"I just love meeting the public, getting out and about, and talking to people."

Sarah Taylor, from Cowes, has been a shop volunteer since 2009 and tells us why she decided to get involved.

“My mum Brenda was quite a bubbly character, everybody loved her!

"When she became poorly, she started coming up to the John Cheverton Centre, and that’s when I decided I wanted to give something back.

"I first started volunteering in the Ryde shop, but I’ve also helped at the Newport warehouse and the Cowes shop. Now, I volunteer in the Ryde and Newport shops.

"I just love meeting the public, getting out and about, and talking to people. We do get our regulars in, and we have a good conversation with them and a good rapport. I’ve also gained an NVQ 2 in Retail with the hospice, and I’m training to be a shop manager once I’ve built up enough experience.

"When mum was really poorly, the hospice nurses did everything they could for her; they looked after her so well, I just can’t fault them.

"And they also looked after me – they gave me a taxi home and back again because I don’t drive, which meant that I could get home, shower, and then come back and see her. I spent the last few nights with her at the hospice."

Join our retail team and help raise the vital funds we need to care for more people like Sarah's mum.

Read the full role description

Ready to apply?

Apply online

Not sure just yet?

Try a no-obligation taster session in one of our shops. A taster session lasts for around two hours and gives you the opportunity to try out the different tasks involved in the retail volunteer role, see the environment and learn a bit more about how our shops work before you decide whether you would like to volunteer for us.

Or pop into your local shop to arrange.