Gardening Group Support Volunteer ( Epsom )

Mary Frances Trust is a Surrey-based charity supporting people with mental health and emotional wellbeing. We offer a variety of services to adults (16+) including wellbeing courses and advice, a range of activities and interest groups, peer support, self-help groups, individual support and volunteering opportunities. We engage volunteers from a variety of backgrounds to help us by assisting the staff team to deliver our work to clients that seek our support, across Mole Valley, Epsom & Ewell, Banstead and Elmbridge.

How you can help

Working closely with our member of staff / tutor, this role will complement and support the service delivery of our weekly Gardening Group in Epsom.  Based at our local community facility, this will be a rewarding role for someone seeking a regular opportunity once a week or fortnightly.  As part of our Green Social Prescribing project, we support clients with their emotional and mental wellbeing encouraging greater connection with nature to support better mental health, through creating a sensory garden, a wildflower meadow, planting flowers and vegetables and encouraging wildlife by clearing the pond, building a bug house and making bird feeders.

This role will suit either someone experienced or simply interested in gardening, with good people skills, common sense and the ability to get alongside others, showing and guiding them where necessary.  We seek someone looking for a more medium to long term involvement.  The volunteer role also includes a small amount of time either side of the gardening session to set up and pack away materials and debrief if necessary. Some clients may have communication and confidence difficulties due to a number of health-related issues.

What we ask of you

• Support the tutor / facilitator to deliver the planned activity each week 

(e.g. seeding, sowing, planting, pruning, clearing etc)

• Help set up, pack away any equipment and refreshments

• Provide individual practical support to attendees

• Support and assist the staff / tutor with any difficulty that may arise

• Respect the need for personal & professional boundaries with clients

• Report any safeguarding concerns to staff in a timely manner to ensure clients are able to access the support they need (safeguarding training will be provided)

What skills do I need?

Qualities that make a successful Gardening Support Volunteer

- Open to working with a mixed group and willing to ‘have a go’

- Ability to teach / show others

- Good interpersonal skills, reliable, friendly, flexible

- Confident, positive, patient, empathetic, compassionate

- Ability to ask for help (if you don’t understand)

- Ability to work as part of a small team

- Passionate about supporting other people