As a Support Volunteer, you will be supporting our Horticultural Therapists, to work alongside people with mental health issues (our gardeners).

You will be assisting our gardeners with tasks which can range from helping our gardeners dig over their plots, weeding, planting bulbs, flowers or cuttings and veg growing, plus other gardening tasks that help our gardeners achieve their goal.

The main criteria for this role is that you enjoy being with people, that you share our values which include:

• Everyone is valued equally as an individual.
• A focus on ability not disability.
• Honesty and openness in conduct & behaviour.
• Continuity of services throughout the year.
• Emphasis on collaborative & team based working practices.
• Low impact on the local landscape & environment in our work.

Support Volunteer Requirements:

Can you spare just 3 hours a week to help a person in need?

Support Volunteering sessions takes place on:

Mondays and Tuesdays: 9.30am – 12.30pm AND 1.00pm – 4.00pm

• You don't have to have a huge amount of gardening skills, but you do need to have an interest and to enjoy being outdoors, even if it's cold and damp!
  
  
• You'll need to demonstrate empathy, have good listening skills, be reliable and prepared to get involved with general tasks, including clearing up after sessions and making tea.
  
  
• As a Support Volunteer you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are helping to make a positive difference to people's lives.
  
  
• Plus – this will also benefit you too, as physical activities involving gardening are beneficial for your health. You will get to know a diverse group of people with a shared interest in gardening. As well as this, you are likely to develop your own skills and perhaps share some of your own with the group.
  
  
• Many of the skills you will demonstrate and learn - teamwork, reliability, communication and practical skills, for example, are useful if you are looking for work or want to make progress in your current employment.

Equipment Required:

Ideally you will have your own pair of gardening gloves that you are comfortable in, though we can provide these if you don’t.

You'll also need sturdy footwear (ideally safety boots) and appropriate clothes for working in whatever the weather. We provide all other equipment and tools.

How to Apply

Applying is easy, simply contact us to arrange an informal interview.

Growing People will provide you with an induction programme, a volunteer’s handbook and training. You will also be supported by the Horticultural Therapist who runs your session, as well as the team you are a part of. If you need support yourself to carry out the role, we will discuss this with you and consider how this can be offered.

If you would like more information or would like to join our Support Volunteering sessions, please contact us:

By Phone: 07794 347283 or
Email us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

"When I was approaching retirement, I started looking for local opportunities to meet people, learn new skills and hopefully do something positive. I happened to go to a gardening related event in Letchworth and got chatting with a lady from Growing People. I read the leaflet she gave me, and this charity seemed to meet a couple of items on my wish list. I asked if they needed volunteers, and when I heard that they did I decided to get in touch when I had finished working.

This was in 2018, and I started volunteering in the summer. I was not confident of being any help, so to begin with I remained with the group who were doing general maintenance tasks while I learned about the site and the charity. I did general weeding, cutting back, planting, tidying and digging. Also I helped with raising and nurturing the herb plants that we sell to the public on site or at local events.

Later that year I was offered the chance of training for a Gardener support role, and I began volunteering during one of the Therapy sessions. Here the focus is on the Gardeners we work with. We support their therapeutic goals by helping them to develop their plots; sowing seeds with them and helping them grow their chosen flowers or vegetables to pick or harvest later in the season. We also get to know them and encourage communication and teamwork and sharing plants and harvests. It's great to see how these activities help the Gardeners to gain in confidence.

When asked what I get from my volunteering at Growing People I always feel a little selfish as it’s not about me, but in truth I get a vast amount of satisfaction from my time here. I am out in the fresh air come rain or shine, in a wonderfully wild and green space. I get the chance to meet and socialise with other volunteers, the Gardeners and the Horticultural Therapists. I have made good, lasting friendships, and laughed a lot!

Oh, and I do some gardening along the way too."

We appreciate everything our volunteers do – their skills and experience are invaluable to us and without them we couldn’t provide Social and Horticulture therapy to our gardeners.

No experience is required for these sessions, reliability and having a positive, problem-solving attitude are more important to us than gardening knowledge.

We provide therapy sessions all the year round, unless the weather is really bad.

If you feel you can spare some time helping another person or help maintain our site – then please contact us:

By Phone: 07794 347283  or
Email us:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.