The Meet and Eat Group aims to provide an opportunity for our residents to meet, prepare food and eat together.

The volunteer will be there help residents follow recipes, measure out ingredients and then to cook the food before eating together and chatting about what the group have made.  The residents will be expected to contribute to the clearing and washing up at the end of the meal.

Our projects provide move on accommodation for those people who have struggled with homelessness.

Within move on accommodation residents are at the last stage of their journey back into community, and are actively working with support to find permanent accommodation.

Some residents may need one to one support at points during the group.  The volunteer will need to be someone who understands that this is a fully co-produced* programme which has been initiated, named, and planned for by clients and that the group itself will be encouraged to participate fully in every part of the process including creating the menu.

A volunteer with an interest in cooking is great but not necessary, but a willingness to allow clients to engage as fully as possible and not to do ‘for’ but ‘with’ them is key.

It is Turning Tides’ hope and expectation that as a volunteer you will:

• be inclusive and welcoming.
• communicate with staff on duty.
• be flexible to the needs of the staff member on duty.
• abide by the Confidentiality, Professional Boundaries and Health and Safety Policies at all times

Turning Tides offers volunteers training so your time volunteering is the best it can be, is as safe as possible, and of course adds value to your experience and to Turning Tides.

Every volunteer regardless of role will have their initial induction.  During this induction you be taken through a PowerPoint presentation and be issued with ‘Not Just a Volunteer’ handbook. The induction will cover Professional Boundaries, Safeguarding and Equality and Diversity and be a chance for you to ask any questions.

This role requires the following additional training and we ask that you can commit to this. (The training is in a variety of formats depending on the subject – a video to watch, a document to read or an online course).

The health and safety of our volunteers and supporters are always our top priority. As the situation with COVID-19 evolves, we will ensure any volunteering you carry out is within current Government guidelines. We will support you in this so guidelines are met.

10.30am –1.30 pm (Group runs 11am – 1pm) once a week, day to be negotiated. For continuity, we prefer that volunteers commit to a minimum of a 6 week period for this session, however we aim to be flexible.

You’ll need to fill in the two applicaitons forms, and all of Turning Tides’ roles require two character references. These references do not need to be employment references, however, we cannot accept references from family members.

We need to ensure you are eligible to volunteer in the UK.  To do this we will ask to see documentation that proves your right to volunteer in the UK at your induction.

If you are unable to provide this documentation you will be unable to volunteer. If you have the right to work in the UK on a permanent basis you are also normally allowed to volunteer. If in doubt, please contact the Home Office.

If you have any further queries please contact the Volunteer Team on 01903 680743 or volunteering@turning-tides.org.uk