Community chef jobs

Vacancy Reference Number:

OKMC/PR/UK-R1

Position title:

The Open Kitchen Manchester Chef

Reports to:

UK Programmes Manager

Location:

Manchester

Hours of Work:

Part-time, 18- hours per week

Thursday - Sunday (4-Days per week)

Salary guideline:

(Up to) £18.03 per hour which is equivalent to £15,000.00 per annum (commensurate with experience)

Terms of Employment:

12-Months’ Fixed-Term Contract (with a 6-Month Probationary Period)

Application Process & Closing Date:

Send an up to date CV and supporting Covering Letter by Email by no later than 6th March 2026

Approx. Interview & Role Commencement Date(s):

Interviews: As Suitable Applications Received

Start: ASAP thereafter

Note: Strong Applicants may be contacted sooner, ahead of the closing date.

Role: Open Kitchen Chef

About the Project

The Open Kitchen is a community-led initiative tackling food poverty and social isolation across the UK. Our kitchens, based in Hounslow (London), Nottingham, and Manchester, provide free, hot, and nutritious meals to individuals and families affected by homelessness, low income, or displacement as refugees.

Operating seven days a week, the Open Kitchen offers more than just food it provides a safe, welcoming space where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Each kitchen also serves as a community support hub, distributing essential household items and sleeping bags to those in need.

Through this initiative, we aim not only to alleviate hunger but also to connect service users with pathways to stability, empowerment, and independence.

Key Responsibilities

As part of the Open Kitchen project team, the role will involve ensuring the smooth, safe, and impactful operation of Open Kitchen Manchester.

To lead the delivery of Muslim Hands’s free hot meal provision and structured cooking Facilities , ensuring that local communities can access nutritious hot meals in a safe, welcoming environment while also learning essential cooking skills to make everyday meals from food parcel ingredients. This role will directly contribute to reducing food insecurity, building confidence, and promoting independence among beneficiaries.

Responsibilities include:

• Oversee day-to-day activities within Open Kitchen Manchester, ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality, nutritious meals.
• Plan, prepare, and cook hot meals for O.K’s free weekday lunch meals.
• Ensure all meals are healthy, nutritious, culturally appropriate, and prepared in line with food safety and hygiene regulations.

•  Cooking with and preserving large quantities of surplus food.

• Supervise and observe the cooking facility to ensuring compliance with hygiene, health, and safety regulations.
• Manage food inventory, kitchen supplies, and procurement processes to ensure sustainability and efficiency.
• Ensure all food standards are followed.

• Train, and supervise volunteers to ensure effective service delivery and adherence to health and safety standards.
• Design and deliver weekly cooking classes for small groups, teaching participants how to prepare affordable, nutritious meals using food parcel items.
• Taking responsibility for safeguarding, health and safety and all policies relating to hot meals operations .
• Work collaboratively with volunteers, supporting their development and ensuring they are engaged meaningfully in meal preparation and delivery.
• Participant in staff meetings where required.
•  Attend training and professional development sessions.
• •Any other ad-hoc tasks as require by your line-manager.

What We're Looking For

• A genuine commitment to serving vulnerable and destitute individuals with care and respect.
• Right to work in the UK and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS check, completed before starting the role.
• Warm interpersonal skills, comfortable engaging with people from all walks of life.
• A dependable, team-oriented attitude and availability for weekend shifts.

Essential skills and experience:

• Professional cooking ability – proven experience preparing nutritious, balanced, and culturally appropriate meals at scale.
• Food safety & hygiene knowledge – Level 2 (or higher) Food Hygiene certificate and thorough understanding of health and safety regulations in kitchens.
• Menu planning & organisation – ability to plan and deliver hot meals within budget and using surplus food creatively.
• Teaching and facilitation skills – experience delivering group cooking sessions, workshops, or training in a practical, engaging way.
• Communication skills – approachable, clear communicator able to engage with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Nutritional awareness – knowledge of affordable, healthy meal preparation, particularly using food parcel ingredients.
• Safeguarding awareness – understanding of safeguarding responsibilities within a community setting.
• Team collaboration – ability to work with, support, and supervise volunteers of varying skill levels.
• Adaptability – confident working with surplus food and adjusting menus to available resources.
• Commitment to values – alignment with Muslim Hands’s mission to address poverty, food insecurity, and inequality

Why Join Us?

As part of the Muslim Hands family, you’ll help create a place of warmth and friendship for those in need. Your presence will extend beyond service, contributing to a deeper mission of compassion, respect, and community uplift.

If you’d like to support others and be part of something truly special, we’d be honoured to receive your application.

NB:         This Job Description is illustrative and non-exhaustive in scope.  The post-holder may be required to undertake any reasonable tasks as and when required by Line Manager from time to time to reflect the changing needs of the Organisation.

We are looking for a dedicated and experienced Operations Manager to join our team in a pivotal leadership role. This is a fantastic opportunity to combine practical problem-solving with team management; ensuring we continue to run smoothly and support the highest quality of care and education for our children and families.

Since 1985, Easton Community Children’s Centre (ECCC) has been at the heart of our community, offering exceptional early education for children. Since 1999 we’ve operated out of our building off Russell Town Avenue, between Easton and Lawrence Hill. 

Key Information:
Salary: £39,550 (initial band) - see additional excellent benefits below!
Hours: 37.5 hours per week (Permanent Contract)
Location: Easton Community Children’s Centre, Bristol

Application deadline: 8am Monday 16 March 2026.

More about the role:
The Operations Manager is a hands-on position responsible for line-managing operational staff (Office Manager, Kitchen Team, Cleaners), overseeing facilities, leading on health and safety, and managing budgets for operational areas.

For full details please see the attached recruitment pack + application form - both attached below!  Our contact details are in the application pack if your questions aren't answered by reading it. 

Who are we looking for? 

We’re looking for a reliable team player, who can keep things running smoothly and can lead by example. Your experience in operational roles in other organisations will have developed your eye for detail, problem solving skills, and understanding of good processes.

You are adaptable, and comfortable moving from leadership and planning to practical and administrative tasks with the same positive attitude. You’re a people person with experience managing a team, overseeing building management, and running HR processes.

We’re looking for someone who can uphold our inclusive culture, and set high standards across the organisation. We have a dedicated and diverse team and supporting them to thrive will be a key part of this job. 

If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!

You’ll be working closely with our Co-Director of Operations (Henri) and our experienced Office Manager (Naomi). There’s scope to focus your duties to focus on your interests and where you can add the most to our team. 

You don’t need to have worked in Early Years or in a charity or non-profit organisation before, but you’ll be excited by the opportunity to make a practical difference to the lives of children and families in our community. 

Not sure you tick every box? We’re interested in your experience, judgement, approach and motivation, so if you think this might be the role for you anyway, please do still apply or get in touch to discuss. Note that you are not required to hold any early years qualifications for this post. 

Many benefits including:

• Reduced Working Week: We finish at 1:30pm on Fridays.

• Generous Annual Leave: Over 7 weeks off each year, including a guaranteed 2-week break in December.

• Fair Pay: We’re a certified Living Wage Employer, with annual pay reviews.

• Generous Benefits: Enhanced pension scheme (5% employer contribution, 3% employee), anniversary pay bonus, enhanced sick and maternity pay, and employee discounts.

• Family Discount: A 30% discount for your own children at ECCC.

• Wellbeing First: Access to a health cash plan and an Employee Assistance Programme.

• Delicious Perks: Free meals and snacks prepared by our in-house chef.

• Diverse & Inclusive: Work in a culturally rich setting where your unique perspective is valued.

• Community Impact: Be part of a charity that adapts quickly to meet the needs of children, families, and staff.

• Career Growth: Ongoing professional development, training, and clear progression opportunities.

• Supportive Environment: flu jab, on-site parking, and time off in lieu for meetings and training.

The Programmes and Projects Executive will play a key role in supporting our community of primary and secondary schools throughout the school year. You will help design and deliver Bite Back in Schools, ensuring a positive and engaging experience for young people, their teachers and their schools — and making sure the programme achieves meaningful impact.

Alongside day-to-day programme delivery, you will contribute a range of projects across the organisation, including supporting an exciting new collaboration with other school food charity partners and helping to coordinate and support wider organisational initiatives.

This role would suit someone who enjoys working with young people, is proactive and adaptable, and is ready to learn and grow at a leading youth-led health charity. You’ll be motivated by helping young people turn their ideas into action and seeing the difference that makes in schools and beyond.

The Programmes and Projects Executive will join a friendly and ambitious Programmes team to support schools and local authorities to deliver high-quality programmes and maximise impact, making canteens and high streets healthier, happier places.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Relationship management 

• Provide ongoing support to both primary and secondary schools throughout their time on the programme, building strong working relationships with participating schools. 

• Support communication with all primary schools, providing a point of contact for the coordinator and lead teacher in each school. 

• Support monitoring and evaluation through creation of surveys, ensuring completion of baseline and end of year surveys, and analysis of data submitted (working with our Impact & Evaluation Manager).

• Provide timely responses to school queries and alert the Programmes Manager of any potential risks.

• Proactively seek feedback from teachers and young people on our programmes.

• Ensure opportunities for schools to engage in at least two one-on-one meetings with our team during the school year. 

• Build productive relationships with programme partners, including Chefs in Schools and School Food Matters. 

Community management 

• Celebrate and share examples of best practice and impactful social action projects amongst our community of schools. 

• Deliver training and webinars for schools.

• Grow our movement - supporting the recruitment of future cohorts by promoting the Bite Back in Schools programme, distributing recruitment comms, holding set up calls with interested schools, and guiding schools through the application and enrolment process, working closely with the Programmes Manager on the design of these processes.

Programme delivery 

• Schedule and organise visits to schools, agreeing agendas with the schools in advance to include elements including meeting pupils and teachers, leading feedback sessions and focus groups and supporting the development of their social action campaigns. 

• Schedule and deliver assemblies with primary and secondary schools partaking in the programme.

• Ensure schools submit invoices on time as part of their grant funding, providing support where needed and coordinating with the finance team to ensure prompt processing.

• Book and arrange assemblies, coordinating between schools and our Bite Back Ambassadors.

• Support the School Ambassadors with travel logistics as they deliver assemblies in schools across England and Scotland.

• Maintain and regularly update programme management software and associated data to ensure accurate and up to date information for all participating primary schools.

• Ensure successful end-to-end support for the 10+ primary schools participating in the programme throughout the next school year.

Project support 

• Provide support to Programme Manager in the delivery of projects, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget and scope.

• Coordinate our relationship with our partners in The School Food Project, including Chefs in Schools, School Food Matters, Food Foundation & Jamie Oliver’s Group.

• Support the national rollout of the Bite Back in Schools Primary programme by contributing to the design, development, and refinement of engaging, age-appropriate resources for primary settings, building on insights and proven impact from two successful pilot programmes.

• Assist with the organisation and delivery of Bite Back events throughout the year, including travelling as needed to support the Youth teams' operational requirements. 

• Provide ad hoc input to evolving organisational requirements as directed by senior team members.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE 

What we will be looking for as we evaluate applications is demonstrable experience in at least some of these areas, and evidence of capacity to build skills in other areas. Please don’t be put off applying for one of our jobs because you can’t demonstrate every skill. If you're passionate and excited about working for us, and possess the main skills and experience we are looking for, go ahead and apply. You could be just what we are looking for!

The ideal candidate would have the following experience and qualities:

Essential

• Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with a broad range of stakeholders at the individual level and in representation of the organisation.

• Strong organisational and project management skills, with excellent time management, ability to manage competing priorities and attention to detail.

• Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to adapt messages and language to resonate with different audiences.

• Ability to travel across England and Scotland when required (occasional).

• A willingness to build relationships across sectors, with young people and adults.

• Experience of creating resources which are engaging for young people.

• Experience of youth facilitation and/or delivering training.

• Experience in presenting and delivering content, ideally to young people such as an educational, heritage or other  setting, for example such as leading assemblies and workshops.

• Demonstrated experience planning and coordinating events, including logistics, stakeholder communication, and on-the-day delivery.

• Confident public speaker or willingness to learn.

Desirable

• Proven experience coordinating programmes in partnership with external stakeholders, fostering strong collaborative relationships to ensure successful delivery and shared outcomes.

• Experience of working with CRM systems.

• Strong understanding of the education sector and experience of working with schools and teachers.

• Experience in drafting compelling copy and uploading content to digital platforms.

• Understanding of youth social action and extracurricular programmes.

• Interest in campaigning, social justice, food, and child health.

• Experience with design tools like Canva.

Please see the attached Job Description for all the information. 

We are currently seeking a cook to join Queen Crescent Community Association's Youth Services team in preparing delicious meals in our youth centre kitchen during school holiday times. We offer free, hot, healthy meals to the young people who attend our holiday programmes. The ideal candidate will have a passion for planning and cooking healthy and delicious meals that young people will appreciate, and an overall belief in the importance of youth work to support the wellbeing of disadvantaged young people.

Your duties and reponsibilities will be:

• Oversee all kitchen operations during shifts
• Plan a variety of recipes that young people will enjoy and that will support a healthy lifestyle for them
• Prepare a variety of meals according to food safety standards
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with all young people
• Meet young people’s individual dietary needs upon request
• Ensure effective safeguarding of young people during all cooking processes
• Undertake relevant administrative duties including monitoring and evaluation of the service and recording outcomes

The right person will have: 

• Have or be working to a L2 Food Hygiene accreditation 
• Minimum 1 years experience working in a kitchen 
• Knowledge of various cooking methods and procedures 
• Able to work on initiative 
• Be punctual and reliable 
• Excellent communication and listening skills 
• An ability to engage and develop relationships with young people

Elizabeth Fry Charity operates a Ministry of Justice Approved Premises in Reading, offering a safe and supportive environment for up to 24 women. We’re committed to delivering exceptional accommodation and meaningful, person‑centred support for women navigating the criminal justice system.

Make a Meaningful Difference in the Lives of Women in the Criminal Justice System

Are you passionate about supporting women with complex needs—such as substance misuse issues—to build safer, healthier, and more stable futures? Do you thrive in a supportive team environment and enjoy finding creative, flexible solutions to help others succeed?

We’re looking for someone who can bring empathy, resilience, and positivity to a role that truly changes lives. As a member of our team, you will play an active part in helping women reintegrate into the community and move towards leading law‑abiding, independent lives.

What the role involves:

• Working an average of  17.75 (part time) or 35.5 hours a week on a rota, including weekend shifts and occasional bank holidays
• Supporting residents within our Approved Premises
• Contributing to the safe and smooth daily running of the service
• Being a positive role model, using encouragement and consistency to motivate change

We offer a competitive full‑time equivalent salary of £26,334.82 to £31,505.32, along with a 30% enhancement for weekend shift work.

We are open to part‑time applicants—offering an average of 17.75 hours per week on a flexible or fixed rota.

Who we’re looking for:
Ideally, you’ll have experience within the Criminal Justice System and an understanding of the discrimination and challenges faced by women involved in it. However, we also welcome applicants who can demonstrate insight, empathy, and a strong willingness to learn.

You’ll be:

• Self‑motivated and committed to supporting others
• An excellent communicator with strong administrative and teamwork skills
• Someone who brings enthusiasm, responsibility, and reliability to every shift

What we offer:

• Regular supervision to support your development
• Tailored training to build your confidence and skills
• The opportunity to make a tangible, positive impact every day

If you’re ready to be part of a dedicated team and help empower women to rebuild their lives, we’d love to hear from you.

Why Join Us?

At Elizabeth Fry Charity, you’ll be part of a compassionate and committed team working to transform the lives of vulnerable women. Every day, your contribution will make a meaningful impact — and you’ll be supported by colleagues who value collaboration, personal growth, and innovation. We invest in your success, celebrate your achievements, and ensure you feel truly appreciated.

We’re proud to offer a comprehensive range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing and help you thrive:

• 30% pay enhancement for working weekend shifts.
• Perkbox membership, giving you access to exclusive discounts, wellbeing resources, and a wide range of perks.
• Financial recognition, including a confirmation‑in‑post bonus after successful completion of probation, plus long‑service awards at three and ten years.
• Employee Assistance Programme, providing confidential emotional, financial, and practical support whenever you need it.
• Generous annual leave of 25 days plus Bank Holidays (pro rata), increasing with service up to 30 days.
• Freshly cooked meals on site, prepared by our in‑house Chef and tailored to all dietary requirements.