Location: YJS  Gardens, Wetherby Rd, Harrogate, HG3 1DE

Are you an experienced gardener who has grown fruits and vegetables and managed a garden or allotment space? Who would like to pass on your skills and knowledge to the benefit of the local community? Can you see potential in a plot of land? Could you provide regular support and guidance of what to plant, when and how?  Do you believe young people could benefit from gardening and would like to help pass on these skills to them either directly or indirectly? If yes then this opportunity could be for you.     

The Role:

We’ve recently taken on a large garden area complete with a greenhouse and raised beds which has been left fallow since Covid. We’re looking for a volunteer to join us to assess the garden and plan what to grow and to provide regular advice and guidance to train up our team to establish a garden which benefits the local community. Most of the teenagers we work with are asked to do a practical reparation project to repay the harm they have caused to their victim or their local community. This garden will be one of a selection of projects we have available for our young people.   We’re hoping to grow fruits and vegetables which can be donated to local foodbanks/community cafes and seedlings which can be shared with local schools and other local community groups. We have an excellent staff team who are experts in engaging hard to reach teenagers but who lack the gardening expertise to make the most of the garden space we have available.

We’re looking for someone who is an experienced gardener who would be able to train and advise our team. Someone who wants to get involved in the actual gardening is desirable but not essential. This role would not necessarily involve direct work with our young people but this would be an option for development if it was of interest to the volunteer. 

 This role would involve completing North Yorkshire Councils mandatory volunteer induction training. 

What we’re looking for:  

• Volunteers need to be 18 or over 
• Someone with several years’ experience of planning, planting, and maintaining a garden or allotment including growing fruit and vegetables.  
• Someone with an appreciation of the benefits reparation (victim or community payback) and who believes young people who have offended deserve support and guidance to help them to avoid reoffending. 
• Someone who has enthusiasm for growing and wants to share their skills and knowledge with others for the benefit the local community.  
• Someone with a non-judgmental approach who will follow anti-oppressive & anti-discriminatory practices.  
• Someone with an understanding of the need for Health and Safety and who understands the need for everyone to understand and follow safety guidance including safe lifting and carrying.  
• Someone able to adhere to NYC and Youth Justice Service policies and procedures during all volunteering activities.  
• Someone who can attend the garden at least once a month for a couple of hours preferably during office hours.  
• All Youth Offending Volunteers who have any direct contact with young people are required to complete an enhanced DBS check- this would be completed if applicable.   

If you are interested, please complete the brief application form by 30th May. If you have any questions or would like a chat about the role before you apply please do get in touch.

  Megan Judge (She/her) Reparation and Volunteer Development Officer (West) 

Tel: 07773 573983

 E Mail: megan.judge@northyorks.gov.uk

 Please note I work a job share and I work Wednesday morning, Thursdays and Fridays. 

NYC are committed to directly recruiting staff and will not accept applications nor services from agency suppliers in respect of our vacancies. 

We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

North Yorkshire Council (NYC) advertise vacancies on behalf of schools and external organisations (third parties) in North Yorkshire. NYC are not responsible for the recruitment/employment practices of third parties and accept no liability in relation to the vacancy and any subsequent recruitment/employment processes. Enquiries regarding the vacancy or practices should be made directly with the third party.

North Yorkshire Councils’ purpose is to deliver services and facilities to the diverse residents and visitors of North Yorkshire. To ensure we deliver inclusive services we strive to have a diverse workforce where everybody can be themselves by respecting differences and embedding equality of opportunity. We celebrate diversity and recognise each other’s contributions; we therefore welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

North Yorkshire Council are committed to the health and safety of our employees and of others including the general public. It  has a responsibility to ensure employees who hold a position that is deemed to be safety critical as it requires the performance of duties which are directly related to the safe operation or security of a facility, piece of equipment or vehicle, handling of chemicals or work at height or in confined spaces and which, if not performed properly, could result in a serious safety risk or environmental hazard to employees, a facility or the general public , do not attend work whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Individuals offered employment with North Yorkshire Council will be subject to the Workplace Substance Misuse policy. For safety critical roles as detailed above, random alcohol and drug testing may take place during the course of employment.