Founding Community Gardner
hace 5 días
Greenwich
About Brighter Futures College Brighter Futures College is a specialist post-18 college supporting young adults with learning disabilities to develop independence, employment skills and confidence through practical, real-world learning. Our curriculum is 80% vocational and 20% classroom-based, enabling students to gain genuine work experience in community-facing enterprises. We are now launching an exciting community garden in Thamesmead (SE28) where students will learn horticulture, sustainability, and food-growing skills. Produce grown in the garden will be used in our student-run café and community pantry. We are also developing a floristry learning pathway in collaboration with Claridge's, helping students gain exposure to professional industry standards. The Opportunity We are looking for a passionate and practical Community Gardener & Horticulture Tutor to help establish and run our new community garden. This is a rare opportunity to build a garden programme from the ground up, working with students, staff, and the local community to create a vibrant learning environment. The role will initially start part-time but is expected to grow into a full-time position as the programme develops. Key Responsibilities Garden Development • Help design and establish the community garden, • Plan and manage seasonal planting schedules, • Grow a wide range of vegetables, herbs and fruits, • Introduce crops that reflect the cultural diversity of the local community, • Work alongside students with learning disabilities to teach practical horticulture skills, • Support students in learning:, • planting and propagation, • soil preparation, • composting, • harvesting, • crop care, • Grow produce for use in the college café and community pantry, • Support planning of crops that can be harvested regularly, • Support community activities within the garden including:, • gardening workshops, • forest school-style sessions, • senior citizens gardening days, • seasonal harvest events About You We are looking for someone who is: • An experienced gardener or horticulturalist, • Passionate about community growing and sustainable food, • Comfortable teaching or mentoring others, • Patient and enthusiastic when working with learners with additional needs, • Community gardening or urban farming, • Teaching or mentoring experience, • Knowledge of growing culturally diverse crops, • Running workshops or community events Why Join Us This role offers the opportunity to: • Build a new community garden programme from scratch, • Work directly with students gaining real employment skills, • Contribute to a sustainable food-growing project, • Help create a welcoming community space in Thamesmead, • Be part of a college focused on independence, opportunity and inclusion Hours Initially 1-3 days per week with flexibility depending on seasonal activities. The role is expected to expand to full-time as the garden programme grows. Location • Thamesmead, South East London (SE28)