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Grow Your Own Event

Grants for up to £500 Available Unexpected Garden – Stranraer

Dandelion is a national community food growing initiative that is coming to Stranraer. It is part of the UK wide UnBoxed Festival; a UK wide celebration of creativity taking place in 2022. The project will see a new Unexpected Garden and event space created on the harbour front with the local community that brings together food, culture, ideas, music and technology, driven by the concept of sow, grow, share.

Our ‘Grow Your Own Event’ grants have been created to give the local community the chance to host their own events in Stranraer’s Unexpected Garden. We will offer groups and individuals up to £500 to programme their own event which should meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • Improving wellbeing (physical and mental)
  • Enabling community participation in the arts
  • Promoting equality
  • Enabling participation in physical activity
  • Responding to the climate emergency and promoting sustainability
  • Increasing community access to the garden
  • Promoting the regeneration of Stranraer

Please note that we cannot accept applications promoting a specific religious faith or political party

Please consider the following when thinking about your event:

About the Garden

The Unexpected Garden in Stranraer can be found on the waterfront in Stranraer situated between Burns House and Ulsterbus. It is a community space where people can come together to grow food, take part in workshops, relax or attend one of our many events leading up to Harvest Festival in September.

  • The garden has a 6.5m x 6.5m stretch tent that can provide shelter for events and workshops.
  • We can provide folding tables and chairs as well as a battery powered PA and AMP system for live music and background music
  • We do not have any power supply to the garden so any power requirements will need to be brought in externally.
  • The garden and performance space is on the ground level with no stair access.
  • There is an accessible toilet on site for those who need it
  • Events must take place by 31 August 2022.

How to Apply:

Please complete our short application form to apply:

Deadline for applications: 30 June 2022

Alternatively, you can ask for a copy of the questions and submit a video, voice note or word document. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Categories
Opportunities Project Updates

Project Assistant

The Unexpected Garden – Stranraer

Summary

We’re seeking an enthusiastic, organised, and sociable Project assistant to join our team. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with the Unexpected Garden project and support our Creative Producer to manage the garden and deliver exciting activities in a new community garden in the heart of historic town of Stranraer in the Southwest Scotland.

This is an ideal opportunity for someone looking to get find their way into events, and working with the public.

The Unexpected Garden – Stranraer is part of Dandelion, a national community food growing initiative that is taking place across Scotland. It is part of the UK wide UnBoxed Festival; a celebration of in 2022.

Find out more about Dandelion here.

About the Job

Title: Project Assistant

Location: Stranraer, Harbour Street, DG9 7RD. What3Words code: armrests.farms.lilac

Client: Stranraer Development Trust

Rate: £90 per day (freelance)

We are looking for a commitment of 2 days per week, which could extend to 3 days per week as we approach the Harvest Festival in September 2022. Days and times will be flexible, and some evening and weekend working will be required. We will be flexible to your needs as we hope you will be to ours

Type: Hybrid – working from home and support on site in the Unexpected Garden – Stranraer. 

Start: 4th July – or nearest possible date

Ends: 31st October

About You

The person we are looking for is will be enthusiastic and committed to the project. You will have some experience of working as part of team that produces events and activities for the public, but above all you will be quick to learn and willing to try your hand at just about anything. You’ll be comfortable working outdoors and good with people. You will have good administrative skills and be comfortable communicating with different people.

What You’ll be Doing

You’ll work with our small project team and our volunteers under the direction of our Creative Producer. You’ll help to organise working sessions in the garden for simple garden maintenance through to being a support worker at small musical events and family yoga sessions. You’ll be available to show people and contractors around the Unexpected Garden and support volunteers to set up tents, gazebos and outdoor lighting etc. You’ll know where all the tools and important things needed to run the project and garden are and who to contact in an emergency.

The project is working towards a big public event in mid-September, a ‘Harvest Festival’ – you will be a key team member for the festival, involved in the team that plans and delivers it working with all the people working at the festival from musicians to chefs.  

How to Apply

If you would like to discuss this role further, please get in touch with a letter (or video) of interest that also states why you think you would be suited to this role and we can have a chat

Please send your letter/video of interest to [email protected] by Monday 24th June

It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too. Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you.

We will accept applications from anyone and everyone who feels they have the skills required to fulfil this role.

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Opportunities

Garden Consultant

About the Role

We’re on the hunt for a resident gardening expert to join our team. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with the Unexpected Garden – Stranraer production team to deliver a new community garden in the heart of historic town of Stranraer in the Southwest Scotland.

The Unexpected Garden – Stranraer is part of Dandelion, a national community food growing initiative that is taking place across Scotland. It is part of the UK wide UnBoxed Festival; a celebration of in 2022.

Find out more about Dandelion here.

Title: The Unexpected Gardener – Garden Consultant

Location: Stranraer, Harbour Street, DG9 7RD. What3Words code: armrests.farms.lilac

Client: Stranraer Development Trust

Hourly Rate: £25 (freelance)

(We are looking for a commitment of approximately 3 hours per week, which will extend to 6 hours per week as we approach the Harvest Festival in September 2022)

Type: Hybrid – working from home and support on site in the Unexpected Garden – Stranraer. 

Start: 4th July – or nearest possible date

Ends: 31st October

About You

Providing specialist support and advice for the team working on the garden, you’ll be knowledgeable about plants and growing (mostly edible plants). The garden is situated on the waterfront of Stranraer’s famous harbour and as a coastal garden is prone to strong winds from all directions so we’re looking for someone who can oversee the planting of the Unexpected Garden with knowledge of coastal gardening.

You will join us with an already established broad and deep knowledge of horticulture, gardens, and plants, gained by proven and extensive experience as a Head Gardener, Garden Manager or Horticultural specialist or from previous work on community gardens.

You will be up to date with the latest trends and developments in sustainability, which will help us achieve our ambitious sustainability policy.

What You’ll be Doing

You’ll work with our team of volunteers to ensure they are equipped to care for the garden to ensure it can be enjoyed by many people. You will be working as part of a team and have a passion for sharing your knowledge and enthusing those who you meet.

You’ll work collaboratively with the production team to plan a schedule of work to be carried out, based on the needs of the garden.

The garden will be a place for members of the community to come and have a go at gardening, we will be looking to attract people who are new to gardening as well as experienced gardeners and so making sure the space is inclusive and accessible is one of our main aims.

How to Apply

If you would like to discuss this role further, please get in touch with a letter or video expressing your interest in the role we can have a chat

Please send your application to [email protected]

It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too. Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you.

We will accept applications from anyone and everyone who feels they have the skills required to fulfil this role.

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