Work Experience Opportunity: Gardener with Barnardo’s

About the Opportunity

Do you enjoy being outdoors, working with your hands and seeing the difference your work can make?

Barnardo’s Children’s Services in Peterborough is offering a gardening work experience placement where you’ll help look after outdoor spaces at its family centres and hubs. You’ll get involved in practical gardening and maintenance tasks, helping create safe, welcoming spaces for the children, young people and families who use them.

You don’t need professional gardening experience, this is an opportunity to learn, build your confidence and gain useful workplace experience while supporting a well-known children’s charity.

What You’ll Be Doing

During your placement, you could get involved in:

• Maintaining gardens and outdoor areas
• Weeding, sweeping and general upkeep
• Looking after flower beds, planters and shrubs
• Helping maintain vegetable patches
• Keeping outdoor spaces tidy, safe and welcoming
• Learning how to use and store gardening resources safely
• Taking part in relevant training and supervision
• Working alongside the Barnardo’s team and following their health, safety and safeguarding procedures

What You’ll Gain

• Practical gardening and outdoor maintenance experience
• Experience to add to your CV
• A professional reference when you complete your placement
• Full induction, training and ongoing support
• Access to additional training relevant to the role
• Increased confidence, organisation and teamwork skills
• Experience supporting your local community
• Access to Barnardo’s internal vacancy listings
• The chance to gain experience with a leading children’s charity

Who They’re Looking For

This opportunity would suit someone who:

• Is currently claiming Universal Credit
• Is aged 18 or over
• Has an interest in gardening or practical outdoor work
• Is reliable, punctual and trustworthy
• Has a friendly and approachable attitude
• Is organised and mindful of working safely
• Is willing to learn and get stuck into practical tasks
• Can provide two references from non-family members

No previous gardening experience is required, an interest in learning and a willingness to get involved are what matter.

Key Details

Organisation: Barnardo’s – Children’s Services
Location: Peterborough Family Day Care Centres or Hubs, including First Steps Child & Family Centre, 20 Scalford Drive, Welland, Peterborough, PE1 4TR
Hours: Typically 25-30 hours per week, Monday-Friday (a minimum of 16 hours may be possible by agreement)
Duration: Placement length to be agreed with Barnardo’s; candidates should be able to commit to a placement of up to 8 weeks
Delivery: Face-to-face
Eligibility: Applicants must be 18+, currently claiming Universal Credit, able to provide right-to-work documents and two non-family references.