VOLUNTEER IN LONDON TO FIGHT FOOD WASTE AND HUNGER
Are you passionate about reducing food waste, fighting hunger in London and tackling the environmental impact of food waste?
From a couple of hours, days or weeks a month you can make a difference to the lives of people in your local community.
Volunteers are a vital part of operating our food redistribution service. More than 400 volunteers give their time at least once a month to help fight for a fairer, cleaner London.
Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of volunteering with The Felix Project and the different volunteering opportunities available.
DIFFERENT VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS LONDON
We have opportunities to drive our vans, accompany our drivers, be based in our warehouse and cycle or walk to collect and deliver food. Volunteer shifts are flexible to fit around other commitments, and you'll be part of a friendly and welcoming team. We have shifts available in our two outer London depots, and in our Central London operation.
Becoming a volunteer with us is very simple. All you need to do is:
- Choose where you would like to volunteer
- Fill out a short application form and book yourself onto an induction.
- Come along to an induction to find out more and receive relevant training.
- Sign up online for your first volunteering shift!!
To find out more about the roles available, please choose where you would like to volunteer.
ENFIELD
Meet Paul, Damien, Sam and the rest of the team at Enfield, la creme de la ceme of the circular economy in North London!
Opportunities in Enfield
Park Royal
Mantas, Nick and Jan manage our biggest depot, based in Park Royal area. Ideal for West Londoners.
Opportunities in Park Royal
LONDON
Or join the team at our Central London office for exclusive walking and cycling routes across the heart of the city.
Join Central London Today
OTHER
Do you want to use your skills for good? We always look for copywriters, designers, fundraisers... Drop us a line!
GET IN TOUCH TODAYWHAT WILL YOU DO TODAY?
DRIVER
You’ll drive one of our lovely green vans on a delivery and collection route, and help load and unload food. You will need to be over 21 with a full driving licence.
CO-DRIVER
You’ll accompany a driver, to help with navigation, call our charities and suppliers before arriving, help load and unload the van, and choose the radio station.
CYCLIST / WALKER
You’ll cycle using your own bicycle, or walk, collecting food and delivering it to a charity. We provide a route and a courier bag, you do the leg work.
WAREHOUSE ASSISTANT
You’ll be based at one of our bustling warehouses, helping rotate stock, sort food for charities, and keeping the place clean and tidy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do you need me for?
Shift lengths and start times depend on which role you volunteer for
Daytime shifts
Driver, Driver Assistant and Warehouse Assistant shifts are around 3 hours
• Morning shifts start between 8–9:30am and finish between 12pm-1pm
• Afternoon shifts start between 12pm – 1pm and finish between 4–5pm
• Saturday morning shifts start between 9 – 10am and finish at 12pm
Evening shifts
Start times vary between 6pm – 7:30pm and you’ll finish by 10pm at the latest
• Cyclist and Walker shifts are around 1 - 2 hours long
• Driver and Driver Assistant shifts are around 2 hours, and occasionally up to 3 hours
How many times a week would you need me to come in?
That is entirely up to you. Some of our volunteers like to do one shift per week, some like to do more. We do not request a minimum (well, at least one!) 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.
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 schedules.
Do I have to be physically fit?
Driver, Driver Assistant and Warehouse Assistant
If you like to be active, but are not looking for physically demanding work, these roles are for you. They involve light lifting crates of food. Heavier crates are carried by people working in pairs, and pallets are moved using a manual pallet lifter or a forklift truck.
Cyclist and Walker
If you like to keep fit and can carry a courier bag of food on your back while cycling or walking, these roles are for you. The maximum cycling distance is 7km and the maximum walking route is 4km.
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 and must be over 21 years old. We are required to provide a driving licence summary, issued by the DVLA, every six months. You may be asked to generate this yourself and you are obliged to tell us if you incur any points on your licence in the interim for insurance purposes.
Where do shifts start and finish?
Daytime shifts operate from our depots
• Our West London depot (W3 0TJ) is close to Park Royal tube station on the Piccadilly line, 95 and 487 bus stops
• Our North London depot (EN1 1SH) is close to Southbury and Bush Hill Park overground stations, and 377 and 217 bus stops
Evening shifts operate from individual van and courier bag collection points
• City of London
• Clerkenwell
• Notting Hill
• Shoreditch
• Soho
• Victoria
• West London
• Whitechapel
(Camden and North London coming soon)
Will I receive any training?
Yes, you’ll learn what you need to do at your volunteer induction and on your trial shift. There may be additional training courses available, such as our Driver Awareness Course. We will give you more details about these when we speak to you.
What will I gain from volunteering at The Felix Project?
First and foremost, you’ll be stopping good, edible food from being wasted, and getting it to frontline charities who are addressing the huge and growing problem of food poverty.
At the same time, you’re part of a wonderful team. Our volunteers include people who are retired, students, and people in full-time and part-time work. Everyone has their own motivation for getting involved, and every contribution is hugely appreciated, however large or small.
As a volunteer with The Felix Project you're saving food and ensuring it gets to people who need it, meeting new people, and learning new skills that can boost your confidence and your CV.
How do I apply?
Just click on the Volunteer With Us button below!
We’ll contact you with more information about relevant shifts, and invite you to an induction
The induction explains how our operation works, health and safety practices, and how to book shifts. It's also your first opportunity to meet The Felix Project staff and other new volunteers.
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