Food Programme Assistant at The Cookout

Job Description

Job Description - Food Programme Assistant at The Cookout

Job Title: Food Programme Assistant

Location: HMP Isis, Belmarsh Way, London SE28 0FD

Hours: Flexible working options available (part-time or full-time considered). Typical hours fall between 8am–4pm, depending on the role and your availability.

Contract Type: Permanent

Remuneration: £35,000 pro rata

Start Date: May 2026 (subject to vetting)

Application details: Please submit a CV and cover letter to judy@foodbehindbars.co.uk before midnight on Monday 6th April.

What is The Cookout?

A community kitchen inside a prison

Located at HMP/YOI Isis in southeast London, The Cookout is a new type of community kitchen that combines vocational training and community support - producing hundreds of nutritious meals for those most in need, whilst enabling young people in prison to build skills to gain employment and to make a positive contribution to their local community. 

The Cookout is the prison’s staff restaurant, operated by learners. As well as feeding the staff, The Cookout also produces nutritious meals for the community. Learners are able to gain hands-on experience both in the kitchen and front of house, whilst preparing tasty, nutritious meals which are then distributed to those in need in the local community by the Greenwich Co-operative Development Agency, a social enterprise focusing on supporting sustainable communities. 

The initiative was set up as a partnership between the prison and a group of likeminded organisations: Food Behind Bars, The Right Course, Hawksmoor and KERB. This year, we will be relaunching the space as a full FBB operation - managing the cafe day-to-day and ensuring it provides the best possible outcomes for the prisoners it trains. We will also be expanding its offering beyond just feeding staff and the community, by supplying fresh food to the visits centre and prisoners on enhanced wings. 

Our goal is for The Cookout to become a community cafe and training space at the heart of the prison. We want it to give learners the opportunity to test and hone their own food ideas - to support their personal and professional development, as well as boosting employability post-release. 

The Cookout has already been producing and distributing 250-300 meals a month to a variety of community projects across the borough. These vital community projects are then able to donate each meal to their beneficiaries – these have included refugees, the elderly, young families and more. Some of the local community groups The Cookout has donated meals to so far include Migrant Hub, World of Hope, WCCC, Afril, World of Life, Glory Days and Rastafarian Movement.

Job Requirements

Job purpose

We are looking for a proactive and enthusiastic individual to support the day-to-day running of The Cookout and help deliver its training programme. As Food Programme Assistant, you will work closely with the Food Programme Lead to ensure the smooth operation of the cafe, supporting both kitchen and front-of-house service while helping to train and mentor the learners who work in the space.

You will play a hands-on role in food preparation, service and learner development, helping to create a positive, supportive environment where learners can develop practical hospitality skills and grow in confidence.

Working alongside the Food Programme Lead, you will support the delivery of The Cookout’s food offer - from staff meals to community meal production - ensuring high standards of food quality, safety and service. You will also help to maintain the systems and organisation required to run a busy kitchen within the prison environment.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a unique initiative that combines food, training and community impact - helping young people develop the skills, confidence and experience needed for employment beyond prison.

Responsibilities

• Support the day-to-day running of The Cookout, helping to ensure smooth and efficient service.
• Assist with preparing and delivering fresh, nutritious food for the prison staff restaurant, community meal programme and other food provision within the prison.
• Work directly with prisoner learners, supporting them to develop kitchen and front-of-house skills through hands-on training.
• Help create a positive and supportive learning environment where learners can build confidence and practical experience.
• Assist with menu preparation and food production to ensure consistent quality and nutritional standards.
• Support stock management, food ordering and supplier coordination.
• Maintain high standards of food safety, hygiene and kitchen organisation.
• Assist with implementing and maintaining health and safety procedures in line with food industry and prison regulations.
• Support the Food Programme Lead in supervising learners during kitchen and service operations.
• Contribute to the preparation of meals for community partners and support distribution logistics where required.
• Help maintain the cafe space to ensure it remains clean, organised and welcoming.
• Provide operational support to the Food Programme Lead as needed.
• Contribute ideas and support the development of The Cookout as a training kitchen and community cafe.

Requirements

Essential

• Experience working in a professional kitchen, cafe or hospitality environment.
• Strong practical cooking skills and enthusiasm for preparing fresh, nutritious food.
• Experience working as part of a team in a busy kitchen or cafe environment.
• Positive and supportive approach when working with others.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Good understanding of food hygiene and kitchen safety standards.
• Interest in training, mentoring or supporting others to develop new skills.
• Commitment to the social mission of The Cookout and belief in the power of food and training to create opportunities.
• Ability to remain calm and adaptable in a structured working environment.
• Willingness to undergo prison vetting.
• Commitment to the values and mission of Food Behind Bars.

Desirable

• Experience supporting training programmes, apprenticeships or learner development.
• Experience working in social enterprise, community food programmes or charities.
• Level 2 or Level 3 Food Safety certification.
• Experience working with people facing barriers to employment.

Additional information

• The successful candidate will have to go through the Ministry of Justice security clearance before commencing employment.
• Subject to vetting clearance, the successful candidate will also have to attend induction training at HMP Isis, as well as completing FBB’s own training. 
• HMP Isis is based in Woolwich and is accessible via car or public transport.

Job Location

HMP Isis
Belmarsh Way
London SE28 0FD