Community Project Co-ordinator – training & volunteer liaison

Key Requirements: To recruit volunteers and manage the co-ordination and delivery of our Master Composters Project. This role requires specific understanding of delivering volunteer led projects ideally within the charity sector, engaging local communities in the practice of home composting. The successful applicant with have proven skills in planning, training, and engaging with people and local organisations.

Hours: Part time 14 hours per week

Duration: Fixed Term until 30^th September 2027.

Salary: £23,000 pro-rata

Role subject to DBS Check: No

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:

The role of Project Co-ordinator is to recruit, train and support Master Composter Volunteers in Cumberland.

You will be reporting to our Cumbria Project Supervisor and your core responsibilities and main duties are as follows:

• To support the delivery and development of Garden Organic’s programmes and outreach activity
• To provide point of contact support for Master Composter volunteers.
• To plan and coordinate all project activities in line with the objectives and milestones defined for the project (including support for volunteers at planned events)
• To recruit new volunteers and work with the Project Supervisor to coordinate and deliver the training programme for Master Composter Volunteers.
• To help identify and engage with complimentary schemes / community groups / settings / events that may benefit from the support of a volunteer.
• To maintain contact with complimentary schemes and local community groups.
• Arrange training / workshop events for the volunteers; including arranging venue hire, catering, administration and promotion.
• Gather data / information / photographs / feedback / case studies from volunteers and beneficiaries to inform progress up-dates and reports.
• Manage the project social media accounts and website content.
• Occasional travel for meetings at Garden Organic’s Head office in Coventry as required (typically 3 per year).
• To represent the organisation at appropriate events.

What we are looking for:

We are looking for someone who enjoys working with people, who can energise and enthuse, support and appreciate the many volunteers and community organisations who will be essential to the work we are doing in Cumbria.

You will be organised, flexible and efficient. You will be working as part of a team that is based across the UK so an ability to connect and proactively engage with colleagues is essential to ensure you are contributing to and feel part of the organisation.

You will be comfortable with organizing your own time and prioritising workload to ensure that targets and tasks are met and completed.

What we can offer:

• Salary: £23,000 pro-rata
• 25 days Holiday plus bank holidays and additional leave at Christmas (pro-rata)
• Additional long service holiday
• Group Pension Scheme with 8% employer contribution
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Salary Extras benefits platform (Instant discount scheme and health, wellbeing and financial support)
• We Care benefits platform (With access to virtual GP consultations, nutritionist support, get fit programmes, smoking cessation and further health and wellbeing support)
• TOIL for additional hours worked
• Life Assurance
• Garden Organic membership
• For further details and to apply please visit the link above.