A local training programme is provided by specialised staff (Gardeniser Trainers) in each of the partner countries and it is addressed to 20 selected Gardeniser Trainees, namely young people and adults that handle urban gardens in various ways, both in the public and private sectors, who want to increase or complete the competencies necessary in order to fulfil the role of coordinator of urban gardens. Consistency of the structure and contents of the training is assured by a minimum criteria that have been established and that need to be fulfilled in order for the training programme to be formally recognised according to the ECVET system, but at the same time the course has some elements of flexibility to ensure its ability to be adapted to the particular situation of each country.

A Training Kit produced within the project Gardeniser Pro describes in detail the European Format for the professional training of Gardeniser Trainees and the relative tools for validating the learning achievements. The training kit includes both the training modules, related to the different topics addressed (which also partially reflects the modules of the training for trainers) and practical activities. Training objectives, modules and learning achievements are expressed following the criteria established by the ECVET system. The final product is in English while a version of it is available in each of the partnership’s languages, containing in the local language the common introduction and the activities chosen to implement the course at a local level, in order to guarantee its wide usability as well as to support its recognition and adoption by the educational and professional training systems in each country.

Training Modules

Module 1: Understanding and creating the Community Garden (types, history, design, variety)

• Understand the concept  and main characteristics of shared community garden
• Understand the history of community garden
• Understand Values of community gardens
• Seeing a community garden
• Importance of Community engagement
• Stakeholder Mapping and Communicating with local partners 
• Guided Mediation on a future community garden
• Understand the formation and design of a community garden 
• Creating an action plan for your community garden
• Finding the right site for your Project

Module 2: Working effectively with staff and Volunteers

Learning Units:

• Job description for Gardeniser
• Rules and policies in the garden
• How to organise activities in the garden
• Volunteer and staff styles
• Seasonal Wheel, planning what to plant and when
• Working with people with physical disabilities
• The emotional side: looking after yourself, staff, volunteers and visitors people in the garden
• Understanding the main contributions/challenges in working with volunteers
• Understanding Volunteers needs
• Recruiting Volunteers
• The induction process for Volunteers

Module 3: Financial Sustainability

Learning Units:

• Understanding the Costs of a Garden
• Fundraising 
• Garden visit to see how income is brought in-visit
• Evaluation as a process
• Quick evaluation
• Health Check of an organisation