What does a YAC Assistant do?

YAC Assistants work within a team of people providing regular archaeology activities for 8-16 year olds.

What tasks and activities does this involve?

  • Working with the YAC Leader and other Assistants to support and supervise 8-16 year old YAC members during activity sessions.
  • Following current Young Archaeologists’ Club policies and procedures.
  • Helping the Leader with administration and finances.
  • Helping the Leader to design and deliver an inclusive and accessible programme that meets the needs and aspirations of YAC members.
  • Helping the Leader to ensure the health, safety and welfare of everyone in the club.
  • Helping the Leader to ensure that branch sessions are run within the terms of YAC’s insurance.
  • Other specific duties agreed with the Leader and with their support and supervision; this could be, for example, looking after financial accounts, or undertaking risk assessments.

What will you gain by being a YAC Assistant?

Being a YAC Assistant can be great fun, and can get you closer to some brilliant local archaeology. You’ll have the chance to get better at:

  • managing groups of young people
  • working in a team
  • communicating with people of all ages and abilities
  • planning and delivering safe, exciting learning experiences and to develop your understanding of:
  • learning styles and abilities
  • health and safety
  • child protection, and
  • (last but not least) archaeology!

What are the requirements for becoming a YAC Assistant?

YAC branch assistants must be at least 16 years old. YAC Assistants come from a wide range of backgrounds and have many and varied skills, including:

  • Enthusiasm for working with young people, and the ability to be a good role model.
  • Enthusiasm for archaeology.
  • The ability to work in a team.
  • The ability to follow the instructions and guidance of the YAC Leader.

YAC Assistants must agree to undergo a criminal record check. The criminal record checking process differs slightly for each country of the UK. When the CBA receives your application, we will send out the appropriate paperwork to you, which you will need to complete with your local Leader. Our DBS checks in England and Wales are completed online using an umbrella body called Mayflower. If you are a member of the Disclosure and Barring Service’s Update Scheme (England and Wales only) then we will ask for your permission to request an update.

If you will be volunteering at a YAC branch in Scotland you will need to complete a PVG check with Disclosure Scotland. If you are already a PVG member you will still need to complete a new check for your role as a YAC volunteer. If you will be volunteering at a YAC branch in Northern Ireland you will need to complete an AccessNI check through Certn.