Gardener & Handyperson - Volunteer & Community Support

Job Title: Volunteer & Community Support – Gardener & Handyperson
Salary:  £17,120 per year (based on a full-time salary of £28,154)
Hours: Part time (22.5 hours per week)
Location: Volunteer Centre Dorset office, Dorchester. Extensive travel across Dorset will be required using a Volunteer Centre Dorset vehicle
Contract: Fixed term contract until 31^st March 2027
Reports to: Office Manager
Start date:  As soon as possible following appointment

Purpose of the Role

Volunteer Centre Dorset (VCD) supports Dorset’s voluntary and community sector to thrive and champions volunteering for all. We deliver a range of projects that improve health, wellbeing, and independence for people across the community.

In this role, you will work alongside volunteers to support older, isolated, unwell, and vulnerable residents with gardening and basic DIY tasks in their homes and gardens. The role includes practical support such as lawn mowing, hedge trimming, basic repairs, furniture moving, installing key safes.  VCD is also developing a new community garden project, which you will help support alongside colleagues, volunteers, and partner organisations.

You will also support volunteers to safely take part in activities, creating a positive, inclusive, and supportive environment for people of all backgrounds and abilities. Alongside practical skills, we are looking for someone who is approachable, compassionate, patient, and confident working sensitively with vulnerable people in the community.

In this role, your main duties will be as follows:

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a service that enhances customers’ wellbeing and enables them to live safely and independently in their own home particularly the unwell, elderly and vulnerable.
• Promoting the wellness of customers, assisting and working alongside customers who wish to help with their own gardening or other tasks
• Build and maintain relationships with volunteers – working alongside and mentoring people who want to volunteer, including those with disabilities and additional needs.
• Provide a gardening service, including lawn mowing, strimming, hedge trimming, planting, and clearing garden waste.
• Provide a handyperson service doing jobs that may include basic fitting and repairs eg installing shelves, hanging pictures/mirrors/curtains, installing key safes, doorbells, etc
• Moving and removing household items, such as furniture and whitegoods
• Lead, support, and encourage volunteers of all abilities to safely participate in gardening and practical support activities
• Create a welcoming, inclusive, and positive environment for volunteers and clients of different ages, abilities, and backgrounds
• Participate in community garden projects
• Assisting project staff to schedule and plan workflow
• Maintain the Volunteer Centre Dorset vehicles and equipment in a good, safe manner
• Keep accurate logs of travel, hours worked to help with project reporting and expenses
• Maintain good Health & Safety practices that help ensure the safety of staff, volunteers and customers
• Be able to accurately risk assess work to be undertaken
• Carry out maintenance or work at the office as and when required
• Help gather case studies from our work that evidence the value of our projects
• Promote other VCD services and those of our partner organisations
• Help customers be sign-posted to alternative services when a VCD service is not the appropriate solution

Person Specification

Essential Skills

• Experience of gardening and handyperson service delivery
• Be patient, approachable and able to support and work with a variety of customers and volunteers, including the elderly, unwell, those who lack confidence and adults with learning disabilities
• Ability to motivate, encourage, and support volunteers in a positive and inclusive way
• Can encourage and support volunteers, valuing kindness, teamwork, and inclusivity
• Work well in a team environment as well as being able to use own initiative
• Good organisational skills, prioritising and multi-tasking
• Flexible and able to respond to new situations
• Excellent verbal communication skills
• General working health and safety knowledge
• A high level of integrity, representing the values of Volunteer Centre Dorset
• Be fully able to undertake the physical aspects of the role

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of working within the community or voluntary sector
• Experience driving larger vehicle/van

Job Requirement

• Enhanced DBS check (VCD will apply for the DBS check)
• A full, clean driving licence

Volunteer Centre Dorset supports Dorset’s voluntary and community sector to thrive, and champions volunteering for all. We also manage and deliver support to residents through a variety of projects designed to improve health, wellbeing and independence.
Welcome to Volunteer Centre Dorset

What we offer

• a varied and rewarding role making a difference to VCS organisations and communities across Dorset

• contribution to impactful work improving lives and community resilience across Dorset
• being part of an experienced, passionate, supportive team committed to collaboration and making a tangible impact
• a fun, dynamic working environment within a values led organisation
• mileage allowance and relevant travel expenses reimbursed
• opportunities for training, personal development and networking