Volunteer Role Description
Role title
Allotment Volunteer
Team reporting to
Team Leader
Location
Houndgate Darlington
Brief description of project
We aim to offer ways for local people with a housing need to secure/maintain accommodation and to live independent. We offer a drop-in service daily for anyone who has a housing need.
Our services include the following:
Support for all – anyone over the age of 25 who needs support to secure or maintain their accommodation.
Darlington Intensive mental health team – 18 plus who have a mental health diagnosis and have an intensive housing need.
Positive Support Pathway – Young persons service where we offer floating support as well as having 9 dispersed units in the Darlington area where YP will be allocated a support worker for the time they reside in their supported accommodation.
We aim to offer ways for local people with mental health challenges to become more independent and confident through gardening. As a charity, our project offers housing solutions for those with mental health having trouble with their housing situation. In addition to our regular support, we provide a gardening allotment group in partnership with First Stop.
Details of the role & tasks
The role:
Allotment Volunteers will support with the running of a weekly allotment group. This is an active volunteer role that will include a range of gardening related tasks as well as being a friendly, welcoming face to people who join the group.
Tasks may include:
1. Help with setting up and packing away before and after each session
2. Providing support and guidance on all things allotment and gardening related; including what to plant when and how to look after the growing plants
3. Suggesting how to cook the produce and sharing potential recipes
4. Producing charts or information leaflets as required to educate and guide people we support about organic growing from soil to plate.
5. (co)Facilitate the sessions, ensuring activities are safe and risk assessed as appropriate
6. Report any concerns, including safeguarding related, that may arise in the group
7. Support people attending the group to develop their own skills and interests
8. Promote the activities on offer with the people we support, through posters, presentations and conversations
Personal qualities
Skills and qualities we would love for you to bring to this role:
9. An interest in gardening and the outdoors
10. Knowledge of how to plant, grow and cook seasonal produce
11. Professional, Honest and Committed
12. Basic IT skills – some eLearning-based training will need to be completed
13. Good time keeping
14. Able to work as part of a team, on own initiative and to instruction
15. Non-judgmental towards people who experience substance misuse dependency or mental health conditions
16. Clear understanding of importance of confidentiality
17. Some experience of working with adults experiencing complex or multiple support needs
18. A genuine interest in being part of the mission and vision of Waythrough – information is available on our website
19. Ability to maintain professional boundaries, adhere to Waythrough policies, engage in supervision, and complete relevant training
Waythrough
We value our volunteers and seek to ensure their diverse roles are rewarding and beneficial to all. Waythrough holds the Investors in Volunteers accreditation.
What Volunteers can expect from us:
Volunteering with Waythrough offers people a unique chance to have a significant positive impact on people’s lives. We work both with and within diverse communities across the UK and every day we see people making positive changes to turn their lives around. We offer volunteers:
20. Regular supervision and support
21. Induction and access to online and face to face training
22. To learn and practice new skills within a teamwork setting
23. To feel part of a team and the wider Waythrough organisation
24. Reasonable travel expenses reimbursed with proof of journey
25. Opportunities to progress and experience other areas of Waythrough's work
Our values:
Our values underpin everything we do – from how we work together through to how we design and deliver services. All our work to fulfil this vision is strengthened by our values.
26. Kindness - be generous, caring and understanding.
27. Courage - be bold, trust, commit.
28. Respect - everyone deserves dignity.
Location: Belburn Allotments Darlington
Timing: 3 hours per week, every Thursdays
Training: Volunteers have access to Waythrough’s training platform, LearningKind, and will be asked to complete 1 day Induction Workshop prior to start
About Waythrough
Waythrough was formed in 2024 following the merger of Humankind and Richmond Fellowship. Together, we’ve created one of the largest mental health and social support charities in England.
Every year, we support around 125,000 people through nearly 200 services – and it’s all made possible by our 3,500 brilliant staff and volunteers.
Make a real difference in your community
Are you passionate about helping others live safer, healthier, more independent lives? Join our team at Waythrough and support people facing challenges around mental health, substance use, housing or domestic abuse. This is more than just a job – it’s a chance to build meaningful relationships and create lasting change.
What We Offer
We value the people who make a difference every day. Alongside meaningful work, you’ll enjoy:
29. Discounts from various schemes
30. Training and personal development
31. A chance to make a real difference in people’s lives
32. Free induction and role-specific training
33. Support from experienced staff and regular supervision
34. Opportunities to meet new people and develop your confidence
35. Reimbursement for travel and agreed expenses
36. Valuable experience that can support your personal or career development
Inclusion and accessibility
Waythrough is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities, especially those with lived experience of the issues we support.
We have signed up to the Disability Confident Scheme - all applicants are welcome, and adjustments can be made to enable fair participation.
If you need adjustments or support to apply, please email our recruitment team:
How to apply
If you’re viewing this advert on an external platform such as Indeed, please click ‘Apply via company website’ to view the full job description and submit your application.
Please note that while this role has a stated closing date, we reserve the right to close the advert early should we receive a high number of applications.
Closing date: