city, alongside the provision of related play and youth work activities. MYL has steadily grown and developed in recent years, now employing over 50 staff, it has become one of the largest providers of children’s services in Manchester. Adventure playgrounds were set up as a response to a lack of children's play and leisure opportunities. In the 1970s parents, children and staff built the playgrounds themselves, offering children a friendly and supportive environment with supervised play provision. There are currently three adventure playgrounds located in Ardwick, Moss Side and Wythenshawe, all of which are professionally built and contain indoor and outdoor play facilities. The outdoor facilities all have large play structures such as swings, climbing nets and zip wires that local children would not otherwise be able to experience. MYL is proud of the unique service adventure playgrounds offer local communities and retains its focus on supporting children and young people facing disadvantage. MYL believes that the integration of play, confidence building, and education within an informal and supportive environment, provides a genuine opportunity for early intervention to prevent children and young people from falling outside mainstream services and becoming socially excluded. Play Provision All provision is OFSTED registered and works with approx. 2,500 children and young people aged 5- 13 years. Teams of trained staff deliver year round open access after school and holiday play sessions in all three adventure playgrounds. In addition to the centre based provision the outreach play programme provides supervised play sessions in local parks and green spaces in North and East Manchester, Hulme and Wythenshawe. Youth Provision Many young people attending the play sessions naturally migrate to the evening youth sessions once they reach the age of 12. Our youth provision which works with over 500 young people aged 12-19 years and is based in Moss Side, Hulme, Ardwick, Wythenshawe and Higher Blackley. Staff work with young people to develop their personal and social skills through both drop-in and targeted provision. Provision is located in areas of significant need where young people are at risk of engagement in anti-social behaviour, gang culture and crime. We are looking to appoint a Deputy Play & Youth worker to work as part of a mobile team of staff providing both open access and targeted play and youth work activities. The successful candidate will be able to inspire and lead a small team under the guidance of the Area Play Manager. A passion for working with children and young people and a commitment to making a difference to local communities is key to the success of this post. Hours of work include after school and evenings Monday-Friday. Manchester Young Lives. Registered Charity No 1070668. Registered Company No 3450197. The Addy Young People’s Centre, Woodhouse lane, Manchester, M22 9TF Tel: 0161 437 5923 [email protected]\ www.manchesteryounglives.org.uk .