Care for Guildford - supporting your community


Volunteer Shopper

 

What we do…

At Care for Guildford, we operate a shopping service for local housebound residents, mostly older people, who are unable to shop for themselves,. This is only made possible thanks to our team of volunteer shoppers. During 2023, we helped an average of 13 clients living in and around the town, making over 600 shopping trips.

If you love helping others and want to make a difference in the lives of housebound people in your community, this role may suit you.

Volunteer Shopper Role Description

In this vital role you will, not only help clients stay independent and well by doing their shopping, but also enrich your own life with new experiences and friendships.

You will either go shopping for them or you may be asked to arrange and collect online orders and drop them off at their homes. You will be working with adults some of whom may be considered vulnerable, so a firm commitment to safeguarding is essential. You will need to agree to an enhanced DBS check for Adults with a request for a check against the barred lists. We will also need you to provide two references as part of our Safer Recruitment process.

A responsible and caring attitude is vital along with access to a vehicle.

You will receive mileage expenses based on the mileage that you travel from and back to your home at 45p per mile.

Location

The volunteering will take place within a 2 mile radius of Guildford town centre.

Volunteer Tasks and Responsibilities:

  • happy to be contacted by our shopping co-ordinator regarding shopping requests we have received - all during weekday office hours.

  • being courteous, friendly and professional at all times

  • agreeing the shopping list with Client

  • go shopping for a Client either in person or using online shopping facilities and drop the shopping off at the Clients home

  • letting Care for Guildford know, as soon as possible, if you can no longer undertake a shopping request

  • immediately feeding back any Safeguarding concerns to us

  • cash handling in some cases with Clients who wish to pay for their shopping in this way

  • keeping accurate records

  • completing accurate expense claims, submitted on a regular basis.

Time Commitment

The time commitment varies depending on the needs of the person you are matched with and your availability. Generally, we ask for a minimum of one hour per week.

Volunteer Specification

We ask that volunteers are:

  • caring, considerate, patient and understanding

  • flexible, reliable and helpful

  • confident in engaging with all kinds of people in a friendly manner

  • motivated to help people

  • mindful of infection control and good hygiene at all times

  • able to comply with all policies and procedures in every aspect of the role

Recruitment, Support and Training

All volunteers will be asked to:

  • participate in an interview with one of our Trustees

  • agree to a DBS check being carried out by us

  • participate in any training arranged by Care for Guildford

If you love shopping, want to help others, this role could be for you. Please click below to be taken to our online application form. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call our team on 01483 566635

Care for Guildford - about us

Care for Guildford - we are a local award winning charity enabling people live independently with dignity. Through our of team of volunteers we

  • provide a reliable, caring service taking people to and from essential medical appointments who would otherwise struggle. Our clients often have no-one else to call on, cannot manage public transport or are unable to afford taxis. Many clients have complex health conditions and struggle to attend the appointments they desperately need without our help.

  • offer a shopping service that also provides friendly social contact to those living alone, allowing our clients to stay independent and remain in their home.

We are very flexible, no firm commitment is required, allowing us to work around your availability, however limited that maybe be.

If you can offer a friendly face, often at a difficult time in a client’s life - why not consider joining our amazing volunteer team. We promise you will make a real difference to our clients lives.

If any of the roles below are of interest, we would love to hear from you.

 

Web site: Care for Guildford                           

Email: volunteer@careforguildford.org.uk