Volunteering Opportunity: Bookshop Volunteer with St Albans Lions Club

The Lions Charity Bookshop based in the Marlowes Centre, Hemel Hempstead, Herts has been operating for about 20 years and has a long tradition of selling second hand books and related items.

Run by six local Lions Clubs (Hemel Hempstead, Harpenden, Tring, Luton, Watford and St Albans) the bookshop is currently administered and lease held by St Albans Lions Club. We are open 7 days a week.

We receive lots of generous donations and we handle a massive range of different types of books in terms of value and subject area - from paperback novels to collectible items, children’s books, fiction and non-fiction.

Our team of book volunteers ensure the efficient running of the shop alongside Lions Members who volunteer and deal with the public gaining donations for all six clubs which are key to supporting Lions grant donations locally and internationally.

Opportunity Type: Long-term Commitment

District: St Albans, Watford

Location: Indoor

Time of day: Weekday Mornings, Weekday Afternoons, Weekday Evenings, Weekend Half Days, Casual or Intermittent

Practical Considerations: If you have the relevant skills & experience we will contact you as soon as possible after application and will arrange a convenient time for you to visit the shop and have a chat about volunteering and what it entails.

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

Suitable for volunteers interested in: Retail, Social Activities, Voluntary & Community Action

Does this opportunity provide wheelchair access?: No

Full Description:
KEY RESPONSIBLITIES:
Depending on the needs of the shop and your interests,
you may be involved in the following:

• Using the shop's manual guidelines to sort books
ensuring all books are sold at the quoted prices and
marked up if possible above this level.
• Identifying and setting aside possible collectible items
so that our visiting bookseller can view and buy these
items
• Creating attractive displays across the shop including
refilling empty shelves where needed. Sorting the
donated books into the store at the back of the shop or
putting donated books onto the shelves. Ensuring the
window displays are fully stocked
• Providing customer service on the shop floor
including locating requested books, taking card
payments/money at the check out and answering
customer queries
• Identifying those items which are unsaleable and
arranging for these items to be recycled for which we
receive a fee. Sorting black bag rubbish and cardboard
for disposal where necessary
• Take in unused eye glasses which are recycled and sent
to Eye Clinics in Africa and also give out Hearing Aid
Batteries on behalf of Hemel Hempstead Hospital
We encourage our shop volunteers to develop an
understanding of all aspects of the shop's work so that
they can support as necessary.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES:

You do not need specific skills and experience but the following will be useful:
• Commitment to the Lions aims (‘We Serve’) and values
of Lions Clubs International. This includes empowerment,
accountability and inclusiveness.
• Ability to work within the Lions Bookshop policies and
shop manual guidelines.
• Enthusiasm for reading and an interest in books
• Experience of being responsible for taking card
payments/cash and ensuring the shop is kept secure
(locking up, turning lights off at close of play etc)
• Ability to work well as part of a team and under own
initiative.
• Able to deal with all ages and types of customer
appropriately and in a good-humoured manner

WHAT THIS ROLE CAN OFFER THE VOLUNTEER:

• You will be joining other volunteers who give their time
voluntarily in support of grant giving to local and
international charities. You will work alongside Lions
Members who live and breathe the Lions aim and ethos
of ‘We Serve’ serving communities
• Opportunity to utilise and develop your portfolio of skills
and experience – relevant for CVs, job hunting,
applications for courses etc.
• Deepen your knowledge about books and their
subject matter
• Free parking in the Marlowes when volunteering
• Gain valuable experience in retail at a well-known
international charity.
• An opportunity to volunteer on regular days of the
week, usually timetabled every three months by Clubs
• An opportunity to get to know Lions and Lions Members
with a view to doing other volunteering with Lions or
becoming a Lions Member