Jeanne, Bridget, Rohan, Geraldine, Roland, Judy, Katharine, Tony, Andrew, Bridget, Denise and Jonathan from Sutton Community Farm, London's only community-owned fruit and veg farm growing tasty produce in harmony with nature, and supporting the livelihoods of organic farmers, shared their story through the film below.

These amazing Sutton Community Farm volunteers do a range of different types of activities: VegBox Packing, Crop Production, Harvesting, DIY and Maintenance. They share what they enjoy volunteering at the farm, even in winter and how it helps their wellbeing, getting outside in nature.

12 Reasons to volunteer at Sutton Community Farm included:

1. “It’s lovely catching up with friends and making new friends” – Jeanne
2. "I love it because it’s a real sense of achievement” – Bridget
3. “I find the work here incredibly relaxing and therapeutic” – Rohan
4. “I wanted to do something worthwhile with my time and something completely different” - Geraldine
5. “I like being out in the fresh air” – Roland
6. “I like the work, we’re doing a good job here – it’s a concern that needs supporting” – Judy
7. “It’s a way I can help the community and it’s a bit of fun as well” - Tony
8. “It’s a good day out” – Andrew
9. “I love helping people” – Denise
10. “I like being in the countryside” – Bridget
11. “It’s great for staying fit, like going to the gym but free!” – Jonathan
12. “I can do lots of different things” – Katharine

This is what the Volunteer team said:

Come and volunteer at the farm this winter - we'll be open throughout the months ahead, with plenty to keep us busy. While the wintertime might tempt you to stay indoors (fair enough!), having a good reason to get outside with other people can be especially rewarding. Life on the farm is jolly in all weathers. From warming tea and toast at break times to fortnightly community lunches, from colourful fruit and veg to the joy of being close to nature - everything makes you feel good when it's shared with friendly people doing something worthwhile. As one of our volunteers puts it:

"It ticks all the boxes! A welcoming friendly community. Varied activities to suit different needs, interests and abilities. I love being part of a community project that contributes to local food production and sustainability."

If you are interested, have a look at their website: https://suttoncommunityfarm.org.uk/join-in/volunteering/.

Roles on Simply Connect:

• VegBox Packing Volunteer
• Crop Production Volunteer

Click for more details, quoting you found out about it through Volunteer Centre Sutton. You can find some specific roles and more on Simply Connect.

If you’re interested in anything get in touch and we can help you out: https://vcsutton.org.uk/volunteer/

Read the past Volunteer Opportunities newsletters here.

Watch their video here.