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March 2024: We are currently recruiting for 1 post.

The Lunch Club Co-ordinator will work alongside, co-ordinate and support a small group of volunteers in providing a 2-course cooked meal and a varied programme of activities to older residents in the Twerton area. Volunteers play an important part in this project and direction will also be provided by a small steering group comprising volunteers, Lunch Club members & staff.

Tasks will include:

  • Recruiting, supporting and working alongside volunteers to facilitate and oversee the operational management of the lunch club
  • Co-ordinating lunch provision, including meal planning, budgeting, shopping, cooking, kitchen tasks & customer service
  • Co-ordinating the provision of activities such as quizzes, games, raffles, speakers, singalongs, gentle exercise, annual outings, etc
  • Publicising the project, recruiting and liaising with locally based older residents attending the lunch club
  • Co-ordinating the provision of transport to those people in need of it
  • Project administration, including keeping digital records of attendance, finance, etc

We are looking for someone with previous experience of working or volunteering with a community-based project and with older people, and an understanding of the needs of vulnerable people and the value of volunteers. We are looking for someone with both good people skills and good organisational skills.

This is a part-time (1 day per week) fixed term post initially to 30/9/24 but with a good chance of extension. The salary is £26,000 pa (pro rata).

 

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Our Social Cafe for the Over 50's age group is up and running every Tuesday between 12 & 4pm at Rose Cottage (just across the road from our office in Twerton). With use of all 4 rooms at ground level, there is space to suit everyone’s needs.  We have a wonderful team of volunteers who prepare lunch, serve, clear up and help run a range of activities.

The cafe is proving a great place to make new friends, learn new skills or share existing skills such as crochet, knitting, and rag rug making, or to play board games or use the centre's computers. Some participants just want to come out for lunch, a chat or coffee & cake, without necessarily joining in the after lunch activities. It is possible to arrange transport, if needed, by arrangement.

The project aims only to cover its costs, so prices are very reasonable - £1.50 for home-made soup, bread & butter, £1 for a sandwich or just 30p for a cup of tea or coffee.

Several times a year, the Rose Cottage staff prepare a full 2-course lunch, open to all and bookable in advance at the cost of £5. The Easter meal, held in late March, was a great success and a good social mix where people had a chance to re-connect or meet others.

Please feel free to come along any Tuesday between 12 & 4pm and sample one of our delicious home-made soups, or just drop by for a cup of tea or a game of Scrabble. We are also looking for more volunteers who are confident cooks, to help prepare the soup once a month.

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Iona has been offering English language help to Francesco, who is from Spain. In return, he has helped her with practical jobs in the home and garden.

Iona says "Francesco and I spent three and a half hours during last week and then I asked him if he would like to spend time with my 14-year-old grandson and me and join in our Saturday activities. It was fun. We three went to a jumble sale and then on to two other places where we saw Nathan's puppets and puppet theatre and his rabbits in the garden. I'm glad I can still drive! Nathan got on very well with him.....

Today we are concentrating on interview skills as he has to go to London tomorrow. He is going to report the hour he spent on the shed and perhaps the half hour or so he spent hoovering my lounge. He did a thorough job, moving the furniture, etc while Nathan washed the kitchen floor ... and amused Francesco who had to listen to his protests."