Rock Farm Volunteer

We offer open volunteer days, Wed - Fri every week. Folks usually arrive from 10am, we start on jobs together around 10.30am, share lunch together around 12.30pm, and tend to finish up for the day around 3pm. However, this is a flexible opportunity: you’d be welcome to join us for any amount of time that works for you within those hours. We also do not require a time commitment - some of our volunteers come regularly every week, whilst others dip in and out depending on their schedule. 

On our 6 acre market garden, we grow fruit and veg using permaculture and regenerative techniques. Your tasks will be highly seasonal, changing each week: things like seed sowing, planting, weeding, harvesting (and eating!), watering, pruning, etc. You could also use/maintain our mowers and machinery, do DIY/mending around the site, process firewood, or help cook lunch. We have others who love the community aspect and working supportively with others. Plenty of scope to follow your interests and needs.

Skills

We don’t require any prior experience, nor any specific skills. Many of our volunteers have never gardened or grown food before!

Benefits

• Support your mental and physical health and wellbeing. We find that this is pretty magic combination for looking after yourself: meaningful work, nature connection, getting your body moving with gentle outdoor tasks, and social connection in a kind and caring community. 
• Build your skills. The farm is a great space to learn about growing food regeneratively and tackling climate crisis in small-scale, practical ways. The community aspect also gives you the chance to build your social and interpersonal skills, as we work in mixed groups and enjoy social time together, too.
• Enjoy the community. Meet new people, build friendships and enjoy the fun and companionship of our very special little community. Many of our volunteers experience social isolation, and find that volunteering with us keeps them plugged in and feeling like they belong somewhere. Others are well supported and connected day to day, and find they can give something back by joining this community and supporting others. Everyone is welcome. 

Practical Considerations

• Volunteer days are Weds - Fri, 10am - 3pm. Feel free to come for as long or short as you’d like. 
• You can find us on Google Maps: search ‘Rock Farm’
  
• Car park on site with plenty of room. 
• Free minibus every Wednesday to and from Brighton (leaving from One Church Florence Rd around 9.30am, and returning around 3.30pm).
• Accessible via public bus from Steyning, Horsham and Worthing directions.
• Lift shares possible.  
• Free cooked lunch each day: we cook with what we grow, and lunch is usually vegetarian and gluten free (inc coeliac), and we are very open to accommodating other dietary reqs if you let us know. You’re also welcome to bring a packed lunch if you prefer. 
• Please wear weather-appropriate clothing that you don’t mind getting mucky, including comfortable shoes. Bring a water bottle and any weather-related gear e.g. hat, sun cream, rain coat. 

Supporting individuals with additional support needs and/or disabilities

We work as a mixed group of volunteers (mainly over 18's) - some referred and supported, and others self-referred and with fewer support needs. We have trained support workers on site to work alongside anyone with additional support needs and/or disabilities, and are skilled at matching each person to tasks that suit them individually. We love helping people to find their niche at the farm. Our more supported volunteers tend to be adults with special educational needs, disabilities, neurodivergence, mental health struggles and/or experiences of social marginalisation (including migrants, refugees and asylum seekers). Many of our participants benefit from a gently structured routine, adaptable tasks and low-pressure social environments. We’re also happy to work alongside existing support workers where needed and to discuss individual needs and adjustments to make it the right fit for each person. ACCESSIBILITY We want to be upfront: our site is a working market garden with rugged, uneven paths, and we do not yet have wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities. We're actively working to improve physical accessibility, and we'd be glad to discuss specific access needs to determine what's feasible for individual participants. We may not be able to accommodate every mobility need at present, but we're committed to finding solutions wherever we can. SAFEGUARDING We take safeguarding seriously. All our staff are DBS-checked, and we have in place risk assessments, healthy & safety and safeguarding policies and procedures, and forms for referrals and self-referrals. We're happy to share these documents and walk through any questions your organisation has about safeguarding arrangements before a visit.

When do I need to be available?

Details	No availability requirements, this is a flexible opportunity: you’d be welcome to join us for any amount of time that works for you within those hours. We also do not require a time commitment - some of our volunteers come regularly every week, whilst others dip in and out depending on their schedule.

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Where does this role take place?

Register your Interest