Garden Support Volunteer

The Patchworking Garden Project is a volunteer run charity supporting volunteers with a wide variety of physical and mental health needs through gardening, crafting and friendship. We have a strong identity within the local community and are known for increasing the wellbeing of those we support by valuing everyone’s contribution unreservedly, enhancing self-confidence and encouraging, where appropriate, progression to other activities.

As a Garden support volunteer Principle Responsibilities would be:

To provide all the necessary support to run a session in the Garden safely and in a supportive manner. Operating as part of a team of approximately eight volunteers you will have responsibility for understanding the needs of our supported volunteers such that they can enjoy their time at the Garden in a safe space, where they are not judged, but are appreciated for who they are and for their contribution, however small it may seem. 

Activities, Duties and Key Tasks

• Understand our ethos of ‘be kind, be gentle, be non-judgemental’ and know how to live it in the Garden
• Be part of a regular weekly session for approximately four hours:
  • • Assist in opening or closing The Garden (e.g., unlocking/locking all sheds, getting out/putting away tasks and crafts, cleaning shared spaces)
    • Prep for session, briefing to discuss tasks and who will work with who
    • Welcome and register our supported volunteers
    • Make refreshments, serve cake
    • Assist in the safe running of the session, focusing on people not tasks
    • Close session, tidy and clean up, debrief to discuss how the session went and share experiences and learning
• Attend an induction and any training organised by the Garden (minimum of four training sessions per year)
• Provide productive feedback, suggest improvements to systems and processes where applicable
• Work pro-actively and in collaboration with all volunteers and trustees, undertaking a flexible approach to ensure The Patchworking Garden’s needs are met.

What skills do I need?

Desirable skills for this role include:

• An understanding of compassion and empathy                                                                                   
• An understanding of boundaries, particularly confidentiality                                                         
• Excellent listening skills                                                                                                                        
• Excellent communication skills                                                                                                              
• Proactive and can-do attitude                                                                                                                
• Desire to learn and improve understanding of others                                                                
• Access and use of computer/smart phone for communication purposes                                  
• Flexibility to contribute in a small charity environment                                                                   
• Good Leadership skills
• Access to an email account for communications