Leisure and Culture Dundee

The projects main philosophy has been to create opportunities for children and young people from Dundee’s most deprived areas to participate in physical activity and sport, along with using sport as a tool to raise attainment levels, increase employability prospects and reduce anti-social behaviour levels. The team delivers 6 main programmes; Participation Programme, Diversionary Programme, Learn Thru Sport Programme, Springboard Programme, Volunteer Development Programme and Holiday Programme.


Current opportunities

Although our Active Women session is open to all women a high percentage of our customers are from the BME community. These sessions are intended to provide a comfortable environment for those who would feel uneasy being in the pool supervised by staff members of the opposite sex. We are therefore looking for female volunteers with translator interpreter skills to meet and greet our customers, show them to the changing rooms and poolside. You should be aware that the session is held in a Leisure Centre resulting in variable temperatures.

As part of the Aquatics team your role will be teaching swimming within a session for women with modesty issues, many of whom are members of the BME community. The customers will have a variety of needs from non-swimmers to improving stroke technique or learning a new stroke. The swim teacher will work with individuals within the session, working to the individual needs of the customer. A positive experience in a comfortable setting can improve the health and wellbeing of customers as well as building their confidence as they learn a new skill. Translator/interpreter skills would be advantageous.

There are many and varied reasons that volunteers are an asset to the aquatics programme and we aim to make it as inclusive as possible. Many children with additional support needs can cope with mainstream swimming lessons with additional support, either in-water or on poolside Disability swim classes benefit from extra support and a volunteer can make a great difference to the progress these children can make. Some children, particularly pre-school children, have never been in a swimming pool and volunteers can make a huge difference by helping alleviate their fears.

Visiting Leisure Centres can be a daunting experience for anyone on the Autistic Spectrum as it is, by nature, a noisy and exciting environment. We have an autism friendly session one Sunday every month, during Dundee School term times, as well as children attending our swimming lessons who are on the Autistic Spectrum. The main duties include meeting and greeting customers, be a familiar face providing a friendly welcome, show customers to the changing rooms and poolside, be on hand to give information/answer queries.