Why we want you
Looking to gain some quality experience, training and development with Europe's largest conservation charity? Spend 6 months as a volunteer intern at RSPB Rainham Marshes nature reserve helping to deliver a high level of customer service for customers visiting our cafe. The cafe is one of only 13 RSPB cafes around the country and is designed to give our visitors a place to relax and enjoy our stunning scenery, as well as sampling our 'Food for Life' accredited menu.
This could be a great opportunity for those looking to pursue a career in catering/hospitality - perhaps you're fresh out of catering college so need some solid experience under your belt, or considering a career change into catering/hospitality.
The key attribute we're looking for is 'people' skills - you'd need to be very comfortable and happy chatting to people and understand the importance of giving our visitors a great experience.
Our catering volunteer internship runs between May to November 2016. You'd be an integral part of our cafe team, helping to deliver a service worthy of its beautiful surroundings.
Tasks would include:
-staffing the Café counter, serving members of the public ensuring you deliver a high standard of customer care so visitors have a great experience.
-food preparation (training provided as part of this internship)
-assisting in costing up a meal ((training provided as part of this internship)
-other important duties like keeping the cafe area clean and tidy, clearing tables, along with washing up by machine.
What can we offer that others may not? A volunteer internship experience in a beautiful setting! RSPB Rainham Marshes is one of the very few ancient landscapes remaining in London, located right next to the River Thames. Visitors to the nature reserve can expect to see breeding wader birds in spring and summer, large flocks of wild ducks in winter, birds of prey, water voles and rare dragonflies.
What’s in it for you?
You'll gain valuable work experience, develop new skills and learn how one of Europe's largest conservation charities is run.
Training you'd receive as part of your internship:
-Level 2 Food Hygiene & Safety certification
-Food preparation training
-Allergens training
-Costing coaching and explanation (ie how to cost up a meal)
-Manual handling training
You'll also get:
-a dedicated mentor will monitor your progress and help with personal development throughout the internship, including regular 1 to 1 meetings
-career coaching to include completing job applications and how to succeed at interviews
-access to our internal vacancies during your internship
-a reference on successful completion of your internship
-the opportunity to go behind the scenes at our Head Office and Regional Offices to learn more about the RSPB.
Doing an internship will not guarantee you a job with the RSPB. Our internships are designed to offer work experience. However, volunteer interns can apply for our paid vacancies, including those only advertised internally. For obvious reasons an intern would need to have proven themselves in their current role, before expecting their volunteering experience to assist in an application to a paid post.
The skills you need
We are looking for someone who:
-Enjoys working with people, a great 'people person'
-Good customer care skills
-Good prioritising skills
-Computer literate
-Clean and tidy appearance - as duties will include face to face contact with the public
-Friendly manner
-Reasonable level of fitness as the role includes a lot of walking and some light lifting
-Ability to use your initiative
-Ability to actively listen to others
-Organised with attention to detail
-Ability to work on own and within a team.
Desirable
-Basic food hygiene certificate
RSPB runs an inclusive volunteer internship scheme, so whether you have just graduated, finished your A Levels and looking for voluntary experience in your gap year or you are looking for a change of career paths we welcome your application.
However, we do ask that you meet the following requirements:
You must:-
- be 18 years old or over
- be available for 3 months or more
- have achieved A-levels or equivalent
Your time
Minimum commitment: 3 days a week (Sundays plus two other days)
Duration: 6 months
Period: mid May to mid October 2016
Who to contact
Terry Robinson
Tel: 01707 899840
E-mail: rainham.marshes@rspb.org.uk
Notes
How to apply:
For an application pack, please email rainham.marshes@RSPB.org.uk
Deadline for application Monday 4 April 2016 at 5pm
Interviews will be held on Wednesday 20th April.
All the training necessary and background information will be provided and since you'll be giving up your time, it's only fair that we offer to re-imburse your travel expenses (up to 25 miles).
The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. We rely upon memberships and donations to fund our work. By volunteering your time and skills, you could make a real difference to the work of the RSPB. Nature is amazing - help us keep it that way.
Reference number: 7835
