Join The Team: Food Educator, HMP Downview
We’re really excited to start a brand new 6 month project with HMP Downview, a women’s prison in Surrey - and we’re looking for a fantastic Food Educator to come on board. The project involves delivering a cooking programme to groups of women in the prison. Scroll down to read the full job description. To apply, please email your CV and cover letter to info@foodbehindbars.co.uk.
Job Title: Food Educator
Location: HMP Downview, Sutton Ln, Sutton SM2 5PD
Hours: 1 day per month, across 6 months (6 days in total)
Contract Type: Freelance
Contract Length: 6 months
Remuneration: £300 per day
Start Date: June 2024 (subject to vetting)
About us
Food Behind Bars is the leading charity dedicated to transforming the food served in British prisons. We deliver a variety of services and projects at men’s and women’s prisons across the UK, including cookery classes, menu development, food growing, baking and butchery. Our activities cover every aspect of food, cooking, eating and hospitality. We work with prisons on a bespoke basis, co-designing original initiatives that enable prisons to champion wholesome, tasty and exciting food. Our work is shaped around each unique establishment and united by our philosophy of wholesome food for everyone in society.
Job purpose
We are looking for a dynamic and inspiring Food Educator to deliver a series of engaging cooking sessions to groups of women at HMP Downview. These groups will involve the individuals based on the prison’s transgender unit, as well as the general population. Sessions will be delivered in the kitchens on each of the housing units.
Each session will be part of our Food 360 course - an integrated programme of food education that takes participants on a journey through food which ultimately leaves them more confident, connected and healthier. The aim of Food 360 is to influence, excite and inspire individuals around food, allowing them to make healthier choices and equipping them with skills and ideas to utilise beyond release.
You will be responsible for leading this programme at HMP Downview, which will take the form of 2 x 2.5-3 hour classes per day. We are looking for someone to deliver 12 sessions, 6 days in total, across 6 months (one day per month). You will have the opportunity to teach participants how to make a variety of dishes. Prisoners will be encouraged to cook, eat and learn together. You can find an example schedule below:
Session 1. Back to Basics: an introduction to the kitchen, budgeting and utilising your store cupboard. Recipes include chickpea and peach curry and homemade healthy pot noodles.
Session 2. Cooking from my Culture: using our food memories and heritage to cook delicious food. Learners will draw on their food history and learn about food from different cultures. Recipes include: Ital stew, spinner dumplings, kelewele plantain, Brazilian feijoada.
Session 3. Healthy Baking & Mindful Cooking: learn how to bake healthier versions of some familiar favourites - protein balls, vegan banana bread and savoury scones. Learners will be encouraged to bake for mindfulness, making soda bread, flatbreads and pizza.
Session 4. Utilising your Ingredients: how to make the most out of a few simple ingredients. Recipes include a spatchcock roast chicken and Mediterranean vegetables, where learners will utilise the leftovers to make an Asian noodle soup.
Session 5. Seasonality: celebrate the best of what’s in season and understand why it’s important, cheaper and more nutritious to eat in this way. Learners will get to experiment with a seasonal fruit and veg box.
Session 6. Celebrating your own Food: an end of course showcase where learners will get to cook their own dish and serve it to a judging panel of guest chefs.
Responsibilities
Deliver a set of practical and engaging cooking classes to groups of 3-6 prisoners at HMP Downview.
Work with the prisoners on their individual goals, adapting the course to support their needs and requirements.
Help design each Food 360 session to make them as exciting and thoughtful as possible.
Organise food deliveries to ensure we have all the appropriate ingredients to deliver the sessions.
Liaise with prison staff to ensure classes run smoothly and work alongside the existing prison regime.
Assist the FBB team in recruiting prisoners to attend the sessions.
Requirements
A passionate and experienced trained chef who is looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact through food.
An advocate for healthy eating and positive food practices.
An understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals relating to food access, diet and wellbeing.
A positive can-do attitude and a desire to use their skill set to make a difference.
An ability to approach all situations with confidence, flexibility and an open mind.
Experience of previous cookery teaching is desired but not essential.
Additional information
This is a short-term contract position which lasts for 6 months.
All working hours will be based at HMP Downview.
The successful candidate will have to go through the Ministry of Justice security clearance before commencing employment.
Subject to successful security clearance, the successful candidate will also have to attend a key training course at HMP Downview.
HMP Downview is accessible via car or public transport. FBB will reimburse all travel costs during the duration of the programme.