Growing together: Lessons in volunteer care

Back in early December, we hosted a warm, collaborative “Lunch and Learn” session for Bristol’s Community Growers Network – bringing together grassroots growing groups across the city to explore one of the big questions for any community organisation: how do you recruit and retain great volunteers? 

If you’ve ever tried to keep a growing project running through seasons of change, you’ll know how vital volunteers are. This online session, which you can rewatch here, focused on the highs and lows of volunteer management – made extra inspiring by a fantastic case study from Coexist Community Kitchen. 

Hi, Alice here – I’m the Interim Partnership Coordinator for Bristol Good Food 2030, and I wanted to share a quick look back at what we learned in our Community Growers webinar at the end of 2024. 

First off – a big thank you to everyone who took part. These sessions are designed to offer a supportive space for growers across the city to connect, reflect and swap learning. It was small, but mighty – and this one left us feeling energised and full of ideas. 

Sharing what works 

We were joined by Joey Callender Wood, Volunteer and Engagement Manager at Coexist Community Kitchen, who shared a brilliant, practical insight into how Coexist recruits, supports and values its growing volunteer base. 

From inclusive welcome packs and structured volunteer roles, to reward schemes like cookery classes and socials, Joey offered a generous behind-the-scenes look at what’s worked (and what hasn’t) in creating a welcoming, reliable and joyful culture of volunteering. 

A few of the golden nuggets that stuck with us: 

• Don’t rely on social media alone – talk to people, go to them, and make sign-up easy 

• Keep communication clear and consistent, especially about expectations 

• Make volunteers feel truly valued, not just useful 

• Match peoples’ interests and needs with appropriate roles 

• Plan volunteer care into your calendar – it’s not an add-on, it’s essential 

Peer wisdom in action 

After Joey’s case study, we opened the floor for some peer sharing – and what followed was a heartfelt and inspiring conversation. Attendees from projects including Hillfields Community Garden, Easton Community Garden and Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust shared personal stories about the impact of volunteering – from unexpected career shifts to deep local connections. 

One participant said, “Community action is contagious – it starts with something small, and suddenly the whole street wants to get involved.” 

Others spoke about challenges: reaching new demographics, creating structured onboarding and finding time to nurture volunteers while running projects on tight budgets. 

But the tone throughout was one of care, community and mutual encouragement – and that’s what the Community Growers Network is all about. 

Building the network 

This webinar followed on from our earlier peer-to-peer fundraising workshop in partnership with Voscur, where participants from groups like Bricks Bristol, Street Goat and Southmead Development Trust came together to strengthen their fundraising know-how. One output from that event was the launch of a new Community Growers Network email group – now nearly 50 members strong – offering ongoing support, updates and opportunities to collaborate. 

Since launching in autumn 2024, the Community Growers Network email group has become a vibrant space for connection and peer support, with members sharing everything from funding opportunities and job roles to climate-resilient planting advice and land availability. Recent posts have included a call-out for fruit tree recommendations in changing climates, details of a reliable community carpenter, and links to national campaigns, events and courses – helping local growers stay connected, informed and inspired. 

We’re planning more in 2025, shaped by what you’ve told us matters most: funding, volunteer support and measuring impact. 

What’s next? 

If you’re running, supporting or volunteering with a community growing project in Bristol – or thinking of starting one – we’d love to hear from you. Whether or not you’ve been part of the Get Growing Trail, the Community Growers Network is open to all. You can reach us via the Bristol Good Food 2030 website or join the email group by dropping me, alice@bristolfoodnetwork.org, a message to sign up. 

Missed the session? You can rewatch the recording here to catch up on Joey’s brilliant insights and the group discussion. 

Together, we’re growing something special. 

To stay updated on future events, job opportunities and news, don’t forget to sign up for the monthly Bristol Good Food Update at bristolgoodfood.org/newsletter.

Photos of Easton Community Garden taken at the Get Growing Garden Trail 2024 © Yujie Ni