Title: Retail Volunteer
Location of role: Opportunities are within all our 36 retail outlets. You can select the shops you are interested in during the online application process.
Daily Hours: A typical shift would be 4 hours. (9am-1pm or 1pm-5pm) Alternative hours can be disscussed to suit the individual.
Within our team of over 1000 volunteers, Dove House Hospice could not provide such vital care to the local community.
Our volunteers provide a vital part of our team.
Volunteering for Dove House hospice can be rewarding in many ways such as:
- Meeting new people and Friends
-Enhance your CV
- Enhace your wellbeing
- Feel valued and part of a team- Build your confidence, Skills and Experiance
But most of all you will be making a difference to the Local people
A little bit about us…..
Dove House Hospice are specialists in palliative care, which is the total care of patients whose illness is no longer curable and for whom the goal must be quality of life
The hospice supports patients and those who care about them to live every moment. It is our vision to provide a sustainable, comfortable and caring environment in which to offer exceptional person centred care
All roles throughout the organisation contribute to making our vision a reality for those who rely on us to provide the care that is right for them, in the place of their choice.
If you are looking for a new challenge and the opportunity to make a real difference, we would love to hear from you.
About the role:
The key responsibilities within this role will all be in relation to Volunteering in a charity retail outlet. A typical day will involve taking receipt of donations from members of the public and also from our retail distribution centre, sorting through the donations and categorising them into items of good quality that can be resold and those that will be recycled. Awareness is needed of those items we are unable to accept for safety reasons.
You will be assisting in getting the good quality items prepared for sale by hanging, steaming and pricing them
Working alongside the Shop Manager, Assistant Shop Manager other volunteers you will help merchandise the sales floor displaying the prepared items in line with our guidelines using colour blocking and creating eye catching displays, you will develop skills in visual merchandising.
Along with our retail dept. We also have voluntary vacancies within our E-Commerce team & Distribution Centre Assistants. (More information on these roles can be found within the attached Job Descriptions)
FAQs
Who can volunteer?
Almost anyone! Dove House is committed to ensuring equality of opportunity for everyone who would like to volunteer with us. Our volunteers are students, job seekers, retired workers and full-time employees.
Do I need particular skills to volunteer?
Most volunteering roles do not require special skills or qualifications with enthusiasm, good communication and a smile are the most important traits required. We do try to match the volunteering role to the volunteer’s skills however all the relevant training is provided. Some roles which do require certain skills/qualifications, this will be clearly stated in the Volunteer Task Profile.
How old do I need to be?
In our Retail shops, the minimum age for volunteering is 16 years old. However, the minimum age to volunteer in any patient-facing roles is 18 years old. All Volunteer Task Profiles state the minimum age.
Can I volunteer as part of my Duke of Edinburgh Award?
We have many students who choose to volunteer in our Retail shops as part of their D. of E. As a volunteer we ask for a commitment of a 3.5 hour shift per week in order to get the benefit of the training provided by our team.
Will I need to attend an interview?
Yes, all of our volunteer roles require a face to face informal chat with the manager of the team that you wish to be a part of. This gives the opportunity for both parties to ask any questions, see the environment where you will be volunteering and, of course, meet the team.
Do I need to provide a Reference when I apply?
Yes please! If the role is patient-facing then we will need two. References should ideally be from people who know you in a professional capacity e.g. from somewhere you have worked, volunteered or studied. Referees should have known you for at least two years, and must not be related to you. Please speak to your Referees and let them know that we will be contacting them – this can speed up the recruitment process.
When can I start?
You can start almost straight away in the retail dept unless your role requires a DBS check. If this is the case a start date can take a little longer.
I am receiving benefits - can I still volunteer?
Yes you can, volunteering is recognised as giving you a better chance of finding paid work. It is a good idea to discuss your volunteering with your contact at the benefit agency so they are in the picture. Many people start volunteering when they are unemployed as a way to learn new skills and gain experience to help them find a job.
I have a disability; can I volunteer with Dove House?
We welcome applications from anyone interested in volunteering with Dove House, including if you are living with a disability. We will discuss with you extra support that you might need.
If you require any further information on Volunteering for the retail dept, Please feel free to contact our People & Development team on 01482 785740.