Programmes Assistant – Internship

Main Duties

Main Activities/Responsibilities:

The Programmes Assistant will support LYT’s team in coordinating and delivering creative projects, teamed with individualised support, to ensure vulnerable young people aged 11-21 can access, engage and progress through LYT’s core youth theatre activities. The post holder will support on both administration/coordination of projects and session delivery across the following areas:

YOUTH ARTS DELIVERY:

• Assist with the planning and delivery of Outreach projects with social service partners, supporting vulnerable participants to engage and progress to core youth theatre projects
• Help to plan, Co-lead and evaluate drama, performance and technical theatre projects with 8-21s
• Support the set up of sessions, including organising necessary session materials, registers and refreshments
• Support the pastoral care of participants both within and outside sessions in line with LYT’s Code of Practice
• Support with the delivery of accreditation programmes (e.g AQA Unit Award) and work experience for members across projects, including helping with recruitment, delivery and administration of these sessions.
• Along with all LYT staff and volunteers, helping to make LYT a safe, equitable place for all participants, volunteers and workers by upholding LYT’s Safeguarding, Equal Opportunities, Anti-Bullying and Data Protection policies.

INCLUSIVE PARTICIPANT RECRUITMENT: The Assistant will support the Participation team in:

• Preparing and sending communications to participants/families, referral partners and schools
• Designing promotional and informative resources to support new joiners to find us and feel confident joining.
• Coordinating the registration and referrals of new participants
• Allocating project places and communicating with project applicants
• Liaising with schools, partner agencies and parent/carers regarding the needs of referred young people

YOUTH VOICE & LEADERSHIP:

• Supporting LYT’s Executive Producer in planning and delivering Members’ Committee (youth board) sessions and activities;
• Helping with the placement, induction and ongoing support of peer mentors (participants aged 11-18)
• Helping to highlight progression opportunities to LYT graduates/alumni, via social media post and/or email communications.

What will the internship offer the student and what will they learn while they are with you? E.g. skills they could learn/develop and experience they could gain.

The Programmes Assistant will help LYT’s core staff team to engage vulnerable young people aged 8-21 in LYT’s creative programmes, supporting their social/emotional, personal and creative development through drama, performance and backstage theatre activities.

Alongside LYT’s team of core staff members and lead freelancers, the assistant will help coordinate and deliver a multi-pronged offer of outreach activities, introductory projects and drama-based performance activities. The assistant will take on assigned roles across all steps of a participants’ journey, including helping with recruitment, family communications, project planning, session delivery, and evaluation, as well as supporting with LYT’s wrap-around programmes of work experience and youth leadership. The assistant will also take on key roles around supporting young people’s pastoral care, including ensuring LYT participants safely arrive and exit the building in line with LYT’s Code of Practice.

The Programmes Assistant role is a 12-month internship, supported by the Jack Petchey Foundation, with the aim of developing the post-holder’s confidence, skills and capabilities to move into youth arts coordinator roles that require both delivery and project management skills.

As well as role-specific training in LYT’s policies, procedures and practices, the Assistant will receive external training related to the development of their skills as a youth arts worker. This may include training in safeguarding, mental health first aid, project management, youth work practice and art award advisor training.

About the Jack Petchey Internship Programme: The successful candidate will be part of the Jack Petchey Internship Programme with 30 other interns from different youth organisations in London and Essex. This development programme will involve attending a residential launch conference, four professional development workshops through the year and a celebration event at the end of the programme. The successful candidate will receive an extra training bursary of £1,000 for approved training and will be matched with a mentor from another organisation to help support their professional development. The Jack Petchey Internship Programme training days and events will take place in person in London and the successful candidate will be expected to take full part in this programme alongside their role at Lewisham Youth Theatre.

Equal Opportunities Statement

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their race, disability, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion and belief, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity and caring responsibility. We are committed to offering a working environment where everyone is valued and feels appreciated.