Estates - Gardening Assistant Volunteer

Role: Gardening Assistant 

Location: Tadworth Court, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 5RU

Duration: Ongoing

Time commitment: Minimum 4 hours a week, flexible between 8am - 4pm, Monday - Friday 

About The Children's Trust: The Children's Trust is the UK's leading charity for children with brain injury. Come and join our team of dedicated volunteers who support us in the vital work that we do, to give children with brain injury the best life possible.

Role purpose:

Our beautiful grounds have historic rose beds, herbaceous borders, nature trail and ancient trees. Caring for our grounds and keeping them blooming throughout the year is a great privilege. Assisting the Gardening team to care for the gardens, lawns and rose beds volunteers will be providing much needed support with the upkeep and development of our house gardens, which are used and enjoyed by our Young People and families.

What will the role involve?

  • The role is hands on, and so you’ll need to be passionate and enthused about gardening and embrace a varied role.
  • You'll be assisting with developing and enhancing the grounds using a range of Horticultural skills including mowing, strimming, weeding, planting, and watering.

What skills and experience will you need?

  • Experience of working on your own initiative and as part of a team.
  • Adaptability and flexibility
  • A 'can do' attitude.
  • Some gardening knowledge/experience desirable
  • A reasonable level of fitness

What can this role offer you?

  • References for any future job
  • Volunteer Certificate and recognition of thanks
  • Local travel and lunch expenses will be paid in line with our policy.
  • Developing skills in gardening, grounds maintenance
  • Training on machine operation.
  • Working as part of a team.
  • The outdoor life (plenty of fresh air!)
  • Ongoing support
  • Free hot drinks and biscuits!

Please note to become a volunteer in this role you will be required to:

  • Complete necessary compliance checks, including references
  • Undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (funded by the trust)
  • Complete online mandatory training

Important Information

Online Searches

In accordance with statutory safeguarding and child protection guidance, online searches will be conducted for all onsite volunteer candidates prior to an informal chat. The online searches will be conducted by a person who is independent of the informal chat and selection process and will focus on relevant information returned via searches of the candidate’s name (and variations thereof). Social media searches will be limited to professional platforms such as LinkedIn. Any concerns relating to suitability for work with children and young people will be forwarded to the volunteer supervisor attending the informal chat for discussion.

Safeguarding

­The Children’s Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.  To achieve our commitment, we will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust safeguarding processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce, including volunteers.

The Children’s Trust has policies on safer recruitment, the recruitment of ex-offenders and criminal record checks.  Please refer to the Volunteering team for further information.

How to apply: Please click the 'fill in an application form' link at the top right of the page  and make sure you click 'sign up' to the scheduled activity.