Retail North England

Upcycling Workshop Volunteer

Do you have a passion for renovation or reinvention? Are you creative and ready to give preloved furniture a new lease of life? Do you want to learn new skills in upcycling?

Information about the role

You’ll be supporting in our Upcycling Workshop, either using your existing skills or learning new ones. You’ll be able to help with deciding what to do with the furniture, as well as some painting and decorating tasks.

Location: Erdington Shelter Shop, 193-197 High Street, Birmingham, B23 6SY

Suggested contribution: It’s up to you! Volunteers can support for a few hours day, or a few days a week.

Availability: The shop is open Monday - Saturday 09:00-17:00 and Sunday 10:00-16:00.

The above is the essential information you need to know. You can apply now by clicking ‘fill in an application’ or read on more for details.

Main activities may include:

You’ll be volunteering alongside, Brian, our Upcycling Workshop Manager, and will be involved in each stage of the process, such as:

• Suggesting ideas about what to do with the furniture
• Preparing furniture for renovation
• Painting and decorating items

This role fights the housing emergency by making second hand furniture suitable for sale. This helps raise vital funds that enable Shelter to provide advice and support for people who are experiencing bad housing and homelessness, as well as powering us to campaign for change.

Benefits of volunteering with Shelter

Volunteers are essential to Shelter’s mission to end housing injustice. We welcome volunteers from all backgrounds. The insights and life experiences our volunteers bring to Shelter are valued as much as their contribution through volunteering.

We aim to provide our volunteers with a positive experience. This is by prioritising accessibility and tailoring the support we provide to the needs of the individual. We make sure our policies and processes are equitable, which means that no-one is unfairly disadvantaged while volunteering because of their background or identity.

Your skills and experience

We welcome applications from people with a wide range of skills and experiences. You may have DIY skills already, or you may be looking to learn. What’s most important is that you want to make a difference in tackling the housing emergency.

Supporting you

• You will be provided with an induction into your role, access to relevant learning and a copy of our volunteer handbook.
• The role, including learning and communications, are flexible, so can be tailored so they best suit your needs and preferences.
• You will be able to claim reasonable volunteering expenses in line with Shelter’s volunteer policy. Where financial circumstances would be a barrier to volunteering, we may be able to offer these funds in advance.
• You will be able to access our volunteer support package, including our colleague assistance programme and Shelter’s network of mental health first aiders.

Next steps

You can apply for this role by clicking ‘fill in an application’. If you need to apply by an alternative method, please contact volunteering@shelter.org.uk or speak to someone at the shop.

We will then get back to you about your application. Shortlisted applicants will have a recruitment conversation to discuss the role further.

You will be asked to disclose any unspent convictions. Individuals applying for, or moving into, a Volunteer Supervisor or Van Driver’s Mate role will also need to complete a basic level Criminal Record Check. Having a criminal record does not automatically mean you can’t volunteer with us. We will have a conversation with you to discuss the convictions in relation to the role you have applied for. Sometimes it may limit the ways you can get involved. Please contact us at volunteering@shelter.org.uk if you require more information.