Food jobs

About the Role

Do you have a creative flair and a passion for collaboration? We’re looking for someone to help shape and deliver a public engagement and events programme that showcases Headway East London’s occupational projects in art, food and music, strengthens partnerships, and raises awareness of brain injury.

The role is to work closely with our members, you will co-produce events, workshops and creative projects that highlight their experiences and talents. Also, nurture and develop relationships with partners and stakeholders, identify new opportunities for collaboration and ensure members are meaningfully involved in all aspects of engagement.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Public Engagement Programme Delivery

• Support the delivery of a public engagement programme that raises awareness of brain injury and showcase our creative work in art, food, and music.
• Work closely with the Director of Development and staff teams to identify and develop opportunities for public engagement (e.g. exhibitions, performances, and community events).

​Member Co-production and Creative Participation

• Work closely with members to support their participation in projects and events, ensuring their voices and experiences contribute to the planning and delivery.
• Support in facilitating steering groups or member planning sessions to shape ideas and gather feedback for improvements.

Partnerships and External Relationships

• Support in building and maintaining positive relationships with local organisations, cultural venues, and community partners to broaden our reach and profile.
• Represent Headway East London at events, meetings and community forums, acting as a positive ambassador for the organisation and its members.

 Event, Operations and Delivery

• Support all logistical aspects of events, including venue booking, liaising with suppliers, organising materials, and coordinating volunteers.
• Contribute to event promotion and audience engagement, including managing guest lists, ticketing, and attendee communications.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

• Support the collection of feedback, stories, and data from events and projects to evaluate their success and impact.
• Support with monitoring and reporting processes that inform fundraising, communications, and project planning. 

Key Relationships - Internal and External

Internal: All staff, Members (service users) and their families, Volunteers

External: Public audiences - supporters and funders Partner organisations, Corporate stakeholders, Contractors

Other

Apply the Headway East London values and behaviours to every aspect of the role at all times.

Protect and enhance the interests and reputation of Headway East London internally and externally.

Commit to the organisational principles of: coproduction equity, diversity and inclusion sustainability.

Headway East London is an Equal Opportunities Employer and we are committed to ensuring that all staff are motivated, skilled and rewarded by their work. We welcome applicants regardless of race, religion or belief, colour, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age and other protected status as required by law. We promote and protect human rights; they are the foundation of what we do. We want to be an inclusive place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and contribute their unique strengths and perspectives. We are focused on equality and believe that all the fascinating characteristics that make us different, make us more able to deliver our life-changing work with passion and creativity.

A little about us 

We are one of the largest providers of mental health services to schools in London. We also provide early years education and family support, including offering emergency assistance for families in crisis. Through this work we support thousands of children and families each year.

Our values

We work with children and families of all faiths and none; our sole aim is to help those in greatest need so they can overcome the challenges they face and achieve their potential. Our work is underpinned by our core values of integrity, compassion, inclusion and partnership. 

About the role

As Marketing and Communications Assistant, you will help us tell compelling stories about the work we do and the difference we make to children’s lives.  This exciting role would suit someone looking to gain experience in the charity sector and learn more about different areas of marketing and fundraising.  Experience of using Adobe InDesign is essential. 

Key responsibilities

The workload will be varied and rewarding.  Key responsibilities will include:

• Assist in developing marketing and fundraising campaigns from concept to completion.
• Design and produce print and digital materials, and support basic video editing.
• Create social media content, schedule posts, and update website content.
• Assist in marketing our mental health services to schools and promoting access to our family centres.
• Work with service teams to design engaging resources to support our work with children and families.
• Contribute to events, deliver presentations and manage communications with supporters.
• Help to distribute gifts and food to hundreds of disadvantaged families at Christmas.

 If this variety appeals to you, please apply today!

About you

• Proactive, enthusiastic, and comfortable managing a varied and busy workload.
• Enjoy creative challenges and working collaboratively.
• Experience using Adobe InDesign.
• Keen interest in marketing and fundraising and working in the charity sector.

What you will get in return

• Generous annual leave allowance of 27 days p.a. plus bank holidays
• 11% employer pension contribution
• Access to a staff Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme
• The opportunity to access further training to develop your marketing skills
• The opportunity to wake up each morning and feel you are making a positive difference!

Location

Lovely office at 73 St Charles Square, London. W10 6EJ (private off-street parking is available for staff). Hybrid working options considered, with the expectation staff attend the office at least two or three days per week on average.  At busy times, full-time office working will be required.

Application deadline 

Monday 15th December 2025

Interview date

Monday 22nd December 2025

Application requirements

Please submit your CV and a concise cover letter (max. two sides of A4) that clearly sets out why your skills and experience make you suitable for this role and what motivated you to apply.  The cover letter should include information on why you want to work for our organisation.  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

We are seeking a Community Development Officer to lead a major in-progress project improving recognition, support, and care for people with smell and taste disorders at a local level across England. 

This three-year, volunteer-led programme, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund has achieved significant success in its first eighteen months. We are now recruiting a new postholder to take this strong foundation forward through the next phase of delivery. 

Over the past eighteen months, we have recruited and established a thriving network of volunteers and local groups across England. This momentum is expected to continue. The Community Development Officer will work closely with existing volunteers and groups, primarily remotely, while also attending in-person events and meetings in different parts of England as needed. 

The postholder will lead the ongoing recruitment, training, and support of volunteer groups, working with them to identify opportunities for local outreach and engagement. Together, you will ensure that more people affected by smell and taste disorders access the information, support, and recognition they need, while continuing to raise awareness of these often-unrecognised sensory impairments. 

Our volunteer groups bring together people with lived experience alongside experts from the food, beverage and fragrance sectors, and other relevant fields. 

We are looking for a motivated, forward-thinking individual with experience in leading and inspiring others. You will bring energy, creativity, and excellent communication skills to drive the project forward and help build an innovative, sustainable programme of volunteer-led activity, supporting our volunteers to influence change within their communities. 

You will empower volunteers to play an active role in transforming public understanding of how essential smell and taste are to our lives, whether they are running peer support groups, organising local events, delivering talks in community settings, or representing the charity at information days. 

You will join a small, friendly and ambitious team committed to your professional development as the charity continues to grow. 

If you are passionate about making a difference, enjoy working with people, and want to contribute to a pioneering and collaborative organisation that values and empowers its community, we would love to hear from you. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. 

Head Chef

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Job Title: Head Chef

Report to: Operations Team

Hours: 39 per week

Location: Ravenswood Village, Crowthorne, Berkshire, RG45 6BQ

Contract: Permanent

MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To be part of, and lead, a team preparing and providing meals which comply with the laws of Kashrut and Food Hygiene Regulations.
• To provide regular supervision, leadership and development to the catering team.
• Working in a professional manner whilst developing a strong team ethos, where staff and trainees are motivated to reach their full potential.
• To ensure that food is purchased, stored, prepared and served is safe for
• consumption and in accordance with Kosher preparation and cooking of food in appropriate quantities for the allocated services.
• To maintain all aspects of the kitchen, including stock, cleaning and disposal of waste under the regulations set by the Food Standards Agency.
• To prepare and serve well-balanced, nutritious meals, to accommodate and adhere to special dietary needs, vegetarian options and care plans when creating a diverse menu plan for the allocated services.
• To complete periodic deep cleaning of the kitchen as defined in the cleaning schedule.
• To record, report and action all Health and Safety and Food Standards Agency required checks, including food temperatures, fridge and freezer temperatures,
• opening and closing checks.
• Liaise with care staff, home managers and other health professionals as necessary regarding any specific dietary requirements relating to individual health needs and ensure that foods are prepared with due care and attention, with particular regard to these dietary requirements developing menus around this information and guidance.
• To be aware of and comply with the safe working practices as laid down under the Health & Safety at Work Act and Food Hygiene Regulations.
• To support ad hoc functions or events on or off site and to provide cover where necessary, ensuring continuity of the day-to-day operation of the kitchen. This may include the need to work flexibly or additional hours on occasion.

GENERAL:

• To maintain standard of dress that is appropriate to role and in accordance with the organisation’s dress policy.
• To maintain confidentiality at all times and to ensure respect for, proper observance of and adherence to Norwood's confidentiality policy for all staff.
• To work on a rotating rota with the requirement to work at weekends as required. Hours of work per day can vary according to the needs of the service within the weekly hours contracted.
• To attend regular supervision sessions with the line manager and undertake relevant training as and when required.
• To take all reasonable care of the health and safety of themselves and other persons who may be affected by his/her acts or omissions. Co-operate with the organisation as far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with. To report to the Health and Safety Manager regarding a serious risk or your concerns over safety issues.
• To work collaboratively with volunteers to ensure that their contribution enhances the quality of service provision and support across the organisation.
• To work at any other Norwood location, as and when required.
• To provide where required training to support workers providing meals in other services as well as menu review/implementation support as requested.
• To undertake any other duties which are consistent with the post.
• This job description is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of the service.

Job Title: Scaling Assistant

Salary: £28,770

Position Type: Full time / Fixed term with option to extend subject to funding

Reports to: Scaling Manager

Based at: School Food Matters, Blackfriars Settlement, 1 Rushworth Street, SE1 0RB

Working Hours:  5 days a week, 9am-5pm (flexible)

Pension: School Food Matters matches pension contributions at 7% of pensionable earnings

Holiday: 31 days including bank holidays that fall on working days. Holidays must be taken during the school holidays

The role is mainly office-based with the option to work from home a couple of days per week. It also involves some travel to regions outside of London to assist with training and support for our regional teams.

Background to School Food Matters

At School Food Matters we believe that school food can unlock a happier, healthier, more sustainable future for every child. We want a school food system that delivers for all children, so they can enjoy nutritious, delicious and sustainable school food and leave school with an informed and positive relationship with food. To achieve this, we campaign for a better school food system, bringing the voices of children, parents, and teachers to government policy, and deliver fully funded food education programmes in schools across the country.

Background to Nourish

Our Nourish programme supports schools to create a food environment that puts children and young people's nutrition first. The evidence-based, multi-component programme helps schools to develop action plans and policies to cover the food served across the whole school day. Nourish uses a collaborative whole school approach to food involving everyone across the school community to create lasting positive change.

Job purpose

· To assist the team with the scaling up of our Nourish programme

Key tasks include

· Recruit schools to take part in Nourish in the regions

· Provide admin support to the Scaling Manager with setting up e.g. sending out calendar invites, project paperwork, writing minutes

· Assist Scaling Manager with set up of training sessions – agendas, venues, and minutes

· Tailor project resources for different regions delivering Nourish where required

· Design and create project assets such as presentations

· Manage online training platform

· Monitor Regional Officers documentation and check it stays up to date

· Attend occasional project sessions to capture photos, videos and quotes

· Collect data and maintain accurate records relating to the project

· Keep Scaling Manager fully updated on progress

· Keep up to date with safeguarding requirements and reporting procedures

· Maintaining the ethos of the charity and positively promoting our work at all times

· You will also be expected to undertake any other tasks relevant to the affairs of SFM that may arise from time to time.  Therefore, being flexible and approaching the job with an open and positive mindset is essential.

Person Specification

Essential

· Excellent administrative and organisational skills with great attention to detail

· Excellent IT skills including excel, word and email

· Ability to work in a team, and seek help when needed

· Comfortable writing and responding to emails, conducting telephone, virtual and face to face meetings

· Self-motivated and optimistic with a can-do attitude

Desirable

· Experience of working for a charity or not for profit organisation

· Experience of working in or with schools

· An interest in food education and children’s health

Job Title:  Gardener Project Officer for Young Marketeers Knowsley

Position Type: Freelance

Reports to: Project Coordinator

Based at:  Home-working and at schools in Knowsley

Working Hours: 17.5 days @ £165 per day from February – July (£2,887.50) plus 10 x school gardening sessions at £110 per session plus 1 day planning @ £220 (£1,320)

Contract: Temporary

Job Purpose

· To manage the delivery of Young Marketeers in Knowsley in five primary schools

Background to School Food Matters

At School Food Matters we believe that school food can unlock a happier, healthier, more sustainable future for every child. We want a school food system that delivers for all children, so they can enjoy nutritious, delicious and sustainable school food and leave school with an informed and positive relationship with food. To achieve this, we campaign for a better school food system, bringing the voices of children, parents, and teachers to government policy, and deliver fully funded food education programmes in schools across the country.

Young Marketeers

This much-loved programme was started in London in 2012. It is now running in 16 cities across England.  We have been commissioned to deliver the programme in Knowsley by Knowsley Public Health. The programme provides hands-on opportunities for children from primary schools to grow fruit and veg from seed to sell at their local market. Young Marketeers is also a platform for School Food Matters to promote food education to schools and communities as a way to support children to live happy and healthy lives. Children learn the art of growing veg from seed, and market traders will share their secrets on how to create a winning market stall. Primary schools will be visited by our gardener in March/April and then again in May/June and receive further tips on how to ensure a bumper crop. Then in July, they head to the market to sell their produce, and to meet the Mayor!

Key Tasks include:

· Assist with recruitment of five schools to take part in Young Marketeers

· Build and maintain relationships with teachers, teaching assistants and senior leaders to ensure the smooth running of the project

· Build and support relationships with contacts in partner organisations

· Schedule, organise and deliver

o One assembly in each school

o Two food growing sessions in each school

o One market trader training session in each school

o Market Day in the city centre in July for all schools

· Maintain accurate records relating to the programme

• Complete monitoring and evaluation forms in accordance with instructions from our Evaluation team
• Take photos of workshops and events where possible
• Keep Project Coordinator fully updated on progress

· Keep up to date with safeguarding requirements and reporting procedures

• Maintain the ethos of the charity and positively promote our work at all times

Person specification

 Essential

· Experience of delivering food growing sessions to children

· Knowledge of fruit and vegetable growing

· Excellent administrative and organisational skills with great attention to detail

· Excellent IT skills including excel, word and email

· Experience of building relationships with partner organisations and individuals

· Ability to work in a team, and seek help when needed

· Self-motivated and optimistic with a can-do attitude

Desirable

· Experience of working for a charity or not for profit organisation

· Experience of working in primary schools and engaging children

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in the day-to-day operations of UWLSU’s food and beverage outlets, supporting an award-winning, student-led organisation. As Food & Beverage Outlet Manager, you will help deliver a high-quality service across our outlets, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and an excellent customer experience.

You’ll refine our service offer, support the delivery of catering for private and in-house events, and work closely with a team of full-time and student staff to create a welcoming and engaging environment. Whether leading a busy shift or contributing to improvements across our commercial operations, your work will directly enhance the student experience and strengthen our community.

This role combines operational leadership with hands-on service delivery. You will set high standards, empower staff, and ensure our outlets run smoothly, safely, and in line with regulations. If you’re an organised, people-focused professional with a passion for hospitality, we’d love to hear from you.

What you’ll be doing

You will oversee daily operations across multiple outlets, ensuring a consistent, high-quality service. Key duties include supervising staff, managing rotas and training, supporting stock control and purchasing, monitoring KPIs, and contributing to commercial improvements. You’ll help deliver catering for events, maintain compliance with Health & Safety and Food Safety standards, and engage with students and customers to continuously improve our services.

The working hours for this role are usually between 0730 and 1800, Monday to Friday on a rota basis but there will be occasional work outside of these times.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be hardworking, organised, and confident in leading or coordinating service. You will bring experience in a food and drink environment, strong teamwork skills, the ability to work under pressure, and a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. Most importantly, you’ll understand that the Students’ Union exists to support and empower its members.

Interview date: Tuesday 16th December 2025, with ideally a start date w/c 5th January 2026
Please note: We may close this vacancy early if suitable candidates are identified at an early stage.

Job Title: Hertfordshire Project Officer

Salary: £29,500 (London Fringe weighting)

Position Type: Full time/Fixed term (until December 2028)

Reports to: Scaling Manager

Based at: Remote, with travel to schools in Hertfordshire

Working Hours: 5 days a week, 9am-5pm (flexible)

Pension: School Food Matters matches pension contributions at 7% of pensionable earnings

Holiday: 31 days including bank holidays that fall on working days. Holidays must be taken during the school holidays

This role requires occasional work outside of core hours (for example, if visiting a school breakfast club). It also requires travel to schools across Hertfordshire, so access to a car would be desirable. Training for delivery of the programme will be provided online and in person, and you will be expected to travel outside of Hertfordshire for some of these sessions.

Background to School Food Matters

At School Food Matters we believe that school food can unlock a happier, healthier, more sustainable future for every child. We want a school food system that delivers for all children, so they can enjoy nutritious, delicious and sustainable school food and leave school with an informed and positive relationship with food. To achieve this, we campaign for a better school food system, bringing the voices of children, parents, and teachers to government policy, and deliver fully funded food education programmes in schools across the country.

Background to Nourish

Our Nourish programme supports schools to create a food environment that puts children and young people's nutrition first. The evidence-based, multi-component programme helps schools to develop action plans and policies to cover the food served across the whole school day. Nourish uses a collaborative whole school approach to food involving everyone across the school community to create lasting positive change.

Job purpose

· To deliver Nourish in 40 schools in Hertfordshire (primary, secondary and SEND settings) over 3 years in a delivery team of two Project Officers and a Project Assistant.

Key tasks include

· Support with recruitment of schools to take part in Nourish

· Complete in person food audits in schools looking across the whole school day

· Support schools to create and deliver a food improvement plan (action plan)

· Develop and deliver workshops in schools to staff, parents and students based on their action plan (e.g. assemblies, cooking sessions, school food standards training, packed lunch advice, food ed/sensory tasting sessions)

· Support schools to write a school food policy

· Build relationships and work closely with teachers, teaching assistants, cooks, kitchen teams and senior leaders in schools to improve the food they offer their students

· Collect data and maintain accurate records relating to the project

· Work closely with University of Hertfordshire and our Evaluation team to complete all monitoring and evaluation

· Work in collaboration with Hertfordshire project delivery team

· Gather content for our comms team (website and social media platforms)

· Keep Scaling Manager fully updated on progress

· Keep up to date with safeguarding requirements and reporting procedures

· Maintaining the ethos of the charity and positively promoting our work at all times

· You will also be expected to undertake any other tasks relevant to the affairs of SFM that may arise from time to time.  Therefore, being flexible and approaching the job with an open and positive mindset is essential.

Person specification

Essential

· Registered nutritionist or advanced understanding of nutritional guidelines and health promotion

· Good interpersonal skills, with experience of building relationships

· Confident engaging with a variety of audiences (students, headteachers, school staff and parents), including communications via email, virtual and face to face meetings with the ability to deliver workshops & presentations

· Excellent administrative and organisational skills with great attention to detail

· Excellent IT skills including excel, word and email

· Able to work independently and remote

· Self-motivated and optimistic with a can-do attitude

· Ability to work in a team and seek help when needed

Desirable

· Experience of engaging and working with schools and/or communities

· Experience of working for a charity or not for profit organisation

· Knowledge in food education and children’s health

· Access to a car

Job Title: Hertfordshire Project Assistant

Salary: £27,150 (London Fringe weighting)

Position Type: Full time/Fixed term (until December 2028)

Reports to: Scaling Manager

Based at: Remote, with travel to schools in Hertfordshire

Working Hours: 5 days a week, 9am-5pm (flexible)

Pension: School Food Matters matches pension contributions at 7% of pensionable earnings

Holiday: 31 days including bank holidays that fall on working days. Holidays must be taken during the school holidays

This role requires occasional work outside of core hours (for example, if visiting a school breakfast club). It also requires travel to schools across Hertfordshire, so access to a car would be desirable. Training for delivery of the programme will be provided online and in person, and you will be expected to travel outside of Hertfordshire for some of these sessions.

Background to School Food Matters

At School Food Matters we believe that school food can unlock a happier, healthier, more sustainable future for every child. We want a school food system that delivers for all children, so they can enjoy nutritious, delicious and sustainable school food and leave school with an informed and positive relationship with food. To achieve this, we campaign for a better school food system, bringing the voices of children, parents, and teachers to government policy, and deliver fully funded food education programmes in schools across the country.

Background to Nourish

Our Nourish programme supports schools to create a food environment that puts children and young people's nutrition first. The evidence-based, multi-component programme helps schools to develop action plans and policies to cover the food served across the whole school day. Nourish uses a collaborative whole school approach to food involving everyone across the school community to create lasting positive change.

Job purpose

· To support two Project Officers with the delivery of Nourish in 40 schools in Hertfordshire (primary, secondary and SEND settings) over 3 years

Key tasks include

· Recruit schools to take part in Nourish

· Shadow and support project team to deliver in person food audits in schools

· Build relationships and work closely with teachers, teaching assistants, cooks, kitchen teams and senior leaders in schools in Hertfordshire to improve the food they offer their students

· Provide practical support to the project team with setting up workshops including paperwork and food shopping

· Provide admin support to the project team

· Tailor Nourish resources for Hertfordshire schools where required

· Collect data and maintain accurate records relating to the project

· Gather content for our comms team, website and social media platforms

· Keep project team fully updated on progress

· Keep up to date with safeguarding requirements and reporting procedures.

· Maintaining the ethos of the charity and positively promoting our work at all times

· You will also be expected to undertake any other tasks relevant to the affairs of SFM that may arise from time to time. Therefore, being flexible and approaching the job with an open and positive mindset is essential.

Person Specification

Essential

· Excellent administrative and organisational skills with great attention to detail

· Excellent IT skills including excel, word and email

· Ability to work in a team, and seek help when needed

· Comfortable engaging with variety of audiences (students, school staff and parents), incl. writing and responding to email, conducting telephone, virtual and face to face meetings, and running workshops

· Self-motivated and optimistic with a can-do attitude

Desirable

· Experience of working for a charity or not for profit organisation

· Experience of working in schools

· An interest in food education and children’s health

· Access to a car

The Public Affairs Lead sits within our Policy and Advocacy Team, working to build support
for The Food Foundation’s work amongst Parliamentarians and to influence the government to
help deliver policies that will transform the food system. This is an exciting opportunity to join
a small organisation delivering big impact on the political agenda around food.

About Cosmic
Cosmic is a small but mighty children’s charity dedicated to supporting the incredible work of the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, and Queen Charlotte’s Hospital, Hammersmith. We provide vital funding for life-saving equipment, specialist staff training, and pioneering research. We also deliver our own emotional and practical family support services - making a real difference for children and families when they need it most.
As part of our close partnership with our NHS colleagues, you will join a team working at the heart of two world-class children’s and neonatal services, helping Cosmic to make a real difference for families during their most difficult moments.

The Role
This role will take day-to-day ownership of key operational processes across Cosmic’s NICU and PICU support, ensuring smooth delivery, strong relationships across hospital teams, and the continual improvement of internal systems.

The Operations Executive plays a central role in keeping Cosmic running smoothly across both hospital sites and Cosmic HQ. This is a hands-on and varied position, combining operational coordination, ownership of key processes, and direct support to Cosmic’s Senior Leadership Team. This role will be pivotal in connecting Cosmic with the families we support and our NHS units across both hospital sites, by supporting our service delivery and fostering continuous engagement.
You will be responsible for maintaining high operational standards across our service delivery programmes, ensuring our units are well-stocked and supported, coordinating fulfilment activities, improving our internal systems, and helping strengthen Cosmic’s visibility within the hospitals.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone organised, proactive and compassionate, who enjoys taking ownership and making things work well for others.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operational Coordination Across PICU and NICU
• Act as a consistent and trusted operational contact for unit staff across St Mary’s and Queen Charlotte’s.
• Enhance Cosmic’s visibility in the units, ensuring noticeboards, communications and information materials are up to date and on brand.
• Lead end-to-end coordination of operational tasks across both sites, ensuring high standards and reliable follow-through.

2. Nutri-Care Campaign  
• Coordinate Nutri-Care food deliveries to Cosmic HQ and our units.
• Distribute food items to NICU and PICU units at St. Mary’s Hospital and NICU at Queen Charlotte’s.
• Oversee stock storage at St Mary’s, Cosmic House, and Queen Charlotte’s, maintaining clear logs and ensuring resources never run low.
• Review family and staff feedback from the Nutri-Care surveys and share themes with the Service Delivery Manager to support service improvement.

3. NICU Welcome Bags & Corporate Volunteering
• Take ownership of stock levels for NICU Welcome Bags across both units, ensuring they are always ready for families.
• Work with NICU teams to develop practical solutions that ensure every family receives a Welcome Bag within 24 hours of arrival on the units, monitoring consistency and resolving any barriers.
• Prepare materials and coordinate logistics for corporate volunteer packing sessions, acting as the Cosmic lead on the day.

4. Stock & Supplies Management 
• Maintain regular routines to check, restock and record Cosmic items on PICU and NICU units.
• Oversee stock of cereals, tea, coffee and other essential items that support families and staff.
• Maintain accurate inventory logs and recommend improvements to stock processes.

5. Office & Systems Management
• Manage routine supplier relationships and monitor service standards.
• Process and code invoices for approval and support compliance tasks such as health and safety checks, first aid and fire safety.
• Maintain organised shared drives and digital filing systems, ensuring they are up to date and easy to navigate.
• Ensure all Cosmic office equipment is functional and well-maintained.
• Coordinating diary bookings and logistics for meetings, events, and training.
• Overseeing health and safety compliance (first aid, fire safety checks).
• Support onboarding and leaver processes for new staff and volunteers.
• Manage Cosmic’s relationship with the NHS Post Room, overseeing all incoming and outgoing mail.
• Coordinate logistics for meetings, events and staff activities, ensuring information flows efficiently.

6. Support to the Senior Leadership Team
• Provide high-quality executive support including diary management, meeting coordination and travel arrangements.
• Prepare briefing and meeting notes, collate information for internal or trustee papers, and support follow-up on key actions.
• Undertake small operational projects or research tasks with minimal supervision.

7. Continuous Improvement
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, stock processes and internal systems across the charity.
• Recommend changes to the CEO, COO and support implementation.
• Champion consistency and high standards across Cosmic’s operations.

Why You’ll Love Working with Us

At Cosmic, we’re a small team with a big heart. Every day, we’re privileged to support families and NHS staff when they need it most - often during the most difficult and vulnerable moments of their lives. This role offers the opportunity to be a vital part of that support, making a tangible difference where it truly matters.

• 27 days’ annual leave (pro rata for part-time staff) plus public Bank Holidays.
• £200 professional development budget annually
• Employee Assistance Programme 
• Flexible hours. Core office hours 10am – 4pm

To be considered for this role, please answer the screening questions in full.
 

Our Vision: A UK where “No good food goes to waste”. 

We are UK’s national network of charitable food redistributors, made up of 18 independent organisations. Together, we take good quality surplus food from right across the food industry and get it to approximately 8,500 frontline charities and community groups.  Every week we provide enough food to create almost a million meals for vulnerable people.

There has never been a more exciting time to join an organisation at the heart of public consciousness

The Role

This role is about more than just driving it is about sharing FareShare Merseyside’s mission that” no good food should go to waste”.

As a collection & delivery driver for FareShare Merseyside you will deliver / collect food from our partners across the region.  You will be the face of FareShare Merseyside, being a regular point of contact with our local and diverse range of member charities receiving food.  In addition, you may also act as a host for volunteers who may join as van assistants.

Main areas of responsibility

As a van driver:

Before you leave the FareShare Merseyside warehouse: 

• Load the van and check the van for roadworthiness
• Understand the schedule and route that has been planned and calculated for you
• Have a smart clean appearance, ready to meet our food partners and charities
• Support warehouse staff with any other duties required

On the road you will be representing FareShare Merseyside

• Drive safely, responsibly and within the law
• Be courteous to all road users

In the van you may be joined by volunteers wanting to support the FareShare Merseyside team to ensure no good food goes to waste. 

• Get to know your van team and respond to questions about FareShare
• Be courteous and demonstrate FareShare’s equality and diversity policy
• Take responsibility for the safety of volunteers who join you

At our food partners and charities:

• Greet the food partner or charity with a smile and get to know them by name
• Take care of the food you are collecting or delivering as if it were your own
• Complete all relevant paperwork and checks to ensure the safety of the food

On return to FareShare Merseyside:

• Unload and clean the van ready for the next driver
• Report any incidents that may affect the vans roadworthiness
• Complete all paperwork relevant to the food collected or delivered
• Support warehouse staff with any other duties required

When you are not on the road:

• Get to know your team and respond to questions about FareShare’s mission, the food partners who support us, charities who receive food and the planned activities for the day
• Work as a team with the Warehouse Manager, warehouse colleagues and volunteers to ensure all shifts are well planned, supervised and meet daily operational needs
• Ensure compliance with all FareShare policies and procedures and industry standards as required by food partners and regulators and that all staff, volunteers, food suppliers, charities and visitors adhere to them
• Support the Warehouse Manager in managing the office, responding to emails and taking phone calls
• Support the Warehouse Manager in organising food distribution using the FareShare food management systems and training volunteers as required
• Maintain excellent relations and communications with volunteers, staff, food suppliers and charities

Like the supply of surplus food to FareShare no two shifts are the same. Every day new food arrives and your team will include new people who want to get involved in the FareShare mission. You will be part of a small staff team responsible for ensuring the safe and effective distribution of food each day.

Experience required

• Experience of driving vans / medium sized vehicles
• Experience of multi-drop deliveries
• Experience of working within a food distribution and/or warehousing operation
• Experience of using Sat Nav to navigate & plan routes
• Experience of working on own initiative, able to manage own workload and prioritise tasks to meet objectives
• Experience of working in a team with evidence of demonstrating a flexible approach to team working
• Safe and courteous driver

Skills, Abilities and Attributes

• Safe and courteous driver
• Personable with excellent communication skills
• Able to take initiative
• Can stay clam under pressure
• Team player willing to adopt a flexible approach to daily tasks and activities
• Commitment to FareShare’s Equality & Diversity ethos

Essential Criteria

• Driver must be aged 21 years
• Have held a full UK driving licence
• Eligible to work in the UK
• Commitment to gain Level 2 Food Safety Qualification

Reporting to: CEO
Direct reports: Café Assistants and Café Supervisors
Contract: Permanent
Salary: £27,700 - £33,800 (pro rata)
Hours: 35 hours per week. Working days will vary in line with business requirements. Predominantly café based, with some office working will be required.
Location: Charleston in Firle (BN8 6LL) & Charleston in Lewes (BN7 1FB)

Charleston is seeking a proactive and positive individual with excellent interpersonal  skills to lead the catering offer across Charleston’s two sites. The Café Manager will manage the café’s daily operations, ensuring a warm and welcoming experience for all visitors. Responsibilities include developing seasonal menus, supervising staff, handling stock orders, and leading the coordination of catering for public events and venue hire.

General duties

• Lead and deliver the catering offer, growing the business and maximising profits while maintaining a high-quality service and inclusive atmosphere for all customers.
• To manage the day to day running of the catering offer, including the scheduling and management of a café team.
• Coordinate, supervise, train and develop the café team.
• Lead on the catering offer for all aspects of Charleston’s year-round programme of events.
• The Café Manager will work alongside the Front of House and Events team to coordinate the catering for public events, and internal and external hires of our public spaces.
• Ensure that the barns, and all connected spaces are clean and well presented.
• Act as the designated alcohol licence holder, ensuring all activities comply with the premises licence and legal requirements.
• Act as a keyholder and open / close venues following security procedures.
• Maintain all food deliveries records.

Financial responsibilities

• Manage budgets for the café, staffing and all food related items. Frequently reviewing staff costs.
• Responsible for ordering food and related supplies.
• Maintain food delivery records and all discrepancies are followed up.
• Approval of invoices for food and related supplies.
• Review chosen suppliers against Charleston’s criteria including value for money.
• Responsible for maintenance of point of sales systems.
• Review receipts and other information from point of sales systems.
• Manage staff rotas, with reference to expected activity levels.

Visitor welcome

• Create and maintain a safe, professional and welcoming atmosphere for all visitors.
• Ensure that visitor access requirements are met.
• Contribute to the collective effort to keep the site clean and safe for visitors.

Health and safety

• Lead on food safety working with external support as required, ensuring records are kept up to date and training is completed.
• Maintain allergens documentation.
• Understand Charleston’s emergency procedures and in the event of an emergency, help oversee the safe evacuation of the buildings.
• Monitor health & safety day to day, being vigilant to potential hazards.

Who are you

You are qualified chef or catering professional who is excited by the prospect of developing training, business partnerships and product development in conjunction with the staff and volunteers at our community garden, kitchen and nursery in Richmond.

About your values and strengths 

You will be someone who:

• Grasps new ideas and opportunities and runs with them
• Has the energy and skills to share their knowledge with others
• Is a powerful advocate for learning and development, particularly for people with learning disabilities
• Will be able to mobilise the skills and resources of staff, volunteers and users of the service to deliver work and the work of the kitchen and its development
• Will see the value of, and maximise the opportunities available to through the work of the community garden, its produce and the resources to be developed from it.
• Is confident in approaching other organisations and individuals to drive business and operational development

What we want you to do

Out "Kitchen at the Stud" project is a new initiative funded in partnership with the Royal Borough of Richmond. The Kitchen is a fully refurbished resource at the heart of our Horticultural Service based in grounds of Hampton Court Palace.

The Community Garden is an extensive horticultural resource and the kitchen project is an integrated part of our developing programme of learning and skills development. The Kitchen Lead will work with the garden team in building the kitchen into both a publicly accessible amenity, a training resource, seasonal cafe available on open days and for targeted group dining in addition to exploring the potential for product lines for public sale.

What you can expect from us

Balance is a specialist provider of community based support and services across SW London to people with learning disabilities and enduring mental health support needs. We are:

• A charity that works hard to put its people, those who it supports and those who provide its services at the heart of what we do.
• A charity that takes its mission and values seriously in developing its services, operational approach and commercial relationships
• An organisation supports and encourages its staff to participate as partners in our development as a business, our outcomes and the delivery of our values.

• Entrepreneurial, outward facing, collaborative and embrace the testing of new ideas and initiative.

Additional Benefits of working for us

• A commitment to training and professional development to support internal progression in and beyond the charity.
• Inclusion in and a 3% employers contribution to the charity's pension scheme.
• Generous annual leave allowance of 25 days a year plus bank holidays and an additional day off for your birthday.
• Access to a range of discount schemes including Blue Light Card
• Access to the charity's employee assistance programme.
• Access to travel card loan, and bike to work scheme.