Client Gardener Support Volunteer - Social and Therapeutic Horticulture

Client Gardener Support Volunteer - Social and Therapeutic Horticulture

Posted for Thrive

Posted by Volunteer Centre West Berkshire

Register your interest

You will be redirected to the Volunteer Centre West Berkshire website to express your interest.

• To support our horticultural therapists in delivering a high level of service to individuals with a disability or ill health. These individuals (client gardeners) come to our gardening programmes with a range of disabilities and health conditions and the programmes they are following will vary from general gardening to working towards horticultural qualifications.
• To develop social interaction with client gardeners and encourage them to work with and talk with others.
• To work alongside client gardeners encouraging them in their work but not doing the tasks for them.
• Supervising, with others, the client gardener group over lunch breaks and occasionally when the therapists are engaged in assessing and related paperwork.

• Attending a briefing before client gardeners arrive and helping to prepare for the planned sessions.
• Working alongside client gardeners encouraging, talking, demonstrating, or guiding the individuals to a greater or lesser extent depending on their needs - sowing seeds, watering, planting out, weeding, digging, hoeing, mowing, pruning.
• Watching out for the Health and Safety of those you are working with.
• Helping to clear up after gardeners have left, briefing therapists on progress or any issues relating to the clients you have worked with.
• We are always looking for help with the various events we put on. We may ask you if you would be willing to join in. There is no obligation, but this could be an additional activity you could get involved in.

What skills do I need?

• Patience and understanding with a commitment to being supportive and companionable.
• Flexibility - task may need to change, and client gardener's behaviour may be surprising or erratic.
• Reliability - for both the therapists and the client gardeners this is important for continuity and trust.
• Ability to explain tasks clearly and in simple ways.
• Some understanding of basic gardening skills
• Prepared to work outdoors in most weathers.