Charity Shop Volunteer

I started volunteering in Basildon Mind’s charity shop in June 2023. My paid job had stopped and I was sitting at home with little to do. I thought volunteering in a shop would teach me new skills. My mum’s a Counsellor at Basildon Mind. She brought an application form home. I filled it in and Shop Manager Julie contacted me almost straight away.

I started doing 2 shifts per week. My first job was ‘steaming’ clothes. This was great because I was tucked away in the corner of the back of the shop, which gave me time to get used to the place and meet the people. I loved the supportive atmosphere and family feel. There are some great people at the shop.

Once settled in, wanted to do more so Julie started me on till training. Another volunteer John, who is older and wiser taught me how to perform the till role. There’s more to it that you’d think: as well as entering items and their prices and collecting payment, there’s the whole business of interacting with customers. I was nervous about both pushing buttons and meeting new people.

Once I understood how the till worked, it wasn’t as scary as I’d thought. Trainer John was so patient and gave me all the time I needed to learn. More important was the fact he always had my back – he was always there for me if I needed him. We worked together for 2 months during which I gained experience facing off to customers. I was gradually left alone until I worked by myself. I felt like I’d climbed up a rung on my personal ladder of life.

Dealing with people is a challenge. As well as taking payment and clarifying prices, I had to watch out for shoplifters or people trying to hassle the price down. I learnt how to be assertive when needed, which made me feel great. Learning how to deal with people with confidence was like climbing another rung on my ladder.

I feared the worst but I found that I could do it on my own. If I make a mistake, a manager would come and help me. Knowing that the manager had my back made me feel more relaxed. It was definitely not as bad as I thought. In fact, my confidence developed and I learned not to put myself down and fear the worst. I could do this now!

I always wanted another paid job but lacked the confidence to try. My experience in the shop taught me not to fear the worst because things aren’t as bad as I used to fear. After about a year I started looking for a job. I applied for a position assisting a gardener. I got the job and left the shop. However, after a few months the work dried up. I’m now about to start new a delivery job. This time I should have time to volunteer in the shop again in between paid work. The shop has served me well and I want to give something back.

My advice to others is volunteering gives you experience. It’s great to learn new skills in a friendly, supportive environment. It builds up your self-confidence and stops you worrying – why not give it a go?