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We’re Hiring: Link Officer – Lead for Food Poverty

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Are you passionate about supporting Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Sector? 

Voluntary & Community (VAC) is looking for a Link Officer (Lead for Food Poverty Support) in Calderdale to join our Team. This is a rewarding opportunity to work alongside VCSE organisations, helping them strengthen their impact when supporting vulnerable people in our communities.

About the Role:

As Link Officer, you will play a key role in supporting the delivery and development of VAC’s programmes across Kirklees, including:

  • Deliver support to VCSE organisations who are working in the food poverty arena, offering advice and guidance to help them ensure those in need have appropriate access to food, as well as clear pathways to other forms of support.
  • Gather and analyze data and local intelligence to map the supply and demand for free/low-cost food in the borough, and share understanding on a local and regional level.
  • Chair & facilitate the Calderdale Food Poverty Forum, a subgroup of the Calderdale Anti-Poverty Steering Group
  • Work in partnership with other local stakeholders in tackling food poverty, e.g., Calderdale Food Network, Fare Share.

What We’re Looking For:

We’re seeking someone who can build effective relationships, communicate confidently with a wide range of stakeholders and work collaboratively to deliver positive outcomes. Experience of community engagement, knowledge and understanding of how the VCSE Sector contributes to the Anti-Poverty work in Calderdale, and supporting people living complex lives would be particularly valuable.

What We Offer:

  • £28,300 (pro rata) Actual £24,257 (30hrs)
  • Part-time: 30 hours per week
  • Fixed-term contract to 31st March 2027 (with potential extension subject to funding)
  • Flexible and remote working
  • Employer pension contribution
  • 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata).

Interested?

If you’d like to help strengthen the VCSE sector, support organisations to demonstrate quality and impact, and ensure community voices are at the heart of local services, we’d love to hear from you.

How to Apply

To apply for the role:

  • Please submit your CV and a supporting statement (no more than 1,500 words, in Arial, size 12) describing how you meet the requirements within the Job description and Person Specification (using examples to demonstrate your skills, knowledge, experience and key characteristics) to info@cvac.org.uk

This form is kept separate from your application and is not shared with the recruiting panel or used as part of the selection process. The information provided supports VAC’s commitment to equal opportunities and helps us to ensure our recruitment processes are fair, inclusive and accessible.

For more information on this role, please read the Job Pack.
 
Closing date: 5pm, Monday 19th October 2026 

Interviews: Thursday 29th October 2026

Start Date: As soon as possible

Job Pack

Job Description and Person Specification

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Monitoring Form

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VAC + Membership

What's included?

You will receive a VAC Member welcome pack with useful information on getting the most out of your membership and a few extra treats!

Every member of VAC will be invited to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and has voting rights for resolutions and proposals either in person or by proxy.

When you sign up to be a VAC Member, you will be assigned a Go-To Contact from the VAC team.

They will be your main point of contact for your membership, helping to answer questions and signposting you to the right place within VAC and/or our partnerships.

We want the VAC membership offer to be responsive to the needs of our members.  Member check ins keep us up to date on your organisation’s news and developments but also on any challenges or support gaps that may be affecting the VCSE sector.

The information we receive during our member check ins will highlight trends and challenges that we can then explore support and solutions for via our membership offer and partnerships with local providers and authorities.

To support VAC members to feel connected and informed, we have created a unique Member Area on the VAC Website.

The online dashboard will keep you and your colleagues up to date on the latest member opportunities, training and news.

The Member Area also has a forum function, allowing VAC Member organisations to interact and support each other.

A quarterly newsletter to keep our members up to date on not only VAC Membership updates and opportunities but also specifically created content on topics of interest to the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. 

The Bimonthly Member Network is for VAC Members to connect with other VAC Members!

A perfect opportunity to support one another, find out about other local services and explore new collaborative opportunities and partnerships with fellow VAC members.

40% Discount on VAC Room Hire – We offer a range of flexible rooms for hire located in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our rooms include a fully equipped, large training room with SMART board and flipchart facilities seating up to 25 theatre style, two smaller meeting rooms seating up to 12 and a small office with computer facilities suitable for one-to-one meetings or rent-a-desk.

25% Discount on Virtual Office – Perfect for start ups or smaller organisations, our Virtual Office service offers a postal address, pigeonhole and reception facilities.

25% Discount on ID Badge Printing – Competitively priced to accommodate for smaller orders, our in-house ID Badge service supports both design and printing.

Based on feedback and insight we gain from our members, our training and events offer will complement local infrastructure support training programmes.

All sessions are cost effective and VCSE sector driven.  As a VAC + Member, you will receive a considerable discount on all VAC Training and Events.

VAC Membership

What's included?

You will receive a VAC Member welcome pack with useful information on getting the most out of your membership and a few extra treats!

Every member of VAC will be invited to our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and has voting rights for resolutions and proposals either in person or by proxy.

When you sign up to be a VAC Member, you will be assigned a Go-To Contact from the VAC team.

They will be your main point of contact for your membership, helping to answer questions and signposting you to the right place within VAC and/or our partnerships.

We want the VAC membership offer to be responsive to the needs of our members.  Member check ins keep us up to date on your organisation’s news and developments but also on any challenges or support gaps that may be affecting the VCSE sector. 

The information we receive during our member check ins will highlight trends and challenges that we can then explore support and solutions for via our membership offer and partnerships with local providers and authorities.

To support VAC members to feel connected and informed, we have created a unique Member Area on the VAC Website.

The online dashboard will keep you and your colleagues up to date on the latest member opportunities, training and news.

The Member Area also has a forum function, allowing VAC Member organisations to interact and support each other.

A quarterly newsletter to keep our members up to date on not only VAC Membership updates and opportunities but also specifically created content on topics of interest to the local voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. 

The Bimonthly Member Network is for VAC Members to connect with other VAC Members!

A perfect opportunity to support one another, find out about other local services and explore new collaborative opportunities and partnerships with fellow VAC members.

20% Discount on VAC Room Hire – We offer a range of flexible rooms for hire located in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Our rooms include a fully equipped, large training room with SMART board and flipchart facilities seating up to 25 theatre style, two smaller meeting rooms seating up to 12 and a small office with computer facilities suitable for one-to-one meetings or rent-a-desk.

Competitive rate on ID Badge Printing – Competitively priced to accommodate for smaller orders, our in-house ID Badge service supports both design and printing.

Based on feedback and insight we gain from our members, our training and events offer will complement local infrastructure support training programmes.

All sessions are cost effective and VCSE sector driven.