Get Involved
Volunteer Circles
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Shop Ops Circle
Shop Ops Circle
Our shop volunteers are essential to the day to day operation of our Co-op!
Our Shop volunteers keep our shelves stocked, operate tills, check off consignments, keep the shop tidy, keep our zero waste area stocked up and set up our fruit and veg area.
While having existing skills is a bonus, you will be provided with manual handling training and on shift training for all the tasks you will encounter on shift.
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Welcome Circle
Our Welcome Circle organise everything from talks and events, to member onboarding and campaigning.
Volunteers work on campaigns to share information about benefits of our co-operative with members and the wider community.
They take part in door to door campaigns and operate stalls outside the Co-op and at different events around Dublin.
They can help new members with onboarding, and signpost members on how to get more involved at the Co-op.
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Communications Circle
Our communications volunteers are a vital part of getting the message out about the unique benefits of the Co-op.
They are active in the planning and running of our social media, generating content for our website and blog, and taking photographs for use in both.
The Communications Circle is currently seeking volunteers with existing skills in communications, digital marketing, PR, social media and photography.
Volunteering Vacancies
Shop Volunteer
Reporting to: Shift Supervisor (on duty)
Weekly hours: Minimum 2 hours a month
Place of Volunteering: Dublin Food Co-op, Inchicore Road, Dublin
OUR APPROACH
Our Vision: A food system where people collectively control access to affordable, wholesome and sustainably grown food and related products.
Our Purpose: To provide affordable, wholesome and sustainable food and related products to our members and the wider community.
Our values: Sustainability – Ethics – Solidarity – Accessibility – Openness – Co-operation – Community
ROLE OUTLINE
The role of ‘Shop Operative’ is an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to combine their passion for healthy, sustainable and ethically sourced food with volunteering in a community-led enterprise.
You will be the foundation of us continuing to offer the best possible service to our members and will support us operating our co-operative in line with our values and principles.
- You will be assisting us with the core operations of the Shop while on duty, working alongside our team of Shift Supervisors, Shop Operatives and other Shop Volunteers.
- You will complete the daily, weekly and monthly assigned to your shifts, and will record the completion of these tasks as required
- Where appropriately trained, you will operate the tills in accordance with our procedures
- You will assist with keeping the Shop well stocked at all times – ensuring that our produce is well presented and available for members/customers.
- You will assist with maintaining our merchandising and display standards within the Shop
- You will assist with receiving, processing and storing orders as they arrive at the Shop.
- You will assist with keeping the Shop clean, tidy and hygiene at all times in line with public health regulation
- You will work alongside, support and supervise our Shop Volunteers while on duty
- You will ensure that while on duty we maintain the highest standards of service for our members, and that the Co-op is a welcoming and convivial place to visit.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
All training will be provided prior to working on any of these tasks. If you have prior experience and training, you will be able to move straight to those tasks.
- Operating tills in accordance with DFC procedures
- Assisting members with purchases
- Stocking of fresh fruit and vegetables
- Stocking shelves
- Arranging vegetables for display, stocking and storing as required. Please note that this may involve lifting goods up to 25kg
- Processing orders
- General Cleaning
- Merchandising & display of goods in the shop
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE
- You have experience working in a retail environment.
- You have experience dealing directly with customers.
- You have an understanding of organic wholefoods, as well as ecologically acceptable products and activities.
- You have an understanding of what makes cooperatives different from other forms of enterprise.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- You are proactive and seek solutions to problems
- You work well as part of a team
- You want to continually improve how you work
- You care about the details, but don’t forget the big picture
LEARNING / EXPERIENCE OUTCOMES
- Learn to work as part of a horizontal, self-organising team, and have confidence giving and receiving direction
- Learn how to work well with a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, perspectives and experience levels
- Learn how to complete a range of tasks in retail co-operative environment
- Develop a greater understanding about how our food system works
Social Media Volunteer
Reporting to: Social Media Lead
Monthly hours: Minimum 2 hours a month
Place of Volunteering: Remote, and Dublin Food Co-op, Inchicore Road, Dublin
OUR APPROACH
Our Vision: A food system where people collectively control access to affordable, wholesome and sustainably grown food and related products.
Our values: Sustainability – Ethics – Solidarity – Accessibility – Openness – Co-operation – Community
ROLE OUTLINE
The role of ‘Social Media Volunteer’ is an exciting opportunity to shape how we promote our core activities in line with our values and principles. You will assist with the execution of our communications on social media – from promotion of our ethos, our product offering, and the benefits of members to member events.
- You will work with the Social Media LeadCoordinator to develop content for our social media channels – Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
- You will contribute to the social media content calendar
- You will write and edit up to 10 social media posts per month
- You will schedule and publish up to 10 social media posts per month
- You will be reporting to and working with the Social Media LeadCoordinator, and will undertake duties delegated to you, from time to time.
- You will ensure that while on duty we maintain the highest standards of service for our members, and that the Co-op is presented as a welcoming and convivial place to visit.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Contribute to the development of our social media plans.
- Generating content on social media platforms
- Contribute to maintaining up-to-date and accurate information on our social media channels, including product information.
- Contribute to replying to social media messages and queries
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE
- You have experience in a communications or social media management role
- You have experience working in a collaborative environment
- You have experience creating content for Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn
- You have an understanding of organic wholefoods, as well as ecologically acceptable products and activities.
- You have an understanding of what makes co-operatives different from other forms of enterprise.
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- You are able to prioritise tasks dynamically
- You are proactive and seek solutions to problems
- You work well as part of a team
- You want to continually improve how you work
- You can remain calm under pressure
- You’ve got great communication skills
- You care about the details, but don’t forget the big picture
- High level of written English
LEARNING / EXPERIENCE OUTCOMES
- Learn to work as part of a horizontal team using collaborative online tools
- Learn how to generate and execute communications and marketing campaigns
- Learn how to use various communication and marketing tools in a real-world context
- Develop your communication and content writing skills.
Circle Secretary
Reporting to: Co-operative Secretary
Monthly hours: 4
Place of Work: Remote, and Dublin Food Co-op, Inchicore Road, Dublin
OUR APPROACH
Our Vision: A food system where people collectively control access to affordable, wholesome and sustainably grown food and related products.
Our values: Sustainability – Ethics – Solidarity – Accessibility – Openness – Co-operation – Community
ROLE OUTLINE
The role of ‘Circle’ is an exciting opportunity to support our volunteers across a number of different domains in line with our values and principles. We are looking to recruit at least three Circle Secretaries to support the three primary Circles – Shop Operations, Communications and Welcome Circles.
- You will work with a Circle Co-ordinator to plan regular Circle Meetings
- You will contribute to the agenda of the meetings as appropriate
- You will attend Circle meetings and prepare brief notes of the activities at the meeting
- You will circle the notes to the whole Circle and will make amendments as requested by the Circle
- You will be reporting to and working with the Co-operative Secretary, and will attend occasional all Circle Secretary meetings to share best practice and get support
- You will ensure that while on duty we maintain the highest standards of service for our members, and that the Co-op is presented as a welcoming and convivial place to visit
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist with the planning of Circle meetings
- Take minutes of Circle meetings
- Attend occasional all Circle Secretary meetings
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE
- You have experience in prepare meeting notes or minutes
- You have a good understanding of the role of the Secretary within a committee or grouping
- You have experience working in a collaborative environment
- You have an understanding of organic wholefoods, as well as ecologically acceptable products and activities
- You have an understanding of what makes co-operatives different from other forms of enterprise
SKILLS AND ABILITIES
- You are able to prioritise tasks dynamically
- You are proactive and seek solutions to problems
- You work well as part of a team
- You want to continually improve how you work
- You can remain calm under pressure
- You’ve got great communication skills
- You care about the details, but don’t forget the big picture
- High level of written English
LEARNING / EXPERIENCE OUTCOMES
- Learn to work as part of a horizontal team
- Learn how to prepare better minutes that are readable and actionable
- Learn how to work with others to prepare and conduct meetings
- Develop your minute-taking skills
Email info@dublinfood.coop if you are interested in this role.
Pro Bono Member Projects
Last updated 24th August 2022
Current Project(s)
None
Past Project(s)
Volunteer UX Design Project
This project ran in 2022 and provided us with valuable information on how to retain existing volunteers and recruit new members to the team.
Online Retail Scheme Project
Member led the drafting of a successful application for the online retail scheme in 2020.
Unit 2 Member Consultation
Member led a consultation process with members, and drafted a report on same which provided the CB with member direction on how to make the final decision on the new tenant in 2022.
Do you have a technical or professional skills that you think would make a good pro bono project? Please send us an email to info@dublinfood.coop a little bit of detail about yourself, and the skills you would like to contribute to a pro bono project.
Becoming a Volunteer
Becoming a Volunteer
If you would like to get involved and volunteer, fill in the quick form at the button below.
Volunteers receive discounts in the shop depending on time spent in their volunteer role.
- 2 hours every 4 weeks – 10% discount + Co-op Points
- 2 hours every 2 weeks – 13% discount + Co-op Points
- 2 hours every week – 15% discount + Co-op Points
- 4 hours every week – 20% discount + Co-op Points