Uniform Exchange Retail Assistant Volunteer

Uniform Exchange Retail Assistant Volunteer

Role Description

Reporting to:Hub Manager

Commitment:4+ hours each week, at a regular and pre-agreed time, based at The Mall.

Length:Initial 6-month commitment;regular support sessions. Full training will be provided. Within reason, the role can be tailored to your requirements.

Introducing the charity

Level Trust was established in April 2013 to empower children living in poverty in Luton by providing what they need to thrive in life and at school.

Poverty affects 25% of children in our town, making them more likely to leave school with fewer qualifications, have poorer health outcomes and experience the stigma that poverty brings, as they cannot access or experience the normal school activities that peers do. At Level Trust, we want to help children to have a level start in their education, in order that they can achieve at school, lifting themselves out of poverty and into brighter futures.

We do this by working in partnership with Luton schools to provide practical support including free school shoes, warm winter coats, school uniform, learning equipment for the home and enrichment activities in the holidays. In just 4 years since the charity’s establishment, Level Trust has supported 30004-16 year-olds across Luton.

Our values

We…

…are committed to true partnership working, believing it brings about the best results

…treat all people, especially those affected by poverty, with the utmost dignity

…believe that all children deserve to be safe, happy and have fun, and try to have fun ourselves

…aregenerous and try to give other people the best of what we have to offer

…arepassionate about Luton, enjoy all it’s great attributes and see our work as contributing towards making it even better

Role Purpose

The Hub space will house our Uniform Exchange, provide on-going support to families facing barriers to their child’s learning and allow us to develop further projects that respond to the needs of parents, carers, children and young people who come through our doors.

The Uniform Exchange, set up like a high-end shop, provides free school uniform, P.E. kit and winter clothing to children in Luton. Any family can use the Exchange by swapping items they have finished with for items they need. For families with no items to swap, their school can provide them with a gift card to redeem a full set of school uniform at the Uniform Exchange. In short, there is no cost to families. The project has been thoroughly piloted over 18 months. We are excited to be moving into our new, permanent home in The Mall.

Possible Duties and Responsibilities

1. Sorting donated or swapped uniform

Families and schools donate used school uniform to us that are in a variety of states of quality and cleanliness. Volunteers then sort this into clothes to be recycled, ragged or laundered.As a volunteer, taking on some of this responsibility can include:

• Ironing existing stock that is about to be hung out on rails
• Sewing on any missing buttons or removing name labels from used uniform
• Sorting stock by size and school

2. Maintaining a clean an orderly stock room

• Ensuring all uniform is logged onto our stocking system
• Informing the Level Trust Hub Manager of gaps in our key stock items

3. Maintaining a clean and well-organised shop floor

The uniform exchange needs to be a clean, welcoming and friendly environment displaying a good selection of our uniform stock. To do this, volunteers help us by:

• Organising uniform to Level Trust’s guidelines
• Keeping the shop clean and tidy
• Provide a warm welcome to any visitors

4. Serving customers who visit the Uniform Exchange

Parents and carers can visit the Uniform Exchange at any time that The Hub is open to swap uniform items or redeem a gift card. This duty includes:

• Welcoming parents to the Uniform Exchange
• Explaining how the donate – swap – gift card approach works
• Helping the parent/carer to find the items they are in need of
• Asking the parent/carer to complete an evaluation form before they leave

Uniform Exchange Retail Assistant Volunteer

Person Specification

We a looking for motivated and reliable individuals who arepassionate about and committed to making a positive difference to children living in poverty in Luton.

SKILLS

• Ability to work well with others
• Good organisational skills
• Providing a friendly, high quality service to customers
• Ability to work with parents, children and young people
• Willingness to take initiative

• Basic IT skills
• Carrying out stock checks
• Lifting bags and boxes

KNOWLEDGE

• A commitment to equal opportunities and to treating all individuals who visit or work in the Exchange with dignity and respect.

• Understanding of stock organisation and rotation

EXPERIENCE

• Helping with a range of tasks and undertaking tasks as requested

• Working in the voluntary sector
• Experience working in retail or customer services
• Engaging customers in conversation

To apply, please request an application form from HusnaRasul on

Level Trust is a registered charity number 1153936. 3a Upper George Street, Luton, LU1 2QX