Job Description

Sports Development Officer - East Berkshire (Maternity Cover) Fixed term up to 12 months from the beginning of March 2026

To apply - CV and Covering Letter are essential.

Sport in Mind is an independent mental health charity founded in Berkshire in 2010, with a simple mission: "To improve the lives of people experiencing mental health problems through sport and physical activity" Sport in Mind is the leading mental health sports charity in England, delivering innovative physical activity projects in partnership with the NHS to promote mental wellbeing, improve physical health, combat social isolation, and empower people to move their lives forward in a positive direction. Our services are co-designed by people with personal experience of mental health problems and healthcare professionals, and we have supported the recovery of over 31,000 people.

We have an exciting opportunity and seek to appoint a maternity cover for the role of Sports Development Officer, who will manage and develop new and existing programmes for the East Berkshire Adult programme, as well as our Children and Young People and Mum and Baby programmes across Berkshire.

Job Title Sports Development Officer - East Berkshire (Maternity Cover)

Location Berkshire Wide - (Reading Office)

Grade/Salary Range 25,000

Job Purpose

1. Work closely with the Sport in Mind team to manage and coordinate innovative sport and physical activity sessions for adults experiencing mental health problems in East Berkshire.

2. To manage and coordinate Sport in Mind's innovative Mum and Baby programme across Berkshire.

3. To manage and coordinate Sport in Mind's innovative Children and Young People programme across Berkshire. Designation of Post and Position within Service 1.

Responsible to the Head of Operations.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Establish, manage and deliver high-quality innovative sport, physical activity and educational sessions for people experiencing mental health problems, maintaining the highly regarded reputation that the charity has gained.

2. Work closely with external partners to support the development of the sessions and gain referrals.

3. Recruit and manage appropriately qualified sports coaches and physical activity leaders to lead motivational and fun sessions for participants.

4. Attend update meetings with funding bodies to provide progress on project delivery.

5. Provide supportive and informative practices for people accessing sessions, empowering them to attend (e.g. send a map, address, provide participant forms, explain what to expect on arrival, make staff aware of new arrivals, and follow up on experience).

6. Ensure all participants have completed relevant and necessary paperwork.

7. Organise and manage bookings (e.g. leisure centres, community centres, meeting hires).

8. Carry out robust risk assessments for each session and update accordingly and/or annually.

9. Update information for communication materials (e.g. posters, social media, leaflets, newsletters and website) to publicise sessions.

10. Set up working groups and gain insight from people with lived mental health problems

11. Organise, develop and deliver workshops for external organisations and clubs.

12. Be responsible for money handling (e.g. cashing cheques, collecting and delivering money pots).

13. Complete data entry for sessions. Ensuring all relevant data is collected for each funding body.

14. Support with monitoring and evaluation of the programmes, including case studies

15. Support with ad-hock charitable matters.

16. Be committed to good practice and ensure familiarity with all Sport in Mind policies and procedures (e.g. health and safety, confidentiality and safeguarding)

17. To promote equality and diversity in all aspects of your work by developing and maintaining relationships, ensuring that colleagues are treated fairly and with respect/dignity.

18. Represent the charity at local and national events.

Special/Other Requirements/Responsibilities of this Post

Level of DBS check required for this post - Enhanced with a check of the barring list(s) for both adults and children.

Health & Safety: LEVEL 2

Qualifications/Education/Training

1. Degree level education or relevant experience

2. Valid driving licence.

Experience

1. Over 2 years, working with vulnerable, diverse communities

2. Health & Safety

3. Safeguarding

4. Setting up sport and physical activity sessions

5. Empowering people to create behaviour change

6. Building strong, meaningful partnerships

7. Managing sessional staff and volunteers

8. Advocating sport and physical activity benefits for physical and mental health

9. Working with highly confidential information and following GDPR

10. Motivating and influencing people

Desirable Experience

Mental Health First Aid Pregnancy and postnatal training or working experience

Working with children and young people

Skills, Abilities & Competencies

1. Ability to think and work creatively whilst supporting others

2. Highly organised - good timekeeping and administration skills

3. Excellent communication, written and verbal

4. Excellent interpersonal skills

5. Ability to work independently and as part of a team

6. Excellent delivery of health and safety and safeguarding procedures

7. Excellent management skills

8. Good computer literacy

9. A personal and/or working knowledge of mental health and sport and physical activity

Specific Working Requirements

1. Work will be based in the Sport in Mind office, community and home.

2. Able to work unsocial hours, including weekends, bank holidays and occasional evenings where appropriate.

3. Must bring a positive and enthusiastic image to the service you provide.

4. Commitment to policies and procedures, including equal opportunities.

5. Willing and able to travel where necessary with own transport.

Job Type: Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: Up to 25,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Casual dress Cycle to work scheme Enhanced maternity leave Enhanced paternity leave Flexitime Free parking On-site gym On-site parking Sick pay Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Reading RG2