An exciting opportunity has arisen to work with this well established charity as a full time Inclusion Officer. York City Football Club Foundation was established eighteen years ago, and became an independent registered charity in 2014. YCFC Foundation works across York and the wider North Yorkshire area to offer an inclusive and diverse range of sports participation, grassroots development, social inclusion, community cohesion, health and wellbeing opportunities, benefiting over 2000 people from age 4 to 87 each week.
The Foundation has developed a breadth of programmes in recent years, with more focus on social inclusion, disability, health and wellbeing, and community cohesion projects, and these have become ever more relevant with the emerging needs of the Community following the COVID 19 Pandemic. The successful applicant will have experience of delivering these types of programmes in a football or similar environment.
YCFCF is looking for a passionate and enthusiastic individual who has a real interest in making a difference, engaging and inspiring participants from young to old, and providing a quality provision. This role is best suited to someone wanting to make a real difference using the power of sport and physical activity.
The Inclusion Programme currently includes:
– Social Inclusion – youth activities & consultation, football social inclusion and recreational sessions, holiday hunger projects
– Health & Wellbeing – mental health, adult recreational football sessions, men’s health and weight-loss projects, wellbeing festivals, peer support groups and events, including older people’s activities, Walking Football sessions and festivals, and Sporting Memories sessions
-Disability- recreational junior and adult pan disability sessions, activity for young people with neurodivergence, junior and adult pan disability teams competing regionally and a Cerebral Palsy team competing nationally.
-Campaigns- supporting relevant campaigns to highlight and raise awareness of local concerns or to use the brand to reach a wider audience with relevant messages
-Events- coordination of events for both campaign awareness and fundraising from matchday activities to bucket collections at Citywide events to arranging fundraising opportunities to attending local fairs
The candidate must understand the importance of Monitoring and Evaluating projects; and the needs of funders, and have a passion for community engagement through the vehicle of a professional Football Club Charity.
The role is full time 37 hours per week and includes both coaching and development opportunities with an initial fixed term January -December 2026.
The post holder will be required to have minimum FA Level 1 Coaching Qualification, FA Safeguarding & First Aid, Enhanced DBS Check, Driving licence/own transport.
In addition, ideally should have minimum two years experience in a charity/third sector environment and/or experience in a football coaching with experience of making a difference through football development. Be a good communicator, committed, reliable and desire to build relationships.
To apply:
Send a covering email explaining your suitability for the role in line with the Job Description, along with a Curriculum Vitae for the attention of Paula Stainton, Foundation Manager to [email protected]
Closing date for applications: Noon 7th November 2025
Successfully shortlisted applicants will be contacted by: end of play Friday 7th November 2025
Shortlist Interview/Assessments will take place on : Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday 10-12th November 2025 (this will be an opportunity for a face to face interview ideally and also an observed coaching within our disability/wellbeing sessions)
Offer of employment expected by : Friday 14th November 2025 with a view to start subject to relevant notice required for the successful candidate, references and enhanced dbs check by 5th January 2026
Job Description
Responsible For
Coaching and administration in all areas of Foundation programmes
Planning, development and delivery of Inclusion programmes with specific focus on maintaining current and expanding the Disability, Health and Wellbeing and Campaign/Events Programmes
Administration tasks relating to HR to support the Foundation Management
Overall purpose of the Job
To create, develop and deliver Inclusion programmes:
To increase access to football for all, especially those with a physical or mental health impairment or disability, across York and wider North Yorkshire area.
To create a supportive environment for young people, and people with disabilities or health issues, to engage with sport initially, to develop their skills.
To organise, coordinate and deliver high quality sports participation programme with the aim of increasing and maintaining participation, to include appropriate quality assurance and health and safety, equality and inclusion; and safeguarding procedures.
To create fundraising and awareness raising opportunities for the Foundation, and manage community events programme and campaigns interlinked with Inclusion programmes
To be responsible for generating income and meeting financial targets and key performance indicators set each season for the programmes.
To maintain HR records to support Foundation management with administrative tasks such as keeping personnel files up to date; recording training; keeping equipment and uniform stock records and supporting induction processes.
Duties and Responsibilities
The post holder will be responsible and accountable for:
Coordinating the Foundation’s Inclusion -health, disability and events programmes and champion the programme and the needs of its participants
Planning and organising current and new sessions specifically set up to target relevant demographic groups into football, and to develop and retain current participants.
To create, organise and develop health, wellbeing and disability development programmes, liaise with necessary representatives within schools, youth provision, sports provision, NGB’s and relevant partners, and maximise all opportunities to upsell and cross promote for all Foundation activities.
To organise, promote and ensure appropriate delivery of all events and a fundraising programme with financial targets
To maintain accurate HR records for the Foundation to support the governance processes.
To monitor and evaluate all activity on the programme, including reports to the Operations & Foundation Manager, National League Trust, the County FA, any relevant funders and sponsors, including Premier League, and to ensure all data recorded on Salesforce.
To promote the work of the organisation and ensure positive media is achieved through internal and external mediums – locally, regionally and nationally where applicable, including specifically being responsible for promotion of disability and events programmes
Assist on other project areas within the organisation at the discretion and on request of the Operations or Foundation Manager.
To ensure the highest standards are achieved and maintained across all aspects of the programme, and suitable quality assurance procedures are in place and adhered to.
To at all times represent YCFC and YCFCF in a professional manner regarding to uniform, presentation, personal hygiene, attitude, conduct and professionalism.
To be able to work flexible and unsociable hours where the role of the job requires including evenings, weekends and home match days.
To set a positive example and support Trustees and Management strategic aims for the Foundation team, and to act as an Ambassador for the club and Foundation at all times.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
1. Qualifications
Essential
FA Level 1 Coaching Football Award
In date safeguarding certificate (or willingness to update prior to start)
In date first aid certificate (or willingness to update prior to start)
Current FA Coaching licence
Full UK Driving Licence
Car owner and willingness to use for work.
Desirable
FA Level 2 or UEFA C Licence Coaching Football Award
Introduction to Coaching Disabled Football
Mental Health Qualification- First Aid or generic
2. Experience
Essential
Experience of coaching/working with young people, including an understanding of the issues faced by young people including young, female or disabled footballers.
Experience of promoting and recruiting targeted participants onto activities.
Activity planning and session management.
Proven planning and organisational skills.
Examples of self-motivation and the ability to work on own initiative.
Excellent communication skills : written/ telephone/interpersonal skills.
Experience of health and safety, welfare, safeguarding policies & procedures.
Attitude to always strive to overachieve and continuously develop the programmes and organisation, and excellent attention to detail.
Commitment to undergo regular CPD to maintain current standards for delivering on funded programmes.
Competent with the use of IT and IT based systems.
Confident and outgoing personality used to motivate participants, parents/teachers, partners/sponsors and coaching team.
Desirable
Working within a professional football club environment.
Knowledge of York and its surrounding areas.
Full understanding of the Salesforce system.
A proven track record of successful project implementation & administration.
Knowledge of the FA programmes & its strategic aims.
Practical experience of managing information operating systems including monitoring, evaluation and quality assurance frameworks.
Experience of social network mechanisms and promotion of activity through partnership working
The document is a guide only and should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing needs of the organisation.
Due to the nature of the role, the position holder will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and update this regularly. YCFC Foundation is an equal opportunities employer