Location
London, Waltham Forest

Hours
0.8 Full Time Equivalent (FTE)

Salary
£26,208 per annum (pro rata)

About the Role
The Hornbeam Centre seeks an organised, self-motivated and ideally locally well-networked individual to coordinate and support the ongoing development of The Hornbeam Centre as a hub for Food & Community Resilience. This fixed-term position delivers The Hornbeam's role within the Extended Table Programme funded by the National Lottery. With over 30 years of community uplift rooted in mutual aid and planetary care, The Hornbeam envisions an active, engaged, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable Waltham Forest where people empower and support each other through creative and collaborative community action.

The ideal candidate will understand the interplay between food, community, and climate resilience, bringing a creative, caring, and intersectional approach to developing the community hub. The Extended Table programme addresses isolation, community breakdown, and poor diet—key contributors to poor mental and physical health, especially among marginalised groups. It connects organisations, communities, and individuals across sectors and regions to promote wellbeing for individuals, communities, and the planet.

The Coordinator will co-lead the Waltham Forest Food Partnership alongside the London Borough of Waltham Forest (LBWF), collaborate with voluntary and community sector (VCS) networks and public sector teams, and promote localised food sovereignty. Emphasis will be placed on engaging marginalised community groups. The role includes sharing learning and best practice with Extended Table partners and local food organisations, delivering capacity-building workshops, providing fundraising support, and supporting marginalised community members in developing self-advocacy skills.

The Coordinator will oversee The Hornbeam’s People’s Kitchen, People’s Kitchen on Wheels, and Solidarity Supermarket, supporting their development as community hubs. Responsibilities also include project monitoring and evaluation as required by funders, additional fundraising support, and ongoing project development with local partners. Working within The Hornbeam’s horizontal organisational structure, the Coordinator will engage with peer management and support wider project delivery.

Collaboration with the Volunteer Coordinator to expand volunteer capacity is also a key part of this role.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a pioneering community food hub and partnership movement that fosters resilience, inclusion, and sustainability in Waltham Forest.

Experience
- Extensive experience in partnership development, movement building, or community organising
- Proven ability to engage and communicate effectively with local VCS groups and council stakeholders
- Track record in delivering community development and working with multiple partners
- Experience translating strategic ideas into operational outcomes
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to work independently while engaging staff and stakeholders
- Extensive knowledge of safeguarding policies and practices
- Demonstrated budget management skills
- Experience writing funding reports and applying monitoring and evaluation methods such as SROI

About you
- Understanding of the interplay between food, community, and climate resilience with a creative, caring, and intersectional approach
- Ability to engage marginalised groups and support self-advocacy
- Collaborative mindset to work within a horizontal organisational structure
- Commitment to community empowerment and environmental sustainability

Desirable
- Knowledge of Waltham Forest’s diverse community and VCS organisations
- Experience working with local authorities
- Experience managing and working with volunteers
- Understanding of food sovereignty principles and experience implementing related projects
- Awareness of the climate/ecological crisis and experience building resilience within community projects