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I enjoyed working at the shop as an assistant as it was my first time in my life.

The first day I was very shy and nervous, however, my manager was amazing she helped me to understand everything steps by step.

She helped me to learn how to organize items over the shelf, keep thing upside and keep records of recipients in the secure place so it can be used to pass on to the finance department.

I felt respected and valued as I get to learn English as it's not my first language. It helped me to build my confidence in communications and interacting skills.

I made friends from all kinds of different background such as South African ladies who were volunteers.

I liked the fact that diversity was shining like a sky of beautiful stars.

One of the hardest parts was to deal with customers who don't follow the rules of the shop and start arguing over the till that was very horrible to see that some people are extremely bad in their behaviors and to deal with them I was struggling as I was new that made me feel upset.

Later on, I realize that not everyone is the same I just got used to and ignored those who miss behaved. Carrie on my duties to support customers in buying and selling.

Most enjoyable part of the job was to sort out display area for instance weekly it was my duty to make front area looking attractive and eye-catching. To make it look beautiful I used to decorate with bright clothes and brick and brack.

Overall, I learned excellent teamwork, communication and organizing skills.

On the whole, working for a charity is a fulfilling role and the job itself is enjoyable at times. However I did not find Mind Retail to be supportive employers AT ALL and I am not surprised so many shop managers are signed off with stress. No compassion for the fact you are often running an entire shop by yourself (no volunteers) but rather they want to grill you as to why XYZ hasn’t been completed. Hire regional managers who aren’t from a charity background so have no clue - only care about the numbers £££. Retail and charity retail are VERY different things and this is not acknowledged. Very easy to make demands and have certain expectations when you aren’t the one on the shop floor trying to run a shop with little to no support. Set unrealistic budgets that shatter morale. Expect you to work through your unpaid lunch and stay late unpaid. Terrible work life balance.  

It makes me sad to write this as when i first started working with this charity I loved my job but unfortunately the enjoyment has now been squeezed out of it. If this job only meant you had to deal with the lovely volunteers who give there all to help you succeed and the loyal customers who want to help the charity then it would be fantastic. Unfortunately this is not the case, the wages are dreadful for what you are expected to do as a manager, the pressure to sell is immense and work life balance means nothing to these people. It doesn't matter how hard you work nothing is ever good enough.

- Helping out at the tills.

- Working in the stock room.

- Helping customers with queries.

- Sorting and putting out stock.


This is was a part of a work experience program at school and I was allocated this placement. 

Although this was part of this work experience program, I did gain some valuable experience about what is like to work in retail.

Absolutely lovely place to volunteer, wonderful stuff and a very productive team; I could not recommend this place more. after volunteering I have personally donated alot of my money to their cause as I believe in it thoroughly and know they do a good job managing my money.

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