Garden Volunteer (Kensington & Chelsea)
ABOUT US
Central and North West London (CNWL) Trust has almost 9,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond.
The Vincent Square Eating Disorder Service is based in Kensington (London) and offers a range of specialist services for women and men aged 18 years and over suffering from anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and other eating disorders. The inpatients’ ward provides a range of treatments to 14 inpatients at any one time delivered by a multidisciplinary team, consisting of psychiatrists, nurses, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and cognitive analytic therapy (CAT) therapists, occupational therapists, dietetics, physiotherapy and a family therapist.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are looking for a person who is an experienced gardener or has a special interest in gardening and would be willing to give a few hours a month to support and guide staff and service users to support with the maintenance of the small garden area within the service. The garden is now underdevelopment as a therapeutic and mindful place, and the volunteer can be involved in its' creation if that is of interest.
We will greatly appreciate someone who is creative in their thinking and is able to see a vision to make Vincent square’s garden area a nice and aesthetically pleasing place for staff, service users and carers to be able to sit and relax in.
COMMITMENT AND LOCATION
The role is flexible between Monday - Friday, between the hours of 9am - 5pm, however a minimum monthly commitment of 1-2 hours is required twice a month (dependent on weather and season)
Location: Vincent square Eating disorder Service, 1 Nightingale Pl, London SW10 9NG
KEY TASKS
- Lead and support with the general upkeep of the garden area
- Lead and support staff, mainly Occupational Therapists and Activities Coordinator and service users to plant and nurture seedlings and plants
- Work with hand tools and support staff 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 some guidance on garden maintenance
- Dispose garden waste appropriately in the designated areas
- To bring any construction/ maintenance issues to the attention of their 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
- Experience and/or interest in supporting people with mental health
- Creative and able to communicate the benefits of gardening to others
- Be able to educate on the basics of gardening (i.e. when to plant seeds, how to look after particular plants & flowers, etc.)
- 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
- Local induction and orientation
- Full support and a range of training
- A reference for future volunteering or employment, following completion of at least 60 hours of volunteering.
- Following our expenses policy, reimbursement of agreed expenses