Gardener (at the Willows Family Hub, Hullbridge, Essex)
Barnardo’s is committed to providing ‘Better Outcomes for More Children’. Our children’s services volunteers help the charity to deliver essential services in local communities, providing support to over 300,000 children, young people and their families. This role provides a great opportunity to join our fantastic children’s services and help make a real difference.
Our Barnardo’s Gardeners support us to carry out general gardening duties and tidying of outdoor areas in our regulated settings, such as Children’s Centres and Nurseries. There may also be the opportunity to support in the delivery of outdoor learning activities with children and their parents/carers, such as Forest School and Worms and Wellies.
We are looking for enthusiastic people to join our team, with a love of the outdoors and an interest in supporting children and families to engage with outdoor play and growing activities.
Essex Child and Family Wellbeing Service brings together a range of children’s community services that are free at the point of delivery. It’s provided by HCRG in partnership with Barnardo’s on behalf of Essex County Council, West Essex CCG and the NHS.
The focus across all our services is on making sure that everyone in Essex has the best possible start in life through community services that are accessible, high quality and meet the identified needs of children, young people, and families.
We deliver broad areas of support:
- Health Visiting: e.g. antenatal contact, transition to parenthood, new baby review, maternal mental health, wellbeing and development of children under 1 year and 2-3 year reviews, support to ‘be ready for school’
- Parenting Support: e.g. breastfeeding support, weaning toilet training, school entry review and childcare confidence support
- School Nursing: e.g. support for young people in schools with wellbeing and health concerns, Chat Health an online support service
- Family Health: e.g. substance misuse, contraception advice, nutrition support, mental health (maternal & infant), smoking cessation.
- Support for ages 5-19: e.g. dental care, review of immunisation status, support with any physical, emotional or developmental problems, provides children, parents and school staff with information on specific health issues, measuring height and weight
- Support for young people with special educational needs and disabilities up to the age of 25
We’re looking for a green fingered volunteer to help care for and maintain the outdoor spaces at our Willows Family Hub Delivery Site. If you enjoy being outdoors and want to make a positive difference to our community, we’d love to hear from you!
What the role involves
As a Gardening Volunteer, you will help keep our gardens and landscaped areas looking their best. Tasks may include:
- Clearing weeds and general tidying
- Cutting back vegetation
- Pruning at appropriate times of the year
- Supporting with planning future planting
- Opportunities to help children grow vegetables and learn about nature
You may be working independently or alongside other volunteers.
When we’re open
Our Willows Family Hub Delivery Site is open: • Tuesday & Wednesday: 09:00–17:00 • Thursday: 12:00–16:00
However - we’re flexible! Ideally, we're hoping for weekly volunteering, and we’re happy to arrange a day and time that suits you.