Volunteer vacancies
If you spot a post that appeals to you, fill in the Volunteer Application form and return it to the manager concerned who will then contact you directly.
And while you are waiting for the right volunteer post to be advertised on the
website why not consider donating some spare time in your local Oxfam shop? It
will give you a fantastic insight into the hub of the UK's largest charity and
will put you in an ideal position when that perfect volunteer slot comes up.
Latest volunteer vacancies
Children’s Department Specialist
Administrative Helper – 2 vacancies
Bridal Specialists – 4 posts available
Wedding Dress Sorter and Packer
Accounts Assistant – Income and Accounts Payable teams
Location:
Oxford head office, Cowley Business Park
Commitment:
15 - 20 hours a week (eg 3-4 hours 5 days a week, or 4-5 hours 4 days a week, or 5 hours 3 days a week) minimum of 3 months, preferably longer.
Department:
UK Finance Income Team (accounting for Oxfam’s income) and Accounts Payable team (paying invoices).
Key Responsibilities:
- Checking invoice authorisations against a database of signatures and names
- Contributing towards reconciliations, month end and year end accounting work using excel
- Following up incomplete banking information
- Writing letters
- General accounting work supporting the Income and AP teams as required
Skills and competences:
- Reasonable level of numeracy
- Experience of Excel and Word
- Good accuracy and attention to detail
- Enjoy working in a team
- Live in reasonable daily travelling distance to Oxford
Deadline: N/a
Interview date: TBC
Start date: TBC
Contact: Becky Morris
Email: bmorris@oxfam.org.uk
Tel: 01865 473878
Wedding Dress Sorter
Location:
Oxfam Offices, Bicester OX26 4RF
Commitment:
Flexible. Up to1 day a week or two half days. The amount of time will vary depending on the amount of donations
Department:
Oxfam Bridal is seeking a volunteer to help sort donated wedding dresses which will be sold in the 10 bridal wear departments. Most of the dresses are given by designers and bridal shops. Many are ex-catwalk and are in mint condition. Prior to the dresses reaching the shops they need to be sorted and packed to ensure that they stay in excellent condition ready for distribution. The volunteer will work alongside the Bridal Co-ordinator ,Barbara Walmsley.
Key Responsibilities:
- Checking that the donated wedding dresses are of a high quality for prospective brides
- Sharing the excitement when a really stunning dress arrives and you know that it will sell quickly and for a good price.
- Sorting the wedding dresses into specific styles e.g. strapless, vintage, etc
- Packing the dresses into boxes, to ensure they are protected and ready for transporting to one of the Oxfam bridal wear shops
- Liaising with the Bridal Coordinator and Shop Managers regarding their requirements and identifying any shortages in stock
- Assisting the Bridal Co-ordinator in valuing the donations and building up an understanding of which styles of dresses sell well in which Oxfam shops
Skills and competences:
- A great eye for detail – to ensure that dresses are of high quality ready for resale.
- An Interest or appreciation of wedding dress design and style (Training will be given)
- Good communication skills
- Some lifting of the boxed wedding dresses will be required
What can Oxfam offer me?
- Opportunity to get involved in this exciting and specialised part of Oxfam’s shops division.
- Oxfam Bridal continues to have a high PR profile as the emphasis on ethical and sustainability grows
- Training in identifying styles and types of wedding dress and in the correct and appropriate storage of wedding dresses
- A chance to help Oxfam to maximise the value from donated wedding dresses to ensure that we get the value for our development programmes
Deadline: 28 November 2008
Interview date: TBC
Start date: TBA
Contact: Barbara Walmsley, Oxfam Bridal coordinator
Email: bgwalmsley@netscape.net
Oxjam Support Team Officers
Location:
Home Based. South West Wales, Central England, Shropshire Hereford and Worcester and North East Scotland.
Commitment:
4+ hours a week, whenever you can do it, from November 2008 until April 2009.
Department:
Oxjam is a music festival with a difference. Every year people like you put on thousands of music events all over the country, all to raise money for Oxfam.
Your local Oxjam Support Team needs you! This teams purpose is to spread the word to recruit local event organisers and then to support these local events to raise as much money as possible for Oxfam. As a team you’ll also be expected to organize fundraising events in October, to raise money to fund your Team’s work.
Key Responsibilities:
There are multiple roles available, all of which offer great work experience and a friendly environment, including:
- Media and Marketing Officer:
Co-ordinating local media activity. Writing and selling in press releases and supporting event organisers with their event promotion.
Marketing the dispersed Oxjam activity in your region as a whole, coherent festival. - Treasurer and Resources Officer:
Working with you local team and local suppliers to source and produce low cost team materials (flyers, posters, banners etc). Integrating Oxjam activity with local Oxfam shops and ensuring that money from events is paid into Oxfam in a timely manner. - Recruitment and Relationships Officer:
Working with local partners to recruit event organisers in your area. Building and maintaining relationships with local venues, bands, businesses, universities, and councils. - Support Officer:
Supporting event organisers already signed up in your region to maximise the fundraising potential of their events. Providing one to one email and phone support to event organisers.
Skills and competences:
- Well connected in your local music scene (whatever the genre)
- Great communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Able to keep accurate records
- You’ll be working with your local team to do all this so it’s important that you are a team player.
Deadline: 12pm on 17 November 2008
Interview date: TBC
Start date: ASAP
Contact: Claire Arthur
Email: Carthur@oxfam.org.uk
Tel: 01865 472025
Influencing Business - Events Researcher
Location:
Oxford House, Oxford
Commitment:
Flexible – home or office; completed by Christmas 2008 approximately 10 days work to be completed at volunteer’s convenience e.g. one day a week or 2 afternoons. Potential for role to be extended beyond the Christmas deadline should the successful applicant wish to continue working with Oxfam.
Department:
This is a cross-divisional initiative that looks at how Oxfam GB influences and works with business in poverty alleviation.
Key Responsibilities:
You will investigate and assess conferences and events that are coming up in the next 18 months at which Oxfam should be speaking
- Compile a complete list of past events, forums and conferences that Oxfam has attended or spoken at, where there were a high number of business attendees
- Assess in conjunction with the team how influential these forums were
- Research other potential forums
- Recommend which events the Private Sector Advocacy Team should focus on in the coming 18 months, given current objectives
- Identify key contacts to discuss speaking arrangements
Skills and competences:
- Good communication skills
- Able to work independently to a clear objective
- Good administrative skills
- Lateral thinking
- Ability to meet deadlines
Deadline: 21 November, 2008
Interview date: W/c 24 November
Start date: ASAP
Contact: Penny Fowler
Please send in your CV for this position.
Email: pfowler@oxfam.org.uk
Retail Assistant
Location:
Chiswick
Commitment:
To be agreed
Department:
Trading
Key Responsibilities:
Our shop in Chiswick is a flagship Boutique offering what was described in the Daily Telegraph as the ,’ best sustainable fashion offering the British retail sector has come up with so far. ‘ As a volunteer you will be:
- Valuing donations of clothing.
- Serving customers.
- Merchandising the shop.
- Acting as an ambassador for Oxfam in this high profile shop.
Skills and competences:
- Enthusiasm for retail in general and clothing in particular
- A commitment to excellent customer service.
Deadline: On-going
Interview date: To be agreed
Start date: To be agreed
Contact: Derek Sims: HR Advisor
Email: dsims@oxfam.org.uk
Tel: 07957 887571
Media Volunteer
Location:
Oxfam Office, Glasgow
Commitment:
2 days per week
Department:
Oxfam in Scotland’s Campaigns team seeks to recruit and develop supporters to campaign on issues, to impact on the political agenda and to raise awareness and understanding through public education. Volunteers are essential in enhancing the team’s ability to achieve its purpose.
Key Responsibilities:
- Providing media support for Oxfam shops in Scotland
- Working with new media
- Writing press releases
- Doing newspaper review
- Media administration
Skills and competences:
- Good communications skills
- Ability to write clearly and concisely
- An understanding of the Scottish media
- An understanding of Facebook and Bebo
- An eye to spot and develop a story
What can Oxfam offer me as a volunteer?
- To be able to build portfolio of press cuttings for any stories that you write
- An understanding of how the media works
- The ability to work across a number of Oxfam projects
- Experience writing stories and dealing directly with the media to ensure the stories appear in print or are broadcast
- The chance to gain work experience that will be of great value to anyone wanting to work in the media!
Deadline: ongoing
Interview date: TBA
Start date: TBA
Contact: Eileen Clarkson
Email: eclarkson@oxfam.org.uk
Customer Service
Location:
Oundle Oxfam shop
Commitment:
Every Saturday morning or afternoon up to and including christmas
Key Responsibilities:
- Serving customers
- Till work
- Stock replenishment
- Accepting donated stock
- Cashing up at end of day
Skills and competences:
- Enjoy meeting people
- Honest and trustworthy
- Ability to use own initiative
- No experience required as training will be given
Deadline: No deadline
Interview date: TBA
Start date: As soon as possible
Contact: Jean Smale or Lisa How
Email: Oxfamshopf2511@btconnect.com
Tel: 01733/563717 / 01832/274276
Children’s Department Specialist
Location:
South Oxhey Oxfam Shop
Commitment:
This role could be carried out at any time during opening hours to suit the volunteer.
2-3 hours once or twice a week would be ideal.
Department name:
The children’s department at the South Oxhey Oxfam shop includes clothing, toys, videos and books
Key Responsibilities:
- Keeping children’s department tidy and replenished with fresh stock
- Sorting donations of clothing and toys, etc..
- Checking items for condition.
- Pricing items for sale.
- Helping customers as part of a team.
Skills and competences:
- Some experience/willingness to learn of current children’s fashion.
- Experience/willingness to learn of current children’s toys.
- Ability to check toys, adding batteries where necessary.
Deadline: No deadline
Interview date: Not applicable
Start date: As soon as possible
Contact: Jenny Mitchener, South Oxhey Oxfam Shop Manager
Email: jennifermitchener@hotmail.com
Tel: 01923 251067 / 07739322385 (Shop: 02084211491)
Administrative Helper – 2 vacancies
Location:
South Oxhey
Commitment:
Weekly 1-2 hours at weekend or Monday. No specific time.
Department name and brief description:
Weekly accounting of sales figures and takings.
Key Responsibilities:
- Completing weekly sales figures form and posting or emailing.
- Submitting figures by phone or email
- Monitoring sales by spreadsheet
Skills and competences:
- Good numeracy skills
- Computer skills- emailing, spreadsheets.
Deadline: No deadline
Interview date: TBA
Start date: TBA
Contact: Jenny Mitchener - Shop Manager
Email: jennifermitchener@hotmail.com
Tel: 01923 251067
Mob: 07739322385
Bridal Specialists – 4 posts available
Location:
Leatherhead, Surrey.
Commitment:
Thursday 13.30 - 17.00
Friday 10.00 - 13.30
Saturday 10.00 - 13.30
Saturday 13.30 - 17.00
Department name and brief description:
The Bridal Room.
Bridal dresses, accessories sold on a viewing by appointment only basis.Key Responsibilities:
- Assisting potential bridal customer on a one to one basis with trying dresses, advice and accessorising.
- Sorting and cataloguing new donations.
- Taking appointments by phone.
- Maintaining a high standard of one to one customer service.
- Taking payments, deposits and relevant paperwork.
Skills and competences:
- Ideally experienced in the Bridal industry, or high quality clothing background. Full training to the right candidate is available.
- Discreet manner essential.
- Confident working on a personal basis.
- Able to lift Bridal dresses safely due to their weight.
- May suit fashion students with a particular interest in Bridal wear.
Deadline: Open
Interview date: TBA
Start date: TBA
Contact: Sue Jarvis, Manager.
Email: Oxfamshopf4214@btconnect.com
Tel: 01372 378819
Wedding Dress Sorter and Packer
Location:
Bicester warehouse
Commitment:
On average about 1 day a week (between Monday to Friday) The amount of time will be variable depending upon the level of donations
Department name and brief description:
Oxfam has 10 bridal wear departments in the UK. They are stocked with donated dresses many of which are donated by retailers. Donations from retailers are often collected by our carrier and delivered to Bicester Warehouse. Individual donations may be posted to the warehouse. It is our responsibility to the donor to ensure that we obtain the best possible price for each donation. The sorter/packer will work alongside the Volunteer Bridal Co-ordinator (Barbara Walmsley) in sorting and packing them for delivery to the department which is likely to be able to achieve the best prices. The selection of the best department involves knowing which type of dresses sell at what prices in the departments and sometimes which departments are able to make repairs. Black sack bagging and sending to Wastesaver for sale at music festivals is a last resort.Read more at: www.oxfam.org.uk/shops/content/bridal.html
Key Responsibilities:
- Examining the donations and assessing the style, size and condition against the ranges sold by individual departments
- Packing the dresses into boxes (which have to be made up), to ensure they are secure and kept in good shape ready for transporting to one of the bridal wear shops or Wastesaver
- Liaising with the Bridal Coordinator and Shop Managers about the shortages in stock in the departments
- Assisting the Volunteer Bridal Co-ordinator to value the donations
- Handling paperwork such as donor addresses packed with the donations
Skills and competences:
- A great eye for detail - to ensure that decisions are based on a good understanding of how fashionable and how valuable the stock is
- An Interest or appreciation of wedding dress design and style (Training will be given)
- Good communication skills
- Ability to handle valuable stock in dusty warehouse conditions
- Ability to handle packed boxes
What can Oxfam offer me as a volunteer?
- The chance to gain an insight into Oxfam's sustainable Bridal Wear retail market.
- Training in identifying styles and types of wedding dress. Training in how to make up the boxes and pack the wedding dress
- A chance to help Oxfam to maximise the value from donated wedding dresses so that we get good value for our development programmes and the departments are stocked with marketable dresses
Deadline: TBC
Interview date: TBC
Start date:TBC
Contact: Bicester Warehouse Manager
Health & Safety Advisor
Location:
Two posts: South London & North East London.
Commitment:
Flexible arrangement to be agreed.
Department name and brief description:
Trading
Making money to overcome poverty & suffering through Oxfam shops.
Key Responsibilities:
- Advising Shop Managers on Health & Safety issues.
- Carrying out Risk Assessments.
- Advising the Area Manager on local Policy
Skills and competences:
- Either Health or Safety experience or appropriate qualification.
- Good communication skills
Deadline: Not applicable
Interview date: By mutual agreement
Start date: To be agreed
Contact: Derek Sims, HR Advisor
Email: dsims@oxfam.org.uk
Tel: 07957 887571
Retail Assistant
Location:
Across London
Commitment:
Flexible arrangement to be agreed.
Department name and brief description:
Trading
Making money to overcome poverty & suffering through Oxfam shops.
Key Responsibilities:
- Oxfam has 80 shops in London where volunteers value donations, serve customers and carry out all the duties connected to Retail. There probably is a shop near you.
Skills and competences:
For some volunteers retail is new and training is provided. Other volunteers bring a specialist skill to Oxfam.
- Fashion Knowledge
- Collectable knowledge.
- Book knowledge.
- Retail or customer serve experience
Deadline: Not applicable
Interview date: By mutual agreement
Start date: To be agreed
Contact: Derek Sims, HR Advisor
Email: dsims@oxfam.org.uk
High Value Donated Gifts Assistant (Lincoln)
Location:
Oxfam's office in Lincoln
Commitment: Flexible, new volunteers to join existing team.
Responsibilities:
- Be available to respond to phone and email enquiries
- Use the internet to research and sometimes to offer items for sale
- Liaise with Oxfam shop managers and external agencies
- Undertaking various team administration tasks, both regular and ad hoc
Key skills:
- Strong marketing and communication skills
- An open mind and interest in finding solutions
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages
- Happy to work on own initiative
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Attention to detail
- Ability to work in a team
- Knowledge of Ebay or other Internet selling sites preferable.
- A knowledge of some area of collectables would be helpful
Closing date for applications:
Ongoing
Start date:
Ongoing
Contact details:
Jackie Whitaker
Email: jwhitaker@oxfam.org.uk
Tel: 01522 532415 or 07789920758
Catering Assistant
Location:
Oxfam Café, Cowley
Commitment:
Monday through to Friday, any time between 8.30am - 3.30pm (flexible).
Responsiblities:
- Clearing and cleaning of tables in the café area
- Cleaning of floors in the café and kitchen areas
- Washing up crockery and cutlery and restocking items
- Assisting with hospitality services
- Other basic general catering duties
Key skills:
Full training will be provided but experience of working in a catering environment would be an advantage.
Contact:
Aileen Peverell, Facilities Manager
Email: apeverell@oxfam.org.uk
Tel: 01865 47 2570
Fax: 01865 47 3619
Volunteer Finance Assistant in Newcastle
The Newcastle Finance Office is part of the Trading Division of Oxfam. Oxfam has a network of c.770 shops throughout the UK and Newcastle office deals with about 400 of them. The main role of the Finance Office is to assist with the recording and processing of the shop income and/or associated expenditure for the Oxfam shops.
Commitment:
At least 6 hours a week for a minimum of 3 months.
The office is open Monday to Thursday 9am to 5.15pm and 9am to 5pm on a Friday.
Responsibilities:
- Checking and entering data from income returns/logging and filing shop returns
- Checking accuracy of invoices and processing them for payment
- Problem solving and dealing with queries
- Customer Care and phone answering/processing mail in/ assisting with mail outs/ maintaining and operating databases
Key skills:
No previous experience needed as full training is provided. However some or all of the following would be an advantage:
- Good basic numeracy and attention to detail
- A basic knowledge of or a willingness to learn IT skills
- Organised approach to work/ good team player
Good interpersonal skills
Closing date for applications:
ongoing
Start date:
ongoing
Contact:
Amanda Jamieson, Senior Finance Assistant.
Email: newcastlevolunteers@oxfam.org.uk
Tel: 0191 221 0626
Address:Oxfam Finance Office,
Level 3, Cale Cross House, 156 Pilgrim Street,
Newcastle upon Tyne,
NE1 6SU
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Download a volunteer application form and send it to the recruiting manager.
If you have any questions about volunteering with Oxfam please contact us at givetime@oxfam.org.uk
