Volunteering in our shops
Our shops are vital to PDSA. They provide much needed funding which means our Pet Hospitals can stay open and we can continue helping thousands of the nation's most vulnerable pets.
Following government advice, we have recently reopened a small number of shops in England. To see which shops are open and for more information about the safety measures in place, please visit our charity shops page.
We are always on the lookout for friendly people with great customer service skills to volunteer in one of our recently reopened shops. Volunteering in a PDSA charity shop can really enhance your CV. You'll also meet a lot of new people and gain customer service experience, as well as picking up new skills and becoming part of the PDSA team.
As a shop volunteer, we can offer you the flexibility to work hours that suit you. Ever hour you can spare makes a huge difference to us. We know there are loads of great reasons to volunteer in our shops, such as:
- Developing retail skills with a well-known charity retailer
- Enhancing your CV
- Meeting lots of new people (we're a social bunch!)
- Improving your customer service skills
- Building your confidence
- Our annual 'Volunteer of the Year' awards
- Recognition for length of service for all your hard work.
If you have any questions, visit our volunteering FAQ page or you are more than welcome to contact our volunteering team.
What roles are available in shops?
We have lots of different opportunities for volunteers in our charity shops, whether you're looking to be customer facing, or have an eye for what looks good in the shop window. All we ask is that our volunteers come to us with a positive attitude and willingness to learn!
- Volunteer Customer Service Assistant
- Volunteer Stock Processing Assistant
- Volunteer Visual Merchandiser
- Volunteer Collectables Specialist
- Community Volunteer
Volunteer Customer Service Assistant
This is a customer-facing role for anyone who loves building relationships with people. We provide training so you don't need to worry about being a pro straightaway. We reimburse travel expenses, too, so you won't be out of pocket and can still volunteer your time without any extra cost.
We're looking for friendly people who will enjoy working as part of our PDSA team. There will also be the opportunity for you to gain a new qualification if you meet the requirements. If you're interested, search for a vacancy near you now.
Volunteer Stock Processing Assistant
This role involves being behind the scenes helping our team sort donated goods and prepare them for sale in the shop. You never know what you'll find, so part of your job will be to look out for any hidden treasures amongst the donated items. We're looking for real team players for this position.
We provide training and will reimburse any travel expenses. We need someone who is organised for this role with a keen eye for detail. If you're interested, search for a vacancy near you now.
Volunteer Visual Merchandiser
If you're a creative person with an eye for what looks good, being a volunteer Visual Merchandiser is the perfect role for you. This position involves creating fantastic window displays to make us stand out, pricing garments and preparing items for sale to encourage people to buy them.
We provide training for this role but it helps if you're a creative person. There will also be the opportunity for you to gain a new qualification if you meet the requirements. If you're interested, search for a vacancy near you now.
Lead Volunteer
If you've had previous management experience, are a natural team leader and great communicator then this is the role for you. Our Lead Volunteer supports our Shop Manager and Assistant in the day-to-day running of the shop. You'll get to lead new projects and may be asked to provide cover if the Manager is absent.
We're looking for a real team player for this one, someone who has the confidence to take the lead. We'll provide training and reimburse any travel expenses. If you're interested, search for a vacancy near you now.
Volunteer Collectables Specialist
We're looking for people with knowledge of collectibles, antiques, books and entertainment to help us spot the treasures amongst donated items. You'll be working behind the scenes a lot with our team so you'll need to be friendly and a great team player. We'll reimburse any travel expenses so you'll never be out of pocket.
We need organised volunteers with a great eye for detail. We'll provide training so you don't need prior experience but it'll be a real help if you can identify higher value items. If you're interested, search for a vacancy near you now.
Community Volunteer
If you're passionate about the work we do at PDSA, we'd love to have you on board as a Community Volunteer. In this role, you'll be talking to individuals and local groups about the amazing work we do and encouraging new volunteers to join us. You'll work closely with the team at your local shop and help with organising shop stock.
We're looking for someone who is confident and enthusiastic. We need you to be able to grow our local network and talk to lots of people in the local community. we'll reimburse any travel costs and provide training. If you're interested in this role, search for a vacancy near you now.
Volunteer Driver
This is ideal for anyone who loves to drive. In this role, you'll pop around the local area to pick up item donations from people who are unable to bring them into our shops themselves. Our drivers use their own vehicles, but we will pay agreed travel expenses so you'll not be out of pocket!
Our drivers need to have a full UK licence and have been driving for at least 12 months. Your vehicle needs to be insured and have a current MOT certificate (if applicable). If you're interested in becoming a driver, search our vacancies now.
How do I apply for a volunteer role in a PDSA shop?
If you're interested in volunteering in our shops, you can search our vacancies now. We can offer flexible hours in any position but we usually ask for a regular commitment so we know who's helping and when.
We're a friendly team and make sure every new volunteer feels welcomed and enjoys working with us.