Shops join National Volunteers Week celebrations - and call for more helpers

A CHARITY which supports young mothers and vulnerable families is urging people to volunteer at one of its new charity shops.

The Yorkshire branch of the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) needs more volunteers to work at its stores in Dinnington and Conisbrough and has launched a recruitment drive during National Volunteer Week, which is held in the first week of June.

The Dinnington store, which opened on Laughton Road in May last year, has three part-time volunteers while the Conisbrough store, which opened on Church Street last August, has two part-time volunteers.

Both stores are run by paid members of staff but the aim to is to have both shops entirely volunteer-led.

The shops sell clothes, toys, books, CD’s, DVD’s, games, accessories and bric a brac and all of the profits go to YWCA which supports women and young families in need of support.

The charity has supported more than 120 women and families in Rotherham alone.

The YWCA was founded to provide safe hostel accommodation to Florence Nightingale’s nurses while they were on their way to Crimea and its Conisbrough store acknowledges this with a display based on the nurse’s work.

Nicole Cannon, interim volunteer co-ordinator, said: “The stores are currently run by paid members of staff but that is putting stress on our service.

“We’re looking at getting both of these stores entirely volunteer-led.

“Our store in Sheffield is entirely volunteer-led and it runs perfectly.

“If someone can do a morning a week or two days a week then we’d like to hear from you.”

Nicole said the YWCA had projects in Mexborough, Rotherham and Sheffield and offered a wide range of support.

“We have a women’s hostel and offer a range of programmes which teach a variety of basic life skills,” she said.

The life skills courses offered by the charity are backed by accreditation body NOCN and teach skills such as cooking, budgeting and managing bills.

Holly Holyhead (24), of Brampton, joined the Conisbrough store as a volunteer last October after leaving university.

“I had no experience in retail, I had just left university and didn’t really know what to do so I thought I would so some volunteering,” said Holly.

“It’s been absolutely brilliant — I wasn’t very confident before and now I’m here and everyone’s really supportive of me.”

Sharon Watson, manager of the Dinnington store, said: “Volunteers don’t need any qualifications — they just need to be eager and to have a certain standard of customer service.

“If they do full days we will provide them with lunch and travel expenses and we can offer them a qualification.”

Induction days will be held at the Dinnington store on Tuesday, June 25 and at the Conisbrough store on Thursday, June 27.

Visitors to the induction days will receive a free welcome pack and training on the day.

Volunteers do not need any prior experience or qualifications before applying and will receive training for their role.

Anyone interested in applying can email Nicole on [email protected], call HR manager Diane Offers on 07949 020827 or visit one of the YWCA charity shops.