Volunteer Gardener

Amazing, giving, inspiring and awesome are just a few of the words we would use to describe our volunteers.

Our volunteers play an integral part in the services we provide and the people we support. If you are looking for a rewarding role where you will really make a difference whilst gaining experience along the way, _then join us here at Rethink Mental Illness._

**About the role**

We are looking for Volunteer Gardeners to support our service at John Hall Wellness Garden in Leek, Staffordshire, where we have varying gardening and maintenance roles available. These are flexible roles and anytime you can commit to volunteering at the Wellness Garden will be appreciated.

You will receive training and regular supervision to ensure you feel confident in your role. You can read more about the benefits of volunteering on the full advert on our website.

We have various roles available such as activity leads, admin roles and hospitality. Please get in touch for more details, using the contact details below.

**About the service**

Our service is open on Monday
- Friday 9am
- 4pm, and Saturdays 9am
- 3pm. The wellness garden is a pilot project which opened in April 2022 and is funded by Rethink Mental Illness. Our garden is a beautiful walled garden, and we are in the early stages of developing the grounds and activities. The vision is to provide a wellness garden for the community as a way of improving mental health and wellbeing. We welcome groups into the garden and individuals can also register to become Friends of the Garden. We also have activities and sessions taking place around gardening skills and planting.

**What you will be doing as a Volunteer Gardener**:
**Plants Team**
- Support/Facilitate “Friends of the Garden” in peer support group work and activity sessions - taking on a guiding role under the supervision of the Volunteer Co-Ordinator
- Help to maintain the garden and propagate plants
- Complete tasks such as weeding, lawn care, planting, sowing and raising seeds and young plants
- Help with growing vegetables
- Organise plants so they are ready for sale
- You will have the opportunity to liaise with the public regarding the sale of plants and to provide advice on plant care

**Maintenance Team**
- Keep hedges and trees trimmed
- Ensure the pathways are clear and in good condition
- Maintain the display units
- Keep the polytunnel clean and fix it when necessary
- Take care of the pond area
- Maintain the Wildlife area and create interesting areas in the garden for wildlife and for the public to enjoy
- Take care of the gardening tools
- Paint and repair garden furniture when required

If you have any particular skills which you feel would be useful to the role, we would be happy to discuss other garden-based ideas. In addition, you will also support people to use gardening as a way of improving and maintaining their mental health and wellbeing.

**What will make you a great fit for this role?**
- Gardening or practical skills would be useful, although you do not need to be an expert
- A willingness to guide/take a leading role with the “Friends of the Garden” in gardening groups and planned activity sessions.
- You will have a passion for the great outdoors
- You will be empathetic, understanding, and sensitive to the needs of others
- Basic computer skills to access training

**Who are we?**

We’re Rethink Mental Illness, a leading charity provider of mental health services in England. We support thousands of people through our groups, services, policy, campaigns and advice and information. Our work supports us in delivering on our mission: “A better life for everyone severely affected by mental illness.”

The Company has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years. We have a vast number of employees, and provide support to clients from all over the country.