Session Volunteers

We are looking for friendly, hard working people to help at our sessions. You should work well in a team and may also be interested in leading our sessions once you've learnt the ropes and/or be interested in the broader running of the charity.

During sessions volunteer tasks may include the following:

• Setting up the cricket club with our equipment 
• Cleaning tables and getting ready for service
• Food preparation
• Serving food
• Giving out tins and toiletries
• Clearing plates and washing up and operating dishwasher
• Cleaning the club after service and putting our equipment away

As well as helping at our sessions we are always looking for people to help behind the scenes with organisation and admin, food pick-ups and publicity and marketing.

Our sessions run on the following days:

• Monday: 12.30pm - 1.30pm Lunch
• Tuesday: 12.30pm - 1.30pm Lunch
• Wednesday: 09.30am - 11.00am Breakfast
• Friday: 09.30am - 11.00am Breakfast
• Sunday: 2.00pm - 3.30pm Lunch

About Loose Ends Newbury

Loose Ends Newbury operates a drop-in centre five days a week, providing hot nutritious meals, food packages and wider support to homeless, lonely, vulnerable or financially struggling adults in our community. We also assist local families after school on a Monday. We typically see 20-30 people sit down to enjoy a hot meal. Last year, we supported some 350-400 adults, serving over 5,500 meals and providing over 2,300 parcels with toiletries and food essentials. We usually have 8 or more families including some 15 children on a Monday, serving some 1,100 meals.

We have some 60 volunteers supporting the sessions and working "behind the scenes". Please refer to our website for details www.looseendsnewbury.org. The charity has been in existence since 1990.

What skills do I need?

Volunteers should be friendly, calm and practical with a willingness to do whatever needs doing. You will work well in a team but also able to work on your own initiative.

You will be open-minded, empathetic and be calm and practical. Some of the tasks are physical with some lifting so volunteers need to be reasonably fit.

As you will be handling and serving food you will need to complete an online Food Hygiene course shortly after joining us.

When is this role available?

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

Details

We operate a rota system which is flexible for volunteers. It is drawn up every month so volunteers are able to indicate well ahead when they are available to volunteer. Volunteers need to arrive one hour ahead of sessions (see above for session days and times) and stay afterwards to clear up - usually about 45mins. (So approx 3 to 3.5 hours per session.) In general we ask that volunteers make themselves available for at least one session a month but most volunteers do more than that.

Where does this role take place?