Job Description

Volunteer opportunity at our Saturday club working with children with autism

Play assistant positions available in Morden, Greater London from September 2025

Apply here:

https://forms.office.com/r/vyg85VrHjJ

Calling all people with an interest in working with children with autism, including those in the teaching and care professions, plus students in psychology and therapy fields, this is a career-enhancing opportunity for you!

We are looking for volunteers to help support children with autism in a fun, friendly and child-centred environment. You need to be energetic, reliable and committed, as you will be active and on your feet regularly with your allocated child. Ideally you will have some experience of working with children and be interested in developing your understanding of children with disabilities.

You will receive two full days of training to help children practise social and early years' skills, in line with the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), an evidence-based approach. The club is led by a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA). We provide two full training days in order for you to develop your understanding of autism, ABA and the skills required for the position.

As a play assistant you will work 1:1 or 2:1 with two children (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) on specific targets and create learning opportunities through play and fun in a natural environment setting. Play assistants will be paired with a specific child based on experience and qualifications. The age range is 3 to 16 years.

All volunteers go through a reference check and an Enhanced DBS check, and receive a certificate of participation and attendance.

Focus Surrey will run Term 16 of its popular Saturday club for autistic children aged 3 to 16 for 12 Saturdays between September to December 2025, from 9am to 4pm each day.

The confirmed club dates are:

27th September (Training Day 1), 4th October, 11th October, 18th October (Training Day 2), 25th October, 1st November, 8th November, 15th November, 22nd November, 29th November, 6th December, 13th December

Please note the two training days on 27th September and 18th October are mandatory for all volunteers to attend.

The venue is in Morden, accessible by bus routes 80, 93 and 154. It is a 15-minute walk from Morden Station.

Children aged 3 to 10 will attend the club from 10am to 12pm, and children aged 11 to 16 will attend from 1pm to 3pm.

From 9am-10am and 3pm-4pm each club day, volunteers will receive additional training and advice and they will help to prepare and tidy away materials.

We will be following government guidelines to maintain all Covid-19 recommended measures in place to keep the volunteers and children safe.

We can provide volunteer placements for those requiring experience for your studies - please ask for details.

This is the ideal opportunity to help start your chosen career or give your career a boost by learning new practical skills and behaviour-based strategies which you can use with any child.

So far we have trained more than 500 volunteers over 15 terms. Feedback taken each term indicated that 100% of volunteers surveyed would recommend the volunteering experience. The feedback each term from volunteers, parents and children has been overwhelmingly positive.

One volunteer said: "My experience here has been incredible - I could not have imagined it to go any better! It was a perfect balance between challenging and fun. Staff were amazing and always there when needed and volunteers were all lovely. Very well-run centre. Everyone should volunteer."

To apply, please fill in the online application at:

https://forms.office.com/r/vyg85VrHjJ

CLUB DATES

27th September - Training Day 1

4th October

11th October

18th October - Training Day 2

25th October

1st November

8th November

15th November

22nd November

29th November

6th December

13th December

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Website: focus-surrey.com

Instagram: @focusabaclubsurrey

Facebook: @ABASurreyFocus

Twitter: @focus_surrey

Job Types: Part-time, Volunteer

Expected hours: 7 per week

Schedule:

Weekend availability
Work Location: In person

Expected start date: 27/09/2025