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

Job description

Sydenham Garden is seeking a Community Activities & Volunteering Lead on a Fixed term contract to end of December 2027 to join our team of 14 staff and approximately 70 volunteers in delivering adult mental health and dementia services in our beautiful garden settings in south-east London. 

Position: Community Activities & Volunteering Lead

Contract: Fixed term to 31st December 2027, full time - 37.5 hours per week. Part time and flexible working applications also considered. Some regular working outside Monday-Friday 9-5 may be required, for which TOIL will be available.

Salary: £32,644 plus 6% pension contribution.

Annual Leave: 33 days inclusive of Bank Holidays.

Location: Sydenham Garden Resource Centre, SE23 2LW & De Frene Market Garden, SE26 4AB.

Application closing date: Thursday 5 March 2026, 9am.

Interview date: Thursday 12 March 2026.

About the role

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). With funding from The National Lottery Community Fund to help us ‘grow our community’ and increase the sustainability of our impact we’re seeking a Community Activities & Volunteering Lead to drive continuous improvement and development of volunteer-led community activities for the benefit of co-workers as well as managing the day to day running of our volunteer programme.

About you

You’ll have experience of recruiting, working with, and managing volunteers, including delivery of skill-building and development activities for volunteers with Lived Experience of mental and/or physical ill health. You’ll have excellent people skills and the ability to demonstrate sensitivity, kindness, and a person-centred understanding of different mental, physical, and neurological needs. You’ll have experience of delivering group activities and working with people with mental/physical-ill health and/or dementia. You’ll have line management experience and be able to provide strategic direction as well as be able to innovate and develop new initiatives and balance competing priorities while being willing to play a team role and get stuck into different activities.

Why you should join us 

We’re a friendly team who are passionate about creating a supportive and inclusive community for people living with mental and physical ill-health. You’ll be part of a supportive team of staff and volunteers, and benefit from spending time in our beautiful gardens and nature reserve.  

Equity, Diversity 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.

Application information

To apply, please visit Community Activities & Volunteering Lead – Sydenham Garden for the full Job Description & Person Specification.

Please send us a CV together with a supporting statement that addresses how you meet the following criteria in the Person Specification:

1. Experience of recruiting, working with, and managing volunteers, including delivery of skill-building and development activities for volunteers with Lived Experience of mental and/or physical ill health.
2. Experience of developing and delivering activities for and 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 and/or dementia.
3. Line management experience, including managing high-performing individuals ; providing strategic direction, constructive challenge and development support.
4. You understand and care about building safe and inclusive spaces, are committed to an accountable and safe working culture and have the knowledge and understanding of how Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) principles apply in our setting.

The supporting statement should be no more than two A4 pages, minimum font size 11. Applications should be made by email to: jobs@sydenhamgarden.org.uk with ‘Community Activities & Volunteering Lead’ in the subject line. 

Please provide the names, positions, organisations and telephone contact numbers of two referees, relevant to this role. References will only be taken up with your express permission.

A note on the use of AI for your supporting statement:

We understand applicants may use AI tools for accessibility support and for proofreading, or structuring their thoughts. However, we’re looking for authentic examples from your own experience and your genuine voice. We ask that your supporting statement is not drafted entirely through generative AI.

Recruitment Timeline

Deadline for applications: Thursday 5th March 2026, 9am.

Interviews: Thursday 12th March 2026.

Do you have any questions? If you would like to find out more about the recruitment process or the role, please contact our Head of Services, Ollie Moss at ollie@sydenhamgarden.org.uk with details of your availability for a call.

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