Trainee Lead Volunteer Weekdays or weekends shifts available - (St. John's Wood)

As a Lead Volunteer, you will assist the shop manager in leading, managing and planning for the development of a shop team. We’ll give you ongoing training and support to get you ready to lead a shift, train your team, and be left in charge. Best of all you’ll be raising vital funds to support people facing poverty around the world.

About this role

At Oxfam, we believe in empowering you by giving you training and opportunities to learn new skills, develop old skills, and make the most out of your time with us. For this key role, you don’t need to have any leadership or retail experience – we’ve got you covered. You can also get some lunch and travel costs too. Whatever you need, we’re here to help.

As a Lead Volunteer you’ll make a big difference while you develop your own skills that boost your confidence. In this role, we’ll support you to:

• Effectively delegate responsibilities and coach individuals and teams
• Improve your communication skills in this customer-facing role
• Foster an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome
• Follow important policies around safeguarding, Health and Safety, and trading regulations
• Opening, closing and managing the shop in the shop manager’s absence

Volunteering that works for you

Volunteering can be very flexible to suit you. Training to be a Lead Volunteer can take anything from a few weeks to several months – everyone goes at the pace that’s right for them. If you’re not sure about this role but want to start as a standard volunteer, get in touch and we will find something right for you. By volunteering for a few hours a week, you will meet new people and have some fun for a good cause.

What you will be doing

• Effectively delegating responsibilities and coaching individuals and teams
• Supervising volunteers and ensuring safeguarding and health and safety policies are follow and acted on as appropriate, reporting any concerns
• Maximising the income from donations, Sourced by Oxfam and Gift Aid
• Opening, closing and managing the shop in the shop manager’s absence
• Keeping up to date with Oxfam’s internal communications and sharing any news with the shop team to ensure compliance with current requirements

The skills you need

• You do not need specific skills and experience, but the following will be useful:
• Enthusiastic and committed to achieving shop aims and objectives and motivating others
• Ability to work within Oxfam’s policies and shop guidelines
• Ability to work collaboratively with the shop manager and the shop team
• Commitment to Oxfam’s values of empowerment, accountability and inclusiveness
• Ability to work well as part of a team and under own initiative
• Helpful and friendly
• Ability to deal in a tactful and professional manner with confidential information and sensitive situations

What's in it for you

• Ongoing training and support
• Gain valuable leadership experience
• Some lunch and travel costs
• Improve transferable skills and boost your CV
• Grow your confidence and meet new people
• We can be flexible around your education, family, work, or health etc.
• Possible references for future employers

What happens next?

After you apply the manager will ask you to come in for an initial chat. This is not an interview, just a chance to get an idea of what you'd like to do in the shop. From there you can meet the rest of the volunteer team and get involved with whatever area of the shop takes your interest!

We need one reference and proof of ID for all volunteers and ask you to sign up to Oxfam's Code of Conduct. This role may require an enhanced DBS/PVG check, paid for by Oxfam.