Find your place in the field of good food

Our goal is to connect good people with good food. We advertise sustainable food jobs and training opportunities to help jobseekers and employers find each other.

Job description

Are you looking for an opportunity for part-time work in a dynamic social enterprise with a powerful social mission? Do you believe the scale of food waste globally is unsustainable and shocking? Do you believe in the power of food to bring together community across any background or barrier? A job at REfUSE could be the perfect opportunity for you to gain valuable experience whilst making a meaningful impact on the world.

Based around a “Pay As You Feel” café in Chester le Street, REfUSE is a social enterprise which intercepts food that would otherwise go to waste. Our vision is to reveal the true value of things, places and people that are unjustly wasted or overlooked. We turn over 13 tonnes of surplus and rescued food a month it into healthy, accessible meals, served on a ‘Pay As You Feel’ basis. Our cafe was built and is run by volunteers, and is a hub of inclusive community and creativity.

We’ve grown since our cafe’s opening in April 2018, and now run an education project in local schools, restaurant evenings weekly and many other community projects. Along with a force of other organisations, activists and campaigners, we’ve raised awareness of the injustice of food waste at every level, from households and families to big businesses, supermarket directors and government decision makers.

Role description

We are looking for someone to oversee our “Access to Volunteering Scheme” which provides 1-1 support for individuals with additional barriers to volunteering with us. You will work as a support worker alongside them in our cafe, kitchen and warehouse. You will also be responsible for the administration of the scheme as well as carrying out some of the administrative tasks required to support our wider volunteer body. 

All staff team members must work as part of the REfUSE staff team, attending team meetings and working in partnership with other staff members where necessary.

This is a 12 month contract subject to confirmation of funding.

Application instructions can be found at the end of this document.

Main duties

Volunteer support

• Working as a support worker in our cafe, warehouse or kitchen for set sessions throughout the week
• Working with the safeguarding lead and ensuring safe practice throughout

Volunteer administration

• Access to Volunteering Scheme administration
  • Coordinate referrals to the “Access to Volunteering Scheme”
  • Point of contact for all individuals on the scheme
  • Maintaining records and storing their personal information securely in accordance with our privacy policy
• Volunteer administration
  • Be the point of contact for current volunteers and any enquiries about volunteering
  • Coordinate volunteer sign-up online, add new volunteers’ details and store their personal information securely in accordance with our privacy policy
  • Oversight of our rota system in conjunction with the cafe managers
  • Creating and updating forms, databases
  • Organise and lead volunteer training and induction sessions and all follow up administration
  • Oversee volunteer enrichment and training

Capabilities and experience: required

• Experience either as a support worker or supporting people from a range of backgrounds with various support needs
• Good IT skills, ability to use Google Sheets or Excel, word processing software etc.
• Strong organisation and time management skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, work well as part of a team
• Willingness to work in a community-focussed environment: flexibility and creativity are a must!
• Keen interest in sustainability and passionate about REfUSE’s mission to reduce food waste

Capabilities and experience: desired but not essential

• Experience working in a kitchen or cafe setting
• Understanding of Food Safety and Hygiene practices
• Experience in the voluntary sector, social enterprise or start-ups
• Experience volunteering with REfUSE or other food waste organisation
• Barista training

Key information

Reporting to: Operations Manager

Working Hours: 16-24 hours, to be agreed on appointment 

Salary: £21,500-22,500 (Pro rata), to be agreed on appointment 

Job Type: 12 months subject to confirmation of funding

Desired start date: May 2023, to be agreed on appointment 

Application information

To apply, email jobs@refusedurham.org.uk with a CV and covering letter before the deadline below.

Application deadline: 1st April 2023 

Interviews will be held within the first two weeks of April.

If you have any specific questions regarding the role before the deadline, please send them to nikki@refusedurham.org.uk.

Please mention Roots to Work when applying for these jobs