Garden Volunteer (Brent)
Central and North West London (CNWL) Trust has almost 7,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond.
The outpatient unit within Harlesden in Brent, provides health, wellbeing and recovery clinics for service users under the care of the Early Intervention and Community Mental Health Teams.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are looking for any person/s who is an experienced gardener or has a special interest in gardening and would be willing to give a few hours a week to support, advise and guide carers and service users to create and maintain a small garden area as a therapeutic and mindful place.
We are also looking for a volunteer gardener who is creative in their thinking and is able to see a vision to make Fairlight Avenue’s garden area a nice place for staff, service users and carers to be able to sit and relax in, during their visits to the unit.
The garden could benefit from a herb patch, a vegetable patch and bee friendly planters that will scent the garden and make it an aesthetically pleasing area.
COMMITMENT AND LOCATION
Flexible, however we ask for a commitment of 10 hours per week to kick-start the work, weekdays between 9am and 5pm.
Office base: 27-29 Fairlight Avenue, Harlesden, NW10 8AL
KEY TASKS
- Lead and support with the general upkeep of the garden area, such as grass cutting, managing weed control, leaf raking and fruit picking
- Lead and support carers and service users to plant and nurture seedlings, plants and vegetables
- Work with hand tools and support carers and service users to use in a safe way.
- Ensure all tools and equipment are cleaned and returned to their designated area when tasks are completed or at the end of the day
- Provide guidance on garden maintenance
- Dispose garden waste appropriately in the designated areas
- To bring any construction/ maintenance issues to the attention of your local contact
- Support with seeking and acquiring garden equipment, plants, seeds and soil donations
KEY TRAITS, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- A keen interest in gardening and nature
- Creative and able to communicate the benefits of gardening to others
- Be able to educate the basics of gardening
- Encourage and motivate others to participate in gardening activities
- Support the service to acquire gardening equipment, furniture and/ or donations to enhance the development of the garden
- Reliability: to be someone we can rely on - consistent and dependable
- Warm, empathetic, friendly, tolerant and considerate
- Adaptable and willing to learn
- A team player, being helpful, communicative, open, respectful and honest
- The ability to work independently whilst staying within the role’s boundaries
- Committed to the values and policies of the Trust, including Data Protection and Equal Opportunities
WHAT IS IN THERE FOR YOU?
- A chance to share your skills and interests in a meaningful way, making a difference to our staff, carers and service users who use this area
- Sense of fulfilment and purpose from the role, with the opportunity to also meet new people and build social network
- Learn new skills through training and hands on experience that can be added to personal CV
- Provides opportunity to pursue a career working within NHS
- Local induction and orientation
- Full support and the opportunity to gain the National Volunteer Certificate (NVC) accredited by Health Education England.
- A reference for future volunteering or employment, following completion of at least 60 hours of volunteering.
- Following our expenses policy, reimbursement of agreed expenses