Welcome to Our Volunteer Community

Role title

Volunteer Gardener  

Age requirement

This opportunity is open to volunteers aged 18+

Base

Becton Centre for Children and Young People  

Summary

As a volunteer gardener, you will help us care for the outdoor spaces at Becton Centre by weeding, planting, tidying and maintaining garden areas. Your practical support will directly contribute to creating a welcoming, calming and uplifting environment for children, young people, their families and staff.

These green spaces are most than just gardens – they are places where people can pause, breathe and find a moment of comfort. By keeping these areas inviting, you will help support the wellbeing of everyone at the site.

Key tasks

• Clear overgrown areas, managing weeds
• Assist in seasonal gardening tasks throughout the year
• Garden maintenance – including weeding, mulching, edging, raking, digging, pruning, dead heading, path maintenance, bed renovation

This is a new role that may involve occasional interaction with young people who are using the gardens for therapeutic activities or just enjoying the space.

Key skills/attributes

• Some experience of maintaining a garden or allotment
• Happy to follow instruction as necessary but willing to work independently  
• Kind and empathetic
• Punctual and reliable
• Understanding of need for confidentiality
• Commitment to uphold the Trust CARE values: Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence

Exclusions

Volunteers cannot be involved in any of the following:

• Clinical or medical treatments of any kind
• Psychological interventions
• Clinical advice
• Moving or handling of patients
• Personal care activities
• Escorting patients off hospital premises
• Lifting or handling heavy equipment
• Undertake any role outside of their volunteer role without checking with the Volunteer Services Team

Training

This volunteer role requires the following online training:

• Health, safety and welfare for volunteers
• Fire safety for volunteers
• Safeguarding for volunteers
• Preventing radicalisation: basic Prevent awareness for volunteers
• Equality, diversity and human rights for volunteers
• Infection prevention and control for volunteers

You will also be required to attend a Trust Induction and local induction with the department for any role-specific training.

Support

• We will reimburse travel expenses (within a set limit)
• A uniform will be provided for you to wear when volunteering
• We will provide access to refreshments when on shift
• You will receive regular communications from the Volunteer Services Team
• You will have a designated supervisor within the department you are volunteering

Background checks required

If successful, this role is subject to the following checks:

1. Criminal Record Check (DBS Check)

This role requires a DBS check.

2. Occupational Health Check

This check is in place to ensure you are fit to undertake the volunteer role and to identify any modifications required to assist you.

3. References

We will gather two references of character and ability to do the volunteering role from people who are not close relatives or friends. This could be an employer, another organisation you volunteer for, a teacher or tutor, amongst others.