About the role

As hosting leader, you'll act as the maître' d of the team, running your project's front of house and helping to create a warm, friendly atmosphere that will make both volunteers and guests want to return each week. Your team of volunteers will lay the tables, greet guests and serve the food - all under your guidance!

About FoodCycle

FoodCycle combines surplus food, volunteers and free kitchen space to create nutritious, three-course meals for the community.

We have 4 main aims:

• To strengthen communities
• To encourage friendships
• To improve nutrition and reduce hunger
• To change attitudes towards food and to reduce food waste

A FoodCycle project is where the magic happens. Each project is run on the ground by a team of 8 or more lead volunteers called Project Leaders, with each leader taking on a specific role to ensure the smooth running of their FoodCycle Project. These people are passionate, committed and want to make a positive change within their community, they take ownership of their project and make decisions about the day-today running of it.

Skills you'll learn

• Teamwork: you'll work as part of a team to prepare a delicious meal and serve it to our guests.
• Hosting: you'll lead on 'front of house' duties, coordinating a team of hosting volunteers and making sure all our guests feel equally welcome.
• Leadership: we'll train you up to lead hosting sessions and how to induct new volunteers into the front of house.
• Safeguarding: you'll learn how to ensure that the safety of our guest and volunteers is always maintained and everyone acts within the correct boundaries.
• Relationship building: you'll be building lasting relationships with your guests and volunteers, ensuring they come back each week.

What to expect from FoodCycle

• Ongoing, regular visits, support and advice from your Regional Manager.
• A training conference to equip you for your role. Travel, accommodation and food cost covered by FoodCycle.
• Expenses covered in line with our volunteer policy.
• Training throughout the year from FoodCycle, including safeguarding and first aid.
• Impressive skills to add to your CV and a reference if/when you need it.
• Accredited level two food safety qualification provided by FoodCycle.
• The opportunity to meet a large network of like-minded people.
• A fun, creative volunteer experience with ownership over a community led project.

What's expected from me

We ask that Project Leaders stay with us for a minimum of 6 months, to enable them to get the most out of the role. As Cooking Leader, you will be expected to:

• Attend regular Project Leader meetings to discuss as a team how things are going.
• Lead a minimum of one session per month
• Follow all FoodCycle policies and procedures
• Complete an enhanced DBS check (required for all roles involving 'regulated activity')
• Complete Level 2 Food Safety, Food Allergens and Safeguarding training
• Complete the session project report on our website after leading a session

Time commitment

The suggested minimum time commitment to your role is 8 hours a month.

To apply

Please go to https://volunteer.foodcycle.org.uk/projectleader to fill out our online application form.