Customer Service Volunteer
Wandle Park Arts Cafe
Support our café team by welcoming guests, taking simple orders, serving drinks, clearing tables, and keeping the space tidy. Flexible shifts, training provided, travel expenses covered, and a free drink/meal on shift. A great way to gain hospitality experience and be part of a friendly community café.
Purpose: To support the core Wandle Park Café team by contributing friendly, courteous service, helping with serving drinks and items, maintaining a clean, welcoming space — helping the café deliver a quality customer experience in a community-oriented environment. Key Duties & Responsibilities (Support / Assistance Role) - Welcome and greet customers as they enter; answer basic questions about the menu or specials and refer to staff for detailed enquiries. - Take customer orders and pass them on to café staff for preparation, or assist with till/card-machine under supervision of staff. - Serve drinks (hot drinks, seasonal drinks, simple beverages) and pre-prepared or ready-to-serve items (e.g. pastries, snacks) to customers, under café supervision and following hygiene/allergen protocols. - Clear tables, collect used cups/plates, tidy seating areas; wipe down surfaces, dispose of waste appropriately, and help keep the café clean and welcoming. - Replenish consumables (napkins, stirrers, condiments, disposables) and assist in restocking supplies such as cups, lids, napkins — helping the core team stay organised. - Assist in washing up and dishwashing of reusable items, under guidance and hygiene supervision. - Help maintain a positive, friendly atmosphere: support staff in serving guests promptly, assist customers politely, and contribute to a community-oriented café vibe. - Observe hygiene and safety rules at all times: hand-washing, handling drinks/food under supervision, following allergen-awareness guidelines, and general café hygiene practices. What the Role Is Not — Clear Boundaries - This is not a management, supervisory or leadership role. Volunteer does not make staffing or operational decisions. - Volunteer is not responsible for cooking raw food, preparing complex meals, handling high-risk food, or managing the till/cash flow independently. - Volunteer is not obliged to accept any shifts or hours — participation is voluntary and flexible. - Volunteer receives no pay or salary; only reimbursement for legitimate, minor out-of-pocket expenses (e.g. travel allowance) or a free drink/meal per shift if provided. - Volunteer has the right to withdraw from the role at any time without penalty or obligation. Time Commitment & Flexibility - Volunteers may choose shifts according to their availability; there is no fixed contract or mandatory hours. - Typical shifts are 3–4 hours (e.g. morning, lunchtime, or afternoon), but volunteers may opt in or out depending on their schedule. - There is no expectation to commit regularly; any participation is welcomed as help, not as an employment duty. What Volunteers Receive (Support-Based Reward Structure) - Reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (e.g. travel, provided up to agreed limit). - A complimentary drink or meal during the shift (optional, depending on café policy). - An opportunity to gain hospitality/customer-service experience: interacting with customers, serving drinks, working as part of a friendly café team — useful for personal development, CVs or future opportunities. - A welcoming, community-focused environment — contributing to a neighbourhood café and supporting local good will. Person Specification — What We Look for in a Volunteer - Friendly, polite, approachable, with good communication and customer-service manners. - Reliable, honest, trustworthy, able to follow instructions and hygiene/safety guidelines. - Comfortable standing and moving around during a shift, with basic physical fitness for light tasks (serving, clearing, simple cleaning). - Flexible with availability — able to sign up for shifts when convenient. - Team-oriented and supportive, willing to assist core staff and follow café procedures. Induction & Training - Volunteers will receive a short induction and briefing before first shift: covering hygiene standards, service expectations, café layout, and role boundaries. - Volunteers will be supervised by core staff during early shifts; with experience and mutual agreement, volunteers may operate independently — but always under the umbrella of “assistance”, not “management”. - All volunteers must comply with hygiene, allergen, and safety protocols at all times. Volunteer Agreement (Summary) - Volunteers will sign a simple agreement confirming that: - Their time is offered voluntarily, without expectation of payment or employment. - They understand what tasks are permitted and what tasks are not. - They may decline shifts or leave at any time. - They agree to follow café hygiene, safety, and service standards. - Any expenses reimbursed are strictly limited to legitimate out-of-pocket costs (e.g. travel).
Administration,Catering,Community work,Gardening,Environmental,Events & stewarding
Art & Craft, Cleaning & Tidying, Gardening/Environmental, Customer Service/Hospitality
Friendly, polite, good communicator, reliable, able to follow hygiene and safety guidance, comfortable standing for short periods, teamwork-oriented, attentive to customers, and willing to learn simple café service tasks quickly.
Volunteers gain meaningful experience in a friendly, community-centred café environment. You’ll build confidence, communication skills, and valuable customer-service abilities while supporting a space that benefits local families and park users. Training, team integration, opportunities to take on more responsibility if you wish, social impact, and refreshments/expenses provided make this a rewarding way to grow personally while helping your community.
Volunteering is flexible and based on your availability. We ask for around one shift per week, with shifts typically lasting 4–8 hours. You choose which days you can support, and you are free to adjust your involvement at any time.
CR0 3RD
Wandle Park Cafe Cornwall Road Croydon
Inside Wandle Park Entrances: - Wandle Park Tramstop Gate (Vicarage Road) - Bridge Entrance (Waddon New Road) - Cornwall Road Gate (Cornwall Road)
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