Food bank volunteer volunteer jobs in Macclesfield, cheshire east

Role outline and purpose

The Organising and Local Mobilisation (OLM) Manager is responsible for managing ongoing support to food banks as they organise and campaign for change. This varied, proactive, and fast-paced role will involve working closely with grant funded Local Organisers as part of Trussell’s Organising Programme, frequently visiting food banks and delivering online and in person training.

You will hold responsibility for providing direct support as food banks develop effective campaign strategies – covering local and Trussell priorities – and ensuring they have the capacity, skills, and resources to deliver them. You will also work closely with other departments at Trussell and external partners to support food banks outside of the Organising Programme to influence locally and play a leading role in mobilising them to campaign for change. 

This role is part of Trussell’s Supportive Communities programme, the goal of which is to enable local communities to become places where people at risk of needing to use a food bank are supported and are using their agency to bring about meaningful changes that prevent anybody from needing emergency food. This role is focused on the successful delivery of the overall programme outcomes, contributing to the fulfilment of our long term vision of a UK without the need for food banks.

Role responsibilities

· Network area-wide delivery of the Organising Programme: Lead and manage the delivery of OLM’s Organising Programme in your network area, recruiting food banks to join, providing in person and online training and ongoing relational support to Local Organisers to ensure campaign strategies are developed and delivered. Organise and lead area-wide training, clusters, or events for food bank staff and volunteers to promote co-operation and sharing of good practice around local influencing. 

· Training, learning and programme development: Play a key role in the design and delivery of a programme of training and other learning for food banks covering organising, mobilising, and influencing. Contributing to impact and process evaluations and assisting food banks involved to explore future sources of funding, as required.

· Supporting food banks to influence locally: Empower food banks to develop their local influencing work, triaging influencing issues and managing input from other relevant Trussell Trust experts to provide ongoing support that enables the food bank to progress their influencing work. 

· Mobilising food banks in Trussell’s campaigns: Support the development and promotion of national Trussell policy campaigns, working with other teams and external partners to engage the food banks you support in taking action - including how they might take ownership of campaigns locally and help shape those priorities.

· Internal stakeholder engagement: Project manage OLM’s involvement in assigned cross-organisational projects – e.g. a policy campaign or strategic project, ensuring the OLM team are consulted, negotiating with other teams and making decisions accordingly. As part of an area-based matrix team you’ll work closely with other food bank facing staff to ensure a joined up approach to food bank support, effective communication, as well as sharing learning and best practice. 

· External stakeholder engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with food bank leaders, staff, volunteers, and trustees, as well as establishing effective partnerships with a range of stakeholders such as local authorities, community organisations, and churches. 

Person Specification

Technical skills and minimum knowledge:

·  Experience of delivering organising work and/or campaigning for change at a grassroots, local and/or national level. 

· Excellent knowledge and understanding of the political landscape of your assigned area. 

· A confident communicator with the ability to successfully influence and negotiate with a wide range of stakeholders, including food bank staff and volunteers, local authorities, community organisations, and churches. 

· Knowledge and experience of a wide range of campaigning tactics, campaign planning and developing theories of change. 

· Ability to develop and deliver training for organisers, trustees, staff and volunteers from food banks, including event management. 

Behaviours and competencies:

· Demonstrate a commitment to the values of Trussell. 

· Role models inclusive behaviour and values, including demonstrating empathy for people from disadvantaged, marginalised or socially- excluded backgrounds. 

· Able to build effective relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and with differing life experience, including in contexts where Christian faith plays a major part, and in which people of all faiths and none collaborate to make a difference together.  

· Effective project management ensuring alignment with the Trussell vision and strategy and collaborative working to maximise integration and effectiveness of activities

· Is tenacious, proactive, creative and propositional, and makes things happen. 

· Able to solve complex problems; with a self-motivated and solutions-focused outlook 

Key Stakeholders

·  Food banks, including local organisers, project managers, volunteers, and people they support. 

· The wider OLM team. 

· Network Area Teams, who support food banks in their day-to-day work

· Grants team 

· Participation team 

· Making Social Security Work programme team

· Others TBC

We are looking for a Drop-in Support Worker to join the team at MASH as Maternity cover and provide support to women.

Using a gender and trauma-informed approach, the Drop-in Support Worker will manage our city centre Drop-in Centre and support the women who attend. This will involve managing volunteers, providing support and advice to women, and delivering a range of activities.

We believe in choice and empowerment, focusing on the material impact and reality of women’s lives, and how we can work with women to create the change that works for them. We hold a strong belief in women’s assets, talents, skills and abilities. Through our services we partner with women as they access and navigate services to aid recovery and realise their goals.

MASH is the only organisation in Greater Manchester which exists specifically to support women who sex work. Through our range of services we build trusted relationships with women to keep them safer, healthier and more equipped to take control of their lives.

To work with other members of the MASH team to achieve the following outcomes:
• To improve women’s health
• To improve women’s wellbeing
• To increase women’s safety
• To enable women to identify and achieve their goals
• Women who sex work are heard, understood and experience less stigma
• Other agencies and policymakers understand the needs of women

We are seeking a self-organised, motivated individual with a keen interest in mental health to join us as a Sector Development Officer (Mental Health Alliances).

The role focuses on facilitating, coordinating and encouraging collaboration across the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) sector, with a particular emphasis on youth and adult mental health provision. This includes sharing information and opportunities, gathering sector insight, and providing tailored guidance and signposting to support effective partnership working.

Our preferred candidate will be committed to developing a strong understanding of the VCFSE and Health sectors in Cheshire East. They will be confident in networking and presenting to groups of varying sizes, and have a commitment to fostering collaboration. They will be able to present information in a variety of formats, and be able to manage and prioritise their own workload.

Further details

•     Recruitment pack: Available below

•     Closing Date: Wednesday, 27th May 2026

•     Interviews: 8th June 2026  (Crewe)

Contract:  Permanent, 37.5 hours per week  

Salary:  £26,812 - 28,830 per annum 

Location: Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, M26 1NQ 

Closing date:  Thursday 7th May 2026 

Interview date:  20th - 22nd May 2026 

We’re looking for a passionate and driven Assistant Manager – Client Services to help lead our work supporting people and pets across our Manchester rehoming, advice and behaviour unit. If you have a flair for client care and a love of animal welfare, this is your chance to make a real difference. 

More about the role

Our Radcliffe-based centre is at the heart of Blue Cross’s work in Greater Manchester, providing vital services in a creative, community-focused way. We don’t have kennels or catteries on site, so we think differently to help pets and their people, from running a busy food bank to delivering rehoming and support services for a variety of animals.

As Assistant Manager – Client Services, you’ll be at the forefront of this work. You’ll: 

• Lead the client services team to deliver exceptional care from first enquiry through to adoption or other support 
• Work closely with the team to assess and admit pets, match them with the right adopters, and guide clients through every step of their journey 
• Use data and insights to shape services and continuously improve client experience 
• Collaborate with the local leadership team to meet targets and drive pet welfare outcomes 
• Be hands-on with day-to-day operations including managing enquiries, prioritising admissions and promoting pets in our care 

This is a permanent, full-time role, working full time at 37.5 hours per week on a rota that includes 1 in 3 weekends and bank holidays. The working day is from 8.30am to 5.00pm. 

About you

You understand what it takes to match pets with new homes and are passionate about delivering an outstanding client experience. With a sharp eye for detail and a drive for improvement, you know how to assess what’s working – and what’s not. 

A natural leader, you bring out the best in your team, supporting and coaching them to grow. You're calm under pressure, thrive in busy environments, and communicate clearly with people from all walks of life. 

Your resilience and empathy shine through in emotional situations, helping you build trust, handle challenges with care, and create a compassionate, high-performing team. 

Knowledge, skills, and experience 

• Experience of working in a rescue welfare environment. 
• Significant experience of managing a team. 
• Experience in delivering high level client service. 
• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment. 
• High standard of verbal and written communication. 
• Proven decision-making ability. 
• Current full driving license. 
• The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross Values 

It would be great (but not essential) if you also had:  

• Performance management and improvement experience.  
• Understanding of safeguarding issues. 
• Experience of admission and adoption processes in a rescue environment. 

Want to know more detail? Great! We have attached the job description which hopefully gives you everything you need.  

How to apply  

Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date Thursday 7th May 2026. 

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.  

Blue Cross benefits

Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.  

In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.  

Our generous benefits package includes: 

• Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)  
• Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support  
• Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family   
• Health cash plan  
• Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme  
• Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution   
• Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.  
• Life assurance   
• 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance   
• Enhanced family friendly policies   
• Recognition scheme   
• Annual volunteer days  
• Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers 

To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.  

About Blue Cross

If you’d like to learn more about Blue Cross, our mission, and the work we do to support animals and people, take a look at our About Us page