Volunteering Opportunity: Service Volunteer with St Albans and District Shopmobility

St Albans District Shopmobility is a local charity. Shopmobility is a service that provides manual wheelchairs and electric mobility scooters to help people, who may have limited mobility, to get around in St Albans City Centre. Our aim is to support people with limited mobility to improve their quality of life and reduce social isolation. The service has a stock of a manual wheelchairs which can be hired out to Shopmobility members for a small charge per day.

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: St Albans

Location: Outdoor

Time of day: Weekday Mornings, Weekday Afternoons, Weekend Half Days

Practical Considerations: Anyone who has difficulty getting around, through a permanent or temporary disability, illness, accident or age can you this service. You don’t have to be registered disabled or have a Blue Badge.

Shopmobility offers a variety of shifts to suit the availability of the volunteers and the needs of the customers. They are looking for volunteers to work 3 or 4 hour shifts.
These shifts are currently 10am – 2pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays. 9.30am – 1.00pm and 1.00pm - 4pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Shopmobility would like to open for more hours, should we have more volunteers, so these hours may change.

All new volunteers will receive “on-the-job” training, you will shadow Shopmobility Trustees and the manager. You will not be left to work alone!

As this role involves working with vulnerable people, we will undertake a DBS check and take up references.

Requirements: Will require a criminal record check (DBS)

Suitable for: 18 – 25 year olds, Aged 26 and over, University students, Families, Older People

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Carers Support, Children, Families & Family Support, Isolation & Loneliness, Physical Disabilities

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: Yes

Full Description:
Volunteers will work in the office and the equipment store.
The following tasks are what you will be required for this role
· Answering the telephone and answering customer enquiries.
· Providing information about the service to new, potential and existing customers.
· Booking equipment for customers (subject to availability).
· Greeting customers and meeting their needs.
· Recording equipment issued using Shopmobility’s “MyWheels” computer based system.
· Registering new members and issuing membership cards.
· Renewing annual memberships.
· Informing the Shopmobility Manager of any damage to equipment, accidents, comments or complaints should they arise.
· Transporting mobility scooters and wheelchairs in and out of the equipment store, ready for Shopmobility customers.
· Returning equipment and accessories to the equipment store after use and placing scooters on charge.
· Demonstrating to new customers how to use the equipment safely, to ensure they are confident and competent in using it.
· Attending scooter breakdowns in the city centre, with replacement equipment and returning the scooter to the store.
· Taking payments from customers – either cash or using the card machine.
· Cleaning scooters and wheelchairs, before and after use, in line with Shopmobility cleaning procedures.
· Making the environment clean and presentable, ready for the next volunteer or customer.
· Assisting other volunteers.
· Reporting any issues or concerns to the Shopmobility Manager.

Personal Skills and Attributes Desirable:

· Written and oral communication skills
· Ability to carry out basic administration, including the collection of fees and recording payments.
· Good inter-personal skills.
· Sensitivity and empathy.
· Ability to establish a rapport quickly and easily with customers and other volunteers.
· Self-motivation.
· Positive and enthusiastic attitude.
· Reliability, punctuality and trustworthiness.
· Willingness to be flexible in approach to volunteering hours.
· Some basic computer skills preferred.
· Use and understanding of appropriate PPE (you will be provided with masks and gloves).
· Understanding of the principles of confidentiality (GDPR).
· Ability to support other volunteers.