Volunteer with us

Calthorpe Community Garden is the perfect place for anyone looking for volunteer opportunities in a safe and secure environment. Your assistance allows us to keep our garden up and running, and to deliver essential services for vulnerable groups in our community.

Benefits to you

• A safe and welcoming place to socialise and make new friends while supporting the local community.

• Gardening can reduce stress and generally improve your mental and physical well-being.

• You will gain valuable skills which might open new work opportunities for you.

• You will have access to workshops, training and events organised by us.

Current volunteering opportunities:

Trustee Recruitment

Overview

Calthorpe Community Garden is a buzzing, multi-functional space in the heart of London that fosters community engagement, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion. We provide a green sanctuary where people from all walks of life can come together to practice and learn about gardening, grow food and other plants, participate in workshops, host events and socialise, and develop a sense of community. As we continue to grow and expand our impact, we are seeking passionate, dedicated individuals to join our Board of Trustees to support the ongoing development and governance of our garden and community centre.

Volunteering as a Trustee is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of a well-loved community space and contribute to its long-term success. We are particularly looking for Trustees with:

• connections in our local community: those who live, work, and/or play in the King's Cross area;

• experience in fundraising, grantwriting, and/or financial management;

• knowledge of community engagement and collective organising strategies.

The Role of Trustees

As a charity, Calthorpe Community Garden is governed by a Board of Trustees responsible for overseeing our work and ensuring we achieve our objectives. Trustees provide strategic leadership, help to shape our vision, and ensure we are operating in a way that aligns with our mission.

Trustees will be responsible for:

• Providing strategic oversight and guidance to the operational team.

• Ensuring the charity complies with legal and regulatory requirements.

• Safeguarding the charity’s assets and finances.

• Promoting and upholding the values and ethos of the Centre.

• Supporting fundraising and community outreach initiatives.

• Acting as an ambassador for CCG within the wider community.

The Board typically meets at least quarterly. Trustees are expected to attend these meetings, engage in discussions, and take part in sub-committees or working groups relevant to their areas of expertise.

Application Process and Further Information 

To send an application, simply fill in this form and submit for review. The deadline for expressing interest is Saturday, 8 November 2025, at 5pm; however, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and we'd appreciate early submissions!

Please be aware that the garden's current staff and Trustees will review your responses. A current trustee will then get in touch in order to schedule a brief discussion, giving applicants the opportunity to ask any questions they have about the role.

Applicant biographies submitted via this form will be shared with members of the community prior to our Annual General Meeting. Trustees will be voted in by members of the community through our AGM process.

Thank you for your interest! We look forward to receiving your application, and appreciate your commitment to a greener, more connected, and sustainable community in central London.

For more information about Calthorpe Community Garden, or if you have any questions about the trustee role, please contact Becca Farnum via becca@calthorpecommunitygarden.org.uk. 

Gardening

During these sessions, we undertake seasonal gardening tasks as required, such as food growing, composting, weeding, tidying, etc. As part of our closed-loop food system, we collect and process food and garden waste into our composting systems.

We are proud to have 8 different composting systems as part of our closed-loop system:

• Wormery

• Garden waste bays

• Ridan

• Bokashi

If you are interested in sustainability, organic food growing, closed-loop systems, zero-waste, and want to engage in outdoor activities with others in the community, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

You will gain valuable experience and training on a live closed-loop food system working in a community setting and can take part in our community lunch on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Gardening sessions are on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

Tools and guidance will be provided. We can differentiate for individual needs.

• Compost bin

• Compost tumbler

• Biodigester

• Leaf mould

Kitchen volunteers

We deliver community lunches twice a week on Wednesdays and Fridays for up to 30 people that participate in our gardening sessions and craft activities, many of them are elderly and from migrant communities.

• We are searching for committed volunteers with kitchen experience who are organised, enjoy working as part of a team, are hands-on, and passionate about community.

• For this role we would need you to be regularly available on either Wednesdays from 11:00am until 2pm and/or Fridays from 11am to 2pm.

You will have the opportunity to socialise with our friendly participants and volunteers during lunch. If you are interested in practicing Spanish, the best day for volunteering is Friday.

Admin Volunteers

We need administrative support for the general running of the garden and community centre. This role would suit someone who’s looking to start or change their career in the social enterprise community sector, and/or looking to refresh their skills after a career break.

Days and times to be agreed with Martha. Half days, preferably on Mondays or Thursdays.

Food for Homeless Distribution

We prepare lunches for unhoused people in the King’s Cross area and distribute it to them. We could use your help with cooking the lunch and distributing the food itself. This project is in collaboration with Food for Homeless (FFH).

This takes place on Fridays from 10am-2pm.

Events

We regularly run community festivals and events and need support on the day with setting up, welcoming the public, and other jobs. You will gain valuable experience working in a community setting and will get a chance to participate in the event.