Location: Message Trust Northeast Hub, Message Community Groceries

Hours: Full time (35 hours per week)

Closing Date for applications: Friday 22nd July 2022

Start date: As soon as possible

Responsible to: Operations Manager 

Primary internal working relationships: Regional Community Grocery Manager, Message Community Grocery Managers

Primary external working relationships: External Grocery Managers, Food Suppliers

Main purpose of the job

The post-holder will be responsible for collecting regular and ad-hoc donations from our food partners and delivering them predominantly to our Teesside s hops. Alongside that they will bring support as a shop assistant across various shops at times of high work load & sickness cover

History of The Message Community Grocery

In April 2020, the national lockdown meant the café and kitchens at our Manchester Message Enterprise Centre had needed to close, but as we saw families in need of food on our doorstep we decided to repurpose this and reach out to the local community. Using our facilities, we cooked, prepared, and delivered thousands of food parcels and hot meals to residents across the local area throughout lockdown.

As our meal delivery programme came to an end in September there was still great need, so we set up The Message Community Grocery as a way to support people across Wythenshawe, Manchester that were feeling the financial impact of Covid-19 through a membership scheme. Through the Grocery we are able to offer a range of food options fresh from local supermarkets, at a fraction of the cost. All our members also have access to a range of free support services including job clubs, debt relief support, mental wellbeing courses, exploring Christianity courses, voluntary work placements and more. Within just a few weeks we had 500 families signed up to the Grocery, many joining the various courses and the success and need has opened doors for us to launch more groceries around the UK. We launched several Community Groceries around the UK with five in the North East and more to come. We established a North East distribution Centre in Eaglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees to support the North East Community Groceries. Find out more about how our Community Grocery works at

Specific duties and responsibilities

  • Develop a process for collecting regular donations from our food partners
  • Loading and unloading palletised deliveries
  • Ensuring the van is clean and safe to drive
  • Completing stock takes and ensuring the shop is adequately stocked and well presented at all times.
  • Assist the Manager in operating the day-to-day running of the Grocery and providing good customer service
  • Providing a great level of customer service and building a good rapport with Community Grocery members, sharing your faith wherever the opportunity arises as well as encouraging members to engage with courses
  • Adhering to all relevant health and safety and food safety requirements and the completion of relevant documentation
  • Liaising with grocer managers and volunteers in the distribution centre, as required
  • Engaging with wider Hub activities such as Love Where You Live events, evangelistic activities etc
  • Person Specification

    Essential

  • A highly committed Christian with a call from God to serve the most vulnerable
  • A passion to see disadvantaged people achieve their full potential
  • Having a solution driven approach
  • A team player who respects and supports the leadership of others
  • Ability to work to deadlines and under pressure
  • Ability to work alone and as part of a team
  • Professional attitude and appearance
  • Ability to drive and with own transport
  • Capable of loading and unloading items weighing up to 20kg
  • Desirable

  • Experience working as a driver and/or in a retail environment
  • Experience working alongside vulnerable families
  • The post-holder will be expected attend annual monthly prayer days and the annual Message Conference. They will also be an advocate of The Message and help recruit donors to support the ministry

    Notes All Message staff are set a personal fundraising target. We ask that the successful applicant has a minimum of £75 per month of regular financial support before commencing employment, increasing to £125 per month by the end of the three-month probation period and aims to add one supporter a month after that. Training and support will be given to help you achieve this.