Deputy Manager - Foodbank and Community Support Cafe

Could you help us build something that helps people move from crisis to flourishing?

Whitehawk Foodbank is going through an exciting period of change.

Over recent months, we have been developing a new way of working which goes beyond simply providing emergency food. We want to help people address the circumstances that have brought them to crisis, connect them with the right support, and ultimately see people move towards greater stability, independence and flourishing.

We are now looking for a Deputy Manager – Foodbank & Support Café to join us for the next stage of that journey.

This is a role for someone who loves people, believes in their potential and wants to make a practical difference in their lives.

About the role

You will initially work closely with the Foodbank Manager, learning and putting into practice the new model of working that has been developed over recent months.

You will become involved in all aspects of the project – from supporting people and understanding their needs, to managing volunteers, foodbank stock and administration, and helping us launch and develop our new Support Café.

The Support Café will provide a welcoming place in the heart of the community where people can come for practical advice, support and signposting. We want it to become somewhere people know they can come before they reach crisis, as well as somewhere they can find help to move beyond it.

Initially, you will be supported closely by the Foodbank Manager as you learn the model, the community and the role. As your confidence and experience grow, you will take on increasing responsibility for the day-to-day running and development of the project.

This is a role with genuine potential to grow and develop.

We are looking for someone who will, in time, be able to take increasing responsibility for the work, helping to develop a small team and shape what Whitehawk Foodbank and the Support Café become in the years ahead.

The role is 3.5 days per week (24 hours total hours)

The role will include three full working days during the week, plus a half day on Sunday.

The Sunday element is intentionally different from the other days. The postholder will attend St Cuthman's Church and become part of the church family.

As the Support Café develops, we want to build a genuine bridge between the café and the church, so that people who have begun to connect with the café have a familiar face and a sense of belonging when they come to church.

The aim is that people can be welcomed by someone they already know – someone who can genuinely say, “I'll be there, so you'll know someone when you come.”

The Sunday commitment is not a support-work or casework day. There will be no expectation to discuss people's support needs or undertake practical support work. Instead, the purpose is simply to be present, worship, build relationships and be part of the church community alongside those who may be beginning to make that connection.

You might be the person we're looking for if...

• You are a practising Christian and want your faith to shape the way you work with people.
• You genuinely love people and want to see them thrive, not simply survive.
• You have experience of working with people who are facing difficult or complex circumstances.
• You have some understanding of the UK benefits system and are willing to develop this further.
• You are a good listener who can build trust while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• You understand the importance of boundaries and resilience when working with complex and vulnerable people.
• You are organised and able to juggle people, practical tasks and administration.
• You have experience of supporting or coordinating volunteers or have the potential to develop this skill.
• You are proactive and willing to get stuck in – whether that's having a conversation with someone who needs support, sorting food stock or helping develop a new part of the project.
• You enjoy working with people and building relationships within a community.
• You are excited by the possibility of helping build something new rather than simply maintaining something that already exists.
• You have a full driving licence and are able to drive as part of the role.
• You are willing and able to become part of the life of St Cuthman's Church.

Why this role?

This isn't simply a job running a foodbank.

It is an opportunity to be part of a different way of responding to poverty and crisis – one that starts with relationship, dignity and compassion, while also asking what practical support might help someone move forward.

You will have the opportunity to learn directly from the current Foodbank Manager, who has developed and implemented this approach elsewhere and is now establishing it in Whitehawk.

You'll be given the opportunity to learn, develop and take on responsibility, with the long-term aim of building your confidence and leadership so that you can take the project forward.

About Whitehawk Foodbank

Whitehawk Foodbank exists to serve people in the local community who are experiencing food insecurity and other forms of hardship.

Our Christian faith is central to who we are. We believe every person is made in the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity, kindness and respect.

We don't believe people should be defined by the circumstances they find themselves in. We want to walk alongside people, listen to their stories, help them find a way forward and see them flourish.