5

Job Title:
Position Type:
Reports to:
Based at:
Working Hours:

Contract:

Job Purpose

Job Description

Gardener Project Officer for Young Marketeers Plymouth
Freelance
Project Coordinator
Home-working and at schools in Plymouth
14 days @ £165 per day from February – July (£2,310) plus 8 x school gardening
sessions at £110 per session plus 1 day planning @ £220 (£1,100)
Temporary

•  To manage the delivery of Young Marketeers in Plymouth in four primary schools

Background to School Food Matters
School Food Matters (SFM) exists to teach children about food and to improve children’s access to healthy,
sustainable food during their time at school. We provide fully funded food education programmes to
schools. Our experience delivering these programmes informs and strengthens our campaigns, bringing the
voices of children, parents and teachers to government policy.

Young Marketeers
This much-loved programme was started in London in 2012. It is now running in 16 cities across England and is
funded by the National Lottery Community Fund for three years.  The programme provides hands-on
opportunities for children from primary schools to grow fruit and veg from seed to sell at their local market.
Young Marketeers is also a platform for School Food Matters to promote food education to schools and
communities as a way to support children to live happy and healthy lives.  Children learn the art of growing veg
from seed, and market traders will share their secrets on how to create a winning market stall.  Primary schools
will be visited by our gardener in March/April and then again in May/June and receive further tips on how to
ensure a bumper crop. And in July, they head to the market to sell their produce, and to meet the mayor!

Key Tasks include:

•  Assist with recruitment of four schools to take part in Young Marketeers
•  Build and maintain relationships with teachers, teaching assistants and senior leaders to ensure the

smooth running of the project

•  Build and support relationships with contacts in partner organisations
•  Schedule, organise and deliver

o  One assembly in each school
o  Two food growing sessions in each school
o  One market trader training session in each school
o  Market Day in the city centre in July for all schools

•  Maintain accurate records relating to the programme
•  Complete monitoring and evaluation forms in accordance with instructions from our Evaluation team
•  Take photos of workshops and events where possible
•  Keep Project Coordinator fully updated on progress
•  Keep up to date with safeguarding requirements and reporting procedures
•  Maintain the ethos of the charity and positively promote our work at all times

Person specification

Essential

•  Experience of delivering food growing sessions to children
•  Knowledge of fruit and vegetable growing
•  Excellent administrative and organisational skills with great attention to detail
•  Excellent IT skills including excel, word and email
•  Experience of building relationships with partner organisations and individuals
•  Ability to work in a team, and seek help when needed
•  Self-motivated and optimistic with a can-do attitude

Desirable

•  Experience of working for a charity or not for profit organisation
•  Experience of working in primary schools and engaging children

Applying for this job
Once you have thoroughly read this job description and had a careful look at our website including our charter,
please complete the application form here. The electronic form can be saved but you may also find it helpful to use
the word document here as a template.  Please could you also tell us how this freelance role will fit with your other
work commitments.

Applications must be submitted by midnight on Sunday 26 October 2025 with interviews held online week
commencing Monday 3 November 2025.

Please note:
School Food Matters is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
and expects all employees to share this commitment. If you are offered employment, you will be subject to a
Disclosure and Barring Service record check.

School Food Matters is a London Living Wage employer and is committed to creating an inclusive work
environment, where our team members are supported in expressing themselves and delivering their best
work. So, however you identify and whatever background you bring with you, please apply if the role is one
that would make you excited about coming into work every day.

School Food Matters is only able to employ people who are entitled to work in the UK and cannot assist with
work permit or immigration issues.

October 2025