Despite never having worked face-to-face with customers before, volunteer Tina quickly took to greeting customers and managing the till at Parity’s North Camp shop four years ago, and is a familiar, friendly face at 69 Camp Road.
After retiring from a career in the NHS as a clinical coding manager, Tina wanted to do something different to fill her spare time and was interested in helping the community. A regular customer at the North Camp shop, she asked if volunteers were needed. She’s never looked back!
Although it was a learning curve at first, dealing with all kinds of customers and learning how the shop is run, Tina says she likes the positive, fun atmosphere. “We love to see the sunny side of life and have a good laugh,” she says. “You get to build a connection with customers. And it’s nice to know you’re helping the community.”
It’s important, Tina says, to be personable, be patient, and get along well with people of all ages. Tina really enjoys the wide age-range of the customers. Young people in particular are visiting charity shops far more.
Tina’s advice to others thinking about volunteering is that you’ll feel that you’re doing something to help and feel rewarded by it. So go for it!
More about our shops: www.parityfordisability.org.uk/shops
More about volunteering for Parity: www.parityfordisability.org.uk/volunteering