Volunteer Cook - Green Skills Centre

Location: Cyrenians Green Skills Centre, 12 Humbie Holdings, Kirknewton, EH27 8DS. See map here.

Time: Tuesday 10am – 3pm.

We are flexible on how often every month. Just let us know your availability and preference. We welcome taster sessions, if you would like to see and get a feel for the place and people first. Just get in touch with us first to arrange this.

What is our Green Skills Centre?

Our Green Skills Centre is part of our community farm, where we grow food, skills and community. We want to address the challenges relating to sustainability, inclusion, learning and wellbeing in our community.

We do this in our organic market garden, where we grow food using regenerative principals. This includes our local organic vegetable-bag enterprise. Providing a hot meal for everyone, using the produce we grow, is also an important part of our community work.

We also deliver outdoor learning programmes for young people under 18 years old. These are designed to develop confidence and skills for those at risk of experiencing unemployment and homelessness. We want to provide a space for cultivating relationships – with the land, ourselves and each other. We empower young people by equipping them with new skills that can be used in every part of their lives.

What will you do as a volunteer?

You will be cooking for our team of volunteers and employees, as well as for our groups of young participants. Fuelling everyone with good nourishing food is something we love to do, as a thank you for everyone’s work and contributions.

You will be preparing food from our home grown produce and surplus food from our depot. We have a kitchen on site with all the required equipment. All ingredients will be provided. Seasonally, there are opportunities to assist with making preserves and jam too.

You will also take part in supporting the skills development of young people, by teaching them cooking skills, doing practical tasks in the kitchen with them and alike, when possible.

You will therefore be involved in different activities, which can include:

• doing food preparation and basic meal planning (coordinating with team)
• cooking for our team of volunteers and employees
• cooking for groups of up to 28 people (usually less), including group of young people attending our projects
• clearing up or washing up with the use of a commercial dishwasher
• do temperature checks for fridges and freezers
• do a cleaning checklist for food-prep and food-storage areas
• help keeping fridges and freezers organised
• teaching young people (under 18) new skills in cooking
• instructing or supervising 1-2 young people and other volunteers, who might help you with your tasks in the kitchen.

We will provide support and training needed for you to engage with the tasks and young people in a safe manner.

You can find more details about this volunteering opportunity in the decription below. 

If you have any questions about the opportunity, please get in touch with us via email: greenskillscentre@cyrenians.scot