This year, we are recruiting for 8 or 9 volunteer trainees. These are supported learning placements; one day a week for 9 months. Each placement is supported by a mentor from our workers cooperative guiding your learning in your chosen area of our work. Closing date is midnight on Monday 9 February 2026. Starting week beginning 6 April 2026 and ending week beginning 14 December 2026.
The commitment:
- Roles can be achieved with a commitment of one day a week. The working day for nearly all roles is 9am – 5pm. More details about how the days relate to roles are below.
- In addition to ongoing mentoring, there are topic specific workshops/learning opportunities with other trainees (x4 events), site volunteers (x3 events) including a visit for all trainees to another growing site.
- Participation in very occasional weekend activities also supports the overall experience.
All are based at OrganicLea’s main site – Hawkwood Plant Nursery in Chingford, Northeast London. Travel expenses are offered to all trainees.
If interested, and need more information or encouragement: Find out more at our Trainee Open Afternoon from 4pm – 6pm on Wednesday 4 February. During this session you will have the chance to meet former trainees, some mentors and also see our Hawkwood site where the traineeship takes place. Bring any questions about these placements, how to apply for them and find out more about our work.
A summary of the roles are below with full descriptions for each role available.
Grower (Community market gardening focus: Plants and Production) – 2 roles
A placement within the growing team at Hawkwood. This traineeship will suit someone looking to develop their skills as a market gardener in a community setting – supporting horticultural activity during and outside of busy and diverse volunteering and training tasks. The trainee will learn the skills required to the successful growing, from seed to crate, of the vegetables at Hawkwood, to integrate that with the needs of participants and take on responsibilities for growing plants and produce over the growing season. Full role description
Traineeship days: 2 one day roles Wednesdays
Community Learning and Volunteer Support Trainee – 2 roles
This traineeship will suit someone looking to develop their skills as a community worker in urban food growing settings. The trainee will learn skills required to support learning and volunteering opportunities in urban food growing that encourage participants from all walks of life. The trainee will gain experience in supporting volunteers in a community horticultural setting, supporting the delivery of our varied training programme and practical gardening and cooking activities throughout the seasons. Trainees will have the opportunity to develop and deliver their own project, focused on an element of volunteering. learning or community engagement, during the course of the traineeship. Full role description
Traineeship days: 2 one day roles either a Wednesday or a Friday.
Grower (Horticulture with Fruit focus) – 1 or 2 roles
A placement with the fruit care team. We have an orchard of over 200 young fruit trees; peaches against our glasshouse; cordon-style growing of apples and pears; almonds and hazelnuts. We also grow soft fruits including blackcurrants, raspberries and rhubarb. This traineeship will suit someone looking to develop their skills within the market garden, and in particular someone looking to develop their skills as a fruit grower in a community setting. The trainee will learn the skills required to manage the fruit growing areas of Hawkwood, and take on responsibilities for the fruit. You will also take part in the weekly harvests of both fruit and salad leaves, and pick-up skills associated with the growing of plants and vegetables across the season. Full role description
Traineeship days: Fridays
Grower (Production and Biodiversity) – 1 role
A placement within the growing team at Hawkwood. This traineeship will suit someone looking to develop their skills as a small-scale organic grower while developing skills to survey and support wildlife. Working within our food growing team, with the Production and Biodiversity worker during and outside of busy and diverse volunteering and training tasks. While also learning a variety of growing skills, there will be time to focus on the management of our wildlife areas which includes learning about carrying out regular wildlife surveys. You will learn about our use of diverse cropping schemes, and our support for wild spaces for the benefit of food production, and the wildlife we share our site with. Full role description
Traineeship days: Fridays
Infrastructure Trainee – 1 role
This traineeship will suit someone wanting to learn a broad range of practical skills which are needed in site development and large scale garden management at community sites. You should be happy working independently with, with the Organiclea Infrastructure Workers, and with volunteers. The trainee will be able to focus in on the aspects of work which appeal most to him/her/them. Full role description
Traineeship days: Fridays
Herb, Seeds and Production Trainee – 1 role
This traineeship will suit someone looking to develop their skills as a sustainable grower in a community market garden setting while developing their skills in the areas of production of herbal tea blends, seed saving techniques and any growing skills which support this. You will be part of the Production team on a Friday so will also be part of the morning harvest from 9 to 11am where you can develop those skills associated with harvesting fruit and vegetables according to our harvest schedule. This includes working with and supporting volunteers to achieve these aims. Full role description
Traineeship days: Fridays
To apply please:
- Please download, complete and return the OrganicLea application form and monitoring form, available on our website. (Different ways to apply listed at the beginning of the form.)
- Indicate clearly which role(s) you are interested in. If you would like to apply for more than one role please list your preferred 3 in order.
- Send to: elise@organiclea.org.uk or post to the Hawkwood Address for the attention of Elise Yarde, OrganicLea, 115HawkwoodCrescent, Chingford, E4 7UH
If we ask you to meet with us about your application, we’ll provide information about what we’ll talk about in advance of sitting down with you.
Deadline for applications: Midnight Monday 9 February 2026
For more information about the roles, start by contacting Elise at: elise@organiclea.org.uk or call 020 8524 4994 (Tuesdays and Fridays are good contact days).
| Role | Date of Interview |
| Community Learning and Inclusion | 25/02/2026 or 27/02/2026 |
| Grower (Plants and Production) | 03/03/2026 |
| Grower (Production and Biodiversity) | 06/03/2026 |
| Grower (Horticulture with Fruit Focus) | 27/02/2026 or 06/03/2026 |
| Herbs, Seeds and Production | 27/02/2026 |
| Infrastructure | 27/02/2026 |
