Our vision is for the KingsGate Food Pantry to be a safe place where people are given a warm welcome, where they feel comfortable, where they feel seen, and where they feel valued and following the success of the KingsGate Food Pantry in Parnwell, we are opening a 2nd food pantry to reach more families in a different part of the city. 

To do this, we are going to have a team of ‘Listeners’ whose primary focus at the Food Pantry will be to care for the people who come for food. We need a Team Leader to lead this team who has a heart and passion to reach communities who are struggling against poverty. 

Accountable to:
Food Projects Manager, in the interim, will be overseen by Sharon Keogh, Head of Community Action.

Role description: 
 To be part of the planning committee to set up a new Food Pantry in Peterborough, then be the Team Leader when the project opens. This will also involve some Admin work.

Specific tasks:

• Attend planning meetings and help with tasks to set the Pantry up.
• Help recruit volunteers and create a team rota.
• Participate in training.
• Be responsible for the smooth running of the Pantry sessions, from re stocking at the beginning to cashing up and closing checks at the end.
• Help to create a calm and welcoming environment at the Pantry.
• Use the Your Local Pantry software to keep records of members’ visits.
• Process new member applications.
• Receive and send out messages on the Pantry phone as needed.
• Help to look after the Food Pantry email account. 

Person specification

• Ability to provide a KingsGate pastoral reference. 
• KingsGate Partner  
• Regular attendance at a LifeGroup

Key skills, attributes and/or experience
Essential:

• Good people skills 
• Able to listen with compassion 
• Good numeracy, organisational and admin skills

Desirable:

• Experience of working in food retail before
• Familiar with Food Hygiene standards 
• Familiar with Safer Food Better Business

Support and personal development

• Training related to your responsibilities as a volunteer.  
• A named person who will supervise your volunteering and with whom you can discuss your work.  

• Regular one-to-one meetings with your supervisor.  
• A review of your volunteering role after three months.  
• Access to any relevant staff training and leadership development resources if appropriate.  
• Access to technical equipment and IT systems, if needed for the role, including any training required 
• Reimbursement of your travel expenses. If claiming petrol, this will be paid at the prevailing mileage rate.  
• Full involvement in the life of the staff team, eg, Summer BBQ and Christmas meal.

Time commitment

• 6-8 hours a week
• At Food Pantry and working at home
• Regular Food Pantry meetings on Teams

This Role Description was created by Sharon Keogh in September 2023.