Join our team! We are recruiting for a Community Herbal Trainee
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Community Herbal Traineeship 2020
Deadline to apply: 6pm on 21st February 2020.
We are looking for one trainee to join our team at Hackney Herbal. The role involves working alongside our team and existing volunteers on a new supported community gardening session at our garden in Hackney Wick. This is a great opportunity for someone who wants to gain experience of working in the community gardening and/or social and therapeutic horticulture sector.
Hackney Herbal is a social enterprise promoting wellbeing through herbs. We specialise in creative activities that connect and inspire people about the extensive uses of herbs. We are based at a garden in Hackney Wick where we support local people and volunteers to learn about horticulture, herbs and natural crafts and where we grow herbs. We run regular community courses, weekly gardening sessions and social activities that support people to develop new skills, make friends and improve their physical and mental health. Our key outcomes follow the themes of health, education and community resilience. As a social enterprise we use all the profits generated from ticketed workshops (covering topics like gardening, herbal remedies, natural skincare), privately booked herbal events and herbal tea sales to fund free nature based activities connecting people and herbs in Hackney.
Look us up here:
Facebook / Twitter / Instagram @hackneyherbal
Details of the role
This is an unpaid traineeship
Commitment: ½ - 1 day a week (flexible) - Wednesdays from 13:30 from 17:30
Period: March to December 2020
Based at: Our garden at 1 Trowbridge Road, Hackney Wick, E9 5DL
Occasional evening and weekend commitments
We are able to contribute £15 per week towards your expenses (plus extra expenses incurred for additional evening/weekend activities)
Description of gardening session
The aim of the supported gardening session is to:
Bring people and nature together in a welcoming, supportive, social and safe place
Maintain and develop the garden following the principles of permaculture
Support people to improve their skills and confidence in gardening and outdoor work
Help people to improve their physical and mental health within a supportive community environment
We will be taking referrals from the voluntary sector in Hackney and be working with a number of local partners including social prescribers. The key responsibility of this role is assisting with running this weekly gardening session on Wednesday afternoons.
The activities you’ll be carrying out include:
Assisting our Head of Plants in running the session
Helping to prepare, set-up and pack away after the session
Welcoming and registering volunteers
Providing support to the volunteers
Helping to maintain and develop the garden
Harvesting and processing herbs
Helping to monitor and evaluate the impact of the session
Additional responsibilities
As a trainee there are additional ways in which you can work with us to enhance your experience and gain more skills. Don’t worry, you don’t have to do everything but can choose the things that interest you and that you have time for.
Helping to plan activities during the weekly gardening session
Helping with our weekend monthly open volunteering session and garden open days
Attending outreach events to promote our community activities eg. running a Hackney Herbal stall to raise awareness about the weekly gardening session
Assisting with a mix of community workshops and courses, ticketed workshops and collaborative events
Requirements of the role
Essential
Be available on Wednesday afternoons from 13:30 to 17:30 for our weekly gardening sessions
Social person who likes working with people and being part of a team
Ability to supervise and support volunteers
Love plants and be eager to learn about how amazing they are
An interest in organic growing and permaculture
Working towards a career in social and therapeutic horticulture (ecotherapy) / community food growing / herbal medicine or other community based wellbeing work
Willingness to work outdoors in all kinds of weather
An understanding of our social mission and eagerness to be part of a dynamic social enterprise
Ability to follow instructions, work well independently and use own initiative.
Desirable
Previous experience or involvement with social and therapeutic horticulture / community food growing / herbal medicine or other community based wellbeing projects
Previous experience of working with volunteers
Existing knowledge relating to horticulture / permaculture / herbs
Experience in playing an assisting role
Based in Hackney or close by;
Key benefits of being a trainee
Experience working with a fun and creative social enterprise
Opportunity to develop skills and experience in supporting volunteers, herbal knowledge and gardening
Opportunity to take responsibility and learn a lot in a short period of time
Access to free training and networking events including Hackney Herbal workshops and events
Opportunity to contribute to our social mission
Support, mentoring and guidance to help you reach your goals
How to apply
To apply please send a copy of your CV and a 1-sided A4 covering letter explaining how you meet the requirements (essential and desirable) mentioned above. Please make sure to explain the following:
Why you are applying for the traineeship?
What experience you have which makes you suitable for the role?
What you are hoping to get out of the traineeship?
How you found out about the role?
Please send your application to Nat, nat@hackneyherbal.com by 6pm on 21st February 2020. Please write your name on the subject line like this: “Trainee Application 2020: your name”.
You can also post your completed application to us at Hackney Herbal, Studio 16, Celia Fiennes House, 8-20 Well Street, Hackney, E9 7PX.
If you have any problems with applying or need any further assistance just ask us. Send an email to Nat on nat@hackneyherbal.com or give us a call on 020 8616 0698. We are often out and about so leave us a message and we will call you back. We are happy to help you!
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview and short practical activity between February 26th and March 5th.
