About the Farm
This is an ideal opportunity to become involved with one of London’s hidden treasures. Covering over 1.5 acres of land, Vauxhall City Farm is home to over 60 animals and provides Londoners the opportunity to experience the sights, sounds and smells of the countryside without leaving the city. It also offers opportunities, education and training to the local community and beyond.
As a small charitable organisation looking to grow, this also offers candidates an opportunity for personal and professional growth.
Job Description
To support the day-to-day running of the farmyard, ensuring high standards of animal welfare, visitor safety, and positive engagement with the public. To manage volunteers and work experience- assigning jobs and managing a safe and supportive environment. To run corporate volunteer groups, ensuring that groups with limited experience around a farm work efficiently and effectively whilst maintaining a high standard of safety. To run the front desk during busy period (half term, summer holidays etc.). To lead our mobile farm events which involves taking the animals off-site. Sessional workers play a key role in delivering a welcoming, safe, and educational environment for visitors, volunteers, and community groups.
Please note that a typical shift involves being assigned to one specific job (e.g. running a corporate volunteering session, overseeing farmyard daily routines, leading a mobile farm etc.).
Key Responsibilities
Animal Care & Welfare
· Assist with daily husbandry routines including feeding, watering, mucking out, bedding, and basic health checks.
· Carry out more advanced animal care tasks when required, including administering basic treatments or injections under direction and in line with training and farm protocols. (Where the post-holder is not trained to administer injections, they will support treatments in other appropriate ways as directed).
· Assist with the care and monitoring of sick or injured animals and follow treatment plans set by the Farmyard Manager, Farm Operations Manager or veterinary professionals.
· Observe animal behaviour closely and report any health, welfare, or behavioural concerns promptly to the Farmyard Manager or the Farm Operations Manager.
· Maintain clean, safe, and hygienic animal enclosures and public areas.
· Follow all animal welfare legislation, farm policies, and biosecurity procedures always.
· Facilitate supervised animal meet-and-greet sessions, ensuring positive experiences for visitors while prioritising animal welfare, hygiene, and safety always.
Public Engagement & Education
· Run the front desk which is vital to us as charity to collect any donations and provide health & safety information regarding the farm.
· Provide a friendly, informative, and professional presence in the farmyard.
· Answer visitor questions and share appropriate information about the animals, farming practices, and the work of the farm.
· Support informal learning and engagement with families, children, schools, and community groups when necessary.
· Supervise visitors in animal areas and promote safe, respectful behaviour around animals.
· To lead our mobile farm events when a selection of small and/or large animals are transported off-site. This includes ensuring adequate welfare standards at the event and guaranteeing safe public interaction with the animals.
Corporate & Volunteer Group Support
· Support and supervise corporate volunteering groups and other volunteer groups working in the farmyard.
· Brief groups on tasks, health & safety, and animal welfare expectations.
· Ensure volunteering activities are carried out safely, productively, and in line with farm priorities.
· Provide a positive and engaging volunteering experience while maintaining high standards of care and safety.
· Manage work experience and volunteers on the farm- directing tasks and ensuring jobs are completed to a high standard.
· Training new work experience or volunteers on a typical shift, health & safety procedures, how to muck out etc.
Health & Safety
· Help ensure the farmyard is a safe environment for visitors, volunteers, staff, and animals.
· Actively monitor public and working areas and intervene appropriately when unsafe behaviour occurs.
· Follow all health & safety procedures, including manual handling, hygiene, and safeguarding protocols.
· Assist with opening and closing checks of the farmyard as required.
Reporting & Communication
· Report directly to the Farmyard Manager or designated senior staff member during each shift.
· Ensure clear handovers and communication with other staff and sessional workers.
· Accurately complete a daily entry in the Farmyard Report Diary, recording animal care, treatments, incidents, volunteer activity, and any issues arising during
The ideal candidate will have significant experience working with young children, preferably in an environmental or outdoors education setting.
Teamwork & Operations
· Work collaboratively with permanent staff, other sessional workers, and volunteers.
· Support events, workshops, corporate days, and seasonal activities as required.
· Carry out other reasonable duties appropriate to the role.
Essential
This position will involve contact with young people. The postholder will therefore be subject to an enhanced DBS clearance on appointment and on an appropriate review basis thereafter.
· Minimum NVQ Level 2 qualification (or equivalent) in Animal Management, Agriculture, or a related discipline.
· Proven practical experience working with livestock and small animals.
· Confident and professional in engaging with members of the public, including children and families.
· Ability to follow instructions accurately and work safely in accordance with established procedures.
· Reliable, punctual, and flexible.
· Sound understanding of animal welfare principles and health and safety requirements.
Desirable
· Experience working in a public-facing, educational, or community-based environment.
· Experience supporting or working with individuals with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
· Valid First Aid qualification.
· Experience administering animal medications, including vaccinations and other routine treatments.
· Experience in project planning, coordination, or management.
Additional Information
· The role involves working outdoors in all weather conditions.
· This role involves working across the weekend and during holidays. Occasional evening work may also be required.
· Successful applicants may be required to undergo safeguarding checks in line with organisational policy (enhanced DBS check & referees).
· Subject to further training the role may extend to Duty Manager responsibilities depending on suitability/interest.
Equal opportunities
Vauxhall City Farm is committed to being an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.
Previous applicants need not reply.
Please apply with your COVER LETTER & CV highlighting your experiences and how you fit the above job role.
Pay: £14.80 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
