Community Development Worker (20 hours per week)
Background to the Charity
Fa’side Community Kitchen (FCK) has been established since March 2021, as a legacy project which followed on from the COVID 19 pandemic. During the pandemic a group of local volunteers and community members came together to create our communities response to supporting those who were either self-isolating, had no local family in the area, could not afford or were unable to cook for themselves during the crisis. Over 80,000 meals were cooked for older, more vulnerable and those socially isolated members of our community. Given the uncertainty around COVID 19 and the hope within our existing plans to have a community based food organisation in the Fa’side area, Fa’side Community Kitchen was created! The charities main purposes are:
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The prevention or relief of poverty.
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The relief of those in need by reason of age, ill health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage.
Role
This is an exciting role, supporting a crucial charity in the heart of Fa’side. Using food as a way of connecting local residents, this Community Development Worker post will help develop the charity and raise awareness of its value in the Fa’side community. If you want to make a positive impact in your local community, or work within a community where the key base value is respect, then come and work for us!
This post will be covering work that is delivered in Tranent but also Fa’side and surrounding areas (to clarify which areas we mean in Fa’side please click the attached link – here).
Background
FCK is looking to employ 20 hour Community Development Worker post based in East Lothian Co-operative (ELCO) Bowling and Social Club, Tranent.
FCK was formed as a legacy project, following the COVID 19 pandemic. Its key aim was is to tackle food insecurity and reduce social isolation through the provision of locally based activities. FCK gained charitable status in March 2021.
FCK has one other staff member and a small team of volunteers that provide day to day operations.
The Pennypit Community Development Trust have been providing day to day support to the charity since it started. They are a supported partner to FCK and Fundamental foods is the nutrition arm of the trust. Fundamental Foods team has been supporting FCK to deliver and build capacity in the last 18 months. Fundamental Foods has been instrumental in supporting FCK to grow as a small charity and develop their activities and practices around local needs.
FCK has a board of Trustees who are community based local volunteers, who have created a strategic vision for the charity and logic model for how to achieve its aims. The board of Trustees directs staff through our logic model on our priorities both day to day and on a longer term basis.
FCK have a number of ‘critical’ friends and partners who have been supporting its development. ELCO bowling and social club host the venue for the kitchen and have a co-opted Trustee on our board.
Volunteer Centre East Lothian have provided governance based support and direction to the Board of Trustees and helped secure charitable status for FCK. East Lothian Council’s – Connected Communities Team – Fa’side have provided support, advice and guidance to the charity. Both organisations, alongside the Pennypit Community Development Trust provided the interim Trustees and stewardship for the charity during its initial period of operation.
This post, alongside a new social isolation and befriending post, will be the first two members of staff within the charity. This provide the prospective post holder with a great opportunity to influence the logic model, develop the staff and volunteer base and help the Board of Trustees formally launch the charity to our Fa’side communities.
Closing Date Extended: Sunday 15th May
Documents
For more information please email: ruthdavie73@gmail.com
