Guildford Food Bank

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

We support individuals and families in Guildford and nearby villages with food parcels, fuel assistance, a listening ear, and guidance to services that help move people out of crisis. Our work is powered by generous donations from local communities and partners, enabling us to serve with compassion and care.

We provide food parcels, support and advice for electricity and gas bills, a listening ear and signposting.

We couldn’t do any of this work without our amazing donors; local schools, churches, clubs, including Guildford Lions who contribute weekly to our fresh food offering and individuals, who donate food and necessities directly to us or drop off points at local supermarkets. We also receive financial donations and these cover our running costs and parcel contents.

We currently have 115 volunteers from all different backgrounds; students, retired, employed, self-employed, not working or seeking work. People volunteer primarily because they would like to help those in their community, but also for company, structure to the week, a sense of purpose and much more.

Anyone aged 18+ can apply to volunteer with us.