Charity Retail Volunteer at Sussex Emmaus

What does the opportunity involve doing?

Helping in a charity shop is a fun, sociable, and rewarding experience. Even if you’ve never worked in retail before there’s always new, fun things to do and try. It is a very varied role, being comprised of lots of little (but very important) different daily tasks. You may try just one or all of them, and we always let you go at your own pace.

Customer service

- Being welcoming and cheerful for new customers arriving in-store
- Operating the till system, taking cash and card payments for purchases
- Wrapping, folding and bagging purchases bought by our customers

Sorting donations and stock

- Receiving stock and donations and signing-up customers to Gift Aid
- Sorting, cleaning, steaming, tagging and pricing stock ready for sale
- Keeping the stock room tidy, putting away hangers, folding clothes

Visual merchandising

- Being creative and experimenting visually to display stock in the shop
- Making sure all prices and sale signs are clear and visible to customers
- Taking photos and videos to post on our social media (Instagram etc.)

What you could get out of joining us as a volunteer:

- Work as part of a team giving back to the local community and making friends
- Gain skills in sales, customer service, visual merchandising, organization and admin
- Get experience and a reference for employment purposes from our shop managers

What induction, training and support is offered?

No experience is necessary as you will be given full training, all you need to do is try to come in regularly and be a team player. We have free refreshments on site and will reimburse your travel on volunteering days (ticket receipt required).

The shop is wheelchair accessible but we have no access to disabled toilet facilities on-site, apologies.

What skills or qualities are needed?

We are looking for friendly, positive, can-do people to work together in a social and respectful way. We expect all volunteers to treat others with dignity and respect, uphold the reputation and values of Sussex Emmaus, and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with all your fellow colleagues.

We will need two references and will run a DBS check (no cost to you). We ask that you aim to contribute at least four hours a fortnight and try to do a regular time slot. However, we are very relaxed and flexible. We appreciate the time you are willing to give.