Do you have green fingers? Would you like to use your gardening skills to help others? We have a beautiful garden site based at Springfield Hospital in Tooting where we provide horticulture training for disabled people and those facing health-related barriers to employment. This helps them move towards personal goals, opening up career opportunities and building confidence and self esteem.
About Share
Share is a registered charity and a centre for training and wellbeing. We provide a range of programmes and activities helping adults with learning disabilities, autism and other support needs live happier, healthier, and more independent lives. Our vision is a world where disabled people are fully included in society, living the life they choose, and we need the support of amazing volunteers like you to help us make that happen.
About the role
You don’t need advanced gardening skills, you just need to be passionate about greenery and keen to support people with learning disabilities. You'll support on site at our garden, assisting with garden maintenance as well as the educational, personal, and social development of our students. We’ve got lots of exciting new projects on the go, so now is a great time to join in the fun.
Commitment
We’re looking for people who are happy to support for one day per week, from 10am – 4pm, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. We’re also happy to hear from people who can offer half-days, or fortnightly volunteering. We hope that, in order to give our students stability, volunteers can commit to the role for three months.
Who we're looking for
Our ideal volunteer will:
- Have basic gardening skills
- Be able to work as part of a team and use initiative
- Have good communication skills
- Be able to follow instructions and support others to thrive
If you have any experience of teaching that would be a bonus, but it isn't essential.
What do our current Horticulture Volunteers say?
‘Coming to the Garden is the highlight of my week.’
Why choose Share Community?
In 2023, Share was awarded the Investing in Volunteers quality standard for good practice in volunteer management. We were praised for our inclusive, welcoming, and flexible approach.
Previously, we also received a Best Practice in Volunteering Award from Lifetimes, an organisation that supports voluntary and community activity in Wandsworth. They were impressed by the support, training, recognition and reward that we give to our volunteers.
In return for you giving up your time for us, you can expect:
- A warm welcome into our organisation from our dedicated volunteering team.
- A full-day training for all new volunteers to give you confidence in your role.
- Ongoing support, and ‘top-up’ training from staff including topics like: Mental Health First Aid, Safeguarding, and Makaton.
- An opportunity to develop new skills and add to your CV.
- A reference for your time with us.
- Reimbursement of travel expenses within TFL zone 1 – 6.
- £5 towards lunch, or a free lunch in our onsite canteen at our Clapham Junction site (if volunteering for more than four hours a day).
- Invitations to all our events such as: our garden parties, away days, Christmas parties and our student awards ceremony.
- The opportunity to have your say in our annual volunteer survey.
- A genuine opportunity to make a difference and become part of a community.
Please note that all volunteers are required to provide professional references and undergo an Enhanced DBS check.
If you'd like to have a chat about the role, if you have any questions or if you would like any help with the application, please contact us via email volunteering@sharecommunity.org.uk or telephone 020 7924 2949.
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