Save the Planet Project Support

Volunteers will support the delivery of services in partnership with our Skills for People Project Workers.

They will help the team by providing support for Mind, Body, Planet which is a 3-year national lottery funded project that aims to engage people with nature and the outdoors.

Save the Planet group

A gardening and environmental group based at Byker Community Allotment (near Ouseburn farm and behind the Cumberland Arms pub).

The group runs on Wednesday mornings from 10.30am-12.45pm.

Members learn about gardening skills and outdoor activities led by a forest school trained practitioner.

Volunteers will support our Project Workers to deliver the session and support social interactions within the group. This ensures that none of our members are excluded from activities or conversations as group numbers have increased in recent months. Members can cook up some delicious treats over the fire and volunteers will support members to complete allotment tasks such weeding, watering, planting seeds etc.

Upcoming sessions and examples of group activities -

• Poetry about nature – toast and jam
• Weave a tsikuri – veggie skewers
• Decorative twig ball – potato skins/wedges
• Giant bubble wand – apple and cinnamon crumble
• Design a garden mural – toasted teacakes

Tasks include

• To work in partnership and under the guidance and instruction of a Skills for People Project Worker.
• Support individual members to participate in the groups offered by Skills for People.
• Support to plan and organise groups and meetings
• Ensure that groups achieve stated outcomes around the 5 Ways to Wellbeing
• To build good working relationships with group members built on openness and trust
• To enable group members to be as independent as possible
• To keep group members up to date with information about services and opportunities
• To provide group members with information in an accessible way
• Drawing on individual skills and experiences to support Skills for People
• Support Project Workers to capture verbal, written and recorded feedback from members
• Volunteers will be expected to carry some, though not necessarily all, of the above tasks, and tasks will depend on the group

Volunteer roles can be developed around individual interests, skills and personal strengths.

A minimum commitment of 1 group per week is encouraged (approximately 1-2 hours per week).

Skills

We welcome volunteers with a wide range of skills and experience.

Experience of working with people with a learning disability and/or autism is preferred but full training will be provided.

We would like to encourage conversation and inclusion between members so volunteers should be sociable, friendly and happy to engage with others. An interest in nature and/or the outdoors would also be useful due to the nature of the project.

Volunteers must be able to travel to the differing locations of groups which will change each week. All destinations are accessible by public transport and travel costs will be reimbursed.