We would be thrilled to have you connect with our volunteer community
The garden is what sets the Castle apart as a climbing centre. And we can always use more help, so come and volunteer with us and join our team!
Victoria (our garden manager)
Food growing and gardening happens whatever the weather and whatever the season. The tasks and activities will be somewhat guided by this, meaning you as volunteers gain a lot of practical skills and dynamic problem solving. Year-round we grow vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers so there is plenty of sowing, planting and harvesting associated with this. But it’s also a massive site that cycles its own materials, and consequently you can get up close with worms in the compost, do some DIY carpentry, build a wildlife habitat with deadwood, or integrally, spend mindful moments weeding.
We will ensure that you have appropriate equipment and tools for the task, but please do dress accordingly for the weather and season. You will also attend a 45 minute induction before commencing volunteering with us, which will cover various safety things and a basic tour of the site.
Importantly, we’ll do our utmost to ensure we teach where possible. As a team — and especially with summertime trainees and a diverse community of volunteers — there is a lot of knowledge here that we are keen to share. We love learning from and supporting each other. Crucially, we try to meet you where you are, so if, for instance, you have limited mobility or feel you want some alone time there will always be activity options to safeguard your enjoyment. If you have any concerns before committing to volunteering, do send an email to garden@castle-climbing.co.uk or pop in for a chat with us.
Volunteer days are Monday and Thursday each week, plus the last Saturday of each month. A full day is 11am - 4pm, though you are welcome to come along for an hour or so (without benefits!)
Volunteers receive 1 x climbing credit per full day session, and a small lunch with drink along with 25% discount on other café items.
For more information, please download the five documents linked. The induction form is for you to fill in and email back to us, while the others are for guidance.
Volunteers are required to complete an induction prior to starting for health and safety purposes; please read and complete the ‘induction form’ then email it to garden@castle-climbing.co.uk
Please note: Due to the nature of our work (pun intended), this email address is generally only monitored on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Your patience is appreciated.
