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Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Roots to Work is a project of Sustain: the alliance for better food and farming.

Harvest and cook lead

Abbey Home Farm
Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Posted: 4 Feb 2025

Deadline: 28 Feb 2025

Compensation: £12.50 - £14

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Job description

About The Farm Project

The Farm Project CIC welcomes children and young people from predominantly inner cities, for residential visits on a working organic farm. Whilst here children and young people take on purposeful activities focused on growing veg, harvesting and cooking, working with livestock, firelighting, log chopping and exploring the woods. They gain a deep understanding of how food is produced and furthermore develop confidence and self esteem, make meaningful relationships and build resilience. This week of fresh air, dirty hands and good food can noticeably improve wellbeing and expand horizons. We believe it is crucial for all, regardless of background, to have equal opportunity to connect to the countryside and understand where food comes from.

Job Description

The role is primarily delivering cooking and veg growing/harvesting sessions for residential groups. There will also general farm tours and woodland activities for day visits from local schools/groups as well as children’s holiday clubs. The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, friendly, outgoing and passionate about introducing young people to the countryside. They will be a confident cook, with hands on allotment/veg growing experience. Experience of delivering education sessions and working with children and young people from a diverse range of backgrounds is desireable. The candidate will genuinely enjoy the company of children and young people, be happy out in the woods whatever the weather and have a high mud tolerance.

Key responsibilities

  • To deliver inspiring cooking sessions starting with harvesting produce from the farm's market garden
  • To deliver education sessions with small groups of children, young people and occasionally adults including gardening, fire lighting, wood chopping, nature walks
  • To provide a warm welcome to all visitors to the farm and to help generate an unforgettable environment
  • To assist with the general housekeeping of the accommodation facilities including Friday changeovers
  • To ensure safe and responsible working practice at all times, adhering to all The Farm Project policies and procedures

Person Specification

  • Experience delivering cooking sessions to children and young people (or experience cooking in a professional environment)
  • Experience working with children and young people with social emotional and mental health needs, neurodiversity, challenging behaviour and those disengaged
  • Commitment to equal opportunities
  • Knowledge of child protection issues
  • A genuine passion for the outdoors with some knowledge of the natural world
  • An understanding of our attitude to local food and whole farm ethos
  • Able and willing to undertake manual work as part of education programmes
  • Comfortable around animals
  • A proactive nature
  • Strong communication skills
  • Outgoing, enthusiastic and friendly
  • A sense of fun and adventure
  • A dynamic and flexible approach to working
  • Organised, punctual, reliable
  • Willingness to work evenings and occasional weekends This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. Fixed term contract (with the possibility of extension). Simple accommodation might be available on the farm.

www.theorganicfarmshop.co.uk

www.thefarm.education

 

 

 

Application information

If you are interested to apply or would like to learn more about this post please have a look at the farm project and farmshop websites to learn more about us, and then email hilary@theorganicfarmshop.co.uk with a cv and letter of interest.

Interviews will take place throughout February. Role to start mid / late March 2025.

www.theorganicfarmshop.co.uk

www.thefarm.education

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About Abbey Home Farm

Abbey Home Farm is run by Will and Hilary Chester-Master. They took over the management of the farm from Wills family in 1990 and set about establishing an organic system of farming from day 1. Both Will and Hilary are totally committed to organic practices and are striving to make Abbey Home Farm a truly sustainable, both environmentally and financially, place. The farm, the garden, the shop and the cafe would not run without the other members of the team. There are at present approx 40 people involved, working here in all sorts of capacities, some full time, many part time, from many different backgrounds, but with common links: a passion for local and organic food, high animal welfare, caring for the environment and protecting our wildlife.

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