Charity Shop Assistant – Hitchin

Overview of opportunity As a volunteer Charity Shop Assistant, you would join a small team working with the shop staff and other volunteers to help make it a success and raise vital funds for animal welfare.

About the RSPCA Founded in 1824 we have been saving animals for almost 200 years and are proud to be the oldest welfare charity around. It has always been our vision to live in a world where all animals are respected and treated with compassion, so our volunteers and employees work tirelessly to ensure that all animals can live free from pain and suffering.

About Our Charity Shop in Hitchin The shop is part of the Hertfordshire East Branch and plays an essential role in raising the profile of the RSPCA in our local community and funds for our branch so that we can continue our vital animal welfare work. Our shops sell a mixture of donated items, including clothes, books, bric-a-brac and collectables. We have positions available on the shop floor and in our stock room or you could volunteer to do a mixture of both.

Volunteer Charity Shop Assistant responsibilities

• Helping customers in the shop find what they need.
• Accepting donations of items and money from the public.
• Processing sales through the till and card machine.
• Sorting through donated items to determine what we can sell.
• Preparing donated items for sale by steaming and hanging items.
• Merchandising stock on the shop floor.
• Creating attractive shop window displays.

What we are looking for in a volunteer Charity Shop Assistant

• Retail experience is not necessary as full training will be given.
• Friendly approach to customers and if stockroom based – enjoy working with other staff and volunteers.
• We are ideally aiming for someone who is flexible and can offer an ongoing commitment predominately for one or two days a week (we’re open Monday - Sunday)
• A passion for the charity and animals in general
• You will need to be aged 16 or over.

What we can offer you as a volunteer Charity Shop Assistant

• A way to meet new people and make new friends in your local area.
• A place where you will learn excellent new skills to add to your CV, such as customer service, multi-tasking, merchandising, and many more.
• An excellent induction and training programme relevant to your role.
• The opportunity to make a huge difference to the welfare of animals.

We hope you are interested in volunteering for our branch! For more information and to apply, please contact our shop at shop@rspcahertseast.org.uk or call into the shop and talk to Joe - our Manager who can provide you with an application form.

As one of our volunteers we will ask you to provide contact details for two referees. You will also undergo specific training before starting the role.