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Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. In 2024 we embarked on our new 10-year strategy for ending homelessness. We know it is not inevitable. We know together we can end it.
Our shops generate valuable income to support our services, create opportunities for homeless people to learn new skills and contribute to Crisis’ work in the community. They have a unique contemporary visual identity and are dynamic and creative places to work.
About the role
We are recruiting for an Assistant Shop Manager to join a busy and creative team in Islington. You will join an exciting team and collaborate to build a group of volunteers from all walks of life, raising money to fund Crisis’ work ending homelessness. We are bold with a culture of continuous review and improvement, where we try new things, take risks, and sometimes fail. There will be numerous opportunities to improve our team’s effectiveness. Your voice will count!
We also work closely with local artists and universities. We’d love you to bring your own ideas, along with your experience of fashion, retail and current trends, to this role. You will have opportunities to build your own skills and career progression through training and development – many of our shop managers were promoted internally. Ensuring our recruitment practices are as equitable as possible is our number one priority so we are looking for someone who advocates for others and challenges injustice.
You will be primarily based in the Islington shop, but you may be required to travel to other shops within London 1 & 2 on a short-term basis.
About you
To be successful in this role you will have retail experience at a supervisory level alongside a genuine interest in charity retail. You will be keen to build your people management skills including working with Crisis members. We are particularly interested in meeting candidates with an interest or background in visual merchandising, although this is not essential. You will be committed to Crisis’s values and mission to end homelessness.
You may have experience in: assistant shop manager, assistant store manager, shop supervisor, store supervisor, charity shop manager, retail manager, charity retail
Please see the full Job Pack linked below, for a full list of requirements for this role. We realise that long lists of criteria can be daunting, and you may not want to apply for a role unless you feel 100% qualified. However, if you feel you have relevant examples to answer the screening questions, we encourage you to apply.
We believe diversity is a strength, and our aim is to make sure that Crisis truly reflects the communities we serve. We are actively working towards our organisation being a place where everyone can thrive and make their best contribution to our mission of ending homelessness for good. We know that the more perspectives, voices, and experiences we can bring to this work, the better. We particularly welcome applications from people who have lived experience of homelessness, and people from all marginalised groups, communities, and backgrounds.
Working at Crisis
Our values, Bold, Impactful, Collaborative and Equitable, are at the heart of everything we do as we continue in our mission to end homelessness.
Our staff, members and volunteers are vital to getting the right government policies in place, providing breakthrough services, and building a supportive community. We’ll lead by example to nurture a positive and ambitious workplace guided by ending homelessness.
As a member of the team, you will have access to a wide range of employee benefits including:
- A competitive salary. Please note, our salaries are fixed to counter inequity and we do not negotiate at offer stage.
- Interest free loans for travel season ticket, cycle to work, and deposit to secure a tenancy.
- Pension scheme with an employer contribution of 8.5%
- 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata) which increases with service to 31 days and the option to purchase up to 10 additional days leave.
- Enhanced maternity, paternity, shared parental, and adoption pay.
- Flexible working around the core hours 10am-4pm
- Wellbeing Leave to be used flexibly And more! (Full list of benefits available on website)
Alongside our excellent staff benefits, we will support your ongoing development to build your skills, experience, and career.
When you join us, you will have the opportunity to join our staff diversity networks, which aim to champion issues across the organisation, enable staff to be their authentic and best selves and contribute to making Crisis a truly diverse organisation.
How do I apply?
Please click on the 'Apply for Job' button below. Our shortlisting process is anonymised as part of our commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We do not ask for CVs, instead we ask you complete the work history section and answer the screening questions for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. At least two members of staff score all applications.
Closing date: Tuesday 13 January 2026 at 23:59.
Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology for my application?
We strongly discourage applicants from using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. This is so we can run a fair, transparent process which gives all applicants an equitable chance of success. We want to hear about your own experience and perspectives in your application and if shortlisted, during the interview too.
Accessibility
We want our recruitment process to be as accessible as possible. If you need us to make an adjustment or provide additional support as you apply for a role, please email our Talent Acquisition team to discuss how we can help.
Registered Charity Numbers: E&W1082947, SC040094
Registered Charity 
501 - 1000
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Job Title: Assistant Shop Manager
Reporting To: Old Swan Shop Manager
Salary: £25,570 - £27,401
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Location: Old Swan, Liverpool
About us:
Alder Hey Children’s Charity raises vital funds to help make Alder Hey Children’s Hospital a truly world-class, patient-friendly hospital for the 450,000 patients and families we care for every year.
The charity supports a wide range of life-enhancing projects that improve the experience of our amazing young patients. This includes funding specialist medical equipment to ensure our skilled surgeons and clinical teams have access to the most cutting-edge technology and investing in hi-tech distraction equipment proven to reduce pain and anxiety for children during their hospital stay. We also support innovative programmes such as ward musicians, our on-site magician, and dedicated play specialists on every ward.
In addition, our charity retail operation plays a key role in raising funds and engaging our community. With a presence on-site at the hospital and across local areas, our retail outlets offer a variety of high-quality donated and new goods. Every purchase helps us continue to deliver exceptional care and fund critical projects, while also providing volunteering and community engagement opportunities that extend the impact of our mission beyond the hospital walls.
About the role:
We are looking for a passionate, ambitious Assistant Charity Shop Manager to join our successful team to help manage our charity shop in Old Swan.
The Assistant Shop Manager will be an integral part of the wider Charity team.
Main Duties/Tasks:
You will play a vital role in supporting the Shop Manager to lead, motivate, and develop a team of dedicated employees and volunteers, fostering strong community engagement and maximising the shop’s impact. This includes encouraging and harnessing the gifts of time from volunteers, goods from donors, and income from customers. As a visible and active ambassador for Alder Hey Children’s Charity on the high street, you will ensure the shop reflects the Charity’s values and purpose in all that it does. You will also support van collections and deliveries, helping to ensure the smooth and efficient transport of donated goods, while representing the Charity with enthusiasm and professionalism.
Income generation:
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Work with the Shop Manager to maximise sales and profits ensuring weekly targets are met.
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Support the team to maximise income from Gift Aid on donated products.
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Support the team to maximise income via our online platforms.
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Support the team with arranging van deliveries/collections daily.
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Work with the wider Charity team to promote and support fundraising activities and events.
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Explore ways to maximise sales via events, donation drives, pop-up shops etc.
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Cash up the till at the end of shift and ensure banking documents are completed. Investigate any discrepancies and report them to the Manager.
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Support with ensuring the money is ready and accessible for cash collection.
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Open and close the shop at the appropriate times.
Volunteers:
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Support and management of a team of volunteers.
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Utilise volunteer skill sets and motivate them to deliver great customer service and perform tasks in-line with charity standards.
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Maximise the shop’s opening hours and ensure the shop is open and managed by the shop team in the absence of the Shop Manager.
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Help to provide and support ongoing training and development for volunteers.
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Work and treat employees, volunteers and stakeholders in accordance with the Charity’s values.
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Health & Safety (in conjunction with Shop Manager)
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Ensure the shop adheres to Retail Health and Safety regulations.
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Implement good Health and Safety practices to help protect employees, volunteers, and customers.
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Help to ensure employees and volunteers are trained in manual handling.
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Help maintain the cleanliness of the shop and behind the scenes areas.
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Stock Control (in conjunction with Shop Manager)
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Ensure continuous, sufficient levels of high-quality stock.
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Be responsible for deliveries and stock controls.
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Ensure stock is appropriate to the business and priced accordingly.
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Maintain a rigorous process of stock rotation, ensuring rotation within expiry dates.
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Ensure visual merchandising is a high priority, with products featured prominently in window displays.
Customer Service:
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Be professional, patient and have a ‘people-first’ approach to customer services.
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Be committed to the principles of equality, diversity, and collaborative working.
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Set high standards of cleanliness, display and merchandising.
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Establish quality standards, consumer safety and ensuring continuity.
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Play a key role in enabling the shop to represent the Charity’s values.
Other Duties:
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Be an outstanding advocate for Alder Hey Children’s Charity in line with the core values of the organisation.
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Any other reasonable duties as required by your line manager.
The Charity retail team are currently conducting a four-day working week trial, due to end on 30 June 2026. This means that, for example, staff previously working 37.5 hours a week are now working 30 hours a week to enable a four-day working week. The trial is monitoring the benefits of a four-day working week against productivity. We are confident that by embracing a more flexible and balanced approach to work, we can continue to create a thriving and fulfilling work environment while driving growth and success for our charity. A decision will be made before the 30 June 2026 to agree the next steps, based on an assessment of the trial period; the four-day working week trial may be ended, extended or adopted permanently.
Our Values
Here at Alder Hey Children’s Charity, our values guide the way in which we work. By being courageous, working together, being passionate about our work, and making sure that we are creative in what we do, helps us to deliver the support necessary so that our hospital can continue to deliver the very best care for our young patients and their families. Our values are:
Courage: we try new things and take risks to innovate and drive forward new ideas. We have the courage to speak up and take a stance. We are accountable, responsive and responsible. We are unstoppable.
Together: we work together as one team, sharing our knowledge and learning. We work in partnership with patients, families, supporters and colleagues. We are respectful, celebrate diversity and empower each other to achieve our aims.
Passion: we are passionate about what we do and why we do it. We work together to share and grow. We inspire others.
Magic: we are fun, creative and child led. We create special moments, provide little extras and go further for our brave young patients.
How to apply
You can apply by clicking the link below. Applications must include your CV and a covering letter which answers the following questions:
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How do you meet the person specification? If you don’t exactly meet all of the role requirements but have transferable skills please do consider applying and provide details as part of your answer.
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Why do you want to work for Alder Hey?
Additional information is included within the Job Description and Person Specification. If you have any questions about the role please contact the People Team.
Closing date: Monday 19th January 2026
Interview date (to be held at Alder Hey Children’s Charity Shop – Old Swan): Tuesday 27th January 2026
Alder Hey Children’s Charity will make every endeavour to make any reasonable adjustments for applicants who require assistance in carrying out their duties due to a disability. Alder Hey Children’s Charity is committed to equal opportunities and positively welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Alder Hey Children’s Charity is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. The post holder may be required to complete an enhanced DBS disclosure check.
