Community Cafe Assistant

The Methodist Church in Britain; England; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 15,000; Full time

Job summary

Cross Keys Homes operates the WestRaven Community Café & Garden, seeking a dedicated café operative to manage daily activities, food prep, and front-of-house service. You will engage with volunteers and contribute to community events in a space used by children, older people and vulnerable individuals.

The role emphasizes quality food hygiene, customer care, cash handling when required, and collaborative work with staff and volunteers to support inclusive community initiatives.

Qualifications

• Experience of food preparation, cooking and safe food handling.
• Previous experience in a customer-facing role.
• Strong understanding of food hygiene standards.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to work well under pressure.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Run the café day to day.
• Prepare food, bake, cook and produce buffets.
• Provide customer service to visitors.
• Maintain high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and safety.
• Assist with opening/closing and cash handling when needed.
• Support volunteers and community events.
• Build positive relationships with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Support environmentally sustainable café operations.
• Run front of house and welcome visitors.
• Assist with or lead small community cooking sessions.

Skills

Customer service

Food hygiene

Communication

Relationship building

Working under pressure

Education

Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate

Level 2 Culinary Skills / Professional Cookery

Job description

This role sits within the WestRaven Community Café & Garden run by Cross Keys Homes, working alongside the Café Manager and Assistant Chef. The post covers food preparation, baking and buffet production, front-of-house service, cash handling when needed, and supporting volunteers and community events. Shifts run on weekdays from 7:30am, or 8:00am on Fridays, in a space used by children, older people and vulnerable individuals. Applicants must be willing to undergo an Enhanced DBS check.

What the job involves

• Running the café day to day
• Preparing food, baking, cooking and producing buffets
• Giving customer service to all visitors
• Keeping high standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and safety
• Helping with opening and closing and handling cash when needed
• Working with and supporting volunteers
• Building positive relationships with people from all backgrounds, including children, older people and vulnerable individuals
• Helping with community events and activities
• Helping keep the café environmentally sustainable
• Running front of house and welcoming visitors
• Assisting with or leading small community or work experience cooking sessions

What's required

Experience

• Experience of food preparation, cooking and safe food handling
• Previous experience in a customer-facing role

Skills & knowledge

• Confident, positive, understanding and helpful personality
• Understanding of food hygiene standards
• Excellent customer service skills
• Working well under pressure
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills

Checks & eligibility

• Willingness to undertake an Enhanced DBS check

Nice to have

• Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate
• Level 2 Culinary Skills or Professional Cookery qualification or equivalent