Would volunteering do you some good?

There are lots of reasons why people choose to volunteer with their local community furniture reuse charity. For many it is an opportunity to gain valuable work skills. Opportunities include:

• receptionist
• telephonist
• data entry
• driving
• van assistance
• warehouse assistance
• electrical engineering

1. Working with the furniture reuse charities can help people back into work by improving their skills and providing an up to date work reference.
   
   
2. Many people have some spare time and wish to meet new people by working in a friendly team environment. Others wish to put something back into their local community and help those in need.
   
   
3. Where ever you live in London there will be a furniture reuse charity near you that needs your help. If you are interested in finding out more about volunteering and training opportunities contact your local project for current vacancies.
   
   
4. Projects will cover your travel expenses, and if you are claiming benefits these will not be affected, so you will not be out of pocket. 
   
   
5. Everyone is welcome as all the charities recruit both men and women from all cultural groups and all abilities.

Case Sudies

Read below some of the incredible stories of the people who have benefited from volunteering at furniture reuse charities: 

• Wins is a volunteer at ReStore:
  "I haven’t been able to work since being  diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, but a few months ago my daughter started school, and I wanted to do more with my time than just sit around the house. Once I’d decided to do some voluntary work ReStore  seemed the obvious place to give my time to.”
  
  Wins now volunteers in ReStore’s office a few days a week, and structures his hours around looking after his daughter. He mainly helps out on the phones, answering queries, giving out information and booking in collections.
  
  
• Marie is a university student.
  Like many students she has a spare day. To make the most of her time Marie decided to help out one day a week at FAST to help the environment whilst gaining work experience to add onto her CV.
  
  Marie helps out on the phones and in the office with data input.
  “It’s good to be able to help people out and there’s a really lively spirit at the charity so it’s really fun to work here.”
  
  
• Many of the furniture reuse charities work with volunteers who have mental health issues.
  Billy has volunteered at Hillingdon Furniture Store for the last 10 years helping with the delivery/ collection of reusable furniture as a part of the van crew team.
  Billy finds that volunteering at the project helped him overcome his feeling of isolation at home. "If it wasn't for the Furniture store I would be staring at the wall at home, with no one to talk to".
  
  
• Jimmy used to work at Hillingdon Furniture Store cleaning the furniture and keeping the office and kitchen areas in good condition as well.
  Through volunteering at the project Jimmy gained experience of the working environment and he says “After being here I feel I want to get work. As advised by Shahin [the project manager] I can see I need training and have decided to go to Uxbridge College."
  Jimmy is now studying and with his work experience at the Furniture Store will be in a better position to find employment.
  
  
• The furniture reuse charities provide a secure place for people with mental health issues to work and train. Henry volunteers at Furniture Scheme Richmond upon Thames. Henry is an essential part of the team carrying out furniture repairs and organising the warehouse space, using his painting and decorating skills.
  
  
• Tim completes the loop at HomeStore from client to volunteer. “About 3 years ago, I was in a hostel and got allocated a property by the council. There was absolutely nothing in it, just a cement floor, which I had to sleep on for the first two nights.  Then I got referred to HomeStore and with a grant from the council was able to buy a fridge freezer, cooker, washing machine, bed and bedding.  That was what I needed right then.  HomeStore really did get me out of a right pickle.”
  Since then Tim has started to volunteer at HomeStore. Working 3 days a week he helps out in the office, answering the phone, inputting data on the computer, helping out in the warehouse, and serving customers. “I enjoy volunteering here; it is really a matter of giving something back to the people who helped me.  I still have the washing machine, fridge and cooker and they’re still working, despite having been second hand when I  bought them.”
  
  
• Debbie used to volunteer at Shaftesbury Resources Centre and has now become a paid employee as a telephonist, booking in the collections and deliveries and answering queries, as part of the customer service team.
  
  
• George works 4 days a week, at Furnish, welcoming clients and assisting  them around the show room to select the right furniture for their needs.
  He is a valued volunteer with lots of experience and so he supports the new volunteers to the project, giving them a helping hand when they are starting out. “My view of volunteering is that it is very rewarding. I have met many interesting people in my time at Furnish.  I would also highly recommend volunteering to those who are not afraid of some hard work”.
  George has received two awards for his volunteering work.

For further details about volunteering and training opportunities download the volunteering leaflet.