Emmanuel House Support Centre
53-61 Goose Gate
Nottingham
NG1 1FE
jobopportunities@emmanuelhouse.org.uk
www.emmanuelhouse.org.uk
0115 950 7140
29/12/2025
Re: Allotment Sessional Worker
Thank you for your interest in the role of Allotment Sessional Worker.
Below you will find the full job description and person specification. To apply please
send your CV and covering letter/email to paylor@emmanuelhouse.org.uk
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities including those
who have lived experience of homelessness. We welcome applications from Black,
Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, from people who identify within the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community (LGBTQ+) and from people who consider
themselves to have a disability. We believe people with these lived perspectives have
a particular contribution to make to Emmanuel House and the homelessness sector.
We look forward to receiving your application.
Yours faithfully
Alastair Paylor
Alastair Paylor
Centre Manager
Allotment Worker
Emmanuel House has had an allotment on the historic St Ann’s site for approximately
15 years. As well as vegetable beds, soft fruit and fruit trees, there is a nice cabin and
a large wildlife pond.
Throughout the growing season we run weekly gardening sessions, offering users of
our service the opportunity to access a tranquil space in our busy city.
2026 promises to be an exciting year for the Gardening Group. As well as developing
the plot to include an outdoor kitchen we hope to introduce a second weekly
session.
A typical Thursday session will begin with the group meeting at Emmanuel House for
a brew and a light breakfast before heading up to the site by taxi. Some participants
will meet us at the gate to the site and we will walk up to the plot together.
Our sessions let participants engage with the project at their level, whether they
want to find peace or busyness they can get involved in gardening, and site
improvement projects such as preserving the gate and benches.
On the Thursday session the participants can get involved in preparing and cooking a
meal, which we eat together.
What we offer:
• A good induction into your role and training that will enable you to feel you
are making a positive contribution.
• Opportunity to progress in the homelessness sector.
• Fair pay that is reviewed annually.
• A friendly and supportive team and working environment.
• Rolled-Up holiday pay.
• Free refreshments.
• A rewarding work experience.
Job Description
Job Title: Allotment Sessional Worker
Reports to: Centre Manager
Salary: £12.60 per hour
Working hours: Between March and October we are looking for cover every Thursday
10am-2.30pm, and on some Tuesdays. Additional hours for admin/food shopping as
required
Tenure: Zero Hour Contract
Deadline: 29/1/2026
Purpose:
Working under the guidance of the Centre Manager and in partnership with a co-worker, to
coordinate and deliver a weekly gardening session for homeless or vulnerably housed
beneficiaries with support needs.
Principal duties:
• To receive referrals into the programme, to assess a beneficiary’s suitability
alongside the Access Team and to make contact and liaise with beneficiaries.
• To contact beneficiaries the day before a planned session to promote participation
•
and to problem solve barriers to non-attendance.
In conjunction with your co-worker to plan and deliver allotment gardening
activities, ensuring that beneficiaries are appropriately engaged.
• To support participants to garden within their own spaces and to move on from the
project into mainstream community gardening, training or volunteering activities
etc.
• To be responsible for risk assessing and the delivery of health and safety throughout
the programme.
• To develop the garden site, including improving the beds, compost area and rain
water harvesting.
• Maintain good records, including service user feedback, monitoring of outcomes and
produce reports for Emmanuel House and funders of the project.
• To open up and close the allotment.
• To promote the project to partner agencies, both within homelessness and in the
community gardening environment.
• To promote the therapeutic benefit of the outdoors to a hard-to-reach client group,
of homeless, vulnerable, marginalized and socially isolated people.
• Nurture partnerships and developments with other providers and referral agencies.
• To incorporate, develop and support the role of volunteers within activity sessions.
• To be responsible for purchases as required and complete monthly expenses.
General requirements
• To attend staff meeting when required.
• To be committed to, and take an active interest in best practice in both external and
internal communications.
• Undertake training, supervision and be committed to own development.
• Undertake any other tasks as deemed appropriate by the Centre Manager.
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
All workers need to be over the age of 18
Essential/Desirable How tested:
Attitude
Champion the therapeutic benefit of green
spaces to a hard-to-reach client group of
homeless, vulnerable, marginalized and
socially isolated people.
Maintain a non-judgemental, supportive
approach and treat all beneficiaries with
respect and understanding.
Knowledge
Good knowledge of gardening
Awareness of Voluntary and statutory
agencies in Nottingham
Knowledge of Health and Safety and Risk
Assessment in relation to activities
Experience:
Experience of growing vegetables and
plants
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Experience of working with groups
Experience of managing group activities
Experience of working with volunteers
Experience of working with vulnerable
people in a paid or voluntary capacity
Skills
Ability to lead the communal preparation of
a vegetarian meal for up to 15 people.
Ability to contribute to the organizing of a
program of activities
Ability to lead group activities
Ability to work as part of a team
Ability to motivate disengaged Service
Users
Ability to deal with challenging behaviour
and challenging situations
Ability to develop and maintain positive
professional relationships with
beneficiaries particularly in relation to
confidentiality
Ability to carry out physical tasks such as
gardening and walking
Ability to develop partnerships
Excellent communication skills
Sound time management and
organizational skills
The ability to speak, read and write in the
English language
Ability to seek advice and support where
needed, whether emotional or practical
Ability to implement policies and
procedures
Ability to use electronic data recording
systems.
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Ability to use Microsoft Office, the internet,
client database and other IT systems
Ability to speak other languages
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