Job Vacancies
Fundraising Manager
Location: Bore Place, Chiddingstone, Kent
Hours: 22.5 hours per week - 3 days per week - flexible working considered
Salary: £35,000 (£21,000 pro-rata)
Bore Place is looking for a new Fundraising Manager to be part of our team. This role will report to the CEO and work closely with the Senior Management Team and others to support us to develop and deliver our ambitious ‘people and nature’ programmes by identifying and securing the necessary funds to achieve our vision. We are entering an exciting period, with a relatively new CEO in place, and to enable us to make the step change we need, we are seeking a new Fundraising Manager to be part of our team. We are a small organisation with a culture of ‘can do’ and everyone mucking in. We currently do not have a fundraising team but anticipate the Fundraising Manager will build such a team on the back of increased income generation.
About the role:
- The Fundraising Manager will use expert communication skills and a keen sense of initiative to identify fundraising opportunities, develop relationships with potential donors, and manage fundraising campaigns.
- The Fundraising Manager will have overall responsibility to grow and deliver our fundraised income, focusing primarily on developing and submitting applications for grants from trusts and foundations, as well as supporting funder relationships.
- The role will focus initially on bid writing and grant applications to Charitable Trusts and Foundations, supporting individual giving initiatives and developing our Friends and Patrons Schemes.
- By coordinating events, writing proposals, and recruiting and leading volunteers, the fundraiser will hone speaking, writing, and leadership abilities while moving the Commonwork Trust closer to its financial goals.
About you:
The ideal candidate will be motivated, professional, and organised with a strong track record of successful fundraising. We’re looking for someone who:
- Believes in the mission of the Commonwork Trust and has exceptional drive for furthering our fundraising efforts as well as strategising and delivering on new ones.
- Fundraising experience – you will have at least three years of experience at developing a fundraising strategy and understanding how different income streams operate with a strong track record in securing income
- Demonstrable experience in securing funding – you will have experience in identifying key voluntary income streams and securing funding support from trusts and foundations, and be comfortable with ‘making the ask’ of wealthy individuals
- Grant funding – you will have a strong track record of identifying, securing and monitoring grant funding.
- Communication skills – you will have excellent communication and relationship-building skills
- Leadership skills – you will have experience in leading and motivating colleagues and volunteers
- Charity experience – you will have worked in the charitable sector, preferably with a focus on environmental issues and have an understanding of how a mission-based organisation operates and wider sector considerations
Desirable criteria:
- Bachelor's degree (or equivalent)
- Certification, diploma, or similar qualification in fundraising.
Why Join Us?
- A varied and rewarding role within a growing organisation.
- Opportunity to contribute to our wider mission as a values-led organisation
- Flexible working arrangements.
- 38 days paid holiday (pro-rata), including bank holidays.
- Pension scheme, life insurance, and Employee Assistance Programme.
- Staff discounts on courses and food.
- A stunning countryside location with free parking on-site.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Safeguarding
Bore Place is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and ensure all applications are assessed on merit.
The safety and welfare of children and vulnerable people is central to everything we do. All positions are subject to a Basic DBS check. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities. If you’re excited about the opportunity to help grow and shape our events and wedding business, we’d love to hear from you! Please complete an application form and send it to jobs@boreplace.org.
A full job description can be found here: Fundraising Manager job description
Application deadline: Monday 31 March (midday)
Caretaker/Handyperson - Buildings and Grounds
Location: Bore Place, Chiddingstone, Kent
Hours: 22.5 hours per week (to include Saturdays)
Salary: £23,800 (£14,280 pro-rata)
We are looking for a handyperson/caretaker to help deliver an excellent experience for all visitors to Bore Place.
About the role:
The role involves maintaining the general upkeep of buildings and services to ensure they are safe and meet visitor and residents’ needs
- Complete weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual maintenance tasks in accordance with the schedule set by the facilities manager.
- Provide caretaking support for the site including general care and maintenance of the buildings and contents as needed.
- Maintain and inspect all company vehicles (minibus and Hi-sun all-terrain vehicle) regularly to ensure they are road worthy standard as well as clean and tidy.
- Manage all support services to ensure they are of the required standard and meet our requirements (e.g., waste management and pest control)
- Ensure that accurate records are kept for all areas of COSHH, health and safety, risk assessments, and fire regulation management
- Act upon feedback from visitors to improve our premises and services.
- Participate in the on-call rotation, with rare need to respond to critical issues.
- To work Saturdays to help meet the needs of the organisation
Maintaining the general upkeep of the grounds
- Ensure the grounds and external areas are ship shape, clean and tidy at all times.
- Complete weekly garden tasks including mowing, weeding, hedging, watering, sweeping, tidying and ensure cleanliness of all outside areas.
- Ensure all equipment used is properly maintained and in good working order.
Ensuring all visitor needs are met
- Work as part of the team to provide event support tasks including event set up/post event, porting furniture and other items as needed.
- Maybe required to drive the minibus for the transportation of visitors within the local area (training will be provided).
- Maybe required to drive Forklift to stock vending machines. (training will be provided).
About You
We are looking for someone who has/is:
- Practical skills – handyperson, troubleshooting vending machines, gardening and maintenance skills.
- Well organised – exceptional multi-tasking skills, ability to plan ahead, Basic computer skills.
- Problem solver – ability to think on your feet, identify solutions to problems and resolve any issues.
- Persistence – the willingness to go the distance to get things done.
- Integrity – values-driven, can deliver commitments on time and to budget and live up to verbal and written commitments.
- Creativity and innovation – solutions focused, can meet practical needs yet generate new ideas to make improvements.
- High standards – ability to deliver the best with pride and within the resources available.
- Attention to detail and excellent timekeeping.
- Clean driving license and excellent fitness.
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of the various areas of compliance including site-specific Health and Safety issues.
- Tradesman experience – electrical, plumbing or carpentry
Why Join Us?
- A varied and rewarding role within a growing organisation.
- Opportunity to contribute to our wider mission as a values-led organisation
- Flexible working arrangements.
- 38 days paid holiday (pro-rata), including bank holidays.
- Pension scheme, life insurance, and Employee Assistance Programme.
- Staff discounts on courses and food.
- A stunning countryside location with free parking on-site.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Safeguarding
Bore Place is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and ensure all applications are assessed on merit.
The safety and welfare of children and vulnerable people is central to everything we do. All positions are subject to a Basic DBS check. We are happy to make reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities. If you’re excited about the opportunity to help grow and shape our events and wedding business, we’d love to hear from you! Please complete an application form and send it to jobs@boreplace.org.
A full job description can be found here:Buildings and Grounds Caretaker Job Description.pdf
Application deadline: Monday 31 March (midday)
Trustee
Hours: quarterly Board meetings (typically 3–4 hours) and occasional committee or working group sessions. While remote access is possible, in-person attendance is preferred.
Salary: This role is unremunerated, however, reasonable expenses may be covered
Being a Trustee for the Commonwork Trust is an opportunity to make a tangible difference in areas that matter—regenerative farming, sustainability, and education. Whether you’re experienced or exploring your first Trustee role, you’ll work alongside a passionate team committed to inspiring sustainable living and fostering community impact. The role will enable you to play a vital role in shaping our strategy, ensuring good governance, and helping us achieve our mission of making a positive impact on people and the planet.
What We’re Looking For:
- Commitment: A strong belief in the Trust’s mission and values.
- Strategic Thinking: The ability to focus on long-term goals and balance priorities.
- Collaboration: A willingness to work as part of a diverse and committed team.
- Integrity: A commitment to acting ethically and transparently.
- Openness to Learn: An interest in building your knowledge of charity governance and the Trust’s work.
To find out more, please download our job pack here. Please email jobs@boreplace.org for more information or to arrange an informal chat about the role.
2 seasonal paid jobs at Bore Place Organic Market Garden (April – October/ mid November) 2025
The Market Garden at Bore Place is 6½ acres (mostly outdoors) and supplies box schemes, a wholefood shop, as well as attending a farmers’ market in London. We grow a wide range of vegetables and do most of the propagating ourselves. During the season you will see and experience sowing, planting, crop maintenance and harvesting.
The market garden is a medium scale vegetable growing business. We harvest to order, so you need to be able to work with deadlines and be physically fit. The work can be repetitive, and we work under all weather conditions.
The first role is Assistant Head Grower, initially for 4 days a week, increasing to 5 days a week. Basic seasonal accommodation is available for 1 person if needed. This role is for someone who can take on responsibility, manage people in the field and who has already some experience growing from seed to product. It is important that candidates are able to work using their initiative and good people skills are essential. Basic tractor driving skills are essential for this position. Start date is middle of April. Pay according to experience. Being self-employed is preferred. There can be long term engagement/annual employment for the right person, opportunities that can be explored are setting up your own or a shared business (box scheme, CSA) organising yearly events (small food festivals plus presence on social media). Work in the winter with and for our woodsman here on site to create work during the wintertime. All new initiatives need to fit within the Bore place ethos and new potential partners will need to build a relationship with the Trust.
The second position is for a seasonal worker. You will be involved in propagating, planting, weed control and harvesting, experience in similar market gardens is preferred. The work starts beginning of May. Pay according to experience and being self-employed is preferred.
Please send a short cover letter and CV to: metske.laan@boreplace.org
Voluntary Opportunities
Opportunities arise across the organisation to work alongside our staff in the gardens, kitchen, office and education teams. Take a look at our Volunteer page.