Wondering what it’s really like to join Rock UK’s Instructor Training Programme? From building lifelong friendships and growing in faith to gaining confidence and making a difference in young people’s lives, no two experiences are exactly the same.
Who better to tell you about life at Rock UK than the people who have experienced it themselves? Here’s what some of our instructors have to say.
Emma
For Emma, the programme brought together her love of the outdoors, her faith and her passion for working with young people, while giving her the chance to challenge herself and build lasting relationships.
“I’ve always wanted to work with kids, but I was never really sure how I could find a role that would fit. Combined with my love of the outdoors and a passion for working with children, I did feel that it was part of God’s plan for me to find my way to Rock UK. It was an intense three months of getting to know people, getting over your fears and stretching muscles that I didn’t know I had, but the bond it created between our group was really special. It’s really amazing when you can see the impact that you’ve had on a group or an individual. For anyone looking to join the ITP, I would say, just go for it. If you have passion for the outdoors and to work with children and want excitement and adventure then this is for you.” – Emma
Ben
For Ben, it’s the supportive people around you that make the Rock UK experience so special.
“There’s just a load of great people who know how to do their jobs really well and, first and foremost, care about you which is more important than all that.” – Ben
Hannah
Hannah highlights the opportunity to grow in faith, make great friends and challenge yourself along the way.
“A great opportunity to grow closer to God, have a really good adventure with your friends and step out of your comfort zone quite a bit.” – Hannah
Sarah
What started as a gap year for Sarah became a career she loves, giving her the opportunity to help others build their confidence while spending her days outdoors.
“I was in between college and university and thought that it looked like fun. What I thought would be a gap year has become a career that I love. I love being able to give people their independence whether that’s a visitor to our centre or one of our instructors. I believe in encouraging people to figure things out for themselves so that they can build their confidence. The work that we do at the centre builds us both physically and spiritually. I love that we get to play outdoors and call it work! If you have a love for the outdoors, a love for Jesus and a passion for working with young people then give it a go.” – Sarah
Courtney
For Courtney, one of the most rewarding parts of being an instructor is seeing young people overcome their fears and achieve something they didn’t think they could.
“It’s the best experience you’ll ever do. My favourite activity to instruct is abseiling, because you get to see the kids conquer their fears, it’s most rewarding. I had someone who was absolutely petrified and wasn’t really able to get the harness on and then by the end of the session she was abseiling from the 9m high abseil.” – Courtney
Lewis
Lewis joined without much previous experience of outdoor activities or living away from home and found an opportunity to grow in his faith, meet new people and make a difference.
“I’d not really had the opportunity to take part in many outdoor activities before, or move away from home, so this was a whole new experience for me. The best thing is, it has given me the opportunity to explore my faith and grow. The team always works closely together and it’s like working with my family. This is a life changing opportunity. You get to meet new people and make a difference in their lives. Creating one little memory can make a difference.” – Lewis
Could You Be Our Next Instructor?
Their experiences may be different, but there’s plenty they have in common: adventure, friendship, faith, personal growth and the opportunity to make a real difference in young people’s lives. Rock UK’s one or two-year Instructor Training Programme could give you the chance to experience it for yourself.
If you have a love of the outdoors, a relationship with God that you want to grow and a heart to see young people’s lives transformed, we’d love to hear from you.
Ready for your next adventure? Find out more about Rock UK’s Instructor Training Programme and apply today.