St Mary’s is a charity and social enterprise. Our charitable work is supported by a commercial hospitality business with a great reputation for in-house catering.

Food and cooking are also central to the work we do to benefit people in our local communities through the following projects

A community café using surplus good food which would have gone to landfill. The café provides a welcoming, diverse and non-stigmatising social space which addresses both social isolation and food poverty. A weekly community café in Lowedges is currently being developed.

Community meals in 5 locations across the city where volunteers collect surplus food from retailers and cook weekly meals for local people who are socially isolated and in food poverty.

A weekly batch cooking session which provides frozen ready meals which are used to address food poverty. It also provides an opportunity for people to improve their cooking skills.

A weekly lunch club for around 60 older people.

To support the growth of these projects grow we want to recruit a community chef who will be responsible for supporting and co-ordinating the whole of our work with surplus food in communities.

What success will look like.

1. A team of volunteers who are happy, supported and have the capability to cook meals for the café at least 2 days/week. run the batch cooking sessions help cook at lunch club confident to cook community meals

2. Training courses and sessions are well attended and effective because they build the skills and confidence of volunteers and learners.

3. All food projects attract regular volunteers because they are well supported, provided with work which suits their aspirations.

4. We have consistent supplies of surplus food to meet the needs of the projects through good relationships with suppliers.

St Mary’s Community Chef

Job Description

Responsible to: Conference and Catering ManagerResponsible for: Paid café staff and volunteersWorking alongside: Conference and Catering chef.

The post holder will be responsible for the following areas of work

Community café1. Arranging weekly deliveries of surplus food from Fare Share.2. Planning and cooking meals making best use of the surplus food3. Ensuring an attractive offer which maximises income from cash as well as Time Credits.4. Recruiting and supporting volunteers to work in the café: ensuring they experience a friendly

and supportive environment which increases their skills and confidence.5. Organising Friday batch cooking sessions to use up any final surplus food. Recruiting and

training volunteers to do this.

Community meals1. Organising weekly food collection from the Moor Market and allocating the food collected to

the community meals.2. Finding other sources of surplus food (retailers and wholesalers) and building relationships

with suppliers3. Developing and delivering basic cooking courses which enable volunteers to develop their

competence and confidence. 6. Working on site with volunteers to increase their confidence to cook.

Other7. Planning and cooking meals for the lunch club8. Working with other staff to organise and provide fundraisers/celebration events which use

the skills of volunteers. 9. Assisting with catering for markets and other events.10. Tasks and duties consistent with the role as directed by St Mary’s management.

Person specification

Essential DesirableKnowledge and ExperienceTrained in a catering qualification YSound understanding of Food Safety and Hygiene practice YExperience of designing and running cooking courses YExperience of working with volunteers Y

Skills and AbilitiesLove cooking YEnjoy the challenge of using surplus food YLove working with people Y

Able to train and encourage people with low confidence Y

AttributesStrong verbal communication YOrganised YProactive – able to make things happen YAble to form good teams. YGood at networking with external organisations Y

Working hours: 37.5 hours/week usually worked Monday-Friday between 8.00am and 4.00pm. Some Saturday and evening work will also be expected.

Closing date: 31 January.

Interviews on 8th February for shortlisted candidates

Please contact Graham Duncan for application details graham@stmarys-church.co.uk