Volunteer retail assistant

Role description
Volunteer in a Red Cross Shop and support our work helping communities both here and overseas.
Our 50 shops across the country sell mainly second-hand clothing and household items. They provide affordable shopping for the community, funding for our humanitarian work, and support sustainability through recycling unwanted items.
Your tasks
Your volunteer role in a Red Cross Shop will include:
- Unpacking and sorting goods.
- Greeting and serving customers.
- Restocking and merchandising the shop.
Volunteer requirements and training
We need friendly people with good communication skills and a can-do attitude. An eye for design is always a bonus.
You’ll receive on-the-job training, and we can help you get your Certificate in Retail from Service IQ. This programme is free and available to volunteers who have been with us for 3 months. It takes 6-9 months and can cover Level 2 to Level 4.
Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW)
We all have a responsibility for our own and others’ Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) when undertaking activities on behalf of Red Cross. Therefore, it is important you:
- Take reasonable care of your own health and safety, do not adversely affect the HSW of others
- Complete health, safety and wellbeing induction, training, programmes and activities – as directed. - Follow all reasonable instructions given to you relating to HSW.
- Cooperate and comply with New Zealand Red Cross policies, standards and procedures related to health, safety, and wellbeing.
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE) if required, to undertake any work activity
- If you identify a hazard and/or you are involved in an incident or near miss, report this straight away to your people leader
- Know what to do in an emergency – for example, how to escape during a fire or what to do if an earthquake occurs
- You must tell someone in charge if you have any health and safety concerns or worried about someone else’s health and safety
- New Zealand Police - support services (child/youth)
“I love talking to the people, and the camaraderie with the people and with other volunteers.”
Chris Datson, volunteer retail assistant