Traineeships 2026

We’re looking for 8 or 9 new volunteer trainees this year to join OrganicLea for a supported learning placement. You’ll come to Hawkwood Nursery in Chingford, London, one day a week for nine months where a mentor from our workers’ cooperative will help you build your skills in your chosen area. We offer travel expenses to all our trainees. Applications close at midnight on Monday, 9 February 2026. Placements start the week of 6 April 2026 and finish the week of 14 December 2026.

What’s involved?

Placement roles can be achieved with a commitment of one day a week, and the working day for nearly all roles is 9am to 5pm. Please read on for the role-specific timing details. In addition to ongoing mentoring, there are topic-specific workshops/learning opportunities with other trainees (x4 events), site volunteers (x3 events), including a visit for all trainees to another growing site. Participation in very occasional weekend activities also supports the overall experience.

Want to know more?

Come along to our Trainee Open Afternoon from 4pm to 6pm on Wednesday, 4 February. You’ll meet former trainees, mentors and get to see the Hawkwood site in person. It’s a great time to ask questions about the placements, how to apply, and learn more about what we do.

Volunteer traineeship roles 2026

Below is a brief summary of the available roles. Full role descriptions are available to download via the links at the end of each summary.

Grower – Community Market Gardening (Plants and Production focus) – 2 positions
This placement is with the growing team at Hawkwood. It will suit someone looking to develop their skills as a market gardener in a community setting, supporting horticultural activity during and outside of busy and diverse volunteering and training tasks. You’ll help grow vegetables from seed to harvest, support participants, and take responsibility for plants and produce throughout the growing season. Download the full role description Grower – Plants and Production Trainee
Days: Wednesdays

Community Learning and Volunteer Support – 2 positions
Ideal for those keen to develop skills as a community worker in urban food-growing settings. You’ll help with learning and volunteering activities for people from all backgrounds, support volunteers, and support the delivery of OrganicLea’s training programme, practical gardening and cooking sessions. Trainees also have the chance to develop a project around volunteering or community engagement. Download the full role description Community Learning and Volunteer Support Trainee
Days: Wednesdays or Fridays

Grower – Community Market Gardening (Horticulture with Fruit focus) – 1 or 2 positions
Work with our fruit care team, looking after more than 200 fruit trees and a variety of soft fruits. You’ll learn fruit growing skills, help with harvesting, and gain experience in both fruit and vegetable production. This traineeship will suit someone looking to develop their skills within the market garden, and in particular someone looking to develop their skills as a fruit grower in a community setting. Download the full role description Grower – Fruit and Production Trainee
Days: Fridays

Grower – Production and Biodiversity – 1 position
Join the growing team and learn to be a small-scale organic grower, while supporting and also surveying wildlife. Working with the Production and Biodiversity worker, you’ll focus on managing wildlife areas, carry out surveys, learn about diverse cropping, and help create wild spaces that benefit both food production and wildlife. Download the full role description Grower – Production and Biodiversity Trainee
Days: Fridays

Infrastructure and Production – 1 position
If you’re interested in practical site development and garden management, this is for you. You’ll pick up a broad range of practical skills needed in site development and large-scale garden management at community projects. Working independently and alongside our infrastructure workers and volunteers, you’ll be able to focus on the aspects of work that interest you most. Download the full role description Infrastructure and Production Trainee
Days: Fridays

Herb, Seeds and Production – 1 position
This traineeship is perfect if you want to learn about sustainable growing in a community garden setting, plus herbal tea blends, seed saving, and harvesting. You’ll be part of the production team and take part in morning harvests, working with volunteers to reach your goals. Full role description – Herb, Seeds Production Trainee
Days: Fridays

How to apply for a traineeship

This year’s deadline for applications is midnight, Monday 9 February 2026. If we’d like to meet with you about your application, we’ll let you know what to expect ahead of time.
Here’s what to do:

1. Download and fill in both the application form and the monitoring form. You’ll find different ways to apply at the start of the form.
2. Let us know which role(s) you’re interested in. If you’d like to apply for more than one, list your top three choices in order.
3. Send your forms to elise@organiclea.org.uk or you can post them to Hawkwood Plant Nursery, 115 Hawkwood Crescent, Chingford, E4 7UH, for the attention of Elise Yarde.

Interview dates

Any questions?
Contact Elise at elise@organiclea.org.uk or call 020 8524 4994 (Tuesdays and Fridays are the best days to get in touch).