Reuse Shop Volunteer

Renew North Tyneside supports the North Tyneside Council’s commitment to sustainability by diverting reusable items away from landfill, promoting repair/reuse, and offering affordable household goods to the community. The shop forms part of broader community partnerships focused on circular economy principles and social value initiatives. The model includes receiving donations, repairing items where possible, supporting community workshops, and maintaining a welcoming retail environment.

Purpose of the Volunteer Role

Volunteers play a vital role in helping the shop run smoothly. This includes supporting day‑to‑day retail tasks, preparing donated items for sale, and contributing to an inclusive and community‑focused atmosphere that reflects the shop’s mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Customer Service & Shop Floor
• Welcome customers and provide friendly assistance.
• Maintain an inviting shop environment and contribute to visual merchandising.
• Process sales using the shop’s till systems (training provided).

Donations & Stock Processing

• Assist with receiving and sorting donations from the public and the Household Waste & Recycling Centre.
• Clean, assess, and prepare items for resale following shop guidelines.
• Support stock rotation, pricing, and display.

 Repair, Reuse & Workshop Support

•  Help prepare materials for repair or upcycling activities.
• Where appropriate, support community workshops or repair demonstrations.
• (Optional) Undertake Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) for electrical donations. Training provided.

 Creating a Welcoming Community Space

• Contribute to a positive, inclusive atmosphere for customers, donors, and workshop participants.
• Promote the reuse shop’s values around sustainability, waste reduction, and community support.

 Back‑of‑House Tasks

• Keep storage and sorting areas organised.
• Assist with online sales preparation or photography if applicable.

If you’re interested in the role and would like to find out more, contact the volunteer co‑ordinator by email at hello@northtynesidebiglocal.org

or call 0191 2523570.

Skills

- Friendly and approachable with good communication skills.

- Enthusiasm for sustainability, reuse, and community‑driven activities.

- Reliability and willingness to work as part of a team.

- Basic level of physical fitness for lifting and moving stock.

- No prior retail experience required—full training provided.

What You’ll Gain

• Experience in retail, sustainability, and community‑based work.
• Opportunity to develop skills such as customer service, merchandising, repair/reuse knowledge, and workshop delivery.
• Travel expenses (and lunch costs during shift) reimbursed.
• Training opportunities (e.g., PAT testing, shop operations).
• Positive environment with staff support and volunteer socials.

 Additional Information

• Volunteers must adhere to North Tyneside Big Local’s safeguarding expectations, especially when engaging with vulnerable adults or children.
• All volunteers will receive an induction, role‑specific training, and ongoing support.