Volunteer

We need your help to collect food, drive between collections and distribution points, pack food parcels, run fundraising events and food drives, and help keep up with increasing need in the local area.

All volunteers need to be over the age of 18 for insurance purposes.

If you are interested in the possibility of volunteering with Southend Foodbank, please get in touch with Lynnette, Volunteer Co-ordinator, by email at volunteers@southend.foodbank.org.uk

Details of any current available volunteering roles are below.

Current Volunteer Vacancies:

Home Delivery Driver

We are looking for a volunteer to join our team as an occasional home delivery driver. We need someone who is willing to use their own vehicle on occasional Tuesdays / Thursdays to pick up food parcels from the Warehouse in Southchurch Road and deliver them on the same day to guests who are unable to attend a foodbank distribution centre. This is an ad hoc role so it is not necessary to be available every Tuesday or Thursday. Drivers need to have a valid driving licence, MOT, if needed, and appropriate insurance for their vehicle, and ensure it is taxed.

Signposting Volunteers - Belle Vue and Westcliff

We are looking for some volunteers to join our team as Signposting Volunteers at our local Distribution Centres (DCs) at Belle Vue DC, on Tuesday afternoons from approx 12.30pm - 3.30pm, and Westcliff DC, on Wednesday afternoons from approx 12.30pm - 3.30pm. You will need to be comfortable approaching guests to open conversations and have a listening ear, with good communication skills; training will be provided on signposting information.

Driver - Westcliff

We are looking for a driver (able and willing to drive the van preferably, or use own large car) to join a rota, working in a pair, to deliver boxes from our Warehouse to Westcliff Distribution Centre (DC) on Tuesday mornings, generally a couple of times a month. You will need to be able to lift quite heavy weights comfortably, and if driving the van, will need to meet certain requirements for insurance purposes, including having a clean driving licence.

Chaperone - Belle Vue

We are looking for a volunteer to join our team as a Foodbank Centre Volunteer, specifically as a Chaperone, at our Distribution Centre (DC) in Belle Vue. Belle Vue DC is open on Tuesday afternoons and you will need to be available from approx 12.30pm - 3.30pm. You will need to be comfortable chatting to guests as you help to pack their food parcels and generally make them feel welcome.

If you're interested in any of these opportunities to make a difference in our local community, please email Lynnette, Volunteer Co-ordinator, at volunteers@southend.foodbank.org.uk for further details and a Volunteer Application Form.

Supermarket collections

Throughout the year we regularly hold collection days at local supermarkets, working closely with the supermarket champions at the various stores. These collection days are vital in helping to receive food donations which make up the food parcels to be distributed. Cash and cashless donations are also received to enable us to buy food for the food parcels.

The supermarket collection days are usually held on a Friday and Saturday and we need volunteers to help at these days, just for a couple of hours each time. It's an enjoyable way to help, doesn't take up a lot of time, but makes a big difference! If you can offer your help to give out shopping lists and receive food donated by customers, please email Lynnette, Volunteer Co-ordinator, at volunteers@southend.foodbank.org.uk to find out how you can get involved. No previous experience is required as training and support will be provided.

All our upcoming in-store collection dates and locations are listed on the Supermarkets page.

Fundraising

Fundraising can be as individual as setting up your own challenge and collecting sponsorship, supporting others in fundraising activities organised through the foodbank, through to helping run an event. We always need help arranging fundraising events, especially if you have time outside of office hours to help run activities such as quizzes, film nights, raffles etc. If you want to help with fundraising events, have a brilliant idea or need some help setting up a fundraiser, please get in touch with info@southend.foodbank.org.uk

Collections at Southend United

Foodbank shrimpers run regular collections in home pubs near to the ground, the Blue Boar, Spread Eagle and Railway, as well as a match day collection during the season at Roots Hall. We’ve had a lot of fun over the last few seasons including quiz nights, raffles and food drives.