Garden Education Officer - Hereford, United Kingdom - Growing Local CIC

Description

GARDEN EDUCATION OFFICER, HEREFORD

Part Time Job Share (20 hours/week)
We have a new vacancy for a GARDEN EDUCATION OFFICER to join our newly expanding not-for-profit organisation.

The postholder will lead on a varied programme of children's, youth, schools, family and adult garden-based workshops from the new Growing Local Education Garden in South Wye, Hereford.

If you have prior teaching experience, a passion for growing vegetables and horticulture and an enthusiasm to work with people of all ages to nurture a love for growing then please do get in touch.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Education Garden forms part of the Growing Local Gardens project that will include a CSA (community supported agriculture) community market garden, orchards and a community hub building featuring a field to fork school and indoor teaching space, community cafe and farm shop.

The Growing Local Gardens are part of the Southside Project, one of 15 projects funded by Hereford's Stronger Towns Fund.

The new Education Garden is being constructed with the assistance of young people from across the city. It is situated on our newly acquired 19 acre site on the southern edge of Hereford.

The educational garden will be approximately 1600 sq meters and will house two polytunnels, garden sheds, a field shelter and basic field kitchen.

Growing Local CIC was established in 2009 to connect the local community with the land and offers a range of land, gardening and food based education.

Until recently it operated a veg box scheme and a children's educational garden on a local farm and continues to work with children, families and adults on food education and community cook events.

The acquisition of this new site is an exciting and dynamic expansion of the organisation.

Growing Local aspire to champion a collaborative work culture of mutual responsibility, trust, sharing of skills and the facilitating of improved work/life balance.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS:

• Assist and support the continued construction of the education garden. Lead small groups of 1018 year olds and adults in the development of the garden
• Planning and growing of vegetables, fruit and herbs in the education garden
• Preparing orders for the supply of seeds, compost and new equipment
• Together with the job share Education Officer, the planning, delivery and managing of the schools education programme to preschools, primary, SEN and occasionally secondary schools. Sessions to be assisted by sessional staff
• Occasionally developing bespoke schools sessions as and when required
• Planning, delivery and managing of the children's and family holiday sessions. Sessions to be assisted by sessional staff and volunteers
• Running a monthly adult volunteer session to assist with the maintenance of the garden
• Ensuring Health and Safety practices are in place and being followed and documented, including regular risk assessments
• Work with the growers, project manager and Growing Local directors providing regular updates on the educational garden, attending regular meetings
• Assisting in planning and delivering of the Growing Local Gardens seasonal events, fundraisers and open days
• Liasion and networking with local preschools, schools and community groups
• Ensuring the garden maintains accessibility to as wide a user group as possible

The role will be supported by a team of sessional staff and volunteers, with a maximum ratio of 1:8 staff to children.

In addition to the above skills, the Garden Education Officer will need to have:

• A passion for growing sustainably with nature, increasing biodiversity and nurturing the land
• A passion to work with the community to nurture a love of gardening
• Strong organisational skills, time management and ability to prioritise
• Selfmotivation and confidence to work on own initiative, as well as the:
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of the Growing Local team and with a pool of sessional staff and volunteers
• Experience with budgeting and administration, using Excel spreadsheets

Other Information:

• The role will involve occasional weekend and evening work, plus some weekend watering throughout the growing season
• Salary £26,000 per annum pro rata (20 hours/week: £13,000 per annum)

Application:

Please note our website does not fully reflect the current project; a new site is due to go 'live' imminently.

Do visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for current news.


Job Type:
Part-time


Salary:
From £13,000.00 per year

Expected hours: 20 per week


Benefits:

• Company pension
• Flexitime

Schedule:

• Flexitime
• Monday to Friday
• Weekend availability

Work Location:
In person