Volunteer
There are lots of ways to get involved if you’re able to contribute some time. You can do as much volunteering as works for you. Please come and help us in our mission to share food across our community, and build a healthy, hunger-free tomorrow.
Benefits of volunteering
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Give back to the community - one of the NHS’s 5 Ways to Wellbeing!
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Upskill on a range of topics, including customer service, interpersonal skills, organisational abilities, and health and safety
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Gain a sense of community and meet the huge team of volunteers
Open Positions
We often recruit for specific positions within the Food Bank. This could be a lead role where you will have a particular responsibility for an area of the Food Bank or it could be a position that requires a special skill, such as social media management, book-keeping or copy writing. If you’re interested, please take a look at our current vacancies further down this page.
Food Service
As we are reducing our opening days, we are not currently recruiting food service volunteers.
Drivers
We are always on the lookout for drivers who can help move food we have sourced for the Food Bank. Most are local deliveries which are arranged as and when supplies become available. Drivers stay in touch via a chat group with Drivers responding to requests if they’re able to take them on.
Food Sourcing
Sourcing products for the Food Bank is essential, and our amazing Food Sourcing team are constantly on the case. They need help with ordering food, phone calls and developing contacts as well as pick-ups and deliveries.
Current Vacancies
Communications Team Lead (Volunteer)
Summary of role
We are seeking a creative and experienced Communications Team Lead to play a vital role in raising awareness of the mission of Bounds Green Food Bank and driving donations. They will be responsible for leading a team of volunteers and helping them to come up with creative campaigns.
Hours
3 hours a week (flexible, to work around your own schedule & including occasional meetings)
Location
Remote (although ability to join occasional face-to-face meetings in Bounds Green desirable)
The role
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Create and lead on communication campaigns and initiatives to raise funds, recruit volunteers and promote our impact
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Manage a fantastic Communications Team of remote volunteers with specific roles (social media, website management, business partnership, graphics and community liaison), providing guidance and managing workload
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Work closely with the Fundraising Lead to create effective fundraising campaigns through newsletters, social media, flyers, events and our website.
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Liaise with the other team leads via a group chat and occasional team meetings, staying up to date with changes across the charity and providing input from the Comms Team
Person specification
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Previous experience in marketing, communications, or related fields preferred.
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Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage, motivate and inspire a team of volunteers.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
How to apply
Complete the enquiry form to register your interest and find out more about the role.
Volunteer Recruitment Officer
Summary of role
We are seeking an organised and enthusiastic Volunteer Recruitment Officer to utilise their excellent administrative and personal skills to advertise for, shortlist and onboard new volunteers.
Location
Remote (although ability to join occasional face-to-face training and meetings in Bounds Green desirable).
Hours
2-3 hours a week (will fit around your own schedule but may occasionally require evening phone calls). Demand will fluctuate based on both the number of vacancies we have and the number of applications received.
About Bounds Green Food Bank
Open since June 2020, we serve over 4,600 children and adults in the community. We are committed to improving lives by providing food and essential household items to build a healthy, hunger-free tomorrow. We strive to promote social inclusion by supporting people who find themselves in crisis where they need assistance to feed themselves and their families.
The role
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Liaise with different team leads to create enticing job descriptions for new volunteer roles
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Post and manage volunteer adverts on different recruitment websites like Indeed, Charity Job, and Third Sector Jobs
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Review applications and shortlist suitable applicants, which will include speaking with them to answer questions and collaborating with the relevant team lead to organise interviews or opportunities to visit us to learn more
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Update the database with applicant contact points and recruitment progress
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Support with onboarding new volunteers, e.g. ensuring they have completed the relevant registration forms, provided any necessary documents, and are able to join our online communities
Person specification
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Excellent written and verbal communication in English
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Fantastic organisational skills
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Experience in administrative or recruitment roles desirable, but not essential
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Willing to learn about what we do and why, to engage applicants to join us
How to apply
Complete the enquiry form to register your interest and find out more about the role.
Food Service Coordinator (Volunteer)
Summary of role
A key role at the food bank, you will run one shift a week alongside other Coordinators. You will work in close cooperation with volunteers and guests, ensuring that the food service is as smooth as possible, and dealing with any incidents that may arise.
Location
St. Michael's Hall, 37 Bounds Green Rd, London, N22 8HE
Hours
Thursdays, 9:00 to 14:00 or 13:30 to 18:30. Plus a fortnightly meeting (2 hours)
What does the role involve?
1. Managing Food Service Volunteers
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Manage the Section Leads and Food Service Volunteers, allocating tasks according to each volunteer’s experience and ability
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Make sure volunteers are aware of and follow food bank policies and procedures (e.g. the Kitchen Policy and using the food bank themselves)
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Ensure volunteers follow all health and safety precautions, including checking all items are in-date
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Ensure all volunteers sign the register
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Support volunteers, ensure they take breaks, help them deal with any difficult incidents, and ensure they alert you to any issues
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Be available to volunteers and responsive to their needs
2. Managing Guests
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Ensure that guests have completed the registration process and are referred to the Advice Team where eligibility to use the food bank has not been confirmed
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Treat all guests equally, welcoming them to the food bank and making sure they are respected and thought about
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Ensure the order of the queue is maintained
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Deal with any issues by speaking directly to the guest, asking them to follow the rules and helping them deal with any difficult incidents
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Ensure no alcohol or drugs are used at the food bank or in the queue
3. Completing Daily Duties
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Prepare for setting up from 9am and complete shift at 1pm (depending on shift time)
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Prepare to open the food bank to guests at 1pm and lock up at 5pm (depending on shift time)
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Receive deliveries: know what deliveries to anticipate and coordinate volunteers to direct the driver, unload their vehicle, and load crates in the hall
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Organise the decanting and repacking of items
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Keep an eye on stocks and make a note of shortages
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Complete additional tasks that may arise e.g. bagging food, getting rid of waste, and updating admin
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Ensure the hall is clean and organised before locking up
Person specification
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Has 6 months’ experience in a similar capacity
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Can organise and manage tasks efficiently
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Can keep calm under pressure
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Able to de-escalate difficult situations
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Be willing to attend training, e.g. safeguarding, first aid, and management skills
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Willing to do administrative work (e.g. taking minutes and reading the minutes of other meetings shared with the Food Service Team)
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Reliable, assertive, and tactful with both volunteers and guests
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Team player with good communication skills
How to apply
Complete the enquiry form to register your interest and find our more about the role.
Food Service Volunteers
Enthusiastic, hands-on volunteers needed to help provide food to the community. A key role, you will work at the main hub of the food bank and help the food service run as smoothly as possible. An exciting opportunity to make a real, immediate impact on those in need of support.
Location
St. Michael's Hall, 37 Bounds Green Rd, London, N22 8SD
Hours
Thursdays, a range of shifts from 9:30am - 6pm; book shifts to suit your own schedule! No requirement to sign up for the same shift each Thursday or to volunteer consecutive weeks.
The role
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Take in deliveries and count stock at the start and end of the day (depending on your shift time)
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Help with setting up the food service including getting food out of storage and onto the service tables, decanting and repacking items and replenishing goods when needed.
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Warmly welcome guests, serving them the number of items advised by Section Leads and Food Service Coordinators during each shift.
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Follow food bank policies including Health and Safety procedures, e.g. wearing gloves when handling fresh food, and lifting boxes safely.
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Keep the hall safe throughout the food service, e.g. tidying away boxes and keeping walkways clear.
Person specification
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Aged 18 or above
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Have a basic understanding of spoken English
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Available on Thursdays
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Able to travel at your own expense (no parking is available)
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Patient and flexible - you will help on different sections on each shift and may need to switch during shifts too
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A team player - the food bank is run completely by volunteers, so we require enthusiasm and cooperation
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Understands and is sensitive to the challenges and difficulties faced by guests accessing the food bank, e.g. food and fuel poverty, feelings of shame and embarrassment, language barriers
How to apply
Complete the enquiry form to register your interest and find our more about the role.
Volunteer Drivers
Bounds Green Food Bank is fortunate in receiving food and other donations from local supermarkets, businesses, and individuals. We are grateful to our team of volunteer drivers who both collect and deliver on the food bank’s behalf each week.
Location
Around the Enfield and Haringey area
Hours
At any time during the week - this is a very flexible role and there is no minimum time commitment, so you can choose deliveries to suit your own schedule.
Requirements
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A driver's license and your own vehicle
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WhatsApp, as this is how deliveries are organised
The role
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Each week a timetable showing scheduled food donations by local stores and businesses is posted on the volunteer drivers’ WhatsApp group.
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Drivers indicate to the group that they are able to make a particular collection, adding their name to the schedule, which is editable by all group members.
How to apply
Complete the enquiry form to register your interest and find our more about the role.
Fundraising Volunteers
Summary of role
We are seeking enthusiastic and experienced fundraisers to work in a brand new team. An exciting opportunity to make a real difference in over 1,000 people’s lives. Help to raise vital funds through a range of fundraising initiatives including individual donations, community events, and grant applications.
Location
Remote
Hours
Approx. 3 hours per week (to be fitted around your own schedule)
What does the role involve?
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Support fundraising initiatives including a communications campaign, individual donations, community fundraising events, and grant writing
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Build good relationships within the community and with actual and potential donors
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Provide guidance to other teams that support fundraising initiatives, e.g. the Events and Projects Team, the Communications Team, and Grant Writing Team
Person specification
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Experience working in a fundraising role
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Passion and commitment for the cause
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Excellent communication skills and ability to create and maintain relationships
How to apply
Complete the enquiry form to register your interest and find our more about the role.