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Swansea Community Farm is seeking an experienced and motivated Green Sparks Officer to manage and develop delivery of our National Lottery-funded Green Sparks adult and young person volunteer programme.

The right candidate will take responsibility for managing every aspect of the programme, including evaluations and reporting to funders and stakeholders. They will also work outdoors alongside volunteers aged 10-85, delivering Farm-based practical activities and training which improve the health, wellbeing and confidence of participants.

Swansea Community Farm is the only city Farm in Wales, and is focussed on improving mental health and wellbeing by reconnecting people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities with their food, their environment and each other.

Job Description

Swansea Community Farm is looking for a Green Sparks Officer to run our Green Sparks volunteering project.

Green Sparks is a community-led wellbeing-focussed outdoor volunteering programme for ages 10-85 which focusses on green skills for individuals and communities looking to care for their green spaces and combat climate change. It offers participants wellbeing and learning opportunities, along with socialising and building a community. Volunteers attend three days a week and work in all areas of the Farm, gaining experience and qualifications, and progressing to peer mentor positions. Volunteers self-refer, and come to us via health professionals, the job centre and other routes. Farm volunteering makes a real difference to people’s lives, and your work will contribute to that. Green Sparks is an expansion of our existing thriving volunteer programme, offering more people the opportunity to improve their wellbeing through outdoor volunteering and learn green skills which will help them adapt their lives and community spaces to the current climate crisis.

This role involves: Management and delivery of volunteer opportunities for children, young people and adults at the Farm, based around the implementation, delivery and development of the National Lottery Community Fund Green Sparks project. This involves recruitment, support and management of new volunteers and existing volunteers and support staff. Volunteers are the focus of the Farm, and you will be expected to support and develop them and offer personalised reviews to help them meet their goals. Carrying out promotion, marketing of the project, and supporting the development of existing and new volunteers as peer mentors. Carrying out monitoring and evaluation, liaising with other staff, trustees and stakeholders and developing the programme in a beneficiary-led manner. Writing funding reports and working on funding applications for the continuation of Farm projects.

Volunteer days (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) will see you outside, working with volunteers in the animal house or out on site, supporting them to learn new practical skills and manage the farm site in a nature-friendly way. You will be a part of the staff group for the day, including day planning, briefing and debriefing. Office days will involve volunteer programme development, recruitment, line management, monitoring and reporting on the project and organising training and materials for the programme. You will work on developing partnerships to ensure we are reaching as many at risk children and adults as possible. We would expect you to support other staff in writing funding bids.

An ideal candidate will have a passion for improving people’s wellbeing through outdoor work. They will be non-judgmental, experienced at working with groups, and an excellent communicator. They will have confidence around livestock and a willingness to learn how to care for them. They will be passionate about our natural world and engaging marginalised communities in the care of their local wildlife. They will enjoy supporting people to increase their confidence and wellbeing. They will be flexible and able to fit into a small, dynamic team, keen to take on responsibility and learn new things, undergoing any necessary training.

Pay Scale: £23,914 (equivalent to £29,494 full-time)

Hours: Contracted to 4 days/ 30 hours a week (potential for full-time role, dependent on skills).

This post is a fixed term post until September 2028, which we would hope to extend subject to performance and the candidate being involved in securing further funding.

Annual Leave: 28 days p.a. plus statutory bank holidays, pro rata

Principal duties and responsibilities

* Develop the Green Sparks volunteering project, promoting outdoor volunteering and attracting target volunteers (those facing a health and wellbeing challenge).

* Deliver weekly volunteer days on Tuesdays & Thursdays (age 16+) and Saturdays (age 10-16). Work across the Farm site, including animals, gardens, grounds and Cadle Heath. Seek and implement volunteers’ ideas for site development (for example, construction, signage).

* Train, induct, manage and support project sessional staff.

* Support volunteers with a wide range of support issues to engage in the programme.

* Delivery with volunteers of events and materials to engage the community with the key messages of the project.

* Provide opportunities for individual development of volunteers resulting from regular reviews of their needs/abilities.

* Monitor and evaluate the project and write reports for funder.

* Assist team in researching and preparing funding applications for the project and related activities.

* Take responsibility for Health and Safety issues relating to the programme activities and members of the public as appropriate, including preparation of activity site checks and risk assessments.

* Adhere to all policies and procedures at SCF, paying particular attention to Child and Vulnerable Person Protection Policy, Health and Safety, Code of Conduct and Equal Opportunities.

* Assist in the control of the project budget.

* Ensure handling of money and receipts in accordance with Farm financial procedures.

Working Relationships

The development of effective working relationships through: –

* Co-operation and collaboration with other staff.

* Negotiation with beneficiaries and volunteers to develop their potential.

* Participation in working groups, staff training events and meetings for the purpose of the project’s development.

* Developing partnerships with other organisations which will strengthen the Farm and improve its work and produce publicity material and liaise with the media

NB: Your Line Manager and the board of trustees have the right to review or vary this Job Description. This post is subject to a 3-month probation period. This job description is as currently applies, but it will be reviewed as required and maybe subject to variation. The post holder maybe required to undertake other tasks that can reasonably be assigned, which are within their capability and grade.

Statement of equality, diversity & inclusion: We are an equal opportunities employer, seeking to avoid discrimination in all its forms, and to this end, we have a blind application process. We welcome applications from all areas of the community, including candidates with additional languages, lived experience and from diverse backgrounds.

Timeline of recruitment:

* You are welcome to visit the Farm on Saturday 10th January, 2-4pm, to learn more about the work we do.

* Online Q&A, 1pm Monday 12th January

* Application deadline 23:59 Thursday 15th January.

* We will contact you by Monday 19th January if you have been invited for interview.

* Interviews will be held at the Farm on Monday 26th January. The interviews will involve a formal interview and a 25-minute practical session, which you will plan and deliver with a small group of volunteers