BENEFITS:
- 33 days annual leave (including bank holidays) pro rata. Plus additional leave for length of service
- Hybrid work
- Birthdays off
- Gym access
- Training and CPD including first aid, safeguarding and health and safety
- Career development opportunities
- Employee assistance programme
- Free eye tests
- Discounted to £2 access to holiday club for WYZ staff
- Access to Virtual Medical Care
SPECIALISM: Catering/Food Hygiene
Posted: 17th June 2026
Closing: 12th July 2026
Working Hours:
A range of hours are available within this role, please enquire to find specific hours and days available.
Typically these include evenings or weekends.
Who we are looking for:
We are looking for someone fun, creative with high energy, and a passion to work with young people.
A Catering Assistant who can help develop, support and deliver the catering provision at the Youth Zone, ensuring that young people have access to healthy, high-quality meals.
You must be able to cook, serve, and have an awareness of dietary and cultural needs, be passionate about cooking and most importantly love food.
Successful candidates for this role will take pride in helping to create innovative new and simple dishes and relate well to young people.
Knowledge and Understanding
- Knowledge of the issues affecting young people and an ability to work with challenging behaviour, knowledge and experience of working / running a commercial kitchen space and the commitment to ensuring safe food is served to our young people
- Understanding of the principles of working with children and young people
- Knowledge of health and safety, diversity awareness and safeguarding best practice and how these relate to children and young people
- A desire to develop, support and deliver the catering provision at the Youth Zone, ensuring young people have access to healthy, high-quality meals;
- A want to support young people to help them achieve positive outcomes
Qualifications
- Food Hygiene Level 2 or higher – Desirable (Training can be delivered internally)
What will you need to succeed:
EXPERIENCE:
Experience of commercial cooking – storing, handling, prep, cooking and serving-Essential
Experience of safety aspects with food hygiene and what is required in the workplace -Essential
Experience of working with young people -Desirable
Experience of supporting vulnerable young people who are disaffected, underachieving and / or have social / emotional barriers to participation -Desirable
Experience of working in a team and alongside volunteers- Desirable
Experience of dealing with safeguarding issues -Essential
What you will be doing
· Support young people’s mental and physical well-being by guiding them to make more informed choices, incorporate a healthy lifestyle with the food offer we promote
· To be a positive role model and create a positive and fun environment in which to motivate and encourage young people to reach their potential.
· To promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young people at all times;
· To be an active member of the team and operate in line with the values and principles of Wigan Youth Zone.
· Preparing and serving food and beverages in the café area;
· Adhering to stock control procedures and ensuring all Health and Safety and Environmental requirements are adhered to, within the safer foods business guidance as per gov.uk guidelines. (Which includes;)
o Ensure all kitchen equipment is regularly cleaned, reporting any faults/repairs required
o Report of all equipment not working properly
o Report of any health and safety issues
o Compliance with food hygiene regulations.
o Ensure food is stored correctly and at correct temperatures.
· Record of all high-risk food temperatures on delivery and prior to service, if applicable
· Supporting with ordering and control of all stock.
· Ensure all kitchen equipment is regularly cleaned, reporting any faults/repairs required.
· Maintain a clean working environment as set out in the cleaning schedule by ensuring regular cleaning of all work surfaces, storerooms and ancillary areas.
· Clear tables, wash up, and other general cleaning duties.
· Undertake such other additional duties which may result from changing circumstances
· Working closely with our partner BABYZONE to offer a safe and healthy food option for parents and children aged 0 to 5 years old
· Ensuring flexibility to the catering team and being available to cover shifts and step up to fulfil the needs of the youth zone when other offers and events come up
General
- To be alert to issues of safeguarding child protection, ensuring the welfare and safety of Youth Zone members is promoted and safeguarded, and to report any child protection concerns to the designated Child Protection Officers using the safeguarding policies, procedures and practice (training to be provided);
- To assist with any promotional activities and visits that take place at the Youth Zone;
- To actively promote the Youth Zone and positively contribute towards increasing Youth Zone membership;
- To adhere to Wigan Youth Zone policies at all times, with particular reference to Health and Safety, Child Protection and Equal Opportunities.
Other duties
- To carry out any other duty with the Youth Zone provision and facility operations, and within the competencies of the post holder, as directed by your line manager or a senior manager.
Special Requirements
- A willingness to work evenings and weekends hours when required
- DBS clearance (paid for by Wigan Youth Zone) and committed to Safeguarding children
- The ability and willingness to travel to meetings and events both in the region and beyond
The job holder will be required to adhere to the Youth Zone’s policies at all times, with particular emphasis on Equal Opportunities and Safeguarding. Attendance at events and conferences will sometimes be required.
In accordance with our Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures, this position requires an enhanced DBS check and business satisfactory references.
Please note that in line with our Safeguarding Policy, you must be age 21 or over to work in our Senior Sessions and 19+ to work on our Junior Sessions and Holiday Clubs. All applicants must also be inactive as members for at least 12 months.
What is Wigan Youth Zone?
Wigan Youth Zone is a purpose built, state-of-the-art youth facility in Wigan town centre which opened in June 2013. It offers young people from across Wigan the opportunity to meet friends, have new experiences, learn new skills and access the support they need to develop and achieve their potential.
The Youth Zone is open to all young people across Wigan aged from 8 to 19 (up to 25 with additional needs), striving to offer something for everyone, regardless of their interests or abilities. With almost 15 dedicated areas to choose from including our four 40-metre floodlit football pitches, art room, music room and climbing wall – there’s something for everyone here at Wigan Youth Zone.
Our aim is simple, to provide the town’s young people with somewhere to go, something to do and someone to talk to.
What do you need to do next
Please contact [email protected] to request an application form, once completed return to this HR email.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: £12.86 per hour
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Casual dress
- Cycle to work scheme
- On-site gym
- On-site parking
- Referral programme
Application question(s):
- Are you aged 21 or above?
Work Location: In person
