If you enjoy working with people and are interested in making a difference in the community, we would love to hear from you! If there are no opportunities here that float your boat, please drop us a line and we might know someone who can help.
Work with Us
The Riverside Centre is home to Community Action Isle of Wight, and independent island charity whose sole focus is supporting other community groups and organisations on the Isle of Wight. The projects we undertake as a charity, are funded by the revenue we generate through our room hire and venue sales – just like other charities have high street shops, we have a venue to hire!
Our venue has a variety of office space which we let permanently to other organisations and also meeting rooms which we hire out by the hour, or day. Its a big, old building, and receives a high footfall or people from every corner of the island and every walk of life; and that’s what makes it a great place to work.
Events and Hospitality Assistant | Part-Time
We have an immediate vacancy for an Events & Hospitality Assistant to join our small team.
The ideal candidate will have previous experience in hospitality, bar or catering, or other reactive customer facing roles, and have excellent people skills. We pride ourselves on offering exceptional service to our customers, by being friendly, helpful and with a positive can-do attitude.
This is a part time role, between 12 and 16 hours, split over three or four days and will include evenings and weekends.
On a daily basis, you maybe expected to perform the following:
Prepare and present rooms as per customer booking forms, following requests and instructions for room layout, refreshments and equipment required. Ensure rooms are clean, orderly and ready in a timely manner in advance of each incoming booking.
Prepare and serve refreshments and maintain clean, well-stocked facilities. Serve and pour beers, wines and spirits from the bar, serve hot and cold snacks, take card and cash payment, restock fridges, clear tables and keep the area tidy during events.
Assist in serving and clearing lunches and buffets, maintaining a clean and tidy display, topping-up and replenishing plates and napkins, emptying bins and clearing tables.
Ensure the building is presented at its best at all times; tidy-Ing reception area, litter picking, topping up and tidying washrooms, emptying bins and cleaning where necessary between bookings.
Assist customers with digital technology; setting up laptops, projectors, PA and sound equipment.
Meet and greet incoming visitors, covering reception at events and during busy times. Answer incoming phones calls, transfer and take messages. Assist guests and visitors with directions, parking payments, refreshments and information.
Salary £12.71+ depending on experience
Closing date for applications; 29th Jan 2026
Download the full job description here
Please email your CV to the Operations Manager
Volunteer for Us
The Riverside Centre is home to Community Action Isle of Wight; our ethos is one of community inclusion and opportunities for all.
The services we provide at The Riverside Centre generate financial support for the community projects we undertake as a charity, just like other charities have high street shops, we have a venue to hire!
We support individuals looking for voluntary opportunities for all manner of reasons, and pride ourselves on fostering a supportive work environment, in a remarkable setting. Our organisation, and those based within our building, offers services to individuals, charities and community groups from right across the island and as such, you can expect variety, inclusion and respect.
We are always happy to hear from anyone looking for voluntary work, and if there are no opportunities available at The Riverside Centre or Community Action Isle of Wight, we also run the Isle of Wight Volunteer Centre and will help you find the right organisation for your needs.
Volunteer Opportunity | Gardening
The Riverside Centre in the heart of Newport is looking for a volunteer gardener to maintain our grounds, beds and borders; this position would suit either an individual happy to work alone, or friends or couples looking to volunteer together.
In this role, you will have the flexibility to develop the planting in the borders around the building and have creative control to plan and grow the many and varied beds, (there is also the option to utilise our allotment area). Some beds simply require routine maintenance, others are a blank canvass; the Riverside Centre is also keen to develop wildlife friendly planting schemes; we also have a number of mature trees and shrubs.
As a charity we support the idea of making use of what we have, reusing and recycling, making do and mending and will happily accept plant donations.
This position is all year round, and requires a minimum of 4 hours a week on days and at times to suit you. You will report to the Operations Manager, and have the assistance of staff and volunteers as and when required, for example with heavy lifting. All expenses are covered and tools are provided. Free onsite parking and wifi, and unlimited tea and biscuits.
If you would like to come and take a look around, please email us here
Volunteer Opportunity |Front Desk Reception
The role of front desk reception is diverse and multifunctional; as the first point of contact you are ‘the face’ of the Riverside Centre, and creating a great first impression by polite and friendly interaction is a key aspect of the role.
Customer service is an integral part of the role, directing attendees, delegates and visitors to the right part of the building and helping guests with directions. You should be knowledgeable about the facilities within the building and their location, the whereabouts and differences of the various toilet and bathroom facilities, available refreshments, the fire evacuation procedure , the location and identity of first aiders, and also be knowledgeable and proactive in helping visitors with the car parking arrangements.
The Riverside Centre is a diverse environment and hosts a wide range of individuals, and so confidence adapting to different people and their individual needs is key; although the Riverside Centre is not a public building, it is a building that is open to the public; expect the unexpected!
As the first point of contact you are also the first line in defence. We do not use an accreditation or ‘sign-in, sign-out’ system, so vigilance and intuition are a necessary part of the role although full training will be given in how to recognise and report undesirable behaviours.
You should be comfortable working alone and be confident making decisions. A telephone is provided to make calls to internal staff and our external tenants when their visitors arrive, but there is no expectation to answer the telephone when it rings, unless this is something you are comfortable with.
We are looking for volunteers for a minimum of 4 hours a week; the following shifts are available:
Mondays 8.30am – 12.30pm,
Wednesdays 3.30pm – 6.00pm
Tuesdays 8.30am – 12pm
Fridays 8.30am – 12.30pm
If you would like to find out more or come and take a look around, please email us here