Falcon Boat Club, Oxford – Junior Squad Head Coach / Community Rowing Lead (Freelance Contracts)

Falcon Boat Club seeks an experienced individual who shares the club’s aims with an absolute focus on improving the lives of young people in our local community.
The purpose of this contract is to lead on the development of Falcon Schools Rowing and oversee the evolution of the existing Falcon Junior Squad into a community-focused programme for young people, targeted at our local community.

Background information

• The Falcon Schools Rowing Programme (FSRP) is a key element of Falcon’s Outreach Strategy, which is being developed in pursuit of the club’s constitutional aims: to provide for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, financial hardship or social circumstances with the object of improving their conditions of life, more specifically to promote the education (including social and physical training) of pupils at schools.
• The programme aims to engage participants from a range of different backgrounds, introducing them to the sport of rowing, tackling inactivity, building life skills and improving wellbeing.
• Our model for the development of this programme comes from organizations such as London Youth Rowing with whom we are establishing a relationship for them to help us evolve the programme to become more community-focused, offering a wide range of kids a fun and engaging introduction to rowing.
• The appointee will be given a budget to pay for all coaching costs, including appointing assistant coaches in association with the club.
• Admin for the Schools and Junior Rowing programmes will be handled separately by a small team, delivered or supplemented by volunteers.
• The Falcon Schools Rowing Programme has initially been established with two schools: Greyfriars and Oxford Spires, but we hope to expand to other local state schools.
• The size of the Falcon Junior Squad is currently around 50 athletes which is near club capacity, and would require some adjustments to scale any larger – for example if there is interest from the Juniors and their guardians in forming a smaller ‘elite’ race focused squad within the overall Junior Squad. It will be at the discretion of the Junior Head Coach to implement such changes in collaboration with the club and the Juniors and their guardians.
• Both the FSRP and FJS are elements within the Falcon Rowing section, which itself is a part of Falcon Boat Club, the other parts being the Kayaking and Canoeing sections – and it is important that they operate as integrated entities respecting the needs of all parts of the club. For example, the fleet used by the Juniors is partially shared with the adult rowing members, and fair and appropriate sharing of these resources is expected. The appointed lead will be expected to take a constructive approach, considering the needs of not just the FSRP and JRS but also the whole club, when making decisions about the use of these resources. Ultimate decision on how to allocate resources that are in contention will be made by the Rowing Captain.

Reports to: In general, to the Rowing Captain, for FSRP/Outreach to Head of Outreach

Equality Statement

Falcon Boat Club recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We particularly encourage applications from people that have experience of working in the areas where we operate and from disabled candidates, female candidates, and candidates from ethnic minorities, as we work extensively with young people from these backgrounds and these groups are underrepresented in sports organisations and the charity sector.

Safeguarding Statement

Falcon Boat Club uses sport to engage & inspire young individuals to achieve their potential. Protecting children and adults at risk from harm and promoting their wellbeing is fundamental to achieving this mission. All successful applicants will be required to complete a DBS check before starting their new role – as per the NSPCC safer recruitment guidelines.

The expected outputs of this contract include the following:

Falcon Junior Rowing Squad

• Act as lead coach in running weekend and evening sessions at Falcon Club during term-time for members of the junior squad
• Run short courses (week-long) during the Easter and Summer holidays and half terms as appropriate
• Oversee junior coaches and volunteers, including parents, in helping run sessions
• Deliver a year-round regatta events participation schedule by all or part of the Junior Squad, and catering for those juniors not attending these events
• Implement optimisations to the squad organization, such as a dedicated ‘racing squad’ as seems appropriate and supported by club, atheletes and parents
• To promote the pathway from the Indoor Rowing Clubs (School based) to the Falcon Junior Squad

Falcon Schools Rowing

• Working with local schools to develop indoor rowing as a regular after-school club, coaching kids, but also supporting staff and older kids to develop coaching skills themselves.
• In spring, bringing kids to Falcon, moving the after-school clubs on to the water when weather permits.
• To deliver engaging indoor rowing sessions to new and existing participants of varying skills and ability, maximizing the social experience to help build participation in the school clubs.
• To develop strong relationships with each Partner School, specifically PE Teachers, Heads of Department and the Senior Management Team in Partner Schools.
• If appropriate, encouraging kids to compete in indoor rowing competitions online or in person. However, the main focus is on supporting them to use rowing to make a difference to their lives.
• Creating a feeder from the local community to the junior squad.
• Potentially also developing a programme for excluded kids with particular difficulties and working with schools to offer additional rowing-based activities within or outside the curriculum (additional to contract).

General

• Make necessary allowances to facilitate participation by young people with physical or mental disabilities.
• Ensure provision for Young People with Special Educational Needs or a Disability linking with internal and external SEN Co-coordinators.
• Collection of weekly data and regular surveys of young people within set timeframe to support impact measurement, as agreed with Head of Outreach.

A key part of this contract will involve maintaining good relationships with:

• Assistant Coaches
• Junior rowing Admin Team
• Schools: management and volunteers
• Parents and other volunteers
• Rowing committee and adult club members.

Contract Terms

A total budget of £20k will be available to be allocated for coaching, included assistants, to be monitored and adjusted regularly in agreement with club representatives, covering the following hours, plus any related administration:

Schools rowing after-school clubs: Up to 2 hours per school, two schools x 38 weeks of term

Junior Squad – during term time: Up to three hours on Saturday and Sunday respectively, and Evening sessions (on or off the water) – 4 per week, 2 hours per session
– Holiday Periods*: Run introductory rowing programmes e.g. (Junior Summer Courses) during the holiday periods for all comers, as appropriate.
* Income is generated incrementally above the aforementioned amount, according to the number of sessions run and hours worked.

The appointee will need to start as soon as possible, ready to start development of the programme from September 2024.

The contact will be offered initially for the period of one year, renewable annually subject to review.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• The key attribute required for this role is the ability to work with teenagers from different backgrounds, inspiring them to a love of rowing, but in doing so focusing on the benefits that regular outdoor sport can play in their lives.
• Previous coaching experience with young people, including in-school, is essential, though not necessarily as a rowing coach.
• Ability to establish and maintain good relationships with a wide range of associated group, as specified above.
• Full UK Driving Licence
• Safeguarding & Protecting Young People Course
• UKCC Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Rowing (or training towards it)
• Able to deliver on-water sessions from booking, to staffing to delivery of all water sports.

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• Experience working with young people with SEND Experience
• RYA Power Boating Level 2 Certificate
• Excellent verbal, written communication and IT skills
• Previous experience of co-ordinating or leading a programme
• Experience working independently or as part of a team.
• Evidence of good decision-making

Personal Attributes

• An absolute commitment to Falcon’s goals will be the key attribute of the appointee, with an enthusiastic approach to working with young people who face barriers to participation and physical activity
• Ability to work independently and self-motivate to solve problems and develop the programme, capable of adapting to changing environments and situations.
• Skilled at communication, time management.
• Confident and able to lead and inspire colleagues as well as young people, while also being approachable and supportive.

Club website: https://falconboatclub.org.uk

How to Apply

By email to [email protected], confirming by SMS/ whatsapp to +44 7968 122507. Applications should be submitted before 31st August 2024 – late applications may be considered subject to timing of the process.

Please include CV and covering letter in the application.

Salary: Dependant on experience.

Type: Part time / Session based - please see job description for more detail

Application Dates: From Saturday 3rd August 2024 to Saturday 31st August 2024