Isabel Blackman Centre Kitchen

**IBC Kitchen & Café Volunteer Role Description**

**The Isabel Blackman Centre (IBC)**

The Isabel Blackman Centre is a much-loved community venue in the heart of the Old Town, Hastings providing a haven for health, wellbeing, and leisure. Facilities include an exercise studio and gym, café restaurant, activity and event space, treatment rooms, accessible bathing facilities and a community shop. Designed specifically for the over 50’s but a venue that everyone in the community can enjoy.

The Kitchen and Café Volunteer is a key part of the café and catering team providing great food and service at the heart of our Centre. Working alongside our Head Chef, Kitchen & Café Assistant and other volunteers you will help ensure our café / restaurant is well known for its enticing, healthy and affordable menus and the amazing experience we offer.

Purpose of Role

To assist the Centre’s staff in the delivery of great quality food, drink and service. This will involve assisting with preparing food and dishes prior to service, front of house serving to customers and helping to keep the kitchen and café areas clean and tidy.

Role of the Volunteer
- To help in the preparing of food and dishes prior to service, (e.g., preparing vegetables and other food, weighing / measuring and following a recipe).
- Helping to maintain food safety by taking temperature checks, rotating stock, and receiving deliveries under supervision.
- Proactively helping to keep the kitchen and café clean and tidy (e.g., by cleaning down workstations, walls and floors; by clearing and wiping tables, sanitising and moving chairs and tables back into the correct layout).
- Clearing plates, dishes, crockery, and pans etc. into the wash area and remove any leftover food into food waste bins. Rinsing dishes and then process through dishwasher.
- Supporting café service (e.g., serving customers and take payment using our till and POS systems, passing orders to the chef and preparing drinks and small items).
- Supporting front of house (e.g., helping to ensure the café counter is set up correctly with great, inviting displays of food and drinks, that tables have the right condiments, and that cutlery is fully stocked, clean and available).

Skills and attributes needed
- Friendliness, reliability, and honesty.
- An interest in food and catering and providing great service.
- An enjoyment of teamworking and the ability to work in cooperation with others.
- Listening and communication skills.
- Willingness to undertake training in the use of equipment as appropriate (e.g., coffee machine, tills etc).

As a Volunteer we would ask you to:

- Be reliable and conscientious in your role.
- Treat all colleagues with dignity and respect.
- Always wear the correct catering uniform and personal protective equipment including aprons and footwear.
- Adhere to and sign the Age UK East Sussex confidentiality policy and equal opportunities policy.
- Always maintain discretion and confidentiality.

As a Volunteer we will offer you:

- An induction and initial training.
- Ongoing training relevant to your role.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses.
- Work experience and reference after six months volunteering.
- Regular support and communication.
- Appreciation of your commitment and time given to Age UK East Sussex.
- An opportunity to meet other volunteers socially and for training.
- Appropriate insurance cover - to protect you whilst you are acting on behalf of Age UK East Sussex.

**Please note that this is an unpaid Volunteer position with the exception of specified expenses.**

**We place great value on our volunteers, who bring so much to the organisation. Their time, energy and commitment are recognised and greatly appreciated.**

**This post may require an Enhanced DBS disclosure.**

The Isabel Blackman Centre is a Health, Leisure and Wellbeing centre for the over 50’s, and is operated by Age UK East Sussex on behalf of the Charity IBC-In Perpetuity

**Job Type**: Volunteer

**Salary**: £0.01 per year

Schedule:

- Monday to Friday