Trainee - Brooke Park (ID357)

TCV Partnership; Derry/Londonderry; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) in Derry/Londonderry is offering a fixed-term apprentice role focused on horticulture and community projects at Brooke Park. You will learn by doing across a wide range of activities, supporting environmental projects and volunteers.

No prior experience is required, but an interest in horticulture, growing plants or vegetables, and working with volunteers will help. A full driving licence is helpful but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Deliver the I Can Grow project by building planters, growing veg plants and delivering them to households across the borough.
• Support the local TCV Derry team in delivering practical environmental projects and help lead volunteers.
• Assist in planning projects, including preparing materials and tools.
• Create and maintain gardens for schools and communities.
• Undertake habitat management work on bogs, woodlands, wetlands and sand dunes.
• Assist staff to deliver projects and learning events to local communities and schools.
• Learn and apply health and safety standards.
• Attend training sessions to learn about horticulture and gardening.

Job description

Contract Type: Fixed term until 30/09/2027

About the role

TCV is a partner in The Acorn Farm which is a major project helping to build a more sustainable food system in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area.

This post is funded on a fixed-term basis until 30 September 2027 and provides opportunities for learning and skills development to support I Can Grow and other projects managed by TCV and based at Brooke Park.

The apprentice will learn by doing in a wide range of horticultural and environmental activities including:

• a) Helping to deliver the I Can Grow Project by building planters, grow vegetables plants and deliver these to households across the borough.


• b) Support the local TCV Derry team in the delivery of practical environmental projects and helping to lead volunteers.


• c) Assisting in the planning of projects, including helping to prepare materials and tools.


• d) Helping to undertake creation and maintenance of gardens for schools and communities.


• e) Helping to undertake habitat management work on natural habitats such as bogs, woodlands, wetlands and sand dunes.


• f) Assist TCV staff to deliver projects and learning events to local communities and schools.


• g) Learning about and maintaining good standards of health and safety.


• h) Attend training sessions to learn about horticulture environment and gardening.

Experience

This is a temporary role to give work experience in horticulture and no special experience is required, however applicants need to show how the experience will help advance their career in this sector, so experience in horticulture and growing plants or vegetables growing is helpful, as well as experience of working with volunteers and the public.

A full driving licence is helpful but not essential.

To fulfil the role, you must be resident in the UK and have the right to work in the UK.

Safeguarding

TCV is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of children and adults at risk.

All employees are expected to follow TCV's Safeguarding Policy, complete mandatory safeguarding training, and promptly report any concerns.

Safeguarding is a core part of working safely and responsibly at TCV.

A bit more about us

We are The Conservation Volunteers.

Our vision is Better Nature For All.

Our mission is to connect people together to protect and restore nature, delivering lasting benefits for both

Since 1959, The Conservation Volunteers has been a charity creating opportunities for people to create, improve and care for nature in the green spaces around them across the UK.

Our variety of projects cover a bit of everything involving nature. Volunteers muddy their boots in parks, community gardens, woodland, sites of special scientific interest, nature reserves, schools and hospital grounds, helping create a glorious network of protected green space across the UK.

This work connects people with nature, and that connection delivers powerful results.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early or extend the closing date depending on the number of applicants. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience.

Interviews will be held on 17 November 2026 at our Derry office.

Occasionally, we receive a large number of responses to our advertisements. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date (11th November 2026), please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. Thank you for your interest in TCV.

We believe that embracing diversity helps us achieve our goals more effectively. We welcome applications from all individuals who wish to be part of our future, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we offer interviews to all applicants who have a disability, impairment or mental or physical health condition who meet the minimum criteria for the job. We provide reasonable adjustments and are committed to having an inclusive and accessible recruitment process.

Acceptable Use - Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We recognise that candidates may use AI tools to support their application, for example to help structure or edit written responses or as an accessibility aid. TCV does not prohibit appropriate use of AI for these purposes. However, the information you submit should accurately reflect your own experience, skills and understanding.

During interviews and other assessments, we expect candidates to respond independently without the use of AI tools, unless its use has been agreed as a reasonable adjustment.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that candidates may need during the recruitment process, and you will be asked whether you require any during your application. If you would like to discuss your requirements further please contact the People Team via email or by telephone on 01302 388883. We also offer reasonable adjustments on the job.

Any employment with TCV will be subject to the following checks prior to your start date:

• a satisfactory police record check to include an Access NI check


• receipt of satisfactory references


• proof of eligibility to work in the national location for this role

Registered in England as a limited company (976410)
and as a charity in England (261009) and Scotland (SC039302)

Registered Office: Gresley House, Ten Pound Walk, Doncaster DN4 5HX