FareShare Surplus Food Warehouse Volunteer

Would you like to help end food poverty and tackle climate change and CO2 emissions in Greater Manchester, whilst at the same time gaining valuable CV-enhancing experience and skills?

What we offer you

• Induction, training and support from the staff of FareShare and its parent charity, EMERGE 3Rs.

• Practical experience and transferable skills in warehousing and food redistribution.

• Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses  – up to £5.80 for travel and up to £3 for lunch, upon completion of a 4 hour shift. (We can also provide you with lunch if you don't bring your own).

• A reference after 2 months with us.

• An understanding of warehousing and logistics, and the importance of food surplus and recycling initiatives to both the community and the environment.

As a sustainability charity, we take surplus food that's donated to us by manufacturers and retailers and redistribute it to people in need across the city region. The front line initiatives we support include food banks, schools, community groups and charities who, in turn, help people who are disadvantaged by poverty.

Our vital work supports people experiencing extreme hardship and prevents perfectly good food going to landfill, where it would otherwise contribute to climate warming. 

We need helping hands in our busy warehouse to receive and catalogue supplies, to load and unload vans, and to prepare orders for delivery. In return we offer training and support to help you obtain skills and experience to boost your CV if you are seeking work. If you're not aiming for employment, volunteering with is is rewarding in many other ways; offering an opportunity to make new friends, keep physically active and 

This role is vital to the work of FareShare, ensuring that the food delivered to our warehouse is correctly sorted, labelled and organised into orders placed by our charities and community groups, (who we call Community Food Members).

It is perfect for someone who is:

a) Looking for a practical activity.

b) Looking for experience and skills to gain employment in the food industry, warehousing and customer service.

c) Wanting to help their community and/or help tackle global warming.

d) Wanting to make new friends.

e) Wanting to keep busy and/or physically fit.

Our volunteer opportunities are available Monday to Friday, for a whole or half day, with shifts between 8:30-am - 12:30pm and 12:30 - 4:30pm. Volunteers are typically involved for one day a week.

What will I be doing?

Receiving, sorting, cataloguing and storing chilled and ambient surplus food in a warehouse, and preparing orders for delivery. You’ll also assist customers when they come to pick up their orders.

• Ensuring food quality and safety by checking ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates.

• Sorting and unpacking deliveries, categorising and recording food.

• Assembling food orders placed by charities and community groups.

• Assisting our Community Food Members with their food order collections. 

• Maintaining health and safety and food hygiene standards. 

• Helping with cleaning and other tasks as identified by warehouse staff.

Person Specification 

• Must be physically fit to carry out tasks including lifting and loading.

• Have a good command of English in order to understand and follow instructions and health and safety rules. 

• Have basic literacy and numeracy skills to record quantities and types of food donated.

• Able to work in a manner that respects Health and Safety standards.

• Be happy to complete tasks independently according to instruction.

• Be positive, friendly and enthusiastic about tackling food waste and food poverty.

Must be reliable and able to commit to an agreed session/day.

We are located in our brand new depot at Maynard House, New Smithfield Market, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2WJ.