The 11 new starters, all in their twenties, come from the UK including Ethan Furness from Barrow, and two are from East Africa. As they embark on a career in the outdoor sector, they have spent the last six weeks gaining essential certifications and in-house validations at YMCA Lakeside. The charity has been running the residential centre and its 100 acre site on the western shore of Windermere, for over 70 years.
The new instructors are now equipped to provide excellent outdoor learning opportunities to the 12,000 children and young people who come to the centre each year for high quality residential and day experiences. The instructors help them overcome challenges, gain resilience, defeat fear, develop positive relationships, and build the skills and character traits that serve them throughout life.
The new starters are trained and managed by another new YMCA Lakeside recruit, Martin Barry, Senior Operations Manager. Martin, who took up his appointment in January, has over 30 years’ experience of working in the outdoor sector. That includes 10 years as a Senior Lecturer on the outdoor studies programmes at the University of Cumbria and a spell as Head of Learning at The Field Studies Council in Lindale, south Cumbria. Martin also has a master’s degree and a PhD in outdoor learning and lives in Kirkby Lonsdale.
Martin said: “YMCA Lakeside is a great springboard for a career in the outdoor sector. We provide a high standard of training and support, which includes subsidised onsite accommodation. Our season runs from now until November, with a small group of seasonal staff complementing the 15 permanent staff we have here.
“Set in 100 acres of private woodland, we mainly run day camps and residential courses across the primary and secondary ages ranges, with some older apprentice groups. 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. Once here, everything is on site,” added Martin.
To find out more about YMCA Lakeside, from careers to residential and holiday day camps, please visit https://lakesideymca.co.uk/.
