If working at a care farm with people, animals and surrounded by breathtaking countryside is your thing, then read on!

 

As Countryways CIC celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, we are looking for more talented people to help take us forward.

Countryways is a care farm, based on a working mixed arable and livestock farm, outside Great Missenden who supports people of all ages and stages with additional needs, mental, physical health challenges, isolation, schools and special interest groups. We deliver over 480 special individual sessions and over 50 educational group and school visits annually, linking sustainable farming, food and nature. We provide active and meaningful opportunities for our community, especially those with a range of disabilities, to engage with the countryside, interact with farm animals and nature, to nurture life skills and promote wellness.

If working at a care farm with people, animals and surrounded by breathtaking countryside is your thing, please email vos.rfcountryways@gmail.com . Or come and see for yourself our farm in action at Open Farm Sunday, 9th June, 12.30-4.pm

Due to our brilliant Finance Director retiring, we are seeking a volunteer Finance Director to join our leadership team. We are also recruiting for a Livestock worker (paid role), and Care Farm Support worker (volunteer).
Volunteer Finance Director – View the job advert here
Road Farm Countryways CIC is looking for a Finance Director to join the existing leadership team of 5. This critical role impacts the efficient delivery of wellbeing and skills to a wide community of
ages, including those with learning, physical and mental health challenges.
It’s an exciting time to join us as we enter our 10th Year and have a new Business Plan to deliver!
Brief Summary of the role:
  • Approx 3-5 hours a week of input. Based from home with period meetings on the farm
  • Ensure day-to-day financial accounts are maintained on income and expenditure, including online salary distribution
  • Provide the board with advice, governance and guidance on financial matters, including new ideas
  • Preparation of forecasts and budgets, especially relating to new business plan delivery
  • Ensure annual accounts and all statutory returns are promptly completed and submitted, including tax returns and reports for regulatory bodies
  • Act as a signatory of statutory documents and bank account
  • Participate in active discussion and propose ideas at board meetings as well as communicate via email and telephone
  • Be interested in the delivery of opportunities linking farming, nature and countryside skills to a wide range of individuals, especially those with needs.

Please email Amina at vols.rfcountryways@gmail.com with your cover letter and CV (of no more than two pages).

Livestock Helper (paid role)
A vital part of the care farm is, of course, our ‘very important animals’ – or ‘VIAs’, as our service users interact with these animals day to day. We require someone experienced in animal husbandry to help with livestock management outside average working hours (especially early evenings, and some mornings to be agreed). This paid role would include feeding and watering the VIAs, cleaning livestock pens, ensuring good animal health and record keeping. Your charge will include poultry, goats, donkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs.
For more details about this role, please email Amina at vols.rfcountryways@gmail.com
We are also looking for additional volunteer help with our animals seasonally.
Care Farm Support Worker (Volunteer post)
We are seeking an experienced person to support young adults with special needs to attend Countryways CIC weekly and participate in real life farm experiences and learning. In this role, you will be positively supporting young adults (and their key workers) in undertaking activities on the farm.
This post would ideally suit someone with a background or interest in working with people with special educational needs; previous experience in an educational or care setting, and/or prior knowledge of occupational therapy, physiotherapy or speech therapy.
If this is of interest to you, please email Amina at vols.rfcountryways@gmail.com
Mucking out Helper (Volunteer post, 1-2 hr/week)
We have 2 friendly donkeys and a herd of gorgeous goats. We require a volunteer to help on a regular basis mucking out their fields and shelters.
Fundraiser (Volunteer post, ad hoc)
We are looking for someone to help create successful grant applications and grow our donor base. Your fundraising activities could help us thrive and make our long term growth sustainable as we embark on our next 10 year plan.
Garden Care  (Volunteer post, ad hoc)
Do you have the time and knowledge to offer practical help watering our polytunnel and orchard stock? We would love to hear from you if you do!

Skills Support Mentor (Volunteer post, ad hoc)
Help build educational programmes for our care farm delivery so that we can expand our offering to our service users, for example countryside crafts, woodwork and other practical skills. And provide practical support in our woodwork shop working alongside our care farm manager Duncan, and our farm helpers who attend.

Disability Networks/ Visits Link (Volunteer post, ad hoc)
We are looking for someone to raise our profile within disability networks and educational institutions. You will be a great networker and communicator who can help identify new customer groups and service users who may benefit from the services at Countryways.

General role requirements

  • Over 18s
  • Some roles require DBS checks
If any of these aren’t quite right for you, there are a number of other ways you can help as a volunteer. Other volunteer opportunities include:
  • Cleaning (of core facilities such as the kitchen, meeting room, toilets)
  • Helping at specific events, such as Open Farm Sunday
  • Or if you have skills that may be of interest, get in touch. Our job list above isn’t exhaustive! We welcome speculative enquiries for volunteering.
Please get in touch and have a chat with or Amina, who coordinates our team of volunteers on 01494 862 413 or by email vols.rfcountryways@gmail.com