Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead cooking sessions and create nutritious meals for the community.
- Company: Join FoodCycle, a passionate team dedicated to reducing food waste and improving nutrition.
- Benefits: Gain valuable skills, receive training, and have expenses reimbursed.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community while developing leadership and cooking skills.
- Qualifications: Passion for cooking and commitment to community service.
- Other info: Enjoy a fun, creative experience with ongoing support and networking opportunities.
Availability Details: Attend a monthly Project Leader meeting to discuss as a team how things are going. Lead a minimum of one session per month.
Venue Address: Felling Community Centre, Below Crowhall Towers, Crowhall Lane, Gateshead, NE10 0NF, United Kingdom.
Complete a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check and attend Safeguard training.
On Going Support: Yes
Training Provided: Yes
Expenses Reimbursed: Yes
Support and Training Details: Expenses covered in line with our volunteer policy.
FoodCycle combines surplus food, volunteers and free kitchen space to create nutritious, three-course meals for the community. FoodCycle has four main aims:
- To strengthen communities
- To improve nutrition and reduce hunger
- To change attitudes towards food and to reduce food waste
Cooking Project Leader Volunteers take on the overall delivery of the meal. These people are passionate, committed and want to make a positive change within their community; they take ownership of their project and make decisions on the ground.
As a Cooking Project Lead volunteer cook, you will be responsible for:
- Running cooking sessions, leading a team of volunteers to create a three-course meal in a limited timeframe.
- Ensuring the team are following the food safety procedures set out in our kitchen handbook.
- Inducting new volunteers into the kitchen.
- Encouraging the whole kitchen team to input into planning a tasty, healthy and nutritionally balanced menu.
- Communicating with other leaders to ensure the store of dry/tinned goods is kept well stocked.
- Completing the weekly checklist in the kitchen handbook and reporting on the session on My FoodCycle.
- Reporting any accidents and incidents.
- Together with the hosting leader, recognising, responding to and reporting any safeguarding issues or concerns.
Skills you will learn from becoming a Cooking Project Leader Volunteer:
- Teamwork: you’ll work as part of a team to prepare a delicious meal and serve it to our guests.
- Leadership and delegation: we will train you up to lead cooking sessions and induct new members.
- Cooking: you will learn how to cater for large numbers of guests and how to make nutritionally balanced meals.
- Problem solving: you won’t always know what your ingredients will be so you will need to get creative to produce delicious meals.
- Relationship building: you’ll be building lasting relationships with your guests and volunteers.
What to expect from FoodCycle:
- Ongoing regular visits, support and advice.
- A training package to equip you for your role.
- Training throughout the year including safeguarding and first aid.
- Impressive skills to add to your CV and a reference when you need it.
- Accredited level 2 food safety qualification provided by FoodCycle.
- The opportunity to meet a large network of like-minded people.
- A fun creative volunteer experience with ownership of a community‑led project.
What is expected of me:
- Follow all FoodCycle Policies and procedures.
- You will need to shadow another volunteer leader before you are able to lead your own session.
Please tell us why you are interested in this volunteering opportunity. Do you need any support in taking up this opportunity?
Cooking Project Leader Volunteers - FoodCycle employer: Ourgateshead
Contact Detail:
Ourgateshead Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Cooking Project Leader Volunteers - FoodCycle
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the team! Before your first session, reach out to other volunteers and leaders. Building relationships will help you feel more comfortable and confident when it’s time to lead.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! If you can, run through a mock cooking session with friends or family. This will help you get used to leading and managing time effectively, which is key for those three-course meals.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay organised! Keep a checklist of what needs to be done before each session. This will help you stay on top of food safety procedures and ensure everything runs smoothly during your cooking sessions.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t hesitate to ask for help! If you’re unsure about something, whether it’s a recipe or a procedure, just ask another volunteer or leader. We’re all here to support each other and make a positive impact together!
We think you need these skills to ace Cooking Project Leader Volunteers - FoodCycle
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for cooking and community service shine through. We want to see that you’re genuinely excited about making a difference and leading a team!
Be Specific About Your Experience: Share any relevant experience you have in cooking, teamwork, or leadership. We love to hear about your past roles, even if they’re informal, as they can show us how you’ll fit into our FoodCycle family.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to align your skills and experiences with the specific responsibilities of the Cooking Project Leader role. Highlight how you can contribute to our aims of reducing food waste and improving nutrition in the community.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and get you started on this exciting journey with FoodCycle.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ourgateshead
✨Know Your Stuff
Familiarise yourself with FoodCycle's mission and values. Understand how they combine surplus food, volunteers, and community efforts to tackle hunger and reduce waste. This will show your genuine interest in the role and help you connect your passion for cooking and community service.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be ready to discuss your experience in leading teams or projects. Think of specific examples where you've successfully managed a group, especially in a cooking or community setting. Highlight your ability to delegate tasks and encourage teamwork, as these are key aspects of the Cooking Project Leader role.
✨Prepare for Practical Scenarios
Expect questions about how you'd handle various situations in the kitchen, such as managing time during meal prep or dealing with unexpected ingredient shortages. Practise your problem-solving skills and be ready to share creative solutions that ensure a successful cooking session.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. Inquire about the training process, how success is measured in the role, or what challenges previous leaders have faced. This shows your enthusiasm and commitment to making a positive impact within the community.
