Garden Centre jobs in Swarkestone

JOB SUMMARY

The Grassroots Project is a volunteer-led community gardening project, aimed at including and empowering clients - refugees and people seeking asylum - by engaging them in taking responsibility for planning, developing and maintaining a large allotment (the Grassroots Community Garden) adjacent to the Nottingham Refugee Forum building.

The project not only offers opportunities to improve people’s mental health, share and develop gardening skills, but also encourages learning about growing food, keeps volunteers active in a relaxing environment, and supports our Café by growing fruit and vegetables that are used for cooking daily community meals.

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Service Delivery

• Develop and coordinate a Steering Group made up of clients and other garden volunteers.
• Support clients to become involved in the planning and development of the project.
• Coordinate a rota of volunteers to ensure the maintenance and development of the site.
• Develop the garden to be used as a resource to support good mental health and wellbeing.
• Support less experienced gardeners with gardening tasks and skills development.
• Ensure health and safety compliance for the project.
• Help with preparation of funding applications for future developments.
• Produce simple monitoring and evaluation of the project
• Organise garden events.

Partnership Work/External links

• Attend relevant interagency meetings, networks and conferences

Organisational Responsibilities

• To be a Nottingham Refugee Forum ambassador by upholding and demonstrating the organisational values and behaviours at every opportunity, through verbal, written and face to face communication
• Work collaboratively with other staff and departments to help prepare and set up events e.g. Refugee Week, Conferences and Annual General Meetings
• Comply with the organisation’s safeguarding standards and procedures.
• Participate in own supervision and appraisal process and attend staff and team meetings.
• Any other duties which may reasonably be regarded as within the nature of the duties and responsibilities of the post, subject to the proviso that any changes of a permanent nature will be incorporated into the Job Description in specific terms, following consultation with the postholder.
• The postholder will be required to undergo a Basic DBS check for this position.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Candidates will be short-listed on the following specifications and need to address each of them in their application.

All relevant experience whether paid or voluntary, in the UK or overseas may be included. NNRF values different & creative ways of working.

E – Essential, D – Desirable

EXPERIENCE

• At least one year’s experience of developing and maintaining a garden or allotment (E)
• At least one year’s experience of working with volunteers (E)
• Experience of facilitating group activities or events (E)
• Experience of working with people to improve their mental health (D)
• Experience of working with professional interpreters (D)
• Experience of community development work (D)
• Experience of working or volunteering with refugees and people seeking asylum (D)
• Lived experience of forced migration (D)

KNOWLEDGE/COMPETENCIES

• Good interpersonal skills and effective in influencing others (E)
• Work in a flexible and agile way, adapting to changing circumstances in a positive and solution focused way (E)
• Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities (D)
• Knowledge and understanding of safe working practices for self and others (D)
• Ability to create and implement an action plan (D)
• Gardening qualification (D)

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

• Able to relate sensitively to a wide range of people from many different ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds.
• Able to empathise with the life experiences of refugees and people seeking asylum and recognise their possible effects on needs, attitudes and behaviour.
• Understanding of the importance of maintaining confidentiality and an awareness of measures that are needed to ensure it. 
• Able to maintain good professional relationships with colleagues in other agencies.
• Able to work in a co-operative, supportive manner within a small team.
• Approachable and friendly personality.
• Good time-manager, able to work on own initiative.
• Willingness to work variable hours, including out of hours and/or at weekends as needed.

How to apply

Please send your CV and cover letter, together with an Equality and Diversity monitoring form, to recruitment@nottsrefugeeforum.org.uk.

Top tip: Your cover letter should be no longer than 2 sides of A4, and show how your skills and experience meet each of the criteria listed on the Person Specification. Please use examples.

Deadline for applications: 23.59 July 8th 2026

The postholder will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check for this position

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

Nottingham Refugee Forum is committed to equality and strongly values diversity. We welcome applicants from people with lived experience of the asylum system.

Pay: £26,187.26 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Discounted or free food
• Flexitime
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Work Location: In person