Trust Links is an organisation committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, Trustees and volunteers to share this commitment.
Trust Links aims to create a culture that respects and values each others’ differences, that promotes dignity, equality and diversity, and that encourages individuals to develop and maximise their true potential.
POST TITLE: Bank Project Worker
POST SALARY: £12.93 per hour depending on skills, qualifications and experience
POST HOURS OF WORK: Sessional (depending on needs of the projects)
POST LOCATION: Trust Links Westcliff, Shoeburyness, Thundersley Basildon, Rochford, Canvey Island and Cressing Temple Centres and partner sites
You may be required to work at any Trust Links project site
REPORTS TO: Nominated staff
RESPONSIBLE FOR: Volunteers where appropriate
PURPOSE OF THE POST:
Trust Links grows communities and transforms lives. Through our six community Growing Together community gardens across Essex, Healthy Mind Hub, MSE Recovery College, children and youth projects, and environmental workshops, we work with more than 4,000 people each year. We work in a person-centred, grassroots and recovery-focused way, helping to save lives every day and move people on to better lives, with the support of others and the wider community.
Growing Together is a therapeutic community garden project with sites in Westcliff, Thundersley, Shoeburyness, Rochford, Basildon, Canvey Island and Cressing Temple (Braintree). Growing Together provides positive activities, meaningful social interaction, training and wellbeing support. Growing Together employs a transformative approach, shifting people’s identity from ‘service user’ to becoming a ‘member’ and ‘gardener’. Through our Greening and partnership projects, we also deliver horticultural, maintenance and environmental activities in the community with members of the public.
Trust Links Recovery College offers free courses and workshops to support mental health and recovery. The Recovery College runs a wide range of courses, workshops and activities to help people better understand their mental health and learn strategies to manage it better. If people are struggling with anxiety, depression, low mood or a similar mental health condition, the team can support them with their wellbeing and on their road to recovery. Trust Links is part of the MSE Recovery College Partnership, working with partners to deliver a co-ordinated Recovery College offer across Mid and South Essex.
The Healthy Mind Hubs provides holistic wellbeing activity-based group support, peer support and multiagency service delivery throughout Mid and South Essex, with the aim of preventing and reducing the demand on secondary mental health services. The Healthy Mind Hub works closely with the MSE Recovery College, Healthy Mind Community Connectors (employed by Mind), Growing Together, and services run by other organisations including Health Trainers, Citizens Advice, Advocacy and drug and alcohol support services.
Trust Links has been running activities and projects for children, young people and families for several years. Forest School is delivered for children and young people at our Growing Together community gardens, in community venues and in partnership with local schools and community groups, with a brand new Forest School Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Club launching in summer 2026 at St Laurence Orchard. Learning Together provides alternative education for young people aged 11-16 who are struggling to attend school due to their mental health and/or Special Educational Needs – both diagnosed and undiagnosed. Youth Links and Dig It Youth provide afterschool safe spaces for young people to meet with others and take part in meaningful activities to promote wellbeing. Bouldering Together provides an opportunity for climbing as a group at Indirock in Southend. Trust Links aims to address mental health stigma and is working to support the early intervention and prevention agenda, helping to address mental health in schools and amongst children and young people in Essex.
Eco Days provides a wide range of workshops and activities to enable people to take positive climate action. Hosted at Trust Links sites and community venues, Eco Days Workshops include make do and mend, wreath making, foraging, jam making and upcycling. Eco Days aims to help people learn and practice methods to reduce their carbon footprint, increase resilience and to reduce climate-related anxiety, whilst building a positive support network.
The Postholder will be required to:
- Provide day to day advice, direction and support for members (beneficiaries) of the Growing Together projects, REACH services or other Trust Links projects
- Develop, lead and deliver activities and courses with individuals and groups of adults, young people, children and/or families
- Work with the staff team and volunteers to improve outcomes and wellbeing for project members, supporting their recovery and holistic needs
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POST:
- Provide one to one and group support for Trust Links beneficiaries
- Develop, deliver and oversee gardening, building, training, emotional support and other activities for adults, young people and/or families accessing our services, evaluating impact and outcomes
- Provide a listening and support function, ensuring other members of the team are kept up to date with mental health and wellbeing issues relating to individuals, risks are being assessed and safeguards are in place
- Provide advice, direction and support for beneficiaries of the project
- Support the delivery of courses, workshops and events at the projects and in the community to promote Trust Links and our services
- Work closely within a multi disciplinary team; attending meetings, giving feedback and communicating with other Trust Links staff
- Provide key working support for beneficiaries as directed
- Work with other health, social care and education professionals external to Trust Links as required
- Devise, plan and deliver training courses and workshops within areas of knowledge
- Provide support to volunteers as appropriate
- Ensure that volunteers are fully aware of their responsibilities and have access to and understand Trust Links Policy and Procedure
- Ensure Safeguarding and Health and Safety requirements are met in line with Trust Links Safeguarding and Health and Safety Policies and escalate concerns about the well-being of beneficiaries to the appropriate agency
- Ensure that services offered are accessible to all members of the local community, promoting an inclusive approach
- Ensure that all beneficiaries are able to contribute fully to the design, delivery and evaluation of services, ensuring services respond to local need
- Participate in regular supervision with line manager and take responsibility for continuing self development, participating in training and development activities as appropriate
- Undertake any other duties within your capabilities in order to help achieve Trust Links aims and objectives
PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Essential
- Experience working with adults with mental health problems in a supportive environment and/or
- Experience working with children, youth or families in a supportive environment
- Excellent communication and people skills
- Excellent work ethic, team player and good interpersonal skills
- Ability to prioritise, work under pressure and organise time to meet project targets
- Person centred, with a flexible approach in meeting client-centred objectives
- Good knowledge of horticulture and other positive activities
- Good documentation and report writing skills and effective verbal communication
- Willing to undergo DBS check
- Commitment to self-development
Desirables
- Qualification in horticulture or related field
- Qualification relating to mental health/social care
- Qualification relating to youth work or working with children and families
- Experience of delivering courses and workshops to adults with mental health issues
- Interest in gardening and/or construction and working outdoors whatever the weather
- Knowledge and experience of co-production with people with living experience of mental health
Personal qualities
- Commitment
- Empathy
- Tact
- Responsiveness
- Realism
- Honesty
- Enthusiasm
- Team Work
- Positive ‘can do’ attitude
***Please do not apply only on indeed, you will need to visit our website and apply with our application form https://www.trustlinks.org/vacancies/ ***
Application closing date 13th September 2026
Job Types: Permanent, Zero hours contract
Pay: £12.93 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
