Role: General Associates but specifically – trainers for community project delivery with a focus on waste prevention, food growing and/or seed saving)

Location: Across UK – specifically Hampshire, West Midlands (Coventry and Warwickshire)

Key Requirements: A Garden Organic associate is someone who can share the positive message and principles of Garden Organic. Our associates have a background and skill set which supports the organisation in achieving its aims. Further information about what we do can be found here: Garden Organic | What we do. This could be as varied as a horticultural trainer, researcher, copywriter, bid writer, researcher etc. This list is not exhaustive! The specific roles will be varied and shaped by current requirements, which will be agreed with the recruiting manager.

Garden Organic Associates, based across the UK, are advocates for Garden Organic and its principles. They are available for paid work on a flexible basis as opportunities arise.

Associates will work with us on a self-employed basis, submitting invoices for work completed and will be responsible for their own Tax and NI contributions. There will be no obligation on either party to either provide or accept work.

Role subject to DBS Check: Will depend on the nature of work undertaken.

About us:

At Garden Organic we care about organic growing, composting, seed conservation, research and citizen science. Our small but hugely knowledgeable and committed team is backed by a family of members and volunteers, all dedicated to growing food and flowers in harmony with nature. We are an established, experienced and innovative membership charity, working in communities around the UK and campaigning for organic practice which protects and promotes life above and below the soil. Now in our seventh decade, we are also home to the vitally important Heritage Seed Library a living collection of 800 rare vegetable varieties that otherwise would have died out.

Our mission is to show people how to be organic growers and in doing so, we strive to be a great place to work, volunteer or partner with. We care about what we do, how we do it, and the impact we make. We believe that our time is now – when people are actively seeking positive contributions that they can make in the face of biodiversity loss and climate change.

About the role:

We welcome applicants from all areas of the UK but right now we are looking for people who have experience of working with communities and volunteers – supporting locally based projects with food growing, seed saving, composting and waste prevention training and expertise in Hampshire, Coventry, Warwickshire and the West Midlands more broadly.

You will be reporting to our managers or senior coordinators and your core responsibilities and main duties will be defined on a case-by-case basis.

Work offered may be ad hoc, or may be regular, weekly work for the duration of a project. A period of work could be anything from 1 hour online, to full days onsite within projects. Evening and weekend work may also be available.

What we are looking for:

Currently we are looking for someone who has an excellent track record of delivering training and/or projects with community groups.

Expertise in one or more of the following – home and community food growing, seed saving, composting or waste prevention.

In addition, supporting community led work, strengthening community capacity or enabling community action are key.

Committed to, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about organic principles. Garden Organic | Principles of organic gardening

What we can offer:

When work is available, we will contact suitable associates based on their geographic location, skill set etc. and discuss opportunities with them. In the meantime, we would like to keep in touch and connect our associates with each other, the organisation and the sector in general. We will do this by inviting you to our online webinars and you will receive our monthly E-Newsletter and member's magazine digitally 3 times a year.

How to apply:

If you are interested in our ‘Associate’ role, please email us with an up to date CV and complete our online form: Associates Skills, Self - Audit

A member of the team will then follow up with a short interview to confirm we are a good match for each other.

Alternatively, if you would like to discuss the role further, then please contact our horticulture team.

We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and we reserve the right to close the vacancy early depending on response levels.

As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion applications will be anonymised before being submitted to our recruitment panel.

Recruitment Timetable:

On a rolling basis – online or face to face interviews to be decided case by case.

Equal Opportunities:

At Garden Organic we embrace diversity and recognise the value it brings to our organisation. As such, we match charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates and welcome candidates from various backgrounds irrespective of age, disability, gender, gender identity or reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation. We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace and take pride in ensuring that everyone feels welcome, respected and empowered.

Garden Organic is also a Disability Confident Employer and aims to create opportunities wherever possible. It should be noted that some of our roles require travel and attendance at events where accessibility arrangements will vary.

Safer Recruitment:

Garden Organic is also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects employees, associates and volunteers to share this commitment. We may require some candidates to undertake a DBS check relevant to the requirements of the role.

Please note that we only accept applications from individuals with the right to work in the UK. We are unable to sponsor working visa applications.