It’s more than a job at Lakeside
At YMCA Lakeside we provide high quality residential and day experiences to over 12,000 people each year. When our customers visit Lakeside they overcome challenges, defeat fear, develop relationships and build the skills and character traits that serve them throughout life.
We’re a happy and hard-working team with a focus on delivering enjoyable and challenging programmes that change young people’s lives for the better. Based on the south western shores of Lake Windermere, in 100 acres of private woodland, we provide high-quality outdoor adventure holidays and development programmes for schools, youth groups and corporate clients and families.
We make the most of our natural location, offering more than 50 water and land-based activities ranging from sailing and kayaking to fell walking and abseiling. If you’re interested in joining us for the season or if you’re looking for a career at Lakeside, please browse our current vacancies.
Current Vacancies
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Peak Seasonal Instructor - 841LAKE
Peak Seasonal Instructor
YMCA Lakeside Outdoor Education Centre – Newby Bridge, Cumbria
37.5 Hours per week £23,809.50 per annum (pro rata)
Job Reference – 841LAKESubsidised accommodation may be available
Shores of Lake Windermere – Training and Experience – Excellent staff team
Join our team to deliver inspiring outdoor learning programmes and springboard your career.
Working for us means helping children and young people of all levels of ability and backgrounds to fulfil their potential through enjoyable and safe outdoor education programmes. At YMCA Lakeside Outdoor Education Centre, we have lots of young people wanting to come on our courses, especially during May to August, and we need some extra staff members. Our instructors work on a range of outdoor courses, including our famous Summer Day Camp provision. There will be a host of opportunities and experiences to support your professional development, working as part of a like-minded and adventurous team who play an important role in changing young people’s lives.
If you have a minimum of 1 years’ experience with at least one qualification completed and one training undertaken from the list below, with the potential to progress further with the right support, we welcome hearing from you. We value a good attitude and enthusiasm and believe they go a long way, so if you have experience of working with groups in outdoor settings, do get in touch.
- Paddle Sport Instructor / Leader
- Rock Climbing Instructor
- RYA Dinghy Instructor with Safety Boat
- Cave, canyon or sailing qualification
- Mountain Leader (summer)
- 16hr First Aid Certificate
- Outdoors based Diploma, Certificate of Degree, PGCE, APIOL, Level 3 course / Apprenticeship
The role.
- Providing inspirational, safe, high-quality instruction and outdoor learning sessions
- Assisting the Duty Team to ensure enjoyable, safe and secure residential stays
- Doing all the many other tasks which make our outdoor education courses so successful
This job is for you if…
- You are passionate about creating great experiences for children and young people in the outdoors
- You are friendly, enthusiastic and hardworking
- You are a resilient and confident team worker who can also work unsupervised using your own initiative
- You have prior experience of working in the Outdoor Education sector
- You are able to work flexibly including some evenings and occasional weekends (by arrangement)
- You are available from 11th May 2026 until 28th August 2026 – this role would particularly suit an outdoor orientated student who wants quality work and experience with groups, across the summer break
If you would like an informal chat about the work opportunities on offer, please contact Dr Martin Barry by email martin.barry@fyldecoastymca.org or mob. 07837 015317.
Successful applicants will be required to complete an application form and Enhanced DBS Disclosure (unless you are enrolled on the updating service), which is paid for by the Centre. Please note that pay rates are due to increase in April 2026.
Closing date for the role is Monday 2nd March 2026 by 9:00am. Applications submitted and/or received after this time will not be considered.
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