Wandsworth Oasis' shops are the lifeblood of the charity, and the volunteers who work in them are THE most important part of our distinctive and friendly locations around Wandsworth and Lambeth. While we do have a few paid members of staff, we couldn't keep our group of charity shops open seven days a week, 365 days a year (pretty much!) without the incredible, dedicated support of our volunteers. They sort and price donations, keep the shops tidy, create window displays, do the admin and cashing up, and provide support at fundraising events.

It is because of our wonderful volunteers that we have such a loyal customer and donor base. They know the books certain customers like to read, give advice on clothing, while generally, and gently, persuading customers that they really do want that little knick-knack!

Our volunteers are all very different and join us for different reasons. Each demonstrates how the Wandsworth Oasis ethos plays a role in the local community, in a way that perhaps larger charity shops can’t. It’s that oasis of support thing again: reaching out and back again in all directions.

Everyone gets a second chance at Wandsworth Oasis

We believe everyone deserves a second (or even third) chance – some of our most fantastic and reliable volunteers are recovering alcoholics/drug addicts, or have a criminal record. These people are working hard to turn their lives around and are voluntarily giving something back. In return, we provide crucial work experience and non-judgmental support to help them get their lives back on track.

We also believe in Christian values and a sense of local community. Many of our volunteers share these values and have been with us, literally, for years. They are the sole reason why some people come into the charity shops – a friendly face, a chat and a cup of tea (if we've remembered to buy some milk!). Our volunteers strive to make our shops unique community centres that welcome all.

Work experience in a charity shop can help with your CV

There are still lots of people out of work just looking for an opportunity to show what they are capable of doing. We offer volunteer placements in our charity shops for people on Job Seekers Allowance. All volunteers who have successfully volunteered with us for a reasonable length of time will get a reference as well as some really important skills, such as customer service, cash handling, display and administration.

We also welcome individuals looking to gain a position in the trades. Things are always breaking down or need fixing in a charity shop - plus we also need a lot of second-hand electrical items PAT tested - so we are always overjoyed when someone handy or willing to learn comes along wanting to volunteer.

Apply to be a volunteer today - it's quick and easy

We need volunteers in all our charity shops and to help out with events, fundraising and finance. If you are interested in applying as a volunteer at Wandsworth Oasis, you can do so Apply to be a volunteer.

And if you want to find out more about our loyal volunteers, you can read some of their stories here.