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London, Newcastle or Manchester Flexible / Flexible

Volunteer Gardener

As a volunteer gardener at Depaul UK, you will play a crucial role in helping us to deliver volunteering opportunities to corporate partners. Our supported accommodation generally consists of shared homes where support staff work alongside young people to help them achieve independence and prevent future homelessness. Leveraging your expertise as a gardener, you will help us facilitate volunteer days for corporate partners to enhance the outdoor spaces of the young people living in our supported accommodation services.
Key responsibilities
  • Project planning – work alongside Depaul UK staff to identify gardening projects that align with the needs and priorities of our accommodation facilities. Support with the development of project plans, including timelines, material and costings lists and safety protocols.
  • Skills training – provide guidance and support to corporate volunteers, including briefing them on gardening techniques, safety procedures and project expectations. Ensure that volunteers have the necessary tools and resources to carry out their tasks effectively.
  • Supervision and support – Oversee volunteers during the gardening activities, offering assistance and guidance as needed. Ensure that projects are completed to a high standard and in accordance with Depaul UK’s quality standards.
  • Contribution and adherence – to attend all inductions and support sessions as necessary and to adhere to the term of Depaul UK’s policies. To contribute positively to the continuous development of the project/team and to observe clear professional boundaries with the young people living in Depaul UK supported accommodation services.
Qualification and training
  • Qualified or proven time served as a gardener with significant experience in the field
  • Strong organisational and project management skills, with the ability to plan effectively
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and motivate volunteers from diverse backgrounds
  • Knowledge of health and safety regulations, manual handling, working at height and COSHH certified, with a commitment to ensuring a safe working environment for volunteers
  • Flexibility and adaptability to work with different corporate groups and accommodate varying schedules and preferences.
Commitment
  • Commitment for this role is fully flexible for the volunteer, we are very grateful for what can be offered. This volunteer will work with the fundraising team to decide the best way of planning volunteering sessions. e.g volunteer to give availability every month or to give certain days when can be contacted to organise an agreed volunteering session. Please state on the application form what days and times you are able to offer and what your flexibility is. The hours are not guaranteed every week as the hours depend on what tasks are needed as they arise.
  • We ask that this volunteer has the skills and knowledge to complete jobs safely, is able to share this skill and knowledge with clients and other volunteers.
  • If you have not been active in your volunteering for 3 months we will contact you to see if you wish to continue and if you have not been active for 6 months your volunteering role will be ended. You could then re-apply for any volunteering at Depaul again going through the full volunteer recruitment process.
Benefits
  • Opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of the young people we support
  • Utilise your skills and expertise to support on meaningful volunteer projects and inspire others to give back to the community
  • Travel expenses to and from the project, travel between projects, and all genuine out-of-pocket expenses, are reimbursed.
  • While volunteering at the project, volunteers have full liability insurance cover.
  • There are appreciation events to recognise the important contribution that volunteers make
  • Forums every 12 weeks to get peer support from other volunteers and gain extra learning
  • Flexibility in the role
  • Personal & professional development through training, support and ongoing evaluation. Including potential opportunities offered to volunteers which may include core training for staff such as safeguarding etc. (these trainings can be added to your CV).
  • Depaul UK can provide a reference after 6 months active continuous volunteering

 

All applicants who are offered volunteering may be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.

We kindly request no contact from recruitment or media agencies.
Location London & South East, Manchester, North East Salary Volunteer role Hours Full Time Closing Date 31/08/2024
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