Volunteers needed for All Night Cafe reopening

New Beginnings Reading is set to relaunch the All Night Cafe on 3rd December and it needs YOU to volunteer for this fantastic service.

The All Night Cafe is Reading’s only instant access night shelter and offers a hot dinner and a safe place to sleep for those who have nowhere else to go. If you share the aims of New Beginnings Reading to prevent poverty and help serve the community then consider volunteering for us.

The All Night Cafe will run on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening from 8.30pm to 9.30am the next morning. The session is split into three shifts and volunteers are only expected to sign up to the time that they can spare.

For those who are new to volunteering, want to find our more or need a refresher ahead of the reopening, volunteer training days will be taking place at the Queens Arms on Monday 8th November from 6.30pm to 9.30pm and Saturday 13th November from 9.30am to 12.30pm. Please contact us to sign up to either of these sessions where we will run through:

  • Volunteer roles

  • What to expect at the All Night Cafe

  • Safeguarding

  • Personal boundaries

  • Confidentiality

  • Procedure and policies

Volunteers will be asked to fill out an online application form. We are recruiting to fill a number of roles and need people with a range of skills to help deliver this invaluable service for the town’s homeless community. These include:

All Night Café Team Leader (20:30 – 23:00) responsible for:

  • Opening

  • Registering volunteers

  • Registering guests

  • Health and safety checks

  • Supervise team

  • Hand over to night shift

  • Record and report incidents

  • Welcome guests overseeing smooth running of the evening

Welcomers (20:30 – 23:00) responsible for:

  • Setting up tables, chairs, drinks

  • Welcome guests

  • Talking, listening, sign posting if necessary

  • Serving and dinner, cleaning up after dinner (cook dinner if needed)

  • Cleaning up after dinner

  • Put out sleeping mats and guests sleeping bags

Cooks (20:30 – 23:00) responsible for:

  • Cook and serve dinner

  • Health and safety kitchen check

  • Clean up after dinner

Night team (23:00 – 07:00) responsible for:

  • Liaise with team leader for hand over

  • 2/3 to stay over, night team may sleep in shifts

  • Be alert and ready to act on incidents in accordance with procedures

  • Hand over to morning shift

  • Report and record any incidents

Morning shift (07:00 – 09:30) responsible for:

  • Read evenings report

  • Supervise guests putting away sleeping mats/beds

  • Put up tables and chairs for breakfast

  • Prepare and serve breakfast

  • Sign guests out

  • Complete morning report and health and safety check

  • Lock up.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Guest User