This week, pupils from several primary schools have harvested their potatoes from wooden planters. Some pupils received “Spuds for Buddies” rucksacks to carry their potatoes. These cotton rucksacks were produced by Renfrewshire Council’s Community Payback Team.
The growing and harvesting of potatoes has encouraged pupils to improve their awareness of their local environment, build their skills, promote their health and wellbeing in relation to diet and nutrition, and supported school outdoor activities.
Thanks to Awards for All for supporting Spuds for Buddies.
There have been 20 new wooden planters supplied to a primary school and early years centre as part of the Spuds for Buddies Project. There are 10 planters from the Unpaid Work Team which are supporting a group of pupils from P5/6 to grow their own potatoes in Paisley.
Thanks to the pupils and staff involved in the Spuds for Buddies Project, which is supported by Awards for All.
Thanks to assistance from Cardwell Gardens and volunteer help, the early seed potatoes have arrived at Nurseries or Pre-5 Centres, Primary Schools and Community Groups in Paisley. There are potato planting workshops taking place at the moment.
Salary/Hours:£16 per hour for 7 hours per week (£5,824 annually) from 1st October 2025 to 31st July 2027. There are 25 days annual leave plus 12 public holidays on a pro rata basis. The postholder may be automatically enrolled into the Employer Pension Scheme depending on your level of earnings, however they may also choose to opt out of this.
Funded by Awards for All
Responsible to: Renfrewshire Environmental Trust Board of Directors
Job Purpose:
Renfrewshire Environmental Trust promotes community involvement and offers support for initiatives or projects to enhance the local environment or public amenities including greenspace, public parks, wildlife habitats, and historic buildings in the Renfrewshire area. Currently, we support food growing and community gardening activity within Paisley area. We work in partnership with local primary schools and nurseries, local churches, local GPs, housing associations, and community groups.
The Community Gardener will be responsible for planning and delivery of gardening sessions for the Spuds for Buddies Project within the Paisley. They will work with nurseries, primary schools, and community groups within their food growing spaces to assist them in growing potatoes.
A wider aspect of the project activity is supporting the people on unpaid work orders benefit from meaningful work to help build the wooden planters for food growing. They will help to make the Paisley area more attractive and promote maintenance of local greenspaces for use by all ages.
Job Description
The main duties are
To plan and co-ordinate 50 x 2 hour workshops with practical gardening tasks using potato growing in nursery, school or community venues. This will share understanding of where food comes from and how to care for their local environment.
Using appropriate methods, encourage the ownership and participation of local residents and children in developing their skills and experience relating to organic growing in wooden planters.
Keep planters clean and presentable, taking responsibility for the security and equipment whilst delivering activities at the planters alongside teachers and relevant staff in nursery, school or community venues.
To be responsible for safety as and when required / during sessions you deliver.
To promote the growing of potatoes in planters through communicate and engagement with local schools, nurseries and community organisations, housing groups and work in partnership to deliver on outcomes.
2. Education and Training
Respond to the individual support and training needs of gardening volunteers from diverse backgrounds and with different support needs who are involved in Spuds for Buddies.
As required, oversee volunteers to deliver activities and workshops.
Produce educational resources, promotional materials and garden workshop plans/ ideas within budget
To share knowledge of the environment, wildlife, the food cycle, food production, healthy eating and living.
3. Administrative responsibilities:
To manage budget, keep receipts for all expenditure and submit them according to RET financial procedures.
To undertake risk assessments of all activities and to be responsible for the safety and wellbeing of participants. Respond to and manage problems and incidents as and when they arise.
To undertake monitoring and evaluation for the project for RET and funders. To provide Board of Directors with progress reports on Outcomes and Outputs as required.
Person specification: Community Gardener
Essential Criteria
Understanding and commitment to the values and aims of RET.
Technical requirements
Agricultural / Horticultural HND or related qualification
A minimum of three years’ proficient horticultural activity, whether through volunteering, training or through personal initiative.
At least 1 years’ experience of working directly supporting volunteers.
Ability to generate ideas and use initiative in relation to developing a gardening project.
Experience and ability to plan, design and deliver gardening sessions and workshops with children and local resident leadership and participation.
Communication/other
Excellent communication and listening skills, ability to create and maintain positive working relationships including supporting children and volunteers. Ability to communicate effectively with a diverse range of people.
Self-motivated, very well organised and excellent time management skills
Competence in monitoring work to ensure outcomes and targets are achieved. Able to produce good quality reports for line manager. Evaluation experience. Able to do own administration.
Proficient IT skills including MS office.
Experience of using and working within appropriate protocols and procedures eg. health and safety, risk assessments.
Understanding of child protection and vulnerable adults and PVG checks. Ability to work with vulnerable children and young people.
Commitment to comply with the RET Handbook and policies. Able to attend training and development opportunities in line with the overall needs of the organisation and individual, in particular to meet changing needs, new technology developments, and service requirements.
Commitment to keep up to date with good practice and legislation relevant to the role and service, including Safeguarding Children, Adult Protection, Data Protection, Confidentiality, Equalities and Health & Safety.
Other:
Ability to promote RET’s activities in the local community and to work in partnerships with schools and community organisations
Willingness to undergo a PVG / disclosure check
An understanding and commitment to equal opportunities
Able to work flexible hours
Desirable Criteria
Experience of networking around local food / food justice / food security at a local / Paisley level
Experience / understanding of child development, youth work, community development, and community health issues.
Good understanding of climate change and how to influence local residents’ behaviour within a food growing context.
First Aid Certificate, health & safety training
Accessto a car
How to apply for this job vacancy:
Close Date: Friday 19th September 2025 at 12 noon
Interviews: Thursday 25th September 2025
To apply please send us your CV and a covering letter by email to: retpaisley@yahoo.com
Renfrewshire Environmental Trust thanks The National Lottery Fund for the grant to Spuds for Buddies of £19316 to help our community in Paisley to thrive over the next two years.
By the end of March 2025, there were strawberries planted within local nurseries and primary schools across 3 sites in Paisley.
Strawberry patch using recycled tyres at St. Mary’s PrimaryStrawberry patch in wooden planter at Rainbow NurseryStrawberry Patch in wooden planter at Mossvale Primary.
Thanks to support from Renfrewshire Climate Action Network Hub.
This year, there are planters for growing potatoes across the Paisley North, Central and West areas. There are potato bags and wooden planters for potatoes located within local community gardens and school gardens.
Planters for seed potatoes at St. Mary’s Primary
Potatoes growing in bags at Finding Your Feet.
The development of Spuds for Buddies is supported by the Rozelle Trust. The Early Seed Potatoes are expected to be harvested by the end of June 2025.
This week, there were herbs planted in the 7 wooden planters at Finding Your Feet in Paisley. The herbs were provided to enhance the community garden provided to support families affected by amputation or limb absence. The herbs of Thyme, Parsley, Chives, Mint, Rosemary, Mint, and Sage are designed to positively affect both physical and mental wellbeing of people in the garden.
Sage in the wooden planter.
Chives in the wooden planter.
Mint and Thyme planted in wooden boxes.
This herb spaces project is supported by the Robertson Trust and Paisley North, West and Central Area Partnership. Thanks to the staff and volunteers at Finding Your Feet for their gardening activities.
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