Gardening volunteer volunteer roles in west london, greater london

Amy’s Place is a partnership between the Amy Winehouse Foundation and Clarion Housing, providing supported living accommodation for young women aged 18-30 in recovery from drugs, alcohol and other addictive behaviors.

As a great communicator with ‘green fingers’ you will create a calm, nurturing environment in which to support the residents to gain gardening skills and to explore the possibility of growing their own food. 

Activities

Inspire the residents to take an interest in the outdoor space at Amy’s Place and involve them in the development of a regular gardening and/or food growing club.

Help residents to develop their gardening skills and knowledge specific to growing food, through group workshops and individually tailored support, guidance and encouragement.

Commitment 

This is a flexible opportunity and volunteering times and frequency will vary depending on the volunteer’s availability and the needs of the residents. It might be every week or fortnight ideally for a minimum of 3 months.

Requirements 

This role will require us to carry out an enhanced check through the disclosure and barring service.

Support 

•  Volunteers receive a thorough induction and have access to any relevant in-house and external training
•  Reasonable travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed
• The role is based at the service in East London. The exact address cannot be given until the volunteer starts due to safety and privacy reasons

Summary

The gardening and growing volunteer will support our accommodation sites in maintaining their outdoor spaces at our sites across Hertfordshire and Bucks including

Brindle Court, Watford
Northgate End, Bishop's Stortford
Our smaller sites in Stevenage, Hoddesdon and Hemel Hempstead 
Crest Rd, High Wycombe

Detailed description

Having access to a secure garden or outdoor area can be crucial for providing opportunities to socialise and relax, which can be invaluable for the mental well-being of our residents.

The gardening and growing volunteer will support our accommodation sites in maintaining their outdoor spaces, including:

·Weeding

·Sweeping

·Pruning

·Clearing leaves and large twigs

·Watering plants

·Planting bulbs and tidying up flower beds

We would love for this to be an opportunity to involve our residents and potentially lead a gardening activity with them, equipping them with knowledge and skills to maintain their own green spaces in the future. 

You will need:

• Enjoy working outside in all weathers.
• An interest/basic knowledge of gardening
• Role requires some degree of physical work and lifting/manual handling
• To work under your own initiative.
• Good communication skills
• Opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills

A full induction to the service and specific site will be provided as well as access to training and events throughout the year!

Some sites have basic tools however any additional tools and material required can be discussed with your volunteer manager .

What volunteers need:
You will be required to under go a Disclosure and Barring Service check and provide details of 2 x referees

What we will provide to volunteers:

• Reimbursement of costs
• Full training and induction
• Access to events and celebrations throughout the year 

Summary

The gardening and growing volunteer will support our accommodation sites in maintaining their outdoor spaces at our sites across Hertfordshire and Bucks including

Brindle Court, Watford
Northgate End, Bishop's Stortford
Our smaller sites in Stevenage, Hoddesdon and Hemel Hempstead 
Crest Rd, High Wycombe

Detailed description

Having access to a secure garden or outdoor area can be crucial for providing opportunities to socialise and relax, which can be invaluable for the mental well-being of our residents.

The gardening and growing volunteer will support our accommodation sites in maintaining their outdoor spaces, including:

·Weeding

·Sweeping

·Pruning

·Clearing leaves and large twigs

·Watering plants

·Planting bulbs and tidying up flower beds

We would love for this to be an opportunity to involve our residents and potentially lead a gardening activity with them, equipping them with knowledge and skills to maintain their own green spaces in the future. 

You will need:

• Enjoy working outside in all weathers.
• An interest/basic knowledge of gardening
• Role requires some degree of physical work and lifting/manual handling
• To work under your own initiative.
• Good communication skills
• Opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills

A full induction to the service and specific site will be provided as well as access to training and events throughout the year!

Some sites have basic tools however any additional tools and material required can be discussed with your volunteer manager .

What volunteers need:
You will be required to under go a Disclosure and Barring Service check and provide details of 2 x referees

What we will provide to volunteers:

• Reimbursement of costs
• Full training and induction
• Access to events and celebrations throughout the year 

Do you have 5 hours to spare each week?

Want to help those with challenges in their lives?

We are looking for Client Support Volunteers to assist in the Garden alongside our horticulturists in the supervision of our adult clients and teenagers with a variety of disabilities.

Our volunteers work in the garden with clients, helping them with various tasks such as planting, harvesting, pruning and mowing to name a few, under the guidance of our team of horticulturists. 

As well as general gardening work you will be assisting our clients, both children and adults with the opportunity to achieve a qualification in horticulture.

Other tasks our volunteers help with include general garden maintenance, DIY tasks or craft/cookery activities.

No gardening experience is required, just the ability to get along with others and muck in! This can be a great stepping stone to further education or work opportunities.

At present, we are looking for Volunteers who can offer a regular weekly commitment.

Volunteer your time at Hestia to make our gardens a beautiful place for adults and children to enjoy all year through! Are you green fingered and have a passion for gardens and outdoor spaces?

At Hestia we have gardens and outdoor spaces which require your support to bring these back to life by keeping them maintained. We are recruiting for volunteers to motivate and inspire staff and people living in our services to get involved in gardening.

Engaging in gardening has shown to have both immediate and long-term effects on mental health. Gardening for several hours has been known to reduce depression, stress and anxiety.

At Hestia we also have a PIPE programme where we encourage service users to work collaboratively and get involved in taking control and making decisions about physical environments across the organisation.

Why we want you

Join our team of 600+ volunteers at Hestia. Volunteers are at the heart of everything that we do at Hestia, alongside the people we support.

We make a difference every day, helping people to live a life beyond crisis. The time you give as a volunteer will support more than 18,500 adults and children across London and the southeast. We couldn’t do it without our volunteers.

Volunteering at Hestia is a vital part of our organisation with individuals from all walks of life sharing their experience, expertise, and knowledge. Get involved today with opportunities to learn, develop, and make a difference!

What you will be doing

• Inspire and motivate staff and people in the services to get involved in maintaining and growing the garden
• To provide tips on how to maintain and grow the garden - sowing seeds, planting bulbs, taking cuttings
• Provide basic maintenance such as cutting the grass, emptying bins, managing weed control and leaf raking
• Lead in planting and nurturing new trees, flowers, and various plants
• Provide best practice on how to use the correct gardening tools
• Inspire people in our services and staff to maintain a clean garden
• Advise staff on the costs of plants and garden necessities

The skills you need

• A basic knowledge/ experience of plant care and use of gardening tools
• Calm and patient approach
• Good communication skills
• Ability to provide a supportive, and inclusive atmosphere that encourages learning and participation

What's in it for you

• Supporting You - You will have a dedicated volunteer supervisor to support you in your role; Quarterly volunteer forums with the central Volunteering team and volunteers across Hestia; References for job applications
• Developing You - You will gain knowledge and insight into issues that impact Domestic Abuse, Modern Slavery and Mental Health; You will have access to our extensive Learning and Development Programme; 40% of our departed volunteers secured a paid role at Hestia last year!
• Valuing You - We hold annual Volunteer Awards and Celebration events; We reimburse travel expenses and up to £5 for lunch for your volunteering; We hold social events and outings for our volunteers to get together and have some fun

We drive, shop, provide companionship and carry out light gardening for over 200 members who live in Kew (West London) to help them live as independently as possible. We are looking for Volunteer Companions. The aim of KNA's Companionship programme is to provide social, emotional and practical support, and relief from isolation for local Kew people who are mostly older people with mobility issues. The objective is to offer support on an on-going basis through friendship.

As long as we can find a willing volunteer, we can help our members.

Benefits to volunteer:

So many people don't have family who live close to them. We connect people who want to help, with people who need help. It's a win, win. Those who volunteer feel more engaged with the people within their own local communities. And those people who ask us for help are able to get to appointments, see their friends and get out and about.

Volunteer to drive for KNA's beneficiaries who are Kew, TW9 residents. Our clients are generally older people (average age 82 years old) with mobility difficulties.  We take people to medical and social appointments.  Volunteering for KNA is very flexible.  It can be for as little as half an hour a month or multiple times a week.  It's entirely up to you.  You only offer to do jobs when it suits you. KNA connects Kew residents who need a helping hand with volunteers who drive, shop, offer companionship or carry out light gardening.

Whilst we have a good number of Driving Volunteers - we like to spread volunteering over many people so that no one feels they are doing too much.  Our drivers help people with limited mobility get to their medical appointments and go to their exercise , knit & stitch classes as well as hairdressing and chiropody appointments.  By becoming a volunteer driver you can help someone stay connected within their community and get to important appointments.

Volunteer to drive for Kew residents, who are generally older with mobility difficulties, for as little as an hour a month.  KNA connects Kew residents who need a helping hand with volunteers.  KNA Volunteer Drivers take Kew residents who have mobility difficulties to medical appointments, regular social events or classes or to visit family.

We organise a DBS check and request two references.  We can pay petrol expenses up to 45p / mile which is calculated by KNA on a quarterly basis.

You can make a difference…Age UK Wandsworth is a small, local, independent charity that has been working with older people in the area since 1963. We rely on your support to keep serving the older residents with in the Wandsworth community. We have a dedicated team of experienced staff and a large network of dedicated local volunteers. Our aim is to enable everyone to age well in Wandsworth. We would love your help to be able to continue to support older Wandsworth residents

Joining our amazing team of volunteers is a fantastic way to give back to the community by providing company and support to an older person in your area.

About the role 

You will be volunteering alongside our Community Engagement team, where activities will change and adapt based on client feedback and their evolving needs. Volunteers will help to facilitate activities and events across the borough, including but not limited to our digital inclusion drop-in sessions, coffee mornings, LGBTQ+ group and future activities which will include a gardening club and walking group. Most of our activities run for an hour or two, and we require volunteers to commit to attending at least one session a month. 

About the service 

Various opportunities are available based on our event schedule, which runs weekdays between the hours of 9am-4pm for 1–2 hours..

What will make you a great fit for this role?

• Friendly
• Patient
• Great listening skills

We currently have a vacancy for a three hour per fortnight Office Volunteer Role, 9.30am - 12.30pm.  Option to work in our small office or from home.  Are you good on the phone?  Able to learn an online database system?  Enjoy being part of a small team?  Kew Neighbourhood Association needs you as part of our team.

KNA’s Office Volunteers are the link between KNA’s 40+ Driving Volunteers and our 200+ beneficiaries in Kew – who are often elderly and vulnerable.  Our beneficiaries phone the KNA Office requesting to go to medical appointments and to get The Avenue Club.  The role of our Office Volunteers is to link our Volunteer Drivers with people in Kew who need transport. 

"It’s an opportunity to use my office skills whilst helping the local community.  It's lovely to speak with our clients." - KNA office volunteer.

Our Charity

Kew Neighbourhood Association (KNA, Charity no. 1196093) was established in Kew in 1977 by local residents. 

KNA’s charitable objectives are the provision of services and facilities for people in Kew who are housebound or have mobility difficulties, without regard to race, sex, politics, religion, etc.  KNA has a committee of Trustees, including a Chair and Treasurer, and is administered by 3 part-time salaried staff from a small office in St Luke’s House, Sandycombe Road. Our office volunteers can use this space or work from home. 

KNA is funded principally by grants from other charities, from Richmond Council and by donations and fundraising events.

KNA’s current activities are:

• providing lifts by volunteer drivers in their own cars to those needing transport to medical appointments (e.g., GP or hospital) and to day centres, etc. (mainly the Avenue Club in Kew);

• providing volunteer companionship to isolated residents by periodic visits in their homes, accompanying them for local walks and to local cafes, cinema, theatre, cricket, etc.;

• assisting those in need of help with shopping and some light gardening;

• providing Moments of Joy to help our beneficiaries feel remembered in and valued by their community including an annual tea party for clients. 

Statistics

KNA has over 200 clients, around 40 drivers, and 28 companionship volunteers.  KNA carries out about 3,000 driving, shopping, gardening, prescription pick up and companionship jobs each year in Kew, TW9.

Volunteering for KNA is extremely flexible.  It is designed to fit around you and your other commitments. We do ask for a minimum commitment of helping for six months as it costs money to carry out DBS checks and to onboard volunteers.

KNA connects Kew TW9 residents who are elderly or with mobility difficulties with Volunteer Shoppers who either take them shopping or do their shopping on their behalf.  You can volunteer for as little as an hour a month or as much as multiple times a week.  It's entirely up to you and is very flexible.

We drive, shop, befriend and carry out light gardening for over 200 members who live in Kew TW9 (West London) who are generally elderly or have mobility issues. You can help our clients do their shopping either by taking them shopping or by doing their shopping for them.  Most shopping is requested during the week but you can also help on weekends if you prefer.

As long as we can find a willing volunteer, we can help our clients.

Shopping is offered in and around Kew at either Sainsbury's, Manor Road or M&S, Kew Retail Park.

- A car would be useful but not essential, especially if you are local to Kew.
- Most of our members prefer their shopping to be done Monday to Friday during the day but do get in touch with us if you would like to volunteer for weekend or evening shopping
- Compassion and patience.
- A DBS Check which KNA will pay for and organise and a character reference from two non family members who have known you for a minimum of two years.

So many people don't have family who live close to them. We connect people who want to help, with people who need help. It's a win, win. Those who volunteer feel more engaged with the people within their own local communities. And those people who ask us for help are able to get to appointments, see their friends and get out and about.

Volunteering for KNA is extremely flexible.  It is designed to fit around you and your other commitments. We do ask for a minimum commitment of helping for six months as it costs money to carry out DBS checks and to onboard volunteers.

Either volunteering on an occasional basis or for a regular hour a week, at at time to suit you - most people requesting a Volunteer Shopper like a weekly shop.

We also need occasional shoppers, to cover our regular Volunteer Shoppers when they are away or unavailable.

Our vision is to enable people in Kew to remain independent for as long as possible.  Our volunteers offer driving, companionship, shopping, and light gardening. We do not provide intensive support or specialised help.We work closely with individuals and organisations to support people in Kew who have difficulty getting out and about, or who would appreciate a little regular company, by providing access to reliable, neighbourly help.

KNA has a committee of Trustees, including a Chair, Vice Chair and Treasurer.  It is administered by a part-time salaried Director (24hrs/wk), Companionship Manager (16hrs/wk), Operations Manager (20 hours/wk) and a Communications & Marketing Assistant(3hrs/wk)  from a small office in St Luke’s House, Sandycombe Road, Kew TW9.

KNA is funded via legacies and donations, Richmond Parish Lands Charity (RPLC) as a Regularly Funded Organisation, Richmond Council's Community Independent Living Service (CILS) and by donations and fundraising events.

KNA’s current activities are:

• the provision of lifts by volunteer drivers in their own cars to those needing transport to medical appointments (e.g., GP or hospital) and to the Avenue Club in Kew

• providing volunteer companionship to isolated residents by regular visits in their homes for a chat or to play games such as chess, phone calls, accompanying them for local walks and to local cafes, cinema, theatre, cricket, etc

• assisting those in need of help with shopping and some light gardening;

• providing moments of joy to celebrate client birthdays with a card each year and a gift in milestone years

• an annual tea party for clients and thank you party for KNA's Volunteers.

Statistics

KNA has some 230 clients, and has around 50 active volunteer drivers and 30 companionship volunteers.  KNA carries out 3000- 3,500 driving, shopping, prescription pick up, gardening and companionship visits and jobs per year by KNA volunteers. 

KNA had income of £61,536 in its last reported financial year (to August 2023) and expenditure of £72,117.  It had assets of £130,926 at that date.

Purpose: 

KNA’s Trustees are responsible for the overall governance and strategic direction of the charity, developing the organisation’s objectives in accordance with its constitution, legal and regulatory guidelines.

Key Skills

We welcome applications from individuals with an interest in helping those needing support in our community to maintain their independence,  and are in particular looking for those with experience in:-

• Treasurer 

• Healthcare

• Older people

• Marketing & Communication

• Individual Giving and Legacies

• Experience or contacts in the voluntary sector (in Richmond), and in relevant parts of Richmond Council

Commitment

• We are looking for trustees who are prepared to do more than simply attend committee meetings (four evening meetings per year,) and our AGM

• The term of office for each Trustee is an initial two years, with annual re-election up to a maximum of six;

• Trustees receive no remuneration for their trustee duties; we can reimburse reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the course of carrying out duties in line with our Volunteer Expenses Policy. 

Trustee Responsibilities

• Oversee the charity’s mission statement and review the four part time members of staff performance in achieving it;

• Review and approve the charity’s financial condition and goals;

• Annually review and approve the charity’s budget;

• Approve major policies;

• Ensure management succession is properly provided;

• Ensure organisational strength and staffing are equal to the requirements of the long-range goals;

• Approve appropriate salaries, terms and conditions of service for staff;

• Put forward names of prospective trustees and fill vacancies as needed;

• Provide candid and constructive criticism and advice;

• Approve major actions of the organisation, such as expenditure on all items over authorised limits and changes in activities and services;

• Appoint independent auditors subject to approval by members;

• Review compliance with relevant laws and policies affecting the organisation

Enabling KNA's over 140 volunteers continue to make a practical difference to Kew, TW9's local community  by providing thorough trustee management.  Feeling good about providing a small amount of time that ensures KNA's legacy of the last 45 years is sustainable for future generations of people who need the kind of support a good neighbour would provide. 

Joining this role means you'll be at the heart of providing essential support to families facing the unimaginable; caring for their child who's life will be short.

Many families in Wales are unfortunately facing this challenge alone, without support from others.

As a Practical Family Support Volunteer for Tŷ Hafan, you will assist families in need with various light tasks such as cleaning, tidying up and laundry.

Your contribution will go beyond housekeeping; it's about taking some of the pressure off and giving families the breathing space they need to spend more precious time together.

This role offers the satisfaction of knowing you are making a positive impact on families with a child with a life-shortening condition, by helping them create a tidy, clean and safe home environment that reduces their daily stress and worries.

Most importantly, you will be helping us to ensure that no family faces this challenge, alone.

Considerations:

Age requirement: 21+

Location: Across South & West Wales (in your local area)

Time commitment: Flexible and can be adjusted to accommodate your personal schedule. The support plans designed for referred families are typically structured to span a period of six weeks.

Background checks: Enhanced DBS check, 2 references and induction/training course required before starting.

Due to the nature of the role, we are looking for volunteers with some skills, experience and knowledge of gardening, either as a profession or as a hobby.

Activities include:

Activities include helping families with light housekeeping tasks such as; cleaning, dusting, vacuuming and laundry, giving them the space they need to be there for their child who needs them.

We are looking for volunteers who:

•Can empathise with the families you are helping and show them kindness and respect;

•Are reliable and flexible and committed to volunteering on a longer term basis;

•Will follow our health and safety guidelines, policies and procedures and report any issues or concerns to the Family Support Volunteer Manager;

•Are respectful of the privacy, preferences and needs of the families you are supporting;

•Are polite and friendly;

•Can adapt to different situations and challenges;

•Enjoy making a difference in the lives of others

At Tŷ Hafan our people values are working together, demonstrating compassion, providing excellent service and taking ownership.

We expect all colleagues and volunteers to behave with high levels of integrity and to represent our values as a core part of their role. 

Training you will receive:

You will receive a comprehensive introduction to Tŷ Hafan and your role, to include an in-person Induction and Training Programme as well as additional e-learning.

You will be a part of a friendly and supportive team who will assist you with any queries or concerns through regular and ongoing meetings.

Other role and organisation specific training is available including both supplementary and mandatory training.

All volunteers must maintain their mandatory training to continue in their role.

The benefits of becoming a Practical Family Support Volunteer in Family Homes:

•Make a positive difference in the lives of children with life-shortening conditions and their families, by helping them to maintain clean spaces for them to enjoy;

•Attend Volunteer Celebration Events throughout the year;

•Meet new people and join a friendly community of volunteers, passionate about helping others;

•Expenses will be provided following discussion about the role.

This role is purely voluntary and this arrangement is not meant to be a legally binding one or an employment contract.

***Please note that this is an opportunity based in Nottingham (shire) in the United Kingdom and we don’t offer sponsorship or accept overseas applicants***

Age UK Notts are seeking individuals who would like to be considered as a volunteer for our Companion Service.

Volunteers will be supporting people remotely, in their own homes and in the community within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and ideally, we ask all applicants to provide a minimum of 1 hour volunteering a week.

The companion service volunteer can choose to be:

• A companion telephone/video caller                                                               

• A companion within the person’s home

• A companion outside the person’s home

• Or a combination of all three.

Examples of the type of support the service offers include:

• Telephone / video calls for an older person/s on a regular basis at a mutually agreed time for a friendly chat. 

• Supporting an older person/s hobbies and interests or simply chatting with them in their own home on a regular basis.

• Supporting with digital access & building confidence skills & motivation to access the opportunities of the internet.

• Supporting the person outside of their home e.g., by accompanying them on a walk, to the shops, to a café, garden centre, theatre or cinema or other social activities / community groups. 

• Where appropriate, supporting the older person to access other services through information and signposting or referring to the Companion Service Coordinator for support.

We are looking for the following skills/interests:

• Individuals with a genuine interest in the wellbeing of older people who are committed to volunteering on a regular basis.

• Commitment to complete our Volunteer Report Form accurately and regularly. 

• Ability to travel for visits in the local community either by car or public transport for those volunteers who choose to participate in this type of activity.

• Digital literacy for those volunteers who choose to participate in this type of activity.

Please do note, however, that at the moment we are not looking for Volunteer Telephone Companions.

We are looking for volunteers with good daytime availability in specific areas of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

Please contact the volunteering team for further information on where specifically in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

BFUK are seeking enthusiastic, compassionate volunteers to support the delivery of our creative and educational hospital workshops. These sessions not only offer children and young people the opportunity to be imaginative, learn something new, and socialise, but also serve as a welcome distraction from time spent in the hospital. There is always something new to experience; previous workshops have included various crafts, make-up artistry, indoor gardening, hands-on VR demonstrations and mocktail making!

Our workshops take place in Great Ormond Street Hospital on Tuesdays and University College Hospital on Wednesdays.

As a Workshop Volunteer, you will:

• Assist with the preparation of workshop activities and support the sessions to run smoothly
• Chat and engage warmly with children, young people and their families during activities, offering encouragement and support
• Adhere to safeguarding policies and report concerns to the BFUK Team
• Have the opportunity to plan and lead your own workshop, if you wish

What do we look for in our Workshop Volunteers?

• A desire to work with children (age 5-12) or young people (age 13-18)
• A passion for inspiring creativity and learning
• Commitment to BFUK’s core values: equity, empathy, empowerment, connection and advocacy

What do our Workshop Volunteers gain?

• Enhanced DBS will be provided
• Safeguarding Level One Training
• Direct experience working with children and young people
• Opportunities to develop teaching and facilitation skills
• Experience working within a hospital setting
• Opportunities to socialise with other members of our volunteer community

As a charity that supports children and young people, we make safeguarding individuals our top priority. For this reason, all volunteers are subject to an enhanced criminal record and disclosures check. We also ask all volunteers to adhere to our Safeguarding, Equality and Confidentiality policies. These are nothing to worry about and if you have any questions, our team are happy to support you.