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Volunteers at the Mill & Bakery
Our enthusiastic core team of volunteers continue to work hard to keep this Community Business running. However, to expand further we need more hands to the millstone.
Our volunteers do a wide and varied range of tasks around the mill and bakery, as well as out an about in the community. Come along and see which of your talents you could put to good use, or what new skills you could learn.
Contact Gill via gill-bruce@tiscali.co.uk if you are interested in any of the roles available.
What our volunteers gain from spending time in the Mill & Bakery
Spending time with others, making new friends, getting out of the house and feeling less isolated. Picking up new skills in baking/ joinery along with gardening ideas too. A job well done as a group is another regular comment, achieving a sense of fulfilment and community. Catching up with fellow foodies, sharing baking tips and tricks. It’s always good exercise working in the mill!
Hours/days are very flexible to suit your free time. Some of the tasks are suitable to do at home. Please be aware the mill has steep staircases, and the bakery 2 short staircases. Many volunteer tasks do require a degree of physical fitness.
We are a chatty group of amenable folk who will welcome you enthusiastically, passing on our knowledge so you can be comfortable working alongside us. There’s always tea/coffee and cake, and plenty of craic too.
Volunteer Roles Available
Working in the Mill
Involves a range of tasks to help Karen, our miller. Help with grain deliveries, cleaning some of the grain using our winnower, using our modern electric dresser to remove the bran to make white flour.
Bagging the flour for retail sale. Helping to dismantle and clean the milling equipment on a regular basis as well as routine maintenance. With a bit of training, you could become a miller!
Maintenance and Joinery
We are constantly having to maintain and repair both the 200yr+ old buildings and the machinery, make new pieces of equipment too. This tends to involve woodwork or metal work.
Marketing
We attend several markets on a regular basis each month as well as many special local events throughout the year. Markets are usually within a 40-mile radius of the mill such as Carlisle, Houghton, Brampton, Dalston and Haltwhistle. This involves collecting the produce from the bakery, travelling to the venue, setting up the stall and selling the produce. Then taking down the stall and returning to the mill & bakery.
We need more volunteers to help our experienced volunteers at these markets, at larger events, where 2 people are required. These markets have a wonderful community of fellow traders and regular customers. If you love food and talking to like minded people, this is the role for you.
Deliveries
We have a number of retail outlets for both flour and bakery products that require regular deliveries.
These can be with the mills electric van or your own vehicle if you prefer.
Gardening
From cutting the grass to weeding the beds to planting up new areas as well as hedge cutting on the mill boundary.
The garden is a beautiful wildlife haven with the sound of Cairn beck in the background.
Cleaning
Keeping the bakery clean, washing dishes and equipment so our baker Neville can concentrate on what he does best!
Regular cleaning required in the mill, to keep areas clear of grain and flour as well as maintenance of equipment described above.
Social Media Posting
Facebook, Instagram and Digital marketing as well as regular contact with other media sites for publicity. Updating and maintaining our website. Photographs to share on these sites is always vital.
Some of these tasks can easily be undertaken at home.
Clerical Work
Dealing with orders from both shops and individual clients via email and telephone. Sending out and checking invoices.
This task can be undertaken from home too.
Mill Tours
Help with showing individuals and groups around the mill ensuring safety of the visitors, and helping with catering as required.
We especially need someone to help promote the mill to local schools and organise school visits.
