Volunteer with us
Join us and support our Friends across the city
The People’s Kitchen is proudly run entirely by volunteers. The kindness of our volunteers is essential to keeping our doors open and their hard work offers a vital lifeline to support homeless and disadvantaged people in Newcastle.
None of our team are paid, they are simply motivated to help by the overwhelming gratitude of our Friends and the incredible impact that their work has on our communities’ most vulnerable people.
Want to volunteer?
Currently we have 230 volunteers giving up over 50,000 unpaid hours every year, but we are always in need of more generous people who can give up their time to help. Download our volunteer application form here to enquire.
Download the volunteer application form
Our Current Vacancies
Administration/Office Support
Hours: 4 hours per week
Location: The Alison Centre
These roles provide essential clerical and administrative support - the roles are varied but all play a vital part in the smooth-running of the Kitchen.
Find out moreCommunications/Marketing Roles
Hours: 4 hours per week
Location: The Alison Centre or remotely
It is important that we positively promote and communicate, what we do and how we do it, to our friends, to the general public and to our corporate donors and partners. Specific duties could include maintaining and updating our website (Wordpress site), creating informative content, engaging press releases, articles, and media opportunities to help raise awareness about our services.
Find out moreAllotment
Hours: 4 hours per week
Location: Tweed Street, Benwell
The aim of our allotment project is to provide fresh fruit and vegetables to the centre which is used within the meals we then provide to our friends. The allotment also provides an interest for any friends who like to become involved under the direction of a volunteer.
Find out moreFood Preparation
Hours: 4 hour day shift
Location: The Alison Centre
Fresh food is prepared in the afternoon for each evening service, for approximately 180 people. Members of the team, work under the supervision of the team leader or deputy within food handling regulations.
Find out moreFood Service
Hours: 4 hour evening shift
Location: The Alison Centre
Roles vary on a rotation basis but can include and serving liquid refreshments, serving hot food, clearing tables, dish washing, emptying waste bins, general cleaning including food stations and cookers, door supervision, bathroom supervision, opening and closing checks and most importantly general engagement with our friends.
Find out moreWeekend Service
Hours: 4 hour morning shift
Location: The Alison Centre
Breakfast is prepared and served to approximately 100 people on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Members of the weekend teams can undertake all the roles contained within both the food preparation and food service descriptions above. They do this across a rotation basis and full training is given in all areas.
Find out moreWelfare Roles
Hours: 4 hour day or evening shift
Location: The Alison Centre
The overall aim of our welfare volunteers is to provide friendship and support to our friends across a wide range of issues. We help to engage and practically support our friends throughout their journey, we also help point them in the right direction of partner agencies when appropriate.
Find out more