About the organisation
We are a not-for profit community Forest Gardening and education project.
Our garden contains over 200 species of low-maintenance, edible or useful perennials, which are arranged in guilds to mimic natural ecosystems. ELL is located in Finsbury Park and provides a community space within nature to come together, learn and share ideas about food growing, nature restoration and connection and sustainable living.
We run two volunteers’ drop-in session a week on Tuesdays and Sundays and a Forest Explorers Parent and toddler drop-in session Wednesdays. We run workshops, courses and community events throughout the year, as well as schools and forest schools on site for outdoor learning.
Our garden contains over 200 species of low-maintenance, edible or useful perennials,which are arranged in guilds to mimic natural ecosystems. ELL is located in Finsbury Park and provides a community space within nature to come together, learn and share ideas about food growing, nature restoration and connection and sustainable living.
Our Objectives include:
(a) providing a wildlife-friendly community space with a focus on environmentalsustainability and forest gardening-growing food whilst increasing biodiversity and resilience
(b) increasing awareness of and expertise in forest gardening and environmentalsustainability
(c) supporting local community food growing projects by donating propagated plants and offering advice for the benefit of the local community and widerenvironment.
About the role
The Board of Directors
As a CIC (Community Interest Company) Edible Landscapes London is governed by a Board of Directors.
Our board of directors are all equal, with no overall Chair. We make decisions using aconsent-based model (sociocracy) and seek to ensure that all voices have an equalplatform in our meetings.
We want our committee to representand reflect the diversity within the Finsbury Parkarea and encourage interest from under-represented groups of all ages.
Key Responsibilities
Time Commitment:
Approx. 3-4 hours per month, with additional time (approx. 1–2days) required at financial year-end (September).
Volunteer role:Please note this role is not remunerated.
Purpose of the role:To oversee the financial integrity and accountability of EdibleLandscapes London (ELL) by:
●Providing oversight of financial transactions andrecord-keeping.
●Ensuring due diligence and transparency in the management of funds.
●Supporting the Project Coordinator (PC) to maintain compliant, accuratefinancial records.
●Acting as a check and balance on financial procedures and safeguarding theorganisation and its staff.Finance Director-specific Responsibilities1. Ongoing Financial Oversight (Monthly or Regular Tasks)
●Review monthly bank statements to check for any irregularities or unexpectedtransactions.
●Ensure expense receipts and invoicesare uploaded to Dropbox for all bank transactions.
Finance Director-specific Responsibilities
1. Ongoing Financial Oversight (Monthly or Regular Tasks)
●Review monthly bank statements to check for any irregularities or unexpected transactions.
●Ensure expense receipts and invoicesare uploaded to Dropbox for all bank transactions. Check income and expenditure records in the shared finance spreadsheet toconfirm they align with bank statements.
●Raise queries with the Project Coordinator where receipts, invoices, ordescriptions are missing or unclear.
●Monitor and maintain financial compliance, including ensuring that:
○All payments to consultants are backed by valid invoices and UTRnumbers (self-employment proof).
○No payments or expenses are made without receipts.
2. Ad-hoc tasks
●Liaise with the bank on non-transactional matters (e.g. signatories, addresschanges).
●Review and finalise ELL’s draft finance policy, ensuring it reflects currentpractice and compliance requirements.
●Support development and review of contracts (especially for freelancers),ensuring terms are clear and legally compliant.
3. End of Financial Year (September)
●Work with the Project Coordinator to review the final year’s financialspreadsheet, ensuring:○Bank data, income, and expenses sheets are in date order.○Totals and subtotals reconcile across all sheets.○Any missing receipts or explanatory notes are clearly recorded.
●Check that the final year-end accounts are accurate and ready to be passedto the accountant.
●Participate in reviewing the accountant’s draft accounts before submissionand sign-off at the AGM.
4. Liaison and Support
●Support Project Coordinator (PC) on financial processes where needed, providing oversight and guidance.
●Advise ELL Directors on any financial risks, procedural issues, or compliance concerns.
More information can be found here:
Our ideal candidate
Essential:
- 2 years experience of professional accounting or financial management
- A willingness to support the garden beyond financial tasks, including attending quarterly meetings
Desirable:
- Interest in gardening and permaculture
- Live/active close to Finsbury Park
- Experience of working with community-led projects
- Knowledge or interest in non-violent communication
What’s in it for you
Edible Landscapes is a beautiful community garden in the heart of North London, and has grown through the Transition movement to deliver community-led projects encouraging and educating with hands-on experience in forest gardening, food growth, permaculture principles, and plant care.
Being part of this community means being part of locally-led approaches to addressing the climate crisis, sustainable futures for food systems, community and individual wellbeing, nature connection and equal access to green spaces.
We'd be delighted to welcome you into our kind and caring team of Directors, passionate about plant and land care, and support for our community.
Perks include:
- a supportive environment for learning about forest gardening, permaculture, and plant care
- accesss to volunteering sessions on Tuesdays and Sundays
- access to workshops on forest gardening, land skills and community-building
- training in site-leading (if desired)
- a supportive and caring environment
Apply for the role
Please provide a short cover note setting out your motivations for volunteering for the organisation, any relevant skills/experience and why you think you might be a suitable candidate.
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