Community Garden and Support Volunteer

Love gardening? This is a chance for you to help others share your passion whilst providing them with support, and helping them to improve their mental health, outdoors in a calm space.

About this opportunity from Trust Links

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:

To facilitate gardening sessions while empowering our members (service users) as they help to shape and grow produce and plants, in the community garden. An interest in mental health and having good listening and communication skills is needed for this role.

A willingness to learn, or knowledge of gardening and horticulture skills, is needed.

Mental health staff and our project workers are always on hand at each shift.

Please note that this is a support role, you will be directly supporting people who are living with ill mental health. We have great structure and support for volunteers who

wish to engage in this role.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE:

·       To provide support and direction to members ( service users)  as required, feeding back to staff relevant information relating to issues, concerns and successes with members

·       To volunteer closely with and report to the Growing Together Team

on allocated days

·       To support members in horticultural activities

·       To provide horticultural knowledge as required

·       To take part in appropriate training and development activities

·       To notify the team if you are unable to attend your regular session

·       Ensure Health and Safety regulations are adhered to in line with Trust Links Health and Safety policy

·       Ensure Safeguarding requirements are met in line with Trust Links Safeguarding policy and escalate concerns about the wellbeing of service users to appropriate staff members

·       Maintain confidentiality

·       Raise any issues affecting members with appropriate staff member

·       Feedback to staff relevant information relating to members’ progress and independence

Skills

  • ·     Basic knowledge of gardening·     Excellent communication and people skills

    ·     Empathy and listening skills

    ·     Commitment to self-development

    ·     Willingness and commitment to undertake further training and development

    ·     Commitment to the role

    ·     Responsiveness

    ·     Realism

    ·     Honesty

    ·     Enthusiasm

    ·     Team Work

Activity Types

Gardening | Practical Skills | Supporting charities | Supporting people and befriending

Interests

Disability | Environment | Mental Health | Substance misuse and Addiction | Wildlife and Animals

Commitment

During office hours. We have a number of different gardens around Essex. Westcliff: Monday through to Thursday Shoeburyness: Tuesday, Thursday Thundersley/Rochford/Cressing: Friday Shift pattern is either: 9:30 AM-12:30PM 12:30PM-3:30PM Or 9:30AM -3:30PM full day.

Find out more

For more information about Trust Links and this role, visit them online.

To apply for this role, visit the Volunteer Essex website to register your interest.

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