Horticultural Assistant - part-time, 21 hrs p/w

This vacancy is being advertised on behalf of Jealott's Hill Community Landshare

Our Project:

Jealott’s Hill Community Landshare is a successful and well-established, award-winning community project based in Warfield, Bracknell Forest, our focus is on peoples’ wellbeing, gardening and the outdoor environment.

We are brilliantly supported by a dedicated and passionate team of volunteers who, led by our Landshare Manager, utilise their gardening and other practical creative skills to plant and maintain our 6-acre site. Sharing their knowledge, they grow vegetables, fruit and flowers, tend our large orchard, help run events and grow plants to sell, alongside creating items for our pop-up shop.

Working together we provide support and empowerment for a diverse group of members from the community in East Berkshire including those with autism, learning and physical disabilities and those seeking to improve their mental and physical health by connecting with nature. Our beneficiaries include individuals in addiction recovery, with dementia, and offenders on community service. Our volunteers and beneficiaries come to us for many reasons including loneliness and isolation and find that by working and sharing together community engagement is enhanced, gardening and other skills learnt and lives transformed.

We are now ready to develop the project further to provide a range of services to a wider group including commissioned services, children’s activities and corporate working parties.

Further information about the work and aims of JHCL CIC see: www.jealottshilllandshare.org.uk

The Role:

• Reporting to the Landshare Manager and working with our volunteers you will create, manage and execute the annual horticultural plan for the Landshare.
• You will take the lead on enhancing the mental and social wellbeing of all our volunteers, members and visitors by providing purposeful and fulfilling visits and tasks for them.
• You will provide advice, support and practical assistance with all aspects of the Community Landshare operation, including standing in for the Landshare Manager and undertaking some administrative tasks.

This role reports to the Landshare Manager. It is a fantastic opportunity for a confident, experienced gardener with an interest in both gardens and wellbeing; a passion for people as well as plants. This is a hands-on physical role with an inclusive, ‘all hands in‘, team-based approach.

Main Duties:

• Collaborate with the volunteers to plan and manage the annual horticultural plan for the site, facilitating the growing of fruit and vegetables, flowers and plants, including purchasing seeds, plugs, bulbs etc. within a given budget.
• Plan and help deliver structured therapeutic horticultural and other creative practical activities including social and task-based development skills, to clients attending the Landshare, recognising their individual skills and abilities.
• Plan, organise, create and evaluate an engaging programme of varied activities for groups attending the Landshare, helping individuals develop personally and socially, gain confidence, independence and a sense of wellbeing.
• With the Landshare Manager liaise with external statutory and voluntary services to provide appropriate person-centred services for their clients.
• Monitor individuals’ achievements, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of horticultural therapy and other activities.
• Support the implementation of planned activities, whilst also guiding and supporting those volunteers working alongside you.
• Offer appropriate support, guidance and advice with everyday challenges encountered referring situations where more / external support may be needed.
• Take responsibility for maintenance of the Landshare tools and equipment.
• Assist with the planning and operation of larger events targeted at the wider local community.
• Provide administrative support on an ad-hoc basis.
• Cover for the Landshare Manager in their absence.

Preferred Person Specification: 

It is hoped that candidates will be able to demonstrate some skill and ability in the majority of these areas, which may have been gained in a voluntary or work capacity.

• Strong interest in and aptitude for horticulture, e.g. a background in a horticultural discipline or significant voluntary / work experience in horticultural / gardening activities.
• A formal qualification in a horticultural discipline such as RHS or City and Guilds is preferable.
• Experience of working with / teaching vulnerable people, and/or a qualification in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH) would be a distinct advantage in this regard.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills as the role requires you to multi-task effectively.
• Ability to motivate and encourage others.
• Patience, understanding, empathy and the ability to work with a wide range of people in a collaborative way. The ability to treat everyone with respect and maintain confidentiality.
• Creativity and the ability to ‘think outside the box’.
• Comfortable with working out of doors in all weathers.
• IT literate, able to use email, Excel and maintain social media channels.
• Common sense, pragmatism and a willingness to use your initiative and work independently.
• Be willing to undertake an enhanced disclosure check.

Terms and Conditions:

• Part-time, 21 hours per week.
• Flexible hours to meet the project’s requirements but including at least one Saturday per month.
• Salary - £ 13.70 per hour.
• Benefits will include 20 days annual leave and a stakeholder pension or pension contribution.
• Free on-site parking.
• PPE provided.

Interviews

Interviews will be held on Monday 17th February 2025.

If you have any questions regarding the role please contact Claire Wallen - Director on 07484 679215