If you have experience working or volunteering in a kitchen environment and are passionate about making a difference to the lives of young people, we would love to hear from you!

This volunteer role is unpaid, but expenses for travel to and from home can be covered.

Main tasks and responsibilities

The Volunteer Kitchen Assistant is part of the NHYC Youth Work Team.

New Horizon Youth Centre runs a busy day centre from Monday to Friday. We serve a hot, delicious and nutritious lunch for young people and staff every day.

As a Volunteer Kitchen Assistant, you’ll be helping our Chef with the day-to-day running of our kitchen including food preparation, cleaning and supporting the Chef to ensure high standards of safety and food hygiene.

Your volunteer responsibilities will include:

1. Working alongside the NHYC Chef on the daily preparation of up to 100 nutritionally balanced vegetarian and meat dishes.
2. Helping to keep the kitchen area clean, making sure equipment is in good working order and reporting any faults or repairs to the NHYC chef.
3. Following procedures relating to daily kitchen cleaning schedule and ensuring strict adherence to food hygiene regulations, cleanliness, kitchen safety and accurate record keeping (HACCP).
4. Supporting the Chef with serving lunches to up to 100 young people, staff and volunteers.
5. Engaging with young people at lunch and demonstrating patience and compassion with young people when needed.
6. Being creative! Supporting NHYC with meal ideas when required.
7. Assisting with kitchen closedown including washing up, loading/unloading the dishwasher, labelling food and cleaning and tidying kitchen ready for the next day.
8. Following New Horizon Youth Centre’s Health and Safety and Safeguarding policies, taking instructions from the daily duty manager when required.
9. Helping to keep the kitchen area safe and free from hazards.

Person specification

We are looking for an individual who can demonstrate the following competencies to a high level and want to use these to the full in their work.

Essential skills, knowledge and experience

• Experience working or volunteering in a professional kitchen or busy community kitchen (for example, community centres, schools, colleges, day centres,
  residential centres etc).
• A clear passion for food, engaging others and promoting positive healthy food habits.
• An understanding of health and safety issues in a working environment, specifically in a kitchen environment.
• An understanding of standards of cleanliness and hygiene requirements in the kitchen and the ability to clean equipment to a high standard.
• An excellent team player who is happy to roll their sleeves up with any task in the kitchen to ensure the smooth-running of service.
• A proactive nature, with the ability to work independently and take instructions.
• Excellent communication skills: able to communicate with a diverse staff team and the young people who come to the service.

Desirable skills, knowledge and experience

We’d love to hear from you if you also have these skills and experiences, but don’t worry if you don’t. These are the extras we’d really like!

• Previous experience working with vulnerable client groups such as children, vulnerable adults, people experiencing homelessness or similar.
• Experience working in youth centres or in youth work.
• A current Food Hygiene Certificate Level 2.
• Experience and knowledge around safeguarding policy and procedures for children and vulnerable adults.
• A working knowledge of and commitment to Diversity & Equality as it applies to a supportive service and in the workplace.

Timescales and how to apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Application process

1. Complete the application form below
2. Upload your CV setting out your career history, education or qualifications, and other key responsibilities or achievements. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME OR INITIALS IN THE DOCUMENT FILE NAME
3. Write a brief supporting statement covering the essential criteria (no more than 800 words) highlighting your suitability for the role and why you want to volunteer at
   New Horizon Youth Centre.

Shortlisted candidates will be informed within one month of their application. You will be notified if you have not been shortlisted. However, we are unfortunately unable to provide each individual application with feedback.

If you have any questions or would like to arrange a call to discuss the role, please feel free to email us at recruitment@nhyouthcentre.org.uk or call 0207 388 5560.

Click here to see the job pack in Word format.