Warrington Foodbank - Temporary Community Food Assistant

Warrington Voluntary Action; England; On-site; GBP 7,000; Part time

Job summary

A community-focused charity in the United Kingdom seeks a Temporary Community Food Assistant to support its mobile food service. This part-time role involves driving a van, unloading stock, and setting up services for customers. Ideal candidates should possess a full driving license, good physical fitness, and the ability to engage with diverse community members. The position is vital for delivering an impactful service in the local community while working alongside dedicated volunteers.

Qualifications

• Good level of physical fitness; unloading vans and setup is physically demanding.
• Full manual driving license required to drive the van.
• Experience of working with volunteers and public service.

Responsibilities

• Drive the van to partner locations and unload stock.
• Set up the location for customers, ensuring high standards.
• Work alongside volunteers to deliver the food service.

Skills

Good level of physical fitness

People skills

Effective communication skills

Ability to work independently

Positive approach and attitude

Ability to manage and resolve conflict

Motivated and enthusiastic

Compassionate and understanding

Experience within the retail sector

Education

Full manual driving license

Job description

Warrington Foodbank - Temporary Community Food Assistant

Community Food Assistant (Mobile) – 3 Month FTC
£6,448 PA (£12.40)
Part time 10 hours over 3 days

About us
Warrington Foodbank is a charity primarily focussed on the relief of financial hardship among people in Warrington and the surrounding area. In particular, but not exclusively, through the provision of food, essential toiletries and household items to individuals and families in need. We operate the largest crisis food operation within the borough, serving thousands of individuals and families each year who have no other option but to access emergency food supplies. The charity also delivers an affordable food operation branded as our “Little Shop” pantries and mobile “Vantry”. Our food pantries offer access to high quality, affordable food, with the aim of preventing people from reaching crisis point by providing more choices to quality food and household items, whilst also giving those who are experiencing crisis a viable, dignified alternative and opportunity to thrive instead of just survive.

About the role
Our charity currently operates three fixed food pantries and a mobile Vantry offering at a further five locations within the borough. We are looking for temporary support to help deliver these mobile offerings. This role is key to the successful development and operation of the network, ensuring we can reach and support more people in our community. The role will involve driving the van to the partner location, unloading the stock and setting up the shop, serving customers and working alongside our volunteers to ensure a high quality service is delivered in all locations.

What is the Vantry?
Our pantries are stocked with a wide variety of fresh fruit, vegetables and meat, bread, cereals, milk, tinned goods, other staples and household items. The Vantry makes this offering mobile, taking it into the heart of the community. The pantries operate on an unrestricted model whereby members can purchase a selection of items of their own choice; items are priced in increments of 50p, there are often bonus free items too! Shopping at the pantry can help to make money go further compared to just shopping solely in a regular supermarket, it also helps to reduce food waste.

More than just food
Delivering affordable food is great for everyone, but building an offering which strengthens the community is something we’re really passionate about developing. This is why we are actively delivering more wrap‑around services alongside our pantries such as debt, housing and general advice provisions, food education, health services and more.

What we’re looking for

• Drive the van to our partner locations
• Unload the stock and set up the location for our customers – a physically demanding role
• Ensure high standards of customer service are delivered at all times, set the best example
• Work alongside our dedicated team of volunteers
• Support the community food coordinator in the delivery of the project to ensure maximum impact
• Support the successful day‑to‑day operation of the operation within the community

Person Specification

Experience, Skills & Knowledge Essential

Good level of physical fitness; you will be unloading a van, setting up the shelving and helping to deliver the Vantry.

Full manual driving licence so you can drive our van.

People skills – you’ll be working alongside volunteers and serving the public.

Effective communication skills and able to engage a wide range of audiences from diverse backgrounds.

Ability to work independently and unsupervised; you’ll have direction but will have to use your own initiative.

Positive approach and attitude; it goes a long way when you’re working with volunteers and members of the public who are relying on you.

Ability to manage and resolve conflict; it’s not always smooth sailing, but that’s just life.

Motivated and enthusiastic; this is a chance to make a real impact on people’s lives.

Compassionate and understanding of a variety of personal circumstances, don’t judge a book by its cover.

Experience of working within the retail sector.