Shannon Priest

I have worked for 2 years entertaining children aged 4 to 14 through diverse activities at Big A holiday club. Here we:

• Facilitated skill development and friendship building through engaging experiences. Organised sports, dance parties, and arts and crafts sessions. Coordinated board games and role-play opportunities to foster creativity.
• Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
• Worked flexible hours, covering weekdays, weekends and bank holidays.
• Facilitated social interactions to develop communication skills in children.
• Followed parental guidelines regarding bedtime routine to ensure restful sleep for the child.
• Administered first-aid when necessary, maintaining child health and wellbeing.
• Used creative storytelling techniques to foster imagination in children.
• Cleaned and organised play areas to ensure a clean, safe environment for children.

I have been working at the link centre for just over 3 and a half years now, and throughout my time I have gained a lot of experience and skills such as:

• Ensured safety and enjoyment for all customers as a full-time lifeguard.
• Maintained cleanliness to promote a comfortable, healthy environment.
• Monitored fitness areas to uphold order and safety standards.
• Facilitated indoor and outdoor recreation programmes, enhancing user engagement.
• Provided exceptional customer service by greeting guests and addressing inquiries.
• Trained as an extreme assistant at Trampoline Park, ice assistant at Ice Rink, and CSA at front of house.
• Supported birthday parties and managed Soft Play activities to enrich leisure offerings.

I worked over the summer in a camp in America called Summit Camp. This camp specialised in working with special needs children and young adults ages 8 to 25. Here I:

• Prepared detailed reports on incidents, aiding in future prevention measures.
• trained in the American Red Cross to save lives during emergencies.
• Taught swimming lessons to improve participants' abilities.
• Inspected safety equipment regularly, ensuring readiness at all times.
• Coordinated with other lifeguards for efficient work flow during peak hours.
• Conducted regular pool inspections to ensure hygiene standards.
• Carried out daily operational checks of equipment for optimal performance.
• Undertook regular professional development training to stay updated on lifesaving techniques.
• Worked collaboratively with other councillors for policy formulation.

In addition, we spent 2 weeks of orientation before the kids arrived, then 10 weeks working with the children 24/7.