• Tuesday Daytime
• Thursday Daytime

Growing works is a small charity working in Kirklees to nurture healthy lives and communities outdoors, delivering projects since 2009 and achieving charitable status in 2015.  We work with families and individuals with various needs who feel isolated and marginalized, supporting them to make positive changes in their lives.  By connecting people with their environment and providing supportive activities we can help to improve health and wellbeing and encourage their engagement with their community.

We work outdoors all year round with activities including, gardening, allotment site development, outdoor therapy, bushcraft, exploration, cooking and much more.  Our projects look to use the outdoor environment to help get vulnerable people more active and connected, supporting each other and delivering healthier people and places.

Bud Session Support Volunteer

Location

Growing Works Allotment (Dalton ward, Kirklees)

About Growing Works

Growing Works is a community-focused organisation that uses gardening and outdoor activities to support wellbeing, inclusion, and connection. Our Bud sessions provide a safe, welcoming space where people—particularly those with additional support needs (including SEND)—can learn, grow, and thrive through practical, hands-on activities.

Role Purpose

As a Bud Session Support Volunteer, you will help our volunteers and participants with additional support needs to engage in gardening and outdoor tasks, building confidence, skills, and social connections in a supportive environment.

Sessions are supported by 2 members of staff at all times. Our sessions are getting busier and we need more help

What You’ll Be Doing

• Supporting individuals or small groups during sessions.
• Helping participants understand and complete simple gardening tasks.
• Encouraging participation and independence at each person’s pace
• Providing gentle guidance, reassurance, and positive feedback
• Helping create a welcoming, inclusive and safe environment
• Assisting session leaders with setting up and tidying up activities
• Being patient and flexible to meet a range of needs and abilities

Who We’re Looking For

You don’t need to be an expert gardener—what matters most is your attitude.

We’re looking for volunteers who are:

• Friendly, patient, and approachable
• Supportive and encouraging
• Open to working with people with additional needs

• Willing to learn and adapt
• Reliable and able to work as part of a team

Desirable (but not essential):

• Experience with SEND, SEMH or additional needs
• Interest in nature, gardening, wellbeing, or community work

What You’ll Gain

• Experience supporting people with additional needs
• Opportunity to develop communication and facilitation skills
• Confidence working in inclusive, community settings
• Being part of a supportive, friendly team
• The reward of making a real difference in people’s lives

Time Commitment

• Flexible – sessions typically run every Tuesday and Thursday weekly
• Volunteers can attend regularly or as availability allows. Regular support will help our participants engage in the activities.

Support & Training

• Induction and ongoing support provided
• Guidance on working with participants with additional needs
• Safeguarding procedures and staff always on site

Our Values

We are committed to:

• Inclusion and accessibility
• Respect and dignity for all individuals
• Building confidence through supportive experiences
• Connecting people with nature and each other

Interested?

We’d love to hear from you!
Get in touch to find out more or come along to a session and see what we do.

Growing Works

• Health/Care/Community
• Gardening/Environment/Practical

• References required
• DBS (criminal record check that the organisation will organise)

11/09/2026