Shop assistant volunteer

Our vision for volunteering

Volunteering is and always will be at the heart of Cats Protection. It is joyful and inclusive. As a charity, working in partnership, together we transform the lives of cats, people and communities.

The difference you will make to cats and people

Our shops promote sustainable shopping habits while raising vital funds for our cat companions. Central to their success are our shop volunteers who help with all aspects of the day-to-day running of our fantastic shops, serving customers, helping with stock rotation, creating displays, and everything in between!

You can expect us to

• Make you feel welcome, included and respected in line with our values and behaviours
• Ensure you have a volunteer manager who will support you to have a positive volunteering experience
• Support you in having a positive and impactful experience at Cats Protection
• Cover agreed out-of-pocket expenses in line with our Expenses Policy
• Provide you with access to learning, development and engagement opportunities
• A bit more information about this role and the team

Our brand-new Skipton store is due to open on the 26 November, so we’ll be looking for our new volunteers to start then. To welcome our new volunteers and get you up to speed, we’re aiming to hold a volunteer induction session(s) during the week commencing 16 November.

What we need from you

This is a really flexible role. We’ll help you choose what you’d like to get involved with, making sure it benefits both you and the shop.

• Serving customers and using the till (full training provided for over 16's)
• Helping to make our shops welcoming and enjoyable places for customers to visit
• Helping to make sure our shops are organised and tidy
• Sorting, selecting, steaming (over 16 years only), sizing and pricing clothes for sale from donated stock
• Identifying and pricing items from donated stock and creating eye-catching displays
• Helping us to create content for engaging social media posts (you’ll need to be aged 18+ to post content)
• Whether you thrive being customer-facing, or prefer volunteering behind the scenes, we’ll chat with you about your preferences

Time expectation 

Some of our shop assistant volunteers enjoy being in the shop for a few hours per week, others a bit less. It varies and is flexible.

You may be just the volunteer we've been looking for!

If you have any questions about the role, please get in touch with your local shop for an informal conversation.

We are committed to building a diverse, compassionate and inclusive organisation where everyone can be themselves and do their best. We are courageous and compassionate in our purpose of helping people see the world through cats’ eyes. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we are all for cats. Join the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and help make a better life for cats, because life is better with cats.