Code of Conduct – Community Garden
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Welcoming. We want to welcome everybody who comes to the garden. We do this by saying hello and engaging with that person and showing them around. This courtesy extends to anyone who comes through our gate, new service users, new volunteers, a delivery person, someone dropping something off, someone making an enquiry, this is everyone’s job. We are proud of our garden and we strive to be a cohesive and friendly group.
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Respect for each other. We only speak to people and about people respectfully and without aggression.
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Togetherness. We work together as a group and this might mean being aware that someone needs a helping hand.
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Empathy. We use non-violent communication practices which means if we have a conflict with another person, we go directly to them to resolve, keeping in mind that that person may be experiencing difficulties and we use language which is empathetic.
No gossiping. This is destructive and creates a toxic environment and builds resentment. This approach allows us to build stronger, healthier and most importantly kinder relationships. If you need to get help, a member of staff will help to mediate.
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We don’t do drugs, alcohol or smoking anywhere at The Community Garden - EVER. This includes by the entrance way and where the cars are parked. If you feel the need to smoke, you can use the top field. Anyone breaking this rule onsite will be asked to leave.
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Triggers. We don’t talk about alcohol or drugs - even words can be a negative trigger for those on a journey of recovery.
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Respect the Community Garden Be respectful of the premises, clean tools you have used and put them away in the tool store before the end of the volunteer session, wash your cups and put them away where you found them, pay your tea and coffee subs each week with staff, be ready to leave when staff leave.
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A safe and confidential space. When you come through the gates of the garden, it is a safe place where you might want to open up and share your story and that is why trust is important, as is knowing what you say won’t be repeated. If somebody talks to you about something private, that information is confidential which is ruled by common law. It’s a privilege to hear someone’s story and to have that trust, this is where healing happens. The only time confidentiality can be broken is if that person is a danger to themselves or to others. Then the information would need to be passed on to the Growing Links Safeguarding Officer, on 07979 120 909.
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Respect the staff. The staff are here for the benefit of all. They enable, create safety and a sense of cohesion and they are ultimately in charge of the garden. We all welcome discussion and consensus, but it is the staff who make the decisions. It is really important that people attend meetings.