The Green Hub Project for Teens is a new – and small – charitable organisation with BIG ambitions. We have been operational in Milford and Godalming for under a year but have already achieved significant operational milestones. Our therapy garden supporting teens with social anxiety is now fully booked; we have delivered our first series of empowering talks to teens; our infrastructure is largely in place and our team of volunteers has grown to nearly 40.

We are now looking for a Secretary to support our committee. It is a vital, voluntary role, ensuring that our meetings are properly planned and recorded and that decisions fit within our legal framework. We are also just about to embark on our journey to become fully registered as a charity and the Secretary will be a vital support to our Co-Chairs and Committee members, helping us to navigate the legalities and get set up properly for the future.

Have you recently retired, or have some spare time on your hands? And do you enjoy the detail and getting the ‘important stuff’ right?

If you like the sound of being a big cog in a small local wheel – somewhere you can make a real difference – and have an interest in young people and mental health, then we’d love to have a conversation with you.

 

At their sessions, teens are supported by garden enthusiast adult volunteers. Sessions are led by a Garden Leader, who needs to have a good knowledge of horticulture, and supported by one or two adult Garden Assistants, who need to be ken gardeners.

 

The adult Garden Team members are not expected to counsel or advise teens but, in providing a safe, low-stress environment with a focus on nature and group purpose, we hope that teens will naturally open up, chat with each other and find support in our community. That said, you’ll definitely need to have a real interest in young people, as well as loads of empathy.

 

The sessions are currently on Saturday morning, although you aren’t asked to attend every Saturday; we have a team, meaning that you are asked to commit to approx one per month. However, as a general principle, Saturday morning availability is key at the present time. The role will thererfore involve running one to two Saturday morning sessions in the garden each month.

 

Not everyone is cut out to work in the garden, or directly with teens. But that doesn’t mean that you don’t have something important to give.

We are still very much in our growing stages and our volunteer requirements are continually developing. So, if you like the sound of what we do and are keen to join our team, make contact and we can often develop a role to fit your skills. We have a whole range of requirements that fit under the ‘marketing’ banner, and others that are admin and operational. 

Ideally you need to be able to offer 2 to 4 hours a week, be IT literate and well organised. 

Application date: Ongoing

Outdoor events (eg. Staycation)

• Helping to set up and clear away – we have a Green Hub gazebo and table, banners etc.
• Plus setting up the bunting, sorting out leaflets to hand out and so on.
• Engaging the public – we have interesting ways to engage with the public – such as ‘guess how many beans in our jar’ as a way to get chatting with them, adding to our mailing list etc.
• Handing out leaflets
• Chatting to the public about what we do – you will be fully briefed and have a checklist to refer to
• Generally being engaging and interested – a smile goes a very long way!

Indoor events (eg. our Teen Talks or Godalming College event)

• Helping to set up and clear away – eg. a welcome table, banners etc.
• Managing the guest list
• Handing out leaflets
• Chatting to the public about what we do – you will be fully briefed and have a checklist to refer to
• And, as above, generally being engaging and interested – a smile most definitely does go a very long way!

Application date: Ongoing