Warehouse Volunteer (Fareshare Greater Manchester)

EMERGE 3Rs

Openshaw, Greater Manchester
Voluntary
Full or Part Time
Closing date not specified, apply soon!

SustainabilityFood, Farming & Horticulture


Would you like to help end food poverty and tackle climate change and CO2 emissions in Greater Manchester, whilst at the same time gaining valuable CV-enhancing experience and skills? 

We need helping hands in our busy FareShare Greater Manchester warehouse to receive and catalogue supplies, to load and unload vans, and to prepare orders for delivery. In return we offer training and support to help you obtain skills and experience to boost your CV, if you are seeking work. If you're not aiming for employment, volunteering with us is rewarding in many other ways; offering an opportunity to make new friends, keep physically active and make a real difference to the lives of people in need.

What we offer you

  • Induction, training and support from the staff of FareShare and its parent charity, EMERGE 3Rs.
  • Practical experience and transferable skills in warehousing and food redistribution.
  • Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses – up to £5.80 for travel and up to £3 for lunch, upon completion of a 4 hour shift. (We can also provide you with lunch if you don't bring your own).
  • A reference after 2 months with us.
  • An understanding of warehousing and logistics, and the importance of food surplus and recycling initiatives to both the community and the environment.

As a sustainability charity, we take surplus food that's donated to us by manufacturers and retailers and redistribute it to people in need across the city region. The front line initiatives we support include food banks, schools, community groups and charities who, in turn, help people who are disadvantaged by poverty. Our vital work supports people experiencing extreme hardship and prevents perfectly good food going to landfill, where it would otherwise contribute to climate warming.

This role is vital to the work of FareShare, ensuring that the food delivered to our warehouse is correctly sorted, labelled and organised into the orders that are placed by our charities and community groups.

It is perfect for someone who is:

a) Looking for a practical activity.
b) Looking for experience and skills to gain employment in the food industry, warehousing and customer service.
c) Wanting to help their community and/or help tackle global warming.
d) Wanting to make new friends.
e) Wanting to keep busy and/or physically fit.

Our volunteer opportunities are available Monday to Friday, for a whole or half day, with shifts between 8:30-am - 12:30pm and 12:30 - 4:30pm. Volunteers are typically involved for one day a week.

What will I be doing?

Receiving, sorting, cataloguing and storing chilled and ambient surplus food in a warehouse, and preparing orders for delivery. 

  • Ensuring food quality and safety by checking ‘use by’ and ‘best before’ dates.
  • Sorting and unpacking deliveries, categorising and recording food.
  • Assembling food orders placed by charities and community groups.
  • Maintaining health and safety and food hygiene standards.
  • Helping with cleaning and other tasks as identified by warehouse staff.

Person Specification

You must:

  • be physically fit to carry out tasks including lifting and loading.
  • be reliable and able to commit to an agreed session/day. 
  • have a good command of English in order to understand and follow instructions and health and safety rules.
  • have basic literacy and numeracy skills to record quantities and types of food donated.
  • be able to work in a manner that respects Health and Safety standards.
  • be happy to complete tasks independently according to instruction.
  • be positive, friendly and enthusiastic about tackling food waste and food poverty.

We welcome volunteers who can commit to a minimum of a 4 hour shift, one day a week. The days and rota hours of volunteering are agreed around your availability.

We are located in Maynard House, New Smithfield Market, Openshaw, Manchester M11 2WJ.

Our base is accessed from the market's main entrance on Whitworth Street East (off Ashton Old Road). (For the precise location of our base, please see the Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SzNiPkmhW7NRkZet6). 

The depot is well served by public transport, with the 219 bus running regularly along the nearby Ashton Old Road. We also have free car parking on site and secure racks on our premises for cycles and eBikes.

If you would like an informal chat with our Volunteering team about this role, or just need a bit more information, you can call 0161 223 8200 (followed by option 6) or email [email protected]

Find out more & apply Save Share

About EMERGE 3Rs

EMERGE has been at the front line of sustainability and 3Rs practice in Greater Manchester for over two decades, improving people’s lives and upskilling our wider community in the process. Our charitable activities include running the Greater Manchester operations of FareShare GM in partnership with the national food surplus charity, and our successful Volunteering and Employability Programme. The charity is supported by our sister social enterprise EMERGE Recycling which also runs innovative reclaimed timber workshop Touch Wood.

Visit website View full profile More sustainability volunteering