HANDS OF HOPE

Enabling people and communities to lead healthier and happier lives by connecting them to nature and each other
The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
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Corporate Volunteering

Experience how rewarding and fulfilling it is to help play a part in making a positive difference to someone’s life through corporate volunteering.

Achieve great things outside the office

Why not escape your desk and explore corporate volunteering at Hope Farm Community Garden, supporting Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management activities in this ‘Natural Health’ setting.

Hope Farm is located in Hawkhurst, on the Kent/Sussex border, set in 22 acres of National Landscape. We deliver programmes aimed at tackling rural isolation, loneliness, and food poverty, as well as improving mental, physical, educational and environmental health for communities throughout Rother, Hastings, and West Kent – areas experiencing high levels of deprivation and social isolation. Through our provision, we deliver measurable improvements in wellbeing, skills, social connection, food security, and engagement with nature, while fostering long-term community resilience and opportunity.

Over the past five years, we have transformed a neglected site into vibrant, accessible spaces that improve well-being, build skills, and strengthen community connections. Our restored Edwardian wall, kitchen garden, wildflower meadow, heritage orchard, and flower garden, apiary, and pond-dipping platform support hands-on learning and therapeutic activities. Thanks to our new, sustainably designed Community Kitchen and Cookery School, Victorian Glasshouse, and classrooms, we can deliver year-round activities both indoors and outdoors, enabling people to grow food, engage with nature, develop practical skills, improve health and wellbeing, and connect with others. This transformation has been achieved with limited funding through the commitment of our Trustees and volunteers. Our impact and volunteer-led model were recognised in 2022 with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.

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Corporate Volunteering at Hope Farm Community Garden

Corporate Volunteering offers multiple benefits to you and your employees:

  • Improved Employee Engagement and Satisfaction - Employees often feel more motivated when their employer supports meaningful social causes.
  • Stronger Employer Brand and Reputation - Corporate volunteering strengthens how a company is perceived by the public and potential employees.
  • Skills Development and Leadership Growth - Volunteering can act as an informal training environment where employees build valuable skills.
  • Team Building and Collaboration - Group volunteering activities help employees connect in ways they might not during normal work.
  • Community Impact and Local Partnerships - Companies can strengthen ties with the communities where they operate.
  • Raised awareness of social and environmental health issues - Working with different communities exposes employees to new challenges and perspectives.
  • Alignment with ESG and Sustainability Goals - Corporate volunteering supports broader organisational goals related to: (i) Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), (ii) Sustainability reporting & (iii) Social impact measurement.

Our amazing facilities

Market Garden at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst
Market Garden
Cut Flower Garden at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst
Flower Garden
Heritage Orchard at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst
Heritage Orchard
Cook School at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst
Cook School
Large Classroom at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst
Large Classroom
22 acre site incorporating woodland, pond, wildflower meadow, maerket garden, flower garden and heritage orchard at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst
22 acres of natural capital

Team days

Corporate Volunteering at Hope Farm Community Garden

Get Stuck In and Make a Difference:

  • HOH days are a great way to show how your organisation plays a positive, responsible and active part in helping people within your local community.
  • A day at Hope Farm can allow your employees to discover how to work cooperatively in a different setting – helping them to build new relationships and understandings.
  • Access heritage expertise, learn no-dig organic gardening techniques, grow and harvest food for local food banks and help manage conservation and habitat sites.
  • Enjoy the peaceful setting – helping employees to improve their mental health, work through anxiety and allow time for contemplation.
  • Besides the fun and memories, you create, go home with organic vegetables or hand-picked garden flowers.

Corporate Volunteering sessions typically run 10am-4pm.

Our Practical Team Building Days usually follow this timetable (but we’re very happy to hear from you if your team, for example, only has half a day available to work with us):

09:30  – Welcome to Hope Farm & introduction to our project + tea & coffee
10:00  – Health & Safety Briefing
10:15  – Practical Activity
12:30  – Lunch
13:30  – Practical Activity
15:30  – Review of the Day
16:00  – Finish

The social value

BE PART OF OUR VISION
to become a beacon and landmark at the heart of the community, focusing on tackling food poverty, loneliness and rural isolation.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE
by rewilding the meadows, ponds and woodlands, encouraging biodiversity and habitat regeneration, and growing food for our community food banks using organic no-dig techniques.

BY DONATING YOUR TIME AND SKILLS
help us deliver on our mission to teach people and their communities’ practical ways to sustain, grow, conserve, protect and improve the natural environment.

Hands of Hope is run by a small team of staff and your charitable donation helps with staffing, subsistence and resources for your team day.

Contact us about Corporate Volunteering

Please enter brief details below and we’ll be in touch to discuss your requirements.

Corporate Volunteering is a win for everyone

Corporate Volunteering at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst
Corporate Volunteering at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst
Corporate Volunteering at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst
Corporate Volunteering at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst
Corporate Volunteering at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst
Corporate Volunteering at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst
Corporate Volunteering at Hope Farm Community Garden, Hawkhurst

“the team really enjoyed themselves”

Thank you both for a fantastic morning’s volunteering on Thursday, the team really enjoyed themselves. It was a first for a couple of our younger volunteers who had not done any gardening before, so a real experience for them.  The lunch was delicious too, so please thank your team of volunteers in the kitchen.

Ginger May

“I simply had the best day”

I simply had the best day and your hospitality was so welcoming. I hope to return in the future.

Hastings Direct

“a big thank you for yesterday”

Just to say a big thank you for yesterday, really enjoyed the day and hopefully we gave a little something towards the charity and the local community. The ongoing works look amazing, and I am confident that many people will benefit from such a wonderful environment. Thank you for lunch, the burgers lived up to expectation.

IBMG

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