Gardener We are not looking for experts!

We are a small charity based in South London who has a Adventure/Canoeing base on the river Wey between Weybridge/New Haw, Surrey.

The Wey Island Trust was established as a charity in 1970 by three youth centres based in South London.

Wey Island is a secluded riverside site near Weybridge Surrey, providing a range of activities ,including canoeing and mountain bikes.

Our aim is to provide a countryside base where youth and school groups can help and educate young people through leisure activities to develop their physical, mental and spiritual capacities that they may grow to full maturity. Many inner city young people need the opportunity to work with effective role models whilst experiencing new challenges away from what can be a negative home/community/school environment.

Over time we have gradually developed the site to include the capability for overnight stays, a training lagoon , a club room and other resources.

Currently, the trust is managed by four youth service partners providing school based work , work with refugee children , detached estate work and traditional centre based youth work.

For us, Wey Island adds a wonderful and unique additional resource to enhance the quality, range, and impact of our work.

To help us with the upkeep of our residential site we are looking for one or two volunteers to look after our flower beds and planters and the general upkeep of the site.

What skills do I need?

Volunteer Role Description:

Gardener

We are not looking for experts!

We are seeking a somebody (or a couple/small group of friends) who can spare some time and commitment to support us in this way

Your role as volunteer(s) would be to manage and maintain our modest flower beds, feature trees and (hopefully) growing number of bedding planters.

NB. Maintenance of our overall site, the grass, riverbank and five a side football pitch will remain the responsibility of our part time site manager.

The core elements of this role are to attend the island site to:

· Maintain our modest flower beds (2)

· Working with the Island Managers, offer help and advice with regards to any new tree purchases and their pruning etc.

·

Provide seasonal bedding for our planters and possibly add more as manageable/appropriate (annual budget provided)

· Attending biannual island ‘workdays’ with the trust’s volunteer group and trustees to help prepare/close the site before and after the open season.

·

Develop and maintain a Centre composting facility

Hours Required / Time Commitment:

As a rough guide The Wey Island Trust would expect somebody fulfilling this role to be able to dedicate 8-12 hours a month between April and October each year.

It is requested that people considering the role think in terms of a minimum two-year commitment to ensure getting to fully know and develop the role as well as offering continuity and time for succession planning.

These hours are a guide and volunteers are obviously free to contribute additional hours as they see fit.

The island open season is from Mid-April to the end of September with designated volunteer days to help prepare and close the site.

Relevant tools and a bespoke lockable tool store is available.

Please note this is a voluntary position. Reasonable expenses will be reimbursed for travel costs – please note that the island is located in a remote location but has plenty of car parking space. An annual budget is provided for purchase of bedding plants/composts/planters/replacement tools etc.

Areas of Interest:

Gardening, outdoor volunteering, Children's’ Youth Work, delivering projects.

NB. The Wey Island is a Christian foundation, which delivers a completely inclusive and open service to all the whole community.

Volunteers who support the Trust are not required to be of any faith or belief but would be asked to be sympathetic and supportive of its ethos/approach.

Skills & Qualifications:

Able to communicate online/text

Basic knowledge of gardening