Aberdeenshire North Foodbank is an independent charity, affiliated to the Trussell Trust’s national network of foodbanks, working to end hunger and destitution in their communities. They understand that people across the country go hungry for various reasons and a simple box of food can make a big difference. The Foodbank works tirelessly to combat poverty and hunger within their local communities, by providing three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis.

In July 2013, the Aberdeenshire North Foodbank’s first food distribution centre was opened in Inverurie. They have since opened Foodbank Centres in Ellon, Huntly, Peterhead and Fraserburgh, with two warehouses for sorting and packing food parcels in Inverurie and Peterhead. In 2020, 7467 people across North Aberdeenshire were fed, with 3572 households receiving support from the Foodbank. Recent years has saw an increase in the need for Foodbank services, given this, new partnerships and opportunities are continually being explored and identified. It is hoped that the Foodbank’s geographical and strategic reach will mature, with a vision of new distribution centres throughout the north of Aberdeenshire.

As the leader of Foodbank Centres and Warehouses, you will spearhead operations, directing a team of 5 staff (including 4 direct reports) and orchestrating the efforts of approximately 100 volunteers. Your mission: to bring to life operational plans that align seamlessly with the Foodbank Operational Plan and the Trussell Trust operating model.

This is not just a managerial role; it's an opportunity to shape the narrative of a vital community service. You will navigate the intricacies of staff/volunteer recruitment, supervision, training, and management, ensuring a well-oiled machine that operates in harmony with our mission.

This post extends beyond day-to-day operations to encompass strategic elements, such as monitoring and reporting on operational indicators, networking and collaboration, premises management, logistics, acumen, and forging impactful partnerships. You’ll be at the helm of the ship, working closely with the board and champion food security pathways, reducing food waste and supporting each site to deliver effectively across Aberdeenshire.

If you think you can thrive in this role and possess the desired traits and capabilities, please do not hesitate to get in touch by following the below steps to either submit your application or speak with the hiring manager for further information.

Aberdeenshire North Foodbank is a crisis intervention service with a vision to end hunger and poverty in our local communities. In the last year we have fed over 8000 people and received just over 87 tons of donated food. The service operates across the north of Aberdeenshire in Banff and Buchan, Buchan, Garioch, Formartine and Upper Marr.

The foodbank involves around 80 volunteers and has distribution centres in Inverurie, Ellon, Huntly, Peterhead and Fraserburgh. The food bank enjoys widespread community support from churches and school, as well as from the local authority, statutory agencies and frontline support agencies. Since opening there’s been a growing and sustained use of the Foodbank service with geographical expansion into new areas.

We are also involved in a range of ‘more than emergency food’ projects including an active role in the Fair Food Aberdeenshire Partnership and development work which includes a community market garden and a food hub project in the Huntly and surrounding areas.

The foodbank is an independent Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation operating as part of the Trussell trust food bank. The Trussell trust is a charity founded on Christian principles. We follow the Trust’s operating model working with compassion, honesty integrity openness kindness and care for all people regardless of religious belief or non-belief.

We are working closely with the Trussell Trust on a Pathfinder programme, which allows us to develop and deliver on strategic objectives that align with the Trussell Trust’s strategy for ending the needs for emergency food and poverty. This work includes further developing our Financial Inclusion Services, embedding Participation into our organisation and raising awareness and making calls to action in our local communities about understanding and challenging the root causes of poverty.

ROLE OUTLINE AND PURPOSE

To oversee the operations of the foodbank centres and warehouses, including support for staff and volunteers and working with the management team to deliver the foodbank’s strategic and operational plans.

Working under the direction of the Chief Officer, and closely with Pathfinder colleagues, to help build a cohesive. integrated team and ensuring that the foodbank meets the changing needs of local people.

Aberdeenshire North Foodbank is a crisis intervention service with a vision to end hunger and poverty in our local communities. In the last year we have fed over 8000 people and received just over 87 tonnes of donated food. The service operates across the north of Aberdeenshire in Banff and Buchan, Buchan, Garioch, Formartine and Upper Marr.

The foodbank involves around 80 volunteers and has distribution centres in Inverurie, Ellon, Huntly, Peterhead and Fraserburgh. The food bank enjoys widespread community support from churches and school, as well as from the local authority, statutory agencies and frontline support agencies. Since opening there’s been a growing and sustained use of the Foodbank service with geographical expansion into new areas.

We are also involved in a range of ‘more than emergency food’ projects including an active role in the Fair Food Aberdeenshire Partnership and development work which includes a community market garden and a food hub project in the Huntly and surrounding areas.

The foodbank is an independent Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation operating as part of the Trussell trust food bank. The Trussell trust is a charity founded on Christian principles. We follow the Trust’s operating model working with compassion, honesty integrity openness kindness and care for all people regardless of religious belief or non-belief.

We are working closely with the Trussell Trust on a Pathfinder programme, which allows us to develop and deliver on strategic objectives that align with the Trussell Trust’s strategy for ending the need for emergency food and poverty. This work includes further developing our Financial Inclusion Services, embedding Participation into our organisation and raising awareness and making calls to action in our local communities about understanding and challenging the root causes of poverty.

ROLE OUTLINE AND PURPOSE

This is a new role for our Foodbank and we are seeking a creative and self-motivated individual to support us in our ‘Changing Minds’ and ‘Participation’ agenda. In order to deliver support and services that really make a difference and also influence thinking and policy around poverty, we can only do this if we listen to those of us in our communities who have direct lived experience of poverty and inequalities. We also need to engage with the wider community about drivers of poverty and how they can be involved in influencing change.

This role will focus on engaging and collaborating with individuals, families and groups who have recent, direct lived experience of poverty in order to influence and shape practices and processes within our own foodbank, any projects we are involved in, as well as ensuring greater or more effective actions to influence attitudes are undertaken by people with lived experience of poverty.

You will also be responsible for building and leading a volunteer team to develop and deliver local influencing strategies in our foodbank, organising in our communities to campaign for change. You will take the lead in setting up a new social media management tool and develop a media/ social media strategy focussed on ‘Changing Minds’ content. You will be the link between your food bank and the Organising and Local Mobilisation team at Trussell Trust, as we build a movement to end the need for food banks.

Responsible to: Foodbank Manager