Weekend Junior Volunteering

On the Farm Yard and in the Riding School. 

Saturdays and Sundays, 08:30 to 16:30.

Ages 12 to 17.

We have opportunities for young people aged between 12 and 17 to volunteer with us on either the Riding School or the Farm*. You’ll be helping with the day to day running of the farm or riding school, as well as learning about what it takes to look after animals in a working environment.

Whether it’s for the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, if you’re thinking about a career in animal care, if you want to make new friends, or if you simply want to be involved with a local charity, we’ll be happy to hear from you.

To keep everyone safe all volunteers will complete a health and safety induction with our staff and all Junior Volunteers must have signed parental or guardian consent.

Click here to find out more.

Adult Volunteering

We are always interested in people who want to contribute something back to their community, whether it is a few hours helping out in the shop or using tradesman skills to repair or construct something inside or out. Equally, those considering a career in the care industry might want to assist with less independent volunteers by acting as a mentor for them.

We have volunteering opportunities throughout the year across all areas of the farm. Our standard week days are Tuesday to Friday (as the Farm is closed to the public on Mondays) with Saturday and Sunday spaces available in our shop and at the front gate. 

• Front of House Volunteers, to find out more please download the Role Description and you can apply here.
• Events Volunteer, to find out more please download Role Description and apply here.
• Adult Garden Volunteer, please apply here.
• Adult Riding School, midweek application form - apply here.

Garden Volunteering

We’d love to have more garden volunteers. We won Merton In Bloom’s Community Garden of the Year title in 2017, were runners-up in 2018 and we’re looking to win back the title in 2024.

We have some great Monday volunteers who would love some more help, but we do not currently have an organised gardening group.

If you’ve only got a few hours to spare and are happy to get stuck in and work independently then please apply. We have trees, flowers, fruit, and veg so you can get involved in any area that you fancy. We can provide all the tools and materials you need.

To apply for a garden volunteering position please fill out this form.

Supported Volunteering

Some volunteers might require a higher level of support then our staff are able to offer, in which case we ask that a support worker attends with the volunteer to help them with activities. The supported worker may be a carer, friend or family member, and would join in with activities.

Supported volunteers typically come in for a couple of hours each day rather than a full day, so it might be simply an hour or two in the morning, working with our Livestock or Riding School helping look after the animals.

Work Experience

ON THE FARM OR IN THE RIDING SCHOOL.

Ages 14+

We offer short- and long-term work experience placements in our Livestock department and in our Riding School. Students either attend Tuesday to Friday for one or two weeks or can get long-term work experience by attending one or two days a week over several months. Longer term placements are usually organised as part of animal care or animal management courses. Work experience is usually done as part of a course or qualification and is different to volunteering. Work experience opportunities in the café and shop may include weekends.

All of our activities are assessed for risk and at the beginning of the placement you will receive a comprehensive Health and Safety induction. You will be shown how to carry out your tasks by members of our staff. Certain times of the year can get booked out very quickly, so apply as early as possible. We take work experience students on a first come first serve basis, and we cannot hold spaces for organisations.

Work Experience Application Form