A case study from Cerebral Palsy Cymru, part of our #CharityShopVolunteersWales campaign in partnership with the Charity Retail Association.
GEORGE PARRY, RETAIL OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR CEREBRAL PALSY CYMRU.
‘As Retail Operations Manager, I experience firsthand the positive difference volunteering makes to both our volunteers and the charity as a whole.
‘Our volunteers are the backbone of our charity shops, without them we simply wouldn’t be able to open our doors and welcome customers into our shops.
‘One of our volunteers, Wadhah Obad, began volunteering in our charity shops after being recommended to do so by “Bridge the Gap”. He enjoys interacting with the customers and always completes his tasks with a smile on his face – whether it is hanging and steaming the clothes at the back of the shop or serving the customers on the till.
‘His English language skills have improved since he began volunteering with us and it is clear that he has also gained a new sense of confidence, which as his manager is so lovely to see.
‘Another of our volunteers, Benjamin Anthony, used to be a regular customer in our Crwys Rd shop as a student before signing up to some volunteering as he wanted to gain some retail experience and give something back to the local community.
‘Benjamin is only a few weeks into his role as a volunteer with us, but he has already learnt so much and gained some valuable experience which I am sure will help him take his first steps towards finding a job now that he has left university. He is enjoying gaining experience in all areas of the shop – from working on the till to sorting through the deliveries and assisting with stock takes – and every shift he does he seems more confident in his role. He especially likes interacting with our customers!
‘As a charity, Cerebral Palsy Cymru needs to raise £1.8M every year to continue to provide its current level of service. As a small charity that relies on donations and fundraising activity for around 80% of our income, the money raised via the sale of preloved goods in our shops is crucial in enabling us to continue providing an essential service for children and families living with cerebral palsy across Wales.‘
If you would like to find out more about Cerebral Palsy Cymru’s charity shops, please visit: www.cerebralpalsycymru.org/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/be-a-shop-volunteer.
If you would like to find out more about volunteering in one of their charity shops, please visit: www.cerebralpalsycymru.org/charity-shops.
#CHARITYSHOPVOLUNTEERSWALES
This week (from 12 October 2020) WCVA in partnership with the Charity Retail Association will be sharing the stories of charity shop volunteers in Wales. Keep an eye on WCVA’s website and social media (where we’ll be using #CharityShopVolunteersWales) to hear about a range of different experiences from individuals volunteering in charity shops.
Volunteering during the pandemic should only be done with due care and consideration for the wellbeing of volunteers, staff and customers. You’ll find safeguarding guidance on our Covid-19 guidance and resources page. For information about limitations or considerations for local lockdowns in wales visit: gov.wales/local-lockdown.