Find your place in the field of good food

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.

Practical Organic Gardening Project Worker

Sydenham Garden
Sydenham, London

Posted: 19 May 2025

Deadline: 4 Jun 2025

Compensation: £27, 937 per annum (pro-rata)

Living Wage employer Ethnicity Confident scheme Disability Confident scheme

Paid Part-time Fixed term / contract

Job description

Sydenham Garden, based in Lewisham in South-East London, is a unique wellbeing centre utilising its gardens, nature reserve and activity rooms to help people living with and recovering from mental and physical ill-health. We provide nature and arts based creative, social and therapeutic activities for co-workers (the name we give to our primary beneficiaries). 

• Position: Practical Organic Gardening Project Worker. 
• Contract: Part time, Fixed term to September 2027. 
• Salary: £27, 937 per annum (pro-rata). 
• Location: Sydenham Garden Resource Centre, SE23 2LW & De Frene Market Garden, SE26 4AB. 
• Application closing date: Wednesday 4 June 2025, 9am. 
• Interview date: Thursday 12 June.

About this role 

As the Organic Gardening Project Worker, you’ll be responsible for planning and delivering our Practical Organic Gardening courses (Level 1 and Level 2). You’ll lead engaging sessions that combine hands-on gardening activities with group discussions to support learning.  

You'll use your experience of facilitating sessions, workshops or skill building activities with people with lived experience of mental and/or physical ill health in informal or community settings.  You’ll also help learners prepare for assessment, offering practical and constructive feedback along the way. Developing course content and resources based on learner needs and feedback will be a key part of your role.  

You will support project who contribute to the delivery of gardening sessions and work alongside our co-workers. You’ll lead volunteers in their roles, provide regular debriefs after sessions to reflect on what’s worked and plan for improvements, and offer ongoing guidance to help them grow in confidence. Where appropriate, you’ll also support volunteers to train as OCN assessors, helping them build their own skills and qualifications. In some cases, you may work with volunteers to provide one-to-one support for learners who need a bit of extra help.  

About You 

We’re looking for someone who’s passionate about organic gardening and equally passionate about people. You’ll be a skilled facilitator or educator who can create inclusive, engaging learning spaces where everyone feels valued and supported. Whether you’ve delivered accredited training or led workshops in community settings, you’ll bring a flexible, learner-centred approach that meets people where they are.  

You’ll be confident in your gardening knowledge and eager to share it in hands-on, practical ways. You’ll also be thoughtful about the different challenges people may face, especially those with lived experience of mental or physical ill health, and you’ll bring empathy, creativity, and strong communication skills to your work. This role needs someone who enjoys working collaboratively, values reflection and feedback, and is committed to growing alongside others.  

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion  

Sydenham Garden is committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). We want to build a diverse and inclusive staff, volunteer and trustee team where everyone feels that they belong and that reflects the profile of the communities we serve. Therefore, we will welcome and consider applications from candidates of all backgrounds and protected characteristics, and we particularly encourage applications from people of African or Caribbean heritage to ensure our staff team represents the communities we serve.  

Candidates will be shortlisted based on:  

• Experience of facilitating sessions, workshops or skill building activities with people with lived experience of mental and/or physical ill health in informal or community settings.    
• Experience of working with people who have a diverse range of needs and experiences, including Black and minoritised people, Neurodivergent people, Disabled people and people with mental and physical health issues.    
• Experience of using creative and participatory approaches to enable people to express their thoughts and ideas around complex topics.  
• Horticultural qualification (Level 2) or equivalent experience in paid or voluntary roles.  
• You understand and care about building safe and inclusive spaces, and are committed to an accountable and safe working culture.  

Application information

To apply, please send us a CV together with a supporting statement (maximum 2 pages, minimum font size of 11) that addresses how you meet the five elements of the Person Specification listed above.  

Applications should be made by email to: jobs@sydenhamgarden.org.uk with ‘Practical Organic Gardening Project Worker’ in the subject line.    

TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL JOB DESCRIPTION & PERSON SPECIFICATION AND FOR DETAILS OF HOW TO APPLY INCLUDING OUR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES MONITORING FORM PLEASE CLICK HERE.

Or visit: www.sydenhamgarden.org.uk/latest/jobs/

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