Volunteer vacancies
We currently have vacancies for Team Leader, Cafe listeners and a replacement Fuel team member. Please scroll down to see each role description.
Food Bank Team Leader
Commitment – 2-3 shifts per month,
3-4 hours per shift
1-2 hrs prep day before shift and
30-45 mins after the session finishes
2 hour Team Leader meeting every 2-3 months
Vacancies for –
2 Team Leaders - Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday
Volunteer role – unpaid
Minimum term – 6 months - following training of 3-4 sessions
Location – St Clare’s Church, Park Barn
Summary
As a Team Leader you are responsible for running a client session. You will be well organised, a clear communicator and able to keep calm whilst coping with multiple demands on your time during a session. You will be the main point of contact between the Food Bank Manager and volunteers.
Key responsibilities
keeping up to date with recent food bank communications
preparing packing sheets for your upcoming client session
unlocking and securing the building at the start and end of the client session
ensuring you have the correct number of volunteers in relation to expected client numbers
ensuring all team members are clear on what is expected of them during the session and providing them with recent food bank updates with respect to packing and talking to clients
keeping track of parcels being packed, including relevant dietary requirements.
monitoring clients arriving and following up with the Food Bank Administrator when queries arise during the session.
ensuring all cafe listeners have the opportunity to download what they have heard and ensuring that any specific needs are offered in prayer (prayer can be done by another member of the team; the download and prayer are key to our work)
sending in fuel voucher and fuel advice referral forms and completing a session report following the closure of your session.
feeding back suggested areas for improvement in the way we work
maintaining client confidentiality within the food bank setting.
following the food bank safeguarding policy at all times.
Essential for the role
Well organised
Confident with email and Whatsapp communication and accessing information on spreadsheets
Friendly, approachable and empathetic manner
Good listening skills with the ability to communicate respectfully
Non-judgemental attitude and awareness of the challenges clients may be facing
Reliability and the ability to work as part of a team
Willingness to attend training outside of normal food bank hours (no more than once per term)
Ability to remain calm in sometimes emotionally charged situations.
Dedicated to working to support our Charity’s mission and Christian values
If you are interested in this role, please email volunteers@guildfordfoodbank.org with “Team Leader Vacancies” in the subject line.
Food Bank Delivery Driver
Commitment – 2-4 shifts per month, 1-2 hours per shift
Vacancies for –
2 drivers on Fridays 4:45 – 6:30 pm
Plus additional shifts to cover high demand in December
Minimum term – 6 months
Location – St Clare’s Church, Park Barn
Summary
As a volunteer driver you will support our work of helping those in food crisis in our community. You will be responsible for collecting food parcels from our base at St Clare’s and delivering them to clients’ homes in Guildford and surrounding villages. You will be a compassionate and reliable individual who wants to make a difference in our community.
Responsibilities
Commit to your allocated shifts and where possible, step in if a call for additional support is made (during particularly busy periods)
Delivery of food parcels from the food bank to clients’ homes, using your own car.
Load and unload parcels with care and ensure the correct parcels are delivered, in good condition.
Provide a friendly and respectful face of the food bank.
Provide each client with brief information on our signposting tool and any fuel support that is appropriate to their situation.
Maintain client confidentiality within the food bank
Update your Team Leader with the status of each parcel and any follow up needed with each client.
Essential for the role
UK driving licence
Ability to lift and carry food parcels up to 10kg
Respectful, compassionate and sensitive to the needs of vulnerable people
Punctual and reliable
Must pass Basic DBS check
Knowledge of the local area is helpful but not essential.
If you are interested in this role, please email volunteers@guildfordfoodbank.org with Driver Vacancies in the subject line.
Food Bank Cafe Listener
Commitment – 2-4 shifts per month, 1-2 hours per shift
Vacancies for –
2 cafe listeners on Tuesdays 12:45 - 2:45 pm
2 cafe listeners on Wednesdays 9:15 - 11:00 am
2 cafe listeners on Fridays 4:45 – 6:45 pm
Volunteer role – unpaid
Minimum term – 6 months
Location – St Clare’s Church, Park Barn
Summary
As a cafe listener you will support our work of helping those in food crisis in our community. You will provide a warm and friendly welcome for individuals and families (clients) collecting their food parcels from the food bank. Your role will be to offer refreshments, listen without judgement, complete referral forms for fuel support, help signpost clients to relevant support services and to offer prayer.
Key responsibilities
Greet clients warmly when they arrive to collect their food parcels
Offer drinks and a listening ear
Provide a non-judgemental listening ear, for those who wish to talk, so clients feel valued
Identify the most appropriate fuel support and complete the relevant fuel referral form
Provide signposting information, aided by our online signposting tool.
Bring any queries that you cannot answer to the session team leader.
Ask clients if they have anything that they would like the team prayer for at the end of the session.
Maintain client confidentiality within the food bank setting.
Follow the food bank safeguarding policy at all times.
Essential for the role
Friendly, approachable and empathetic manner
Good listening skills with the ability to communicate respectfully
Non-judgemental attitude and awareness of the challenges clients may be facing
Reliability and the ability to work as part of a team
Willingness to attend training outside of normal food bank hours (no more than once per term)
Ability to remain calm in sometimes emotionally charged situations.
Dedicated to working to support our Charity’s mission and Christian values
If you are interested in this role, please email volunteers@guildfordfoodbank.org with Cafe Listener Vacancies in the subject line.
Fuel team member
Commitment – 1-2 shifts per month, up to 6 hours, spread over the first couple of days of the week.
Vacancies for –
1 fuel team member
Volunteer role – unpaid
Minimum term – 6 months
Location – Your home
Summary
As a member of our fuel team you will ensure that food bank clients who have prepayment meters are referred for a fuel voucher, where needed, given by our partner organisation the Fuel Bank Foundation. You will ensure our tracking spreadsheets are kept up to date and will contact clients about their fuel top ups by phone and text (using a food bank phone) to ensure that we have accurate information about their situation.
Key responsibilities
Keep up to date with training on fuel processes internally and with Fuel Bank Foundation
Follow fuel team processes and flag any client issues to the food bank administration team
Speak to clients with respect and without judgement
Answer fuel team emails and "fuel phone" when on shift
Essential for the role
Friendly, approachable and empathetic manner
Good listening skills with the ability to communicate respectfully
Non-judgemental attitude and awareness of the challenges clients may be facing
Access at home to a desktop or laptop
Confident using apps and spreadsheets for tracking client data
Good at problem solving
Able to follow a standard process
Work in an organised way
Reliable and enjoy working as part of a team
Willingness to attend meetings with the fuel team, either in person or online.
Ability to remain calm in sometimes emotionally charged situations.
Dedicated to working to support our Charity’s mission and Christian values
Able to drive to meet other volunteers - we have a shared phone that needs passing on as the rota changes
Desirable
Live in the central Guildford area
If you are interested in this role, please email volunteers@guildfordfoodbank.org with Fuel Team Vacancy in the subject line.
