The Post: Senior Recreation Assistant, GLL
The Post Holder: Diarmuid McFall Jackson
A training programme with the Leisure Employment Academy helped Diarmuid McFall Jackson to secure a full-time role in the industry.
Give a brief outline of your career to date
I began working for GLL as a lifeguard in March 2020. Originally based in Andersonstown, I was trained in a Senior Recreation Assistant (SRA) role before successfully moving to a key-holding SRA position in Whiterock Leisure Centre. Working in Whiterock, I was given experience and training in a management role, and recently I have been interviewed for a Leisure Centre Supervisor (LCS) job within GLL.
What was your favourite subject at school?
History or IT.
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so, what did you study and where?
After school I attended Workforce, a training service in Belfast, and studied mechanics.
How did you get into your area of work?
After leaving my role as a mechanic, I found myself bouncing between jobs. A relative then suggested I apply for the Leisure Employment Academy with GLL. This is a training programme that includes a guaranteed interview for GLL, and I ended up securing my first position at Andersonstown.
Is that what you always wanted to do?
While I didn’t study leisure, I have always been quite active and loved sports and living a healthy lifestyle since I was a child. Working in an industry that matches my interests suits me well.
Were there any essential qualifications or experience needed?
I joined the Leisure Employment Academy without any specific qualifications, and on the course I received my National Pool Lifeguard Qualification and also qualifications in First Aid and AED use.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
I believe there are some secondary schools and universities that make NPLQ courses available for people seeking employment in the Leisure industry, but the Leisure Employment Academy is to encourage career development for people who live in Belfast and are recently unemployed or working under 16 hours a week.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
A range of personal skills are required to work in a leisure centre, including friendliness, enthusiasm to work and helpfulness. Good time-keeping is also important, but most of all vigilance when working poolside.
What does a typical day entail?
An SRA job includes the roles of a normal attendant, for example cleaning and doing pool duties, but also the responsibility of daily pool tests and health and safety checks. As a key-holder, I’m also often responsible for opening and locking the building, completing end of shift reports and various tests around the building such as fire alarms.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
Personally, I found moving from a leisure centre where I had established relationships with people into a completely different centre and new job role scary to begin with. It felt like a big step into the unknown. That being said, I love working in Whiterock and I get on well with all the new people I have met.
Why is what you do important?
I am supporting the local community and helping to ensure they have a place to go where they can keep fit and healthy but also to socialise and meet other people. This is especially important for the older members of the community who seem to relish the social aspect of leisure.
How has Covid-19 impacted your business/role?
After beginning my role in March 2020, I was just getting settled when Covid-19 meant the closure of gyms and leisure centres. This was disappointing but I was grateful to keep my role, despite only being there a few weeks, and was lucky to be paid my full salary right through the pandemic. It was a lonely and stressful time after working so hard to achieve my position, however GLL provided us with regular updates regarding the business and hosted online social events, meaning I could continue getting to know my new colleagues safely from home. This was my first professional role and I felt very unsure of what would happen, but I am glad to have returned to work full-time and continued my progression with the company.
What adjustments have you had to make?
The pandemic completely changed the way gyms and leisure centres operated. After over one year of closures and reopening of different parts of the centres, we returned to work fully but with additional responsibilities for protecting customer safely. As a key-holder with health and safety responsibilities, I took on duties in making sure one-way systems and capacity restrictions were met, completing Covid compliance checks and regular cleaning and pool duties. Despite these changes, I was still supported to complete the professional development aspects of my role including my lifeguard and First Aid training and I was glad not to lose these opportunities. Moving across to Whiterock came with extra changes as the building and Covid procedures were slightly different, but management were more than happy to provide full training when I moved.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
If you are ever offered an opportunity to do additional training or go on training courses, jump at it. It will never do you any harm to be more skilled.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you like to do?
Outside of work I am involved in GAA coaching and I would have loved to coach GAA in schools.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
Don’t worry about your future so much – there isn’t as much pressure on you as you think.
Describe your ideal day off.
I love to spend time at home unwinding, otherwise I would be out on the weekend with my club, Laochra Loch Lao at a match.
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