Job Title: Volunteer Coordinator (Covid-19 Recovery)

Accountable to: Chief Executive / Creative Programme Manager

Personnel responsible for: Volunteers

Location: WHALE Arts Centre – combination of working remotely and working in the building / garden supporting volunteers – in line with Scottish Government guidance

Hours of Work: 3 days per week / 21 hours per week

Contract Length: June / July – end September 2020

Salary: £22,000 FTE

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is a new, time-limited post funded by Scottish Government Covid-19 Supporting Communities Funding. The role has been designed to support volunteers to safely get involved with helping Wester Hailes through the recovery and transition phase of the lockdown.

BACKGROUND

Vision: Wester Hailes is a creative, thriving, resilient, fair community.

Mission: We create the conditions for our communities to work alongside artists and cultural practitioners to become creative agents for change who will proactively co-design, participate in, support or lead quality creative activity at all stages of their lives.

WHALE Arts is:

• Community-led – we are embedded in our community, consult with local people, we are a membership organisation, we have local board members.
• A Cultural Anchor Organisation – we are the conduit between local people, artists and cultural opportunities and organisations.
• Place-based – we develop creative programmes and services that have a simultaneous focus on people living in Wester Hailes and the social, geographical, infrastructural, and economic factors of the area and the synergies between the two: people and place.
• Building-based – we have responsibility for a building from which we run a range of programmes, activities and services which are largely free or subsidised and are tailored towards people from Wester Hailes and the surrounding area. We also use the building as an asset from which we can generate income which contributes to our running costs and our unrestricted reserves.
• Strengths-based / Asset-based – we make the most of, and building on, the skills and experiences of local people and assets within the community.

WHALE (Wester Hailes Arts for Leisure and Education) launched in 1992 and was originally based in the Blue Hut on the Murrayburn Greenway. WHALE was launched officially on August 7th, 1992, and saw a balloon launch, a hot air balloon trip as well as live music and street performers.

Over the past 27 years WHALE Arts has grown and continued to adapt and innovate through challenging times, moving to a purpose-built home in November 2000, the same building the organisation works from today. 2017 saw celebrations for the 25th anniversary of WHALE Arts and 2022 will be our 30th year.

WHALE Arts launched a new strategic plan in 2019 which will take the organisation forward into 2024. This new strategy has a focus on Arts, Health & Wellbeing; Creative Placemaking; Enterprise, Learning and Skills as well as Development and Improvement of our key asset (our building).

WHALE Arts Strategic Plan 2019 – 2024 https://issuu.com/whalearts/docs/strategic_plan_whale_2019_-_2024__web_version_

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Personnel

• Support volunteers and work with current staff to support volunteers in a variety of roles: remotely through using technology, and in line with restrictions being lifted to get involved with activities and projects in the building and garden such as gardening, outdoor activities, food provision, art pack production (approximately 20 volunteers to be supported over the 3-4 month period)
• Organise volunteer rotas provide inductions and training or support current staff to do this
• Liaise with WHALE staff to ensure clarity on roles and responsibilities of volunteers and to create and update current and new volunteer role descriptions
• Ensure volunteers are aware of and working in line with our current health and safety restrictions during COVID-19

Reporting & Data

• Set up / improve current systems to track, monitor and review quantitative data including the number of volunteers, volunteer hours, and any other relevant data
• Collect volunteers stories (for case studies, evaluation, and future funding applications)
• Store information in a confidential manner and in line with our GDPR policy

Strategic / Policy

• Create a volunteer strategy and an updated policy and procedure for local volunteering beyond Covid-19 recovery
• Update current volunteer forms and practices related to recruitment and management of volunteers
• Join area-wide conversations with local partners and agencies across Wester Hailes (currently a monthly 1 hour long zoom meeting on a Wednesday am)

Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and the post-holder may, from time-to-time, be required to undertake other duties, which are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.  

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Essential Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 3-year experience of supporting, developing, managing volunteers.
• Volunteer policy, procedure and strategy development.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience working in the community or voluntary arts sector.
• Current PVG

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience and understanding of the benefit of volunteering to alleviate community issues, particularly those faced by people living in areas of deprivation.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Apply by email attaching:

• An up to date CV detailing relevant education and employment experience.
• A covering letter demonstrating how your skills meet the Person Specification (no more than 2 pages).
• Details of two referees, including at least one previous employer.

Applications open on 10.06.20 Applications close on 24.06.20 – applications should be submitted no later than 1pm. Late applications will not be considered. Please send these to recruitment@whalearts.co.uk using Volunteer Coordinator in the subject line.

Please don’t send questions about the role to this email address as it will not be monitored on a daily basis, questions should be sent to Leah Black (details below).

Interviews will be held by Zoom on 01.07.20

Equal Opportunities Monitoring:

WHALE Arts Agency is committed to recruiting high quality candidates whose skills and experience are most suited to the job regardless of sex, race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion (or beliefs), marital status, sexual orientation (or perceived sexual orientation), disability, age or political affiliation. Please complete the Equal Opportunities form enclosed with the application pack. This information is for monitoring purposes only, will be treated as confidential and will not be used in the selection process.

170321-Equal-Opportunities-MonitoringDownload (click here)

We are happy to answer any questions about this role, please contact:

Leah Black, Chief Executive, WHALE Arts, 0131 458 3267, leah@whalearts.co.uk

                                                           JOB DESCRIPTION

SUMMARY OF THE POST

During the Covid-19 crisis WHALE Arts although having paused all regular programmes and activities has focused resources into food provision for Wester Hailes. We have turned our popular Community Meal into a takeaway and delivery service.

Our chef cooks a delicious vegetarian meal once a week.

We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic chef to cover our current chef if he has to take leave unexpectedly over the coming weeks.

We may also look to expand our food provision service over the coming weeks and may require the stand-by chef to work alongside our existing chef.

This post offers an opportunity to use your cooking and organisational skills in a friendly self-organised community environment catering for up to 60 people each Friday.

Please note there is no guarantee of work – we are currently looking for someone who we can have lined up to cover the current chef if required.

SUMMARY OF PROJECT

The Community Meal is all about shared food and friendship. Based in the WHALE Arts Centre the meal is a collaboration between WHALE Arts, Prospect Community Housing, SCOREscotland and Space Kitchen (formerly The Broomhouse Centre). The free meal takes place every Friday 1 – 2pm and promotes healthy eating in a welcoming inclusive atmosphere, offering a dignified approach to issues around food affordability as well as reaching out to more isolated residents.

Key job responsibilities (see below for detailed job description):

• Plan the weekly menu making within a given budget, making best use of available seasonal and locally grown produce
• Preparation and cooking of the meal ensuring food is served fresh and on time
• Ensure the kitchen is kept clean and tidy and food safety standards are met

Skills, qualities and experience required:

Essential:

• Experience of menu planning and vegan/vegetarian cooking for large numbers
• Able to work quickly under pressure
• Passionate about good healthy food and able to communicate it
• Able to work on own initiative and to work with others collectively
• Good organisational skills
• Current Food Hygiene Certificate
• Experience of community work or working with volunteers
• PVG

Desirable:

• Understanding of environmental and sustainability issues, especially around food

JOB DESCRIPTION:

1. Weekly menu planning

• Plan a different meal for each week
• Coordinate with partners regarding locally sourced ingredients

2. Preparation and cooking

• Prepare and cook a weekly meal
• Ensure food is fresh and ready on time
• Ensure no food waste whenever possible

3. Kitchen management

• Keep the kitchen clean and organised
• Keep fridge and freezer clean and organised, ensuring everything is labelled and discarded if necessary
• Ensure recycling and rubbish are emptied regularly
• Ensure health and safety standards are enforced

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Apply in writing or by email, enclosing/attaching:

• An up to date CV detailing relevant education and employment experience. No longer than two pages.
• A covering letter demonstrating how your skills meet the Essential and Desirable Skills criteria of the job description. No longer than one page.
• Details of two referees, including your most recent employer.

The successful candidate will be appointed to the role subject to confirmation of PVG Scheme Membership.

Send applications to recruitment@whalearts.co.uk by midday on Friday 24^th April and we will be in touch to arrange a conversation.