Today we have a guest blog post from one of our Student Volunteering Ambassadors. Elisavet volunteers at a charity shop in London and will be discussing her experience of volunteering below and maybe even inspire you to start volunteering at your local charity shop.
Charity shops are known for their unique and low-priced products, including clothes, decorations, accessories, toys and books. Another attribute of charity shops is the fun and self-developing working environment they can provide. Having volunteered for a month at Oxfam in London, I am proud to say I have benefitted both the community and myself. During my first year of my undergraduate degree, I was nervous about entering the job market but I was also passionate about volunteering and using my time effectively. Therefore, I decided to work voluntarily for a few hours a day at Oxfam, where I developed essential soft skills including communication and problem-solving, while also helping to fight inequality to end poverty and injustice. By undertaking essential store tasks such as working at the till, pricing items, engaging with customers and listing products on the charity’s website, I learned about working in retail and made acquaintances that I still connect with today. Charity shops can be found all around the country, supporting different causes that people resonate with, such as healthcare research, environmental care and children education. If you’re thinking about using your spare time more effectively, working for a charity shop will not only benefit the people in need, but also yourself.
If you’re not currently volunteering because you’re not sure how to get involved the following can help:
- visit our website to learn more about what we do book a one-to-one appointment to discuss how we can help you find a suitable role browse one-off and ongoing opportunities on CareerHub. Volunteering has the potential to transform a university experience for LSE students and we look forward to inspiring many more to get involved in the upcoming academic year.
