Farm Volunteer - Green Skills Centre

Location: Cyrenians Green Skills Centre, 12 Humbie Holdings, Kirknewton, EH27 8DS. See map here.

Time: You can join us on Tuesday, Wednesday and / or Thursday from 10am – 4pm. You can do a whole day or part of the day.

We are flexible on which day(s) you join and how often every month. Just let us know your availability and preferences. We welcome taster sessions, if you would like to see and get a feel for the place and people first. Just get in touch with us to arrange this.

What is our Green Skills Centre?

Our Green Skills Centre is part of our community farm, where we grow food, skills and community. We want to address the challenges relating to sustainability, inclusion, learning and wellbeing in our community.

We do this in our organic market garden, where we grow food using regenerative principals. This includes our local organic vegetable-bag enterprise. Providing a hot meal for everyone, using the produce we grow, is also an important part of our community work.

We also deliver outdoor learning programmes for young people under 18 years old. These are designed to develop confidence and skills for those at risk of experiencing unemployment and homelessness. We want to provide a space for cultivating relationships – with the land, ourselves and each other. We empower young people by equipping them with new skills that can be used in every part of their lives.

What will you do as a volunteer?

You will be part of a friendly team of growers and outdoor educators, volunteers and the young people we support. You will help look after our farm by doing practical tasks on different sites.

You will also be volunteering alongside young people, some under 18 years old, as everyone comes together to do activities. We actively encourage our young participants at the centre to seek new knowledge and learn things. You might take part in supporting their personal development, by teaching them new skills, practical tasks at the farm and alike, when possible.

Your tasks will therefore be varied and can include:

• doing practical tasks on different sites
• weeding out plants, turning compost, digging, pruning, and planting food, flowers and trees
• cutting grass (including strimming)
• supporting farm employees, volunteers and young people on group projects
• instructing young people, who might help you with your tasks.

Tasks are seasonal and you can join as often as you like. We don’t expect you to volunteer throughout the year, if you have more time during certain months.

We will provide support and training needed for you to engage with the tasks and young people in a safe manner.

You can find more details about this volunteering opportunity in the decription below.

If you have any questions about the opportunity, please get in touch with Andie via email on: AndieRichards@cyrenians.scot