The New Leaf Co-op:
Volunteer Form
23 Argyle Place, Edinburgh
EH9 1JJ
[email protected]
0131 228 8548
What is The New Leaf Co-op?
The New Leaf Co-op is a wholefood shop based in Marchmont, Edinburgh. We sell
a wide range of packaged and loose wholefoods. Customers help themselves to a
wide range of dried, bulk wholefoods from our dispensers and food bins and pay by
weight.
We also offer a large range of products that we have packed down
ourselves, which allows us to offer staple goods at a cheaper cost than if we bought
them pre-packaged.
We have a strong focus on being socially and environmentally responsible. We try
to keep packaging to a minimum, and use environmentally friendly options where
possible.
We would also like to see the shop become more of a community
resource in the future, as a possible venue for meetings and events.
Another important feature of The New Leaf is that we are a workers' co-operative.
This means that the business is owned and controlled equally by all of the
members (the employees). The staff are all paid a wage, but there is no overall
owner. Eventually, the aim is to channel our surplus profits back into projects with
positive social aims... although we're some way from achieving that just yet.
The New Leaf Co-op opened its doors in October 2012 and is still a relatively new
business. We have lots of plans for the future and we hope you would like to help
us
make
it
happen!
Volunteering with The New Leaf Co-op:
In order to help The New Leaf Co-op to thrive, we are looking for volunteers to help us.
The main tasks that we need help with are:
1) Packing down: This involves accurately measuring stock from bulk sacks into
smaller, weighed and priced bags
2) Checking in and putting away orders which arrive from our main suppliers on
Wednesday and Thursday. This task may involve heavy lifting and use of stairs
Other possible volunteer tasks could include serving customers, making display and
information materials and helping with administration.
How do I start volunteering?
Potential volunteers complete the volunteer expression of interest form (below). Once
your form has been received, we arrange an informal meeting to discuss if / how we can
work together and show you around the shop. We want our volunteers to get as much out
of volunteering as possible, and so if we have agreed that you will start volunteering with
us, you would then choose the tasks you would most like to learn / help us with. We will
offer full training in how the shop and its systems work.
How regularly do we expect volunteers to help?
We are looking for both regular and irregular volunteers. If you have a regular timeslot in
mind, then that's great; and if you only have a few hours to spare every now and again that
would be great too. We will send out a calendar to all our volunteers and you can sign up
to shifts when you are free.
Volunteer Rewards
Volunteer help will allow us to increase the capacity of the shop, and we want to reward
volunteers accordingly. We are not interested in exploiting volunteer labour.
Volunteers can eat food (a pastie, flapjack, etc.) from the shop whilst on shift, and will be
entitled to a 30% discount from the shop for one week after volunteering.
How to apply:
If you are interested in volunteering with us, please complete the form below and return it
by email to: [email protected]
or in person / by post to: The New Leaf Co-op, 23 Argyle Place, Edinburgh EH9 1JJ
Date:
Your name:
Address:
Postcode:
Tel. no:
E-mail:
How did you hear about The New Leaf Co-op?
Why are you interested in volunteering at The New Leaf Co-op?
Please tell us of any particular skills / experience you can offer.
What tasks would you be interested in helping us with? (e.g. packing down, checking
and putting away orders, serving customers, making information materials, helping with
administration)
Please feel free to suggest anything else that we haven't mentioned.
When might you be available to volunteer? (Please X as many boxes as you can)
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
10am – 2pm
10am – 2pm
10am – 2pm
10am – 2pm
10am – 2pm
10am – 2pm
2pm – 6pm
2pm – 6pm
2pm – 6pm
2pm – 6pm
2pm – 6pm
2pm – 6pm
Please tell us anything else you would like to make us aware of:
Emergency Contact Details
Please give the details of a person you would like us to contact in an emergency.
Their name:
Address:
Tel. no:
Thanks for your interest!
The New Leaf Co-op Crew.