Sessional Centre Assistant

Job Description

Sessional Centre Assistant
£15.24 per hour
Part-Time 15 hours per week

Fairplay Outdoor Education Centre is owned and operated by the London Borough of Newham and provides a wide range of outdoor learning experiences for schools, businesses, youth groups and community organisations. Set within 12 acres of beautiful natural parkland in Wickham Bishops, Fairplay offers tailored residential and day programmes that inspire confidence, resilience and personal development. The Centre provides exclusive-use residential accommodation for up to 85 pupils and 7 accompanying staff.

We are looking to recruit a reliable and enthusiastic Sessional Centre Assistant. The successful applicant will initially work approximately 15 hours per week to provide cover for a long-term sickness absence. Following this period, we would like to retain the successful applicant on a sessional basis to provide domestic and catering cover during busy periods and when staff absences occur.

The successful applicant will support the day-to-day operation of the Centre by providing domestic and/or catering assistance during busy periods and to cover staff absences. Duties include:

• Heating and serving meals to residential and day groups. 
• General cleaning of residential and communal areas.  
• Laundry and housekeeping duties. 
• Supporting the team in maintaining a clean, welcoming and safe environment for all visitors. 

This opportunity would suit someone who enjoys working as part of a team and takes pride in providing a high standard of customer service. Your contribution will help ensure every group enjoys a positive, safe and memorable experience during their stay at Fairplay.

Applicants must be available to work flexibly, including occasional weekends, as required.

We welcome visits to the Centre and would be delighted to show you what Fairplay has to offer. If you would like to arrange a tour, please contact [email removed] or call [phone removed].

Please view JD here

closing date: 16th August 2026

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive, anti-racist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values, and you bring the experience and skills we need, that’s all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement, explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.

About us

The London Borough of Newham is located only 5 miles east of London. It is well positioned with access to all major networks in London and the south east.  It is well connected  by public transport with, bus, tube and DLR. When the Crossrail service opens it will call at Custom House close to our council offices and also Stratford station and from there to central London. The London City Airport which serves major European cities is located at Royal Albert Dock. Newham has the youngest overall population in the country. It was one of the six host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics and contains most of the Olympic Park including the London Stadium. It has a thriving arts quarter with the Theatre Royal Stratford East offering excellent entertainment for all the family. There is the University of East London which has two campuses in Newham, one in Stratford and another next to the regenerated Royal Albert Dock. It also has a large Westfield shopping Centre in Stratford which has all the major retailers there.