Here at The Felix Project, we rely on hundreds of volunteers to help sort and package the brilliant surplus food supply donated to us by wholesalers and supermarkets. We also rely on volunteer drivers to deliver our crates of good, nutritious food to the charities and schools serving London's most vulnerable communities.
WHY VOLUNTEER
Volunteering at The Felix Project is a great way to fight food waste and hunger in London and give back to your local community. It's also a fun way to keep fit, practise mindfulness and meet different kinds of people. Plus, any food that we are not able to distribute is free for volunteers to take home (but you do so at your own risk!).
WAREHOUSE VOLUNTEERS
Anyone can be a warehouse volunteer, as long as you are relatively fit and active. Warehouse staff need to lift crates of food, which can weigh up to 11kg. Jobs in the warehouse include sorting food, packing crates, and general housekeeping such as cleaning.
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS
Volunteer drivers deliver food to the charities and schools we work with around London. Drivers need to be able to drive a van confidently, and:
- Have a full driving licence with less than 6 points on the licence
- Be over 21 years old
- Have been driving for over 1 year
- Ideally, you will have some professional driving experience
Volunteer drivers follow a route set by The Felix Project. As well as driving, you will need to unload heavy crates of food off the van when you reach your destination. You may also need to pick up food from some locations, which involves loading the van back up with food. A typical route involves 3-5 stops, but some do as many as 7.
We normally ask prospective driving volunteers to do some shifts as a warehouse assistant as a first step to getting a feel for our work. You will also be asked to complete a driving assessment with us before you can go out in the van on your own.
LOCATIONS
You can sign up to volunteer in three different locations:
- West London (Park Royal)
- North London (Enfield)
- Central London*
*Central London volunteering is on hold due to covid-19 but you can still sign up to be put on the waiting list for when we reopen.
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
We have put several new features in place, in response to COVID-19.
- Drivers can no longer drive with a co-driver, which means they must navigate the roads and call charities ahead of drop-off themselves. If you would like to drive with a co-driver from your own household or someone else you are comfortable sharing a van with, please drop an email to volunteer@thefelixproject.org with the subject line ‘Co-Driving Application’.
- Volunteer safety is of the utmost importance to us. We are practising social distancing, handwashing, deep cleaning and wearing masks across our operations. You will receive more Health & Safety instructions when you sign up.
HOW TO BECOME A FELIX VOLUNTEER
Becoming a volunteer with us is very simple. All you need to do is:
- Choose which location you would like to volunteer in.
- Fill out the short application form online, to create your Better Impact profile.
- Login to your Better Impact profile and sign up to an online induction.
- Once you have completed your induction, you will be able to sign up to shifts at a time that suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time are the volunteering shifts?
AVAILABLE SHIFTS | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WEST LONDON | DRIVING | |||||||
Start time |
End time |
Mon |
Tues |
Wed |
Thurs |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
07:15 |
08:30 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|||
08:45 |
12:15 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
12:30 |
16:30 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||
WEST LONDON |
WAREHOUSE | |||||||
Start time |
End time |
Mon |
Tues |
Wed |
Thurs |
Fri |
Sat |
|
07:30 |
11:30 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||
08:45 |
12:30 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
11:00 |
14:00 |
X |
||||||
12:45 |
16:00 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||
16:00 |
19:00 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
||
| NORTH LONDON | DRIVING | |||||||
| Start time | End time | Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 07:30 | 09:30 | X | X | X | ||||
| 08:30 | 12:30 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| 12:45 | 16:45 | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| NORTH LONDON | WAREHOUSE | |||||||
| Start time | End time | Mon | Tues | Wed | Thurs | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 08:30 | 12:30 | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| 09:00 | 12:30 | X | X | X | X | X | X | |
| 12:45 | 17:00 | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| 13:00 | 16:45 | X | X | X | ||||
| 20:00 | 21:30 | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| 20:15 | 21:45 | X | X |
How regularly do I need to volunteer?
That is entirely up to you. You can book your own shifts in Better Impact. Some of our volunteers like to do one shift per week, some like to do one per month. We do not request a minimum or maximum commitment from our volunteers – all we ask is that if you can’t attend a shift that you have committed to, you let us know as soon as you can.
What is Better Impact?
Better Impact is the volunteer management software used by The Felix Project. Volunteers use it to sign up for shifts, update their contact information, and generally access volunteering info. It’s easy to use and means you’re able to manage your own volunteering directly.
Do I have to come in on the same day every week?
No, you don’t have to. Although it is really helpful for us when volunteers can book in for regular shifts each week (i.e. every Wednesday morning or every Thursday afternoon), as it helps us to plan our logistics schedules.
Do I have to be physically fit?
You need to be fairly active to be a Felix volunteer. Roles involve lifting crates of food and boxes can weigh up to 11kg. Driver roles are particularly physically demanding because you must unload all the food from the van yourself.
What do I need to wear?
We provide hi-vis vests, and advise volunteers to wear comfortable, weather appropriate clothes and close-toed shoes.
Do I need a driving licence?
Driver volunteers need a valid licence with no more than 6 points on the licence. You must be over 21 years old. and have been driving for over 1 year. We have a very strong preference for drivers with professional driving experience.
Will I receive any training?
Yes, you’ll receive on online induction before your first shift. The Central London Operation requires an in-person induction but the Central London volunteering is currently paused due to COVID-19.
How do I apply?
Click on the button below to become a Felix volunteer. You will be asked to choose where you want to volunteer and then you will need to fill in a form to create your Better Impact profile. From there, you can sign onto an online induction and, after that, book your first shift.