Community Lifeskills Cook

Salary: £12,787 per annum (FTE £23,338)

Hours: 3-4 days per week, 20 hours per week, Monday - Friday (Flexible with occasional evening and weekend working)

Location: Various community spaces in Birmingham

Contract type: Permanent

Introduction to the role:

The role is responsible for delivering community cooking sessions. Cooking together is a great way of bringing people together and learning new skills. The role will require excellent delivery and engagement skills on the ground with communities.

The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is a community benefit society and cooperative working to develop healthy, happy communities living active and connected lives. The Food Team is just one team within TAWS.

We work to build trust and safe spaces to connect people to others and place. We work closely with individuals and communities to understand their strengths, challenge barriers and respond to community needs. We co-create a range of interventions, including communal cooking, food provision, warm welcome spaces, sharing initiatives, cooking lifeskills. These are all underpinned with a focus on providing opportunities to become more physically, socially and civically active.

1. Deliver cooking life skills sessions that will engage diverse community groups
2. Bring people together with the aim of positively impacting their wellbeing as well as learning new skills.
3. Develop appropriate recipes and supporting resources, paying attention to budget management and food waste reduction tips
4. Adopt a flexible approach to menu design, eg. be comfortable leading a session based around cooking what is available on the day that meets the group’s needs as well as being able to deliver more structured sessions.
5. Ensure all relevant legislation and food preparation standards are complied with
6. Work proactively with community groups and individuals, bearing in mind that food poverty is impacting many of these communities.

1.     Knowledge and experience of cooking with diverse communities

2.     Knowledge of nutrition and a willingness to attend training courses in this area

3.     Good communication skills

4.     A genuine passion for the wellbeing of others and a drive to improve the lives of individuals and communities.

5.     Experience of working with waste and surplus food providers

6.     Driving licence 

7.     Good partnership working and relationship management skills.

8.     Excellent organisational and administrative skills

9.     Knowledge of the barriers that exist to improving wellbeing.

10.  Track record of working autonomously and collaboratively in a dynamic, and challenging environment

11.  Ability to plan, prioritise, achieve targets and deliver to deadlines.

12.  A flexible approach to all working practices and ability to adapt to change

We offer our team members a comprehensive staff benefits offering to include:

• Annual Leave – 25 days FTE (increasing to 29 days with service) plus 5 wellbeing days.
• Nest Pension – 8% employer contribution - 3% employee contribution.
• Heath Cash Plan – giving you discounts on everyday healthcare such as dental, optical, physio, prescriptions & more.
•  Employee Assistance Programme (counselling and DRs on call 24hrs a day).
• Life Assurance – x4 your salary paid to beneficiary.
• Flexible working.
• Fantastic volunteering opportunities within The Active Wellbeing Society every month.

Please submit a Cover Letter and CV addressing the experience you have had relevant to the 'Main Duties' and the 'Knowledge & Skills' sections of the advert, but as a minimum please address how you meet the the following criteria which will be weighted highly in the first sift of shortlisting:

1. Ability to cook and teach at the same time
2. Ability to drive
3. IT literate, regular user of Microsoft 365
4. Good people skills
5. Flexible working, some evenings and weekends

Closing date: Thursday 30th September 2024 at midnight

Interview date: TBC

Due to the high numbers of applications we received for our job vacancies, we may close application windows early, so we would encourage you to submit your application ASAP

We will provide all applicants with an outcome on your application, this will usually be within 1 week of the application window closing.

Successful applicants will be required to be DBS checked prior to starting.

Our customers come from all walks of life and so do we, in recruiting for our team we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring. The Active Wellbeing Society is committed to being an equal opportunity employer, we recruit based upon capability and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. At The Active Wellbeing Society we are searching for people who share the passion for what we do with different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, collectively making a difference.

If there is anything we can do to assist you in your application or preparations to be interviewed for one of our job vacancies please let us know and we can ensure you have a positive and comfortable experience.

Thank you for your interest in working for The Active Wellbeing Society, we look forward to receiving your application.

If you have any questions once you have read the Job Description or would like an informal chat about us, and/or, the role, please contact: [email protected] and we will be happy to help.