Equal opportunities

We recruit our volunteers carefully to make sure our volunteer teams represent the communities we’re part of, and include a wide range of skills.

We want you to have every opportunity to shine and show us your talents, so please let us know if there is anything we can do to make sure the volunteer registration process or volunteer leader application process works for you.

1. Volunteers

Your first step is to register for a volunteer account. You’ll need to:

•   Give us some basic information; your name, age, contact details.
•   Confirm you are able to work with young people and adults at risk.
•   Read and agree to the FoodCycle Volunteer Agreement.
•   Watch three short videos (1 minute each) on Food Safety, Health & Safety, & Safeguarding.
•   Complete a simple quiz, with multiple choice questions based on the video content.

We also ask for some extra information about you, which relates to equality and diversity. This information is important as it helps to ensure our volunteer teams contain a broad representation of people.

You’ll be asked during the registration process if you consider yourself a person with a disability. If you tell us that you may need adjustments to volunteer, then we’ll get in touch to have a chat about how we can best support you.

After this, you are ready to sign up for a volunteer slot at your local Project!

1. Project Leader volunteers

If you’re interested in volunteering as a Project Leader, you’ll need to complete a Project Leader application form on the FoodCycle website, which asks for some more detailed information. You’ll need to:

•   Give us some basic information; your name, age, and contact details.
•   Tell us about any relevant experience, training, and/or qualifications.
•   Provide contact details for someone who can provide a reference.
•   Tell us why you’re applying for the role and how long you are able to commit.
•   Declare any criminal convictions or police cautions.

After receiving your Project Leader application form, we’ll call you for a chat about the role and to explain the next steps.

All incoming Project Leaders are required to complete the same induction/training:

•   Food Safety Level 2 and Food Allergens (online modules).
•   Shadowing session (led by an existing Project Leader).
•   Enhanced DBS check.
•   Read key policies and procedures.
•   Safeguarding (2-hour remote training session).

You will feel well prepared when you start your Project Leader role!

We recognise that not all volunteers learn in the same way or at the same speed. We are flexible with our training and have different options so that you can do your volunteer training and learn in a way that is most comfortable for you.

We use multi-media to provide information in several formats to support diverse ways of learning, including:

•   Digital documents: digital or electronic text is easily read aloud by a screen reader, enlarged, converted to Braille, adjusted for colour and contrast as well as shared.
•   Videos with captioning and description.

We also offer flexible remote training and online resources, including:

•   Online training modules which you can complete at your own pace.
•   Real time video conference training sessions.

FoodCycle strives to be as inclusive as possible and our recruitment process focuses on finding a match between the volunteer roles available and the applicant’s skills, qualities, and interests.

We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that our working environment does not prevent you from taking on volunteer roles for which you are suitably qualified. This may include physical adaptations or more flexible ways of working (where appropriate and practical).

You’ll be asked during the registration process if you consider yourself a person with a disability.  If you tell us that you may need adjustments to volunteer, then we’ll get in touch to have a chat about how we can best support you.  We’ll explain how your local FoodCycle Project works and run through the different volunteer roles so you have a good overview of the opportunities on offer. (This is also the case if you apply for one of our Project Leader volunteer roles.)

What you can expect from FoodCycle:

•   A welcoming and inclusive environment, free from discrimination.
•   We will strive to provide the support and equipment you may need to enable you to use the application process, undertake your voluntary role, and undertake any relevant training.
•   We will work with you to ensure that your individual needs are met, carrying out role evaluations/risk assessments where appropriate.
•   If further support or equipment is needed to enable you to undertake your role, we will seek appropriate advice and support from external agencies.

We will always work with you to ensure your volunteer experience meets your needs through reasonable adjustments. This includes, (but isn’t limited to):

•   Adjustments for mobility (difficulty with standing, walking, lifting, carrying). For example, by adapting tasks so they can be carried out sitting down and/or remotely; dividing/delegating tasks to suit different capabilities; or offering a ‘buddy’ for support.
•   Adjustments for neurological conditions (seizures, memory problems, concentration, autism). For example, by making sure that tasks are straight forward and similar each week, or tweaking volunteer session timings to allow tasks to be carried out when minimal numbers of people are present.
•   Adjustments for communication (deafness, sight impairments). For example, by adapting paperwork, meetings, information, and/or training to make them more accessible, or assigning a member of staff to go through forms etc. on the phone or in person.

We encourage you to share the ways we can support you best, to help you gain the most from your volunteer experience.

Occasionally, adjustments are unfortunately not possible, due to the volunteer-led nature of our Projects, financial limitations, and/or training constraints. However, we will work with you to understand your personal need/requirements and will always try to make reasonable adjustments where possible.

We will do everything we can to help you to continue in your existing volunteer role(s). Where this is not possible, we will offer suitable alternative roles for you to think about, and endeavour to provide training and support as needed.

That’s not a problem! Volunteering with FoodCycle is very flexible – and if you need to take a break you can simply remove yourself via the volunteer portal.

We just ask for as much notice as possible so another volunteer can fill your slot.