Wellbeing Gardener Volunteer
Hours2-3 hours, 1-2 times per month LocationSobell House Hospice
Our Living Well service offers a welcoming space for patients with palliative and life-limiting illness to get together in a supportive environment and access support from our team of experienced palliative care clinicians.
Living Well has a much-valued community of volunteers who bring their warmth, knowledge and life experience to our weekly patient wellbeing groups.
Your role would be to facilitate gardening-based activities during the group sessions for patients who would like to do this. We would value someone with experience of gardening who could help with planning activities as well as helping patients take part in them while in Living Well. This might include planting seeds, gentle weeding, pruning, and planting up vegetables in planters. This role is primarily about engaging patients in gentle activity while they talk with you and each other (not getting the garden immaculate!).
This volunteer role would suit someone with excellent people skills as well as gardening skills. Someone who can empathise and understand the importance of a safe and friendly space. Someone who understands the value of nature, seasons and gardening to aid wellbeing.
You would join our team of specialist palliative care nursing and clinical support staff and have their support and guidance during your volunteering in Living Well.
Skills required
- Knowledge of seasonal gardening activities and gardening skills
- Able to empathise with others
- Excellent communication skills
- Friendly and open manner
- Able to liaise between staff and patients
- Reliable
- Can work effectively as part of a team
- A good understanding of confidentiality and boundaries
Volunteering duties
- Arrive to set up at 10:45am (or 9:45am if you would like to attend the morning welcome)
- Attend a brief handover with staff to be aware of any patients with specific support needs
- Set up the activity in a manner that facilitates access and engagement
- Listen, chat and enjoy being with people in the room or garden
- Assist with the general organisation of resources, including set-up and clean-up of materials and equipment
- Adhere to health and safety procedures, Sobell House policies, and risk assessments
Training
- Online training (approximately seven hours)
- Living Well induction
Other specific training may be offered by the department, for specific roles where appropriate.
Shifts available
Mondays and/or Wednesdays once per month
9:45am or 10:30am until 12:30pm
This group currently runs on Mondays and Wednesdays with the ‘gardening activity time’ at 11am to 12pm. Some flexibility can be offered to suit you – including the frequency/regularity of the volunteering.
If you have any questions, contact our voluntary services team: 01865 225868 or SobellVolunteerServices@ouh.nhs.uk.
Please apply by filling out the forms below.