Four young would-be horticulturalists are being offered an opportunity to sow the seeds of a new career in gardening and agriculture.

Thanks to the Department of Work and Pensions KickStart scheme, the Hands of Hope Charity in Hawkhurst is able to offer four paid trainee grower positions for interested 16 to 24-year-olds.

To qualify the applicants must be currently unemployed and claiming Universal Credit.

The jobs will be based at the charity’s Walled Kitchen Garden in Hawkhurst.

The new employees will become part of a small team developing a heritage walled kitchen garden and 22 acres of land in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Hands of Hope education leader, Matthew Hill, said: "It’s an exciting time to be joining Hands of Hope, which is developing quickly and expecting a bumper organic harvest in the market garden this year."

The Kickstart employees will be paid to work 25 hours per week for a six-month contract, on projects that tackle food poverty and rural isolation, helping to improve physical and mental health in communities in Rother, Hastings and West Kent.

Mr Hill said: "This is a great opportunity to start a career in market gardening. It combines working outdoors in a beautiful setting with gaining valuable skills in growing, administration and charity work.

"The young employees will gain skills in team-working, problem solving, decision making, taking responsibility, nutrition, health and of course horticulture."

He said: "We want to develop skilled organic growers and these positions would ideally suit people who have considered this as a possible career path.

"The ideal candidates will be practical, flexible, motivated and love working outside."

The Kickstart Scheme offers paid job placements for young people at risk of long-term unemployment.

To apply, visit kickstart.connect.adecco.co.uk/ or email the charity at info@hohcharity.co.uk

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