Chef volunteer roles

Cook and Eat Volunteer for Adults With Learning Disabilities

Stepping Stones Learning

London, Greater London (On-site)

Unpaid role, expenses paid

Voluntary

Using Anonymous Recruitment

Actively Interviewing

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Job description

Stepping Stones Learning and Leisure is a small, friendly charity based in Southwark, providing inclusive activities for adults with learning disabilities. We believe everyone should have the chance to express themselves, connect with others, and take part in activities that bring joy, confidence, and new skills.

We’re currently looking for an enthusiastic and proactive Cook and Eat Volunteer to support our weekly Thursday sessions (10.30-13.30), held at St Faith’s Centre, Red Post Hill, SE24 9JQ (close to North Dulwich and Herne Hill stations).

About The Role

This role is ideal for someone who loves to get stuck in. You’ll support our tutor in delivering inclusive and fun cooking sessions for a small group of adults with learning disabilities. Every class will be an opportunity to create tasty snacks and dishes in a dynamic and supportive environment. With your help, we aim to provide our learners with a sense of pride and satisfaction at having made something delicious, whilst learning invaluable skills along the way.

As a Cook and Eat Volunteer at Stepping Stones, you will:

Assist the tutor in running weekly cooking classes
Encourage and support learners
Help with setting up and closing down the kitchen workspace
Maintain high standards of hygiene
Offer 1:1 or group support where needed to help participants engage
Help build a warm, inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels safe to express themselves

What You’ll Gain

Volunteering with us is a chance to:

Contribute to a creative and meaningful community project
Build relationships with and support learners to learn new skills and grow in confidence
Experience working with adults with learning disabilities in a supportive setting
Develop skills in teamwork, adaptability, communication, and creative problem-solving
Have a place in a welcoming and friendly team of tutors, staff and volunteers
Receive appropriate training and guidance from an experienced team

What We’re Looking For

You don’t need to be a chef to volunteer in this role! At Stepping Stones we value:

Good communication and a warm, encouraging approach
Enthusiasm, patience, and a willingness to get involved
A non-judgemental and inclusive mindset
Reliability and commitment
Flexibility and adaptability

Prior to volunteering, we ask all volunteers to:

Attend an in-person session with the Stepping Stones team and learners
Provide two references
Complete a DBS check (we will arrange this)
Commit to volunteering one session per week for 3 x 10 week terms throughout the year. For continuity for our service users, we ask that you commit to volunteering with us for one year.

How to Apply

Please submit your CV and respond to the following questions (these will come up when you hit 'Apply Now')

Why would you like to volunteer with Stepping Stones?
What are the strongest attributes and values you feel you'll bring to this role?

Organisation

Stepping Stones Learning View profile

Registered Charity

1 - 5

Empowering adults with learning disabilities to lead fulfilling, connected lives through opportunities shaped by their ideas and aspirations.

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Posted on: 24 February 2026

Closing date: 27 March 2026 at 12:36

Tags: Training / Learning, Food / Nutrition, Learning Disability, Wellbeing, Events / Activities

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.

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Volunteer Chef/ Cook/ Kitchen Staff- Friday evenings

Marys Youth Club

London, Greater London (On-site)

Unpaid role, expenses paid

Voluntary

Actively Interviewing

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Job description

ABOUT MARY’S

At Mary’s Youth Club, we’re not just a youth club – we’re a vibrant, inclusive community where young people aged 10–19 (up to 25 for those with disabilities) come together to share, grow, learn, and enjoy themselves. We believe in creating joyful and enriching experiences that empower every young person who walks through our doors.

Our open access youth club runs exciting and diverse programmes Monday to Friday, including school holidays. Whether it’s the energy of drop-in activities like gaming, sports, and board games, or the focused buzz of creative arts, health and wellbeing sessions, life skills workshops, or youth-led social action – there’s always something happening at Mary’s. Young people help shape our programmes, and we champion their independence, creativity, and voice.

Young people describe us as “like a family” – a safe, friendly, and welcoming space where they can be themselves. Our team is deeply rooted in youth work values: inclusion, equality, justice, reflection, and lifelong learning. Together, we work to support young people to navigate challenges and take steps toward brighter futures.

VOLUNTEER WITH US!

Volunteer role title: Volunteer Chef/Cook/Kitchen Staff

Hours: 2-3 hours on a Friday evening, from about 4.30/5pm

Help us to meet our goal of creating healthy meals for young people, by volunteering in our kitchen!

We are looking for volunteers with a passion for cooking, nutrition and healthy eating, to assist in the kitchen independently, as a group, or alongside our youth workers and young people, preparing a warm meal for up to 40 young people.

You are welcome to come along as an assistant volunteering with the rest of the team, but we would also love volunteers who are interested in heathy eating to lead on this initiative, teaching those young people who choose to volunteer in the kitchen, food preparation skills, how to cook nutritious foods, as well as sharing the joy of eating together

This role will include:

helping to prepare hot food by chopping vegetables, cooking etc

serving the young people during the Friday evening dinner service.

helping with cleaning up the dining room and the kitchen

If you are interested in taking a more active role/lead on this project then you would also lead on the menu planning and budgeting

The commitment

We are looking for people who are able to commit 2-3 hours on a Friday, from 4.30/5pm

This commitment is during term time (please note that additional volunteering in school holidays is beneficial to Youth Club delivery but not essential)

Experience

You do not need to have experience in catering, or to have volunteered before, as you will be well looked after by the team, but if you are interested in leading on this project then it would be beneficial to be able to demonstrate your knowledge/passion

Training

You will be given a full induction to Marys Youth Club.

This includes access to our training platform. The mandatory training for this role includes:

Food hygiene and safety

Safeguarding

Health and Safety

Equality and diversity

Essential for This Role

Safer Recruitment Checks:

DBS is essential for this role (we will provide this)

Completion of mandatory training modules as outlined above

Interpersonal skills

Time Management skills

Team Work

Ability to get stuck in

Commitment to/ interest in, the work that we do

In return

You’ll be sharing your time and skills and gaining accreditations and valuable CV boosting skills

We will also provide, references and/or a volunteer certificate

Reasonable travel expenses can be covered

Note that we do also have other volunteer roles, both in the office and working directly with young people, so if you aren’t able to commit to Friday evenings, or have interests other than cooking/volunteering in the kitchen, then get in touch to discuss

Application Process

All potential volunteers are asked to first attend a volunteer intro call

After this intro call, potential volunteers are invited to come to the youth club to meet the young people and the youth workers, this is a chance to see if volunteering with us is a good fit

If you are invited to progress with your application, you will be asked to complete a DBS, provide us with 2 references, and complete the mandatory training listed above.

PLEASE NOTE THAT UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE SPONSORSHIP, THEREFORE YOU DO NEED TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK

Organisation

Marys Youth Club View profile

Registered Charity

6 - 10

We believe that being better connected improves the prospects of young people, brings greater opportunities and sets up young people for lifelong fulf