Job Title: Project Co-ordinator for the“Training at the Trough” Project

Job purpose:To develop, organize and run the above projectat Bath City Farm.

Key activities:

  • Support volunteers with learning difficulties and/or mental health problemsto work in our café. Volunteers will be preparing food for customers in our community room kitchen, and serving food from the Trough Café. They will also need to be supported with serving customers, using the till, and cleaning and washing up.
  • Recruit, induct and manage volunteers. This will include liaising with local agencies such as National Autistic Society to arrange additional support workers if required.
  • To be responsible for the direct supervision of volunteers during work activity (unless they have their own support worker). This will also include supporting their social and emotional needs whether through reviews or informal discussions. They will also need to be supported to complete their Food and Hygiene certificate.
  • Plan, budget and run weekly activities and tasks for volunteers.
  • To work alongside the café supervisor and other Farm staff to plan menu’s and a volunteer rota for the café’s busier times
  • Be responsible for Health & Safety and welfare of volunteers whilst on site. This includes producing risk assessments for practical tasks and demonstration of correct use of tools.
  • Promote and publicise the project including dealing with the local media and producing flyers & posters.
  • To work within agreed policies and procedures, and to help create and develop high standards of practice on the farm.

Essential skills & experience:

  • Experience of working with people with learning difficulties and/or mental health issues either in a voluntary or paid capacity.
  • A competent cook with experience of cooking with other people in either a personal or professional capacity.
  • Excellent communication and organisational skills
  • Excellent leaderships skills, including knowledge of H&S, Food Hygiene and risk assessments, etc.
  • Ability to work using own initiative
  • Basic computer & administrative skills

Desirable skills and experience

  • Experience of working in a café or similar food related employment.
  • A Food and Hygiene level 2 certificate. (You will be asked to take this, if you have not already)
  • Experience of working in retail.
  • A full driving license

Management and Accountability

This post will be accountable to the Farm Manager and will have regular support from them.

Terms of employment

This position is available for 8months, with a view to extend further. The place of work will be Bath City Farm, Kelston View, Bath BA2 1NW. The postholder will be responsible to The Farm Manager.

Holiday allowance:25 days plus statutory holidays (pro rata)

Salary:£10.77 per hour equivalent to £21,000(pro rata) Paid monthly in arrears by BACS

Hours:13 hours per week from August – November (Thursdays and Fridays)

6 hours per week November – February (Fridays only)

Who we are and what we do

Bath City Farm is a popular and well respected community-managed project located in the south west of the city. It was established 17 years ago by local people wanting fallow local authority-owned green space and farmland to be used for the benefit of the local community. It has since become an integral part of the community, providing services and opportunities that extend well beyond urban farming, and is a registered charity.

Our mission is to build a caring, healthy and cohesive community through the involvement of local people, especially those who are disadvantaged, in the development and maintenance of a productive, accessible green space where they are able to learn about sustainable food growing and the natural world, to acquire new skills and to develop new friendships.

Our 37-acre hillside site has magnificent views across the city and contains a working farm, community garden plots, a small community building, a children’s adventure play area, an amphitheatre and a café kiosk. Our services include education activities for children and young people, training courses, volunteering opportunities and community events throughout the year. Uniquely in Bath, we offer a combined indoor and outdoor learning environment and we are now moving into a new phase of development for our educational progamme. We also provide space for a weekly parent and toddler group and organise regular farm-based activities for children from a local special needs school. Bath Area Play Project uses our site for play activities once a week.

The Farm is managed by a trustee board of local residents, employs six members of staff (two full-time and four part-time), involves over 150 volunteers (40 regular and 110 occasional) and attracts over 15,000 visitors per year.