Retail operation manager volunteer roles

We're looking for volunteers to assist with the day to day running of our shops located across north east Essex. Volunteer vacancies are available in various shop locations.

Duties of the role include the following:

(Note - Not all the tasks apply to every shop and will be dependent on which shop; type of tasks required for that area and your level of experience)

• Customer service
• Operating till & cash handling
• Signing customers up to Gift Aid scheme & inputting gift aid data if required
• Preparing donated goods for sale
• Ensuring recyclable goods are put in appropriate place
• Pricing as outlined by the shop manager
• Display and merchandising (may include transferring items from one display to another)
• Stock control
• Sorting donated goods (this may include lifting or moving moderately heavy items such as sacks of donated clothes or boxes containing books in some areas)
• Light cleaning duties and using an iron or steamer to press donated clothes

For coffee shops only:

• Operating coffee machines, serving customers and clearing and wiping down tables
• Ensure good food hygiene, health and safety and fire regulations are adhered to at all times

Training & supervision

• All required training, including till operation, gift aid and health & safety will be provided.
• For coffee shops you will be required to undertake online food hygiene training courses.

Knowledge & experience required

• Some customer service experience would be advantageous
• Ability to remain calm while listening to a customer complaint
• Ability to handle cash
• Excellent communication skills
• Previous experience of working or volunteering in a retail environment desirable
• Ability to use electronic tills and devices
• Friendly and approachable manner

Personal attributes

• Passionate about St Helena
• Attention to detail
• Comfortable handling cash
• Excellent communication skills
• Personable and approachable
• Reliable, trustworthy and flexible to meet the demands of the business
• Team player with a friendly outlook

You will be vital to the work of your local Scope shop, as one of the first faces customers see.

You will receive training on serving our customers on the till, taking payments and making Gift Aid donations. This makes a real difference to our income and the number of disabled people we can support.

Your role may include:

• using the till and cash handling
• welcoming and supporting customers
• helping to display stock and window dressing
• preparing goods for sale
• tidying and cleaning the shop

When and where

You will be based at our Scope shop at 64 High Street, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5EA. We are flexible on the times you would like to volunteer. We’d love your help for as little as 1 hour a week, but if you can give more time that would help us even more.

Who we’re looking for

We welcome anyone who is friendly and passionate about disability equality!

Some volunteers want to learn more about charities or about retail. Others want to make a difference to the lives of disabled people. Other volunteers are interested in our training and development opportunities. Some people join us to meet new people and make friends. Sometimes people want to help a charity shop they like shopping in, while also getting a discount in the shop!

We particularly welcome applications from disabled people. Equality and inclusion are at the heart of Scope’s mission. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all volunteers.

Skills and experience you can gain

• teamwork
• customer service
• till operation
• retail skills
• communication
• stock preparation and management
• health and safety
• valuable experience for your CV
• experience of a large, national disability charity

What we can offer you

• introduction to scope
• demonstration of your tasks
• training courses, in person and online
• personal development opportunities
• support and regular catchups from a dedicated manager
• agreed travel expenses
• adjustments to make the role accessible for you
• work experience for your CV
• a work reference
• 20% discount in your Scope charity shop

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Scope is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and wellbeing of children and adults at risk, whether receiving services or being staff or volunteers. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Join FARA, a charity with over 30 years of experience and 39 charity shops across London. Our Streatham shop is looking for friendly and reliable Customer Service Volunteers to support the day-to-day running of the store and help create a welcoming experience for our customers.

By volunteering with us, you’ll not only support our charitable work but also contribute to creating a positive experience for our community of customers. You’ll also play a key role in ensuring that items FARA cannot sell are responsibly redirected, helping us further our commitment to a sustainable economy.

The Role:

• As a volunteer, your responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):
• Assisting with stock placement and replenishment on the shop floor
• Creating and maintaining engaging product displays
• Greeting and assisting customers in a friendly and professional manner
• Using the till as part of day-to-day shop operations

The Volunteer:

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has a genuine passion for volunteering
• Is friendly, approachable, and enthusiastic
• Is reliable and able to work as part of a team
• Is ideally connected with the local area

What’s in it for You?

At FARA, our shops are run by welcoming and collaborative teams where everyone works together. You’ll gain valuable retail and customer service experience while working alongside supportive colleagues. Full training is provided, and we offer a positive, inclusive, and safe volunteering environment.

Your Time:

Our shop operates from 10:00 to 18:00, and we’re looking for someone who can volunteer for a minimum of 4 hours a day, either in the Morning or Afternoon at least once a week, by arrangement with the shop manager. 

FARA is committed to creating an inclusive environment. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

If this sounds like the role for you, please “Apply” for an opportunity to join us.

Role summary

To assist with the picking, packing and despatching of New Goods orders to all St Helena shops, via the Donation Centre delivery operation.

Main duties of the role

• Assist with the picking and packing of New Goods stock, preparing it for pick-up via the Donation Centre delivery drivers

• Assist with the unpacking of goods from outside suppliers

• Work as part of a small but busy team

r• Ad hoc printing, laminating etc when required

Do you want to help raising vital funds for Scope, the disability equality charity?

Do you thrive in an exciting and inclusive working environment?

Do you have a few hours a week to support our ecommerce operation?

You might like our warehouse volunteer role!
 

About this role

You will be vital to the work of our ecommerce hub helping to sort, quality check and monitor donated products from our corporate partners.

• Your role may include:
• sorting donated pallets of stock ready for sale
• quality checking products to sort the good from the bad
• scanning products to trade in, such as books and CDs
• helping to pack orders to go our shops
• helping keep our warehouse tidy and our stock system accurate
• When and where
• You will be in our Scope Ecommerce Hub. The hub is based at 19 to 20 Guide Street, Salford M50 1BX. We can be flexible on the times you would like to volunteer. Our hub opening times (Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm). We’d love your help for as little as 1 hour a week, but if you can give more time that would help us even more
   

Who we are looking for

We welcome anyone who is passionate about disability equality and willing to support our work! You must be over 18 years old. You will need to feel comfortable working in a large busy warehouse environment and be able to lift and carry items, although we have a forklift truck to assist with heavier items.

Some volunteers want to learn more about charities or about retail. Others want to make a difference to the lives of disabled people. Other volunteers are interested in our training and development opportunities. Some people join us to meet new people and make friends. Sometimes people want to help a charity shop they like shopping in, while also getting a discount online!
We particularly welcome applications from disabled people. Equality and inclusion are at the heart of Scope’s mission. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all volunteers.
 

Skills and experience you can gain

• teamwork
• organisation
• warehousing
• ecommerce
• communication
• stock preparation and management
• health and safety
• valuable experience for your CV
• experience of a large, national disability charity

What we can offer you

• introduction to Scope
• demonstration of your tasks
• training courses, in person and online
• personal development opportunities
• support and regular catchups from a dedicated manager
• agreed travel expenses
• adjustments to make the role accessible for you
• work experience for your CV
• a work reference
• 20% discount in our Scope eBay shop
• safety shoes and a hi vis jacket will be provided

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Scope is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and wellbeing of children and adults at risk, whether receiving services or being staff or volunteers. It expects all trustees, staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Volunteering at Scope
Scope is a disability equality charity providing practical information, emotional support and campaigning for a fairer society. As a volunteer in our warehouse, you’ll help raise vital funds for our work towards everyday equality for disabled people. You will make a real difference to the lives of disabled people and their families.

About The Big House

The Big House Multibank exists to improve lives and build a more sustainable Scotland by reducing waste, maximising resources, and supporting families facing hardship. We do this by redistributing surplus goods from corporate partners to frontline organisations, schools, social workers, health visitors and community groups who support families in crisis.

Based in Fife, with satellite hubs in Dundee, Perth and Edinburgh, and expanding across Scotland, we combine environmental action, social justice and community partnership to tackle poverty, reduce pollution and strengthen local support systems.

Our work supports families to stay together, children to thrive, and communities to flourish while diverting significant volumes of surplus goods from landfill.

Our Ambition
Our 2026 Business Plan sets out an ambitious growth agenda, including: 

• Doubling the volume of goods distributed 
• Expanding into the Glasgow City Region 
• Introducing digital inventory and tracking systems 
• Embedding wrap-around care pathways for families 

Strengthening our circular economy and environmental impact 

Increasing fundraising, communications and corporate partnerships 

To deliver this, we are strengthening our Board to ensure excellent governance, strategic leadership, and a clear focus on impact, purpose and people. 

Purpose of the Role

To provide strategic leadership and governance, ensuring The Big House fulfils its charitable objectives, operates effectively, and remains sustainable, accountable and impactful.

Key Responsibilities

• Set and uphold the strategic direction of the charity
• Ensure legal, regulatory and financial compliance
• Provide oversight of risk, safeguarding and organisational performance
• Support and challenge the executive team constructively
• Act as an ambassador and advocate for The Big House

Legal Duties

Trustees share collective responsibility for:

• Acting in the best interests of the charity
• Managing resources responsibly
• Ensuring accountability and transparency
• Complying with charity law and governance best practice

Skills & Experience We Are Seeking 

We are seeking individuals with senior-level expertise in one or more of the following areas: 

• Safeguarding & Social Care - senior experience in social work, education, health, early years or family support services, with strong safeguarding expertise. 
• Supply Chain, Logistics & Warehousing - experience in logistics, operations, warehousing, fulfilment, or supply chain transformation. 
• Digital Transformation & Data Governance - experience delivering digital systems, data governance, cyber security or operational technology. 
• Circular Economy & Environmental Leadership - background in sustainability, reuse, recycling, environmental strategy or circular economy innovation. 
• Corporate Retail, FMCG & Surplus Partnerships - senior experience within retail, manufacturing or FMCG, particularly in surplus, ESG or supply chain partnerships. 
• Social Enterprise & Scale-Up Leadership - experience growing mission-led organisations, trading models or hybrid charities. 

We also welcome candidates with strengths in: 

• Finance, audit and risk 
• Fundraising and philanthropy 
• Communications, brand and public affairs 

We are seeking Trustees who demonstrate: 

• Strategic thinking and sound judgement 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills 
• Integrity, empathy and emotional intelligence 
• Commitment to social justice and environmental sustainability 
• Willingness to contribute time, expertise and energy 
• Ability to challenge constructively and support collaboratively 

We particularly welcome applications from individuals who: 

• Bring lived experience of poverty or inequality 
• Are underrepresented in charity governance 
• Are at an earlier stage of their Board career 

Timeline: 

• We are recruiting Trustees on a rolling basis to allow flexibility and to ensure we appoint the right people at the right time as the organisation continues to grow. 
• Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with interviews scheduled throughout the year. 
• Appointments will be made on a rolling basis, with new Trustees formally ratified at the next appropriate Board meeting or Annual General Meeting (AGM), in line with our constitution. 
• While we anticipate a number of appointments during 2026, we encourage early applications and expressions of interest at any point. 

For more information, please download the job description attached in this advert. 

Spend 3 - 4 hours a week in a hospital and feel over the moon!

This is what happens when you join the Friends of Chelsea & Westminster Hospital as a volunteer.

Chelsea & Westminster Hospital on Fulham Road is known as one of the best hospitals in London and across the UK as a whole. One reason for this is its focus on patient and staff wellbeing. If you have been a patient at Chelsea & Westminster, you will surely have noticed the staff’s professional work ethic and determination to deliver the best care.

One way to “give back” to the incredible staff is to join our charity the Friends of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital as a volunteer.

The medical staff are often so busy that if they have not brought lunch with them, they have very little time to leave the ward to buy food. Since November 2022 the Friends of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has successfully operated a Lunch Trolley service for hospital staff, in partnership with B Bagel Fulham Road. The service operates five days a week (Monday-Friday) from 10:30 to 13:30/14:00 and allows busy staff (and some patients) to purchase bagels, salads, cakes and drinks without leaving their departments.

In our first year of operation, thanks to our hard-working volunteers we raised around £9,000 to support the work of the Friends charity in the hospital.

We are now looking for two additional volunteers, one who can commit to a set weekly shift of around 4 hours (day to be discussed) and one who can fill in occasionally when one of our permanent volunteers is away. You will be joining a small, friendly team providing a really valuable and popular service to our hard-working hospital staff.

Role description

● Collect the day’s order of bagels and salads from B Bagel (opposite the hospital) by 10:30/10:45

● Collect the trolley from the Friends storeroom (lower ground floor) and stock it with the bagels/salads/cakes plus additional items from the stock list

● Volunteers have a dedicated route to follow each day, so Monday’s first stop is not always the first served on the other days

● When entering a ward/department, make yourself known to the nurse's desk and place the trolley in a safe position that does not obstruct the movement of staff or patients

● Take payment via contactless card machine only (your only battle will be with the dedicated WIFI but we usually manage.)

● At the end of the run, return trolley to the Friends store room (lower ground floor)

● Do stock check

● Remove and dispose of all perishable items from the trolley

● Return carrier box to B Bagel with the order for the next day

Specification

Essential

● Reliable, punctual, and able to commit to at least one 4-hour slot (around 10.30 to 14.00) once a week 

● Trustworthy

● Polite, friendly and enjoys meeting new people

Desirable

● Previous experience in food retail or a similar voluntary role

● Previous experience in operating a contactless card machine

Full training will be provided. Volunteers report to the Friends Charity Manager, but are also required to comply with all requirements of the hospital’s own volunteering department, including undergoing a DBS check, Occupational Health check and core training. We will take up references on all successful applicants.

Please note that this is quite a physically demanding role and will not suit those with mobility issues or who have difficulty moving and handling heavy items.

Join FARA, a charity with over 30 years of experience and 39 charity shops across London. Our shop is looking for a dedicated Antiques and Jewellery Volunteer to support our team in researching, valuing, and preparing donated items for sale.
The Role:

As a volunteer, your responsibilities will include (but are not limited to):

• Researching and valuing donated antiques, jewellery, and collectables
• Identifying rare, collectable, or high-value items
• Pricing and organising items appropriately for sale
• Ensuring items are clearly presented with accurate information
• Creating attractive and engaging displays
• Greeting and assisting customers
• Assisting with till operations when required

The Volunteer:

We’re looking for someone who:

• Has a genuine passion for jewellery, antiques, or decorative objects
• Has a good eye for detail
• Is friendly, approachable, and enthusiastic
• Is reliable and able to work as part of a team
• Knowledge of brands, materials, or collectable items is a plus, but not essential

What’s in it for You?

At FARA, our shops are run by welcoming and collaborative teams where everyone works together. You’ll gain valuable experience, working alongside supportive colleagues who help each other develop, learn, and celebrate achievements. Full training is provided, and we offer a positive, inclusive, and safe volunteering environment.

Your Time:

Our shop operates from 10:00 to 18:00, and we’re looking for someone who can volunteer for a minimum of 4 hours a day, either in the Morning or Afternoon at least once a week, by arrangement with the shop manager.

FARA is committed to creating an inclusive environment. If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process, please don’t hesitate to let us know. 

If this sounds like the role for you, please “Apply” for an opportunity to join us.

RSPCA Alton, Haslemere & Petersfield Branch

We are looking for volunteers to join our Trustee board with expertise in any of these areas:

• Charity finance/ Treasurer
• Marketing/ Social Media
• Fundraising/Retail
• Project management

You will gain new skills and experience as a Branch Trustee whilst enabling us to help animals in our area.

Overview

We are looking for enthusiastic people to take the role as a Charity Trustee, who could devote some time to volunteer for the Alton, Haslemere & Petersfield Branch and support us in boosting our local animal welfare work. Alongside using your expertise, this role will enable you to enhance how we care for and prevent cruelty to animals and drive the implementation of key initiatives. You will serve on the governing body of the charity and be instrumental, alongside fellow Trustees, in the running of the Branch and the implementation of a development plan. At a minimum, you would normally be expected to attend a monthly online committee meeting and to spend further time driving forward our activities.

The Alton, Haslemere & Petersfield RSPCA Branch

We are the local branch of the national RSPCA, but we are also a separately registered charity looking after animals in our local area.

The Branch is in an enviable financial position and employs an experienced member of staff as Branch Manager. Once additional Trustees are in place, we expect to move towards CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) status.

Our main current activities are:

• Providing financial assistance to local people unable to afford unexpected vets’ bills. In the past year, we have allocated £40,000 to this area.
• Collecting petfood donations, which we collate and then pass to our local foodbanks.
• Re-homing cats in the Alton part of our area, organised in co-operation with the neighbouring RSPCA Branch.
• Some fundraising activities, including organising fun Dog Shows.
• We are looking to recruit at least three new trustees to work on significantly developing the Branch over the next few years. Initiatives we are considering are:
• Establishing a comprehensive fostering and re-homing network, across the entire Branch area.
• Major income generation initiatives, including opening our own shops.
• Developing our own animal centre resources, possibly in co-operation with private sector providers in the Branch area.

Core Branch Trustee responsibilities

• Appreciate and support the aims and policies of the RSPCA.
• Work in conjunction with fellow Trustees and Branch Officers and jointly act in making decisions for the best interests of the Branch and the RSPCA.
• Assist the Branch, as appropriate, to work with and assist national RSPCA staff, including but not limited to Inspectors.
• Actively participate in Branch committee meetings and to attend the Branch Annual General Meeting (AGM).
• Actively promote and advertise the society in an ongoing programme to recruit new Trustees and volunteers and welcome new members.
• In conjunction with fellow Trustees, ensure the proper management and control of all activities and decisions.

What we are looking for in a volunteer

We are committed to creating a Board which is representative of our society and encourages people from any background to apply. You will need to be able to work with people and have good interpersonal skills.

What we can offer you as a volunteer Branch Trustee

• Ongoing support provided by our Branch Manager and assistance from relevant national RSPCA staff.
• The platform to utilise your skills and experience to oversee the charity and make decisions that will enhance local animal welfare.
• The opportunity to gain new skills and develop existing ones, whilst making a real difference to the lives of animals.
• A way to expand your professional and personal network through working with like-minded people.

Practical considerations

• To become a Trustee, you will need to be aged 18 or over and have become a member of our Branch.
• Trustees are elected annually.
• You must not be disqualified from being a Trustee. Please read the Charity Commission’s guidance on who can be a Trustee of a charity.
• You will need to sign a Trustee Declaration of Willingness to Act, clarifying that you are not disqualified from being a Trustee.
• References will be required.

How to find out more about being a Trustee

For more information on becoming a Charity Trustee and to ensure it is the right decision for you, we recommend reading the Charity Commission's guidance on the role of the trustee and the RSPCA website about Branch Trustees.

We have an online session about Becoming a Branch Trustee, which should hopefully give you more of an idea of what the RSPCA Branch Trustee role will involve

If you’ve got the drive and compassion to volunteer with the RSPCA and are passionate about improving animal welfare, we’d love to hear from you!

Please visit our website to learn more about what we do.

We hope you are interested in volunteering for the Alton, Haslemere & Petersfield branch

Our voluntary roles are subject to an informal interview and trial period. We will ask you to provide contact details for two referees, and dependent on the position, you may need to sign an agreement and undergo specific training before starting the role.

We are seeking several volunteers fior administrative support committed Trustees across this dynamic Trust's activities in creating historical town maps and atlases.  Roles include managing online meetings, contributing to operations including sales, events, marketing, basic book keeping and all other ways of being useful to the growing needs of the Trust.

We are on an ambitious path to increase the rate of publication, develop a strong educational outreach platform, and embed our maps in the communities of the towns we publish. Trustees are mainly senior academics and others committed to education and urban history and all have a passion for cartography. We currently have no employees

Do you want to support the running of the charity that supports people in Berkshire’s hospitals?

Are you the person to develop and lead our business opportunities planning, alongside our existing trustees?

You could join the Board of the Friends of Berkshire Hospitals, a charity that improves the experience of patients, visitors, medical staff and others who work in the Royal Berkshire and Wokingham Hospitals.

Our charity grew from a Reading-only organisation set up in 1957, which itself grew from a charitable group in the 1940s. We’re now serving both Reading and Wokingham hospitals, and intend to expand our services and thus our charitable business even further: to better serve all those in the hospitals. Our expenditure in 2024 was £366k, and we have plans to expand our business and fundraising operations outside of hospital premises.

The role and what we are looking for in a new trustee

Trustees are the people who make the top-level decisions for our charity. Our Board includes people with experience and skills in the services we provide to those in hospitals, and we’d expect new trustees to have empathy with our cause and our beneficiaries. 

We are looking for experience of developing a business, not necessarily in the not-for-private-profit sector, identifying new opportunities and relationships, creating and implementing our new marketing strategy.

We are a charity not a business, but we apply business principles to governing our organisation. We are looking for people from a variety of backgrounds to join our charity. We want to expand the diversity of our board, in all meanings of the word, and strongly welcome applications from people from less-represented groups. 

You don’t necessarily need prior experience of charity trusteeship, as full induction to our organisation will be provided, plus specialist support as a new trustee, including access to external training.

If you can think strategically and plan long-term, you have the primary skills needed by our trustees; you’ll also need to be able to work collectively with other Board members.

Trustees are not be expected to get involved in the organisation’s operations on a day-to-day basis; however, regular contact and liaison with other trustees and employees is expected.   

We ask for no more than ten  hours of your time per month, which includes all meetings, discussions, etc.  You will need access to digital communications, as much of our charity’s business is run that way.

How to apply  

This appointment is being managed for us by inVOLve Community Services, a charity-support organisation, who offer a no-obligation discussion by phone or video. A detailed Role Description and Skills Specification is available.

Trustee appointments are subject to satisfactory references.

Your CV or similar will be read by our existing trustees, and an interview offered as soon as mutually convenient.

I need to know more 

Contact Mike Allen via Apply Now, below, for more information and arrange to have a no-obligation initial informal discussion (Teams or Zoom)  

Based right in the heart of the city, Shopmobility is a vital and much loved service for all of our customers.  A place where they know they will be listened to, treated with dignity and provided with the best assistance we can offer them, to live their lives independently.

Equal Lives is a user led Disabled People's Organisation and we're really proud of Shopmobility!  It's the part of our organisation which is people facing, the part where our staff and volunteers get to represent us and interact with our customers on a daily basis.  So, it's vital that we have the right people on hand and that's where you come in!

If you've got a passion to help the Disabled community by empowering them to live the life they deserve, then you're our kind of person.  We're looking for those compassionate individuals who want to help others, who are happy to give a few minutes to listen to someone's story, to ask how their day was and to support them in working out the best solutions to suit their needs.

Shopmobility is a scheme that supports people to hire mobility aids during their visit to the city. We're based in Chantry Place (previously Chapelfield Shopping Centre) and we are looking for volunteers to help with all aspects of the day-to-day running of the shop.This is a great opportunity to volunteer, build your skills and meet new people! 

Role overview: 

 As is typical of working with the community, no one day is the same.  As such, the role may include, but is not limited to: 

• Opening the site ready for business and helping to prepare the shop 
• Closing the shop at the end of the day 
• Greeting customers and acting as a friendly, supportive and welcoming face 
• Supporting customers to work out what they need, and to hire the equipmen
• Keeping the site looking presentable and welcoming
• Handling cash and taking card payments
• Supporting people to sign up as Shopmobility members and to join Equal Lives as members
• Responding to queries on social media, email and telephone
• Taking future bookings for the equipment 
• Cleaning and maintenance of vehicles when they’re returned 
• Marketing and promoting the shop 
• Some other occasional ad hoc tasks as required

We’ll give you: 

• Comprehensive training, including Customer Service, GDPR, Safeguarding and Data Protection 
• The opportunity to choose your days and hours (within our opening times of Tuesday to Friday)
• An accessible city centre location 
• A variety of activities to challenge you and develop your skills 
• The opportunity to take on additional responsibilities as you gain experience 
• Specific tasks focusing on the skills you want to gain 
• A friendly and supportive team of staff and volunteers 
• A mapped out plan of personal development to help you evidence your professional progression

You will be doing really important work with this role, supporting those with mobility issues access the City to lead more independent lives. This opportunity gives you a fantastic chance to learn and develop great transferable skills. 

If you are looking for a volunteer role which gives you the chance to make a real difference to people's lives, this role could be for you. 

Volunteering Arrangements 

 The site will follow the COVID19 safety guidelines and volunteers will be reimbursed reasonable expenses incurred whilst supporting us.

All volunteers are required to undertake our core training programme. This covers basic safeguarding and other key features, such as data protection.

New volunteers will have an opportunity to ‘shadow’ experienced volunteers and members of staff 

Potentially, depending on the candidate, there may be additional opportunities to participate in a variety of accredited training courses. Please ask a manager for further details. 

Volunteers are required to adhere to the organisation’s policies and practice guidelines. 

Reasonable expenses, including travel whilst undertaking this role will be reimbursed. This includes mileage (currently £0.45 p/mile) and parking costs. 

Person specification 

• Honesty
• An ability to be empathic, whilst maintaining professional boundaries 
• Reliability, and only committing to a level of volunteering which is realistic 
• Good interpersonal skills 
• The ability to be non-judgemental 
• Good verbal and written communication skills 
• Excellent listening skills 
• Commitment to attend training courses and team meetings 
• Ability to follow organisational policies and procedures including safeguarding, data protection and health and safety
• Dedicated to the empowerment of Disabled people 

Whether you’re a jobseeker interested in a career in construction or woodwork, a student or recent college graduate seeking experience, or just someone with spare time on your hands, wanting to do something positive and meet new people, volunteering with the Touch Wood project at EMERGE 3Rs may be just the ticket!

Touch Wood is a wood recycling and upcycling initiative, which collects surplus and waste wood and timber and gives it a new lease of life, preventing it from being burned, chipped, or dumped in landfill.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

* Preparing wood for resale

* Assisting with the construction of wooden products, from small household items to pieces of furniture

Our Touch Wood volunteers are able to gain skills in practical woodworking, as we offer hands-on experience of working with reclaimed timber; from making basic lumber products ready for resale, through to assisting with the creation of bespoke items, such as kitchen equipment and home and garden furniture.

Full training in woodworking and health and safety is provided, along with Personal Protection Equipment.

The UK generates around 5 million tonnes of wood waste every year, but less than 1% is reused. Touch Wood rescues waste timber that would otherwise be landfilled or turned into woodchip; creating jobs and training opportunities for disadvantaged local people at the same time. We collect from construction sites, industrial estates and other commercial sources, reclaiming everything from pallets to indoor cycle tracks – you name it, we take it! Anything we can’t reuse is locally recycled, so nothing goes to waste. This reduces the carbon emissions associated with disposing of waste wood, offers cost savings for DIY enthusiasts, and provides training and job potential to volunteers in the workshop. Some of the timber we work with comes from high profile sources, including the entire track of the Manchester Velodrome cycling centre and wood removed in the recent refurbishment of Manchester’s historic Town Hall!

Our skilled team of staff and volunteers often use reclaimed timber to create beautiful and practical products, such as home and garden furniture. We regularly create bespoke pieces to order; some of it for famous clients like Olympic cycling champions Jason and Laura Kenny, for whom we made a table from the Manchester Velodrome track.

Please be advised that our volunteers require a fair level of physical fitness and manual dexterity as the role is entirely practical.

Our Touch Wood workshop and wood store is open Mon-Fri, 8.30am - 4pm.
We occupy a unit at Maynard House, inside New Smithfield Market, in Openshaw, North Manchester, which is accessed from the main entrance on Whitworth Street East (off Ashton Old Road). The site is served well by buses, and we have free parking onsite, as well as secure storage racks for pushbikes.

​IMPORTANT NOTE:
You must be resident in the UK and living in Greater Manchester, or within easy commuting distance of our base, in order to volunteer with us. There are no exceptions to this rule. This is because we require volunteers to be able to reliably commit to regular shifts for some of our roles. We are unable to offer sponsorship for overseas applicants.

Know someone else who might be interested in volunteering with us?
Please pass our details on to them as we always welcome new people on our teams. :)