Volunteer in our shops

Volunteers making changes to shop window

Search for a role near you

To find a shop volunteering role, click 'search' below and enter your town or postcode.

Apply online or call your local shop for more information.

Try something new and support vital life-saving research

1 in 2 of us will get cancer in our lifetime. But we can all support the research that will beat it. Every shirt you steam, book you sell, hour you donate, or shopper you serve – we all have a part to play. Together we will beat cancer.

Reasons why you should volunteer with us

Be a part of your community, make new friends and join a fantastic team.

Volunteering is easy and flexible and can be designed to fit around your personal and work commitments.

Grow your confidence - our friendly CRUK team will be there to support you all the way.

Reduce isolation and improve overall wellbeing.

By volunteering, you’re helping people affected by cancer. It can also sometimes lead on to paid work in retail, customer service or other sectors.

Build on skills, experience, and enhance employability. For those interested in England based shop volunteer roles, there could also be the opportunity to gain a formal, fully-funded qualification through Derby College subject to eligibility and local authority budgets – further info found here (link is external) and here (link is external). (England only for those volunteering 16hrs+ p/wk and subject to further qualifying criteria and local authority budgets).

Your Volunteering Journey

Enquire

Complete the application form online or pop into your local store!

We'll be in touch

Once we have your application, we will be in touch to book you in for a taster session.

Meet the team

You will meet the shop manager and other volunteers who'll be able to answer any questions you may have.

Get a taste of the action

The session takes between 30 minutes to an hour, making it easy to fit into your diaries.

You will meet the shop manager and other amazing volunteers, all like-minded individuals supporting the same cause

You will learn more about the shop volunteer role, what to expect on a 'normal' day

Chat about your availability and what to expect so it feels right for you, please let the shop team know how we can accommodate you!

Find out how shops support local communities and are a vital part of being able to reach our goal - together we will beat cancer!

How you'll spend your time with us

Volunteering in our shops is varied, exciting and rewarding. No two days are the same and you have the chance to flex different skills regularly.

Below is a flavour of some of the tasks you may help with in our shops: 

Talking to our customers and making them feel welcome.

Rotating stock, sorting, steaming and tagging donations.

Serving at the till to process those all-important sales of clothing and accessories.

Housekeeping and tidying window displays to keep the shop looking it's best.

You need to be 18 or over to register to volunteer online

If you are aged between 16 and 17 you may still be able to volunteer in our shops but you must be on a recognised scheme, for example the Duke of Edinburgh. All you need to do is pop into your local store and speak to the shop manager.

If you’re not part of a scheme, you can still support us by volunteering at an event or by setting up your own fundraising project. All our opportunities will give you the chance to learn plenty of new skills.

We’re safely reopening Cancer Research UK’s shop doors

We have new health and safety measures in place to keep you safe. Find out more about how we're keeping our volunteers safe.

We Care About Keeping You Safe When You Volunteer. Together We Will Beat Cancer.

Hear from Leslie

Enfield Shop Volunteer

“My fellow volunteers supported my impairment and knew that I needed to be facing them when they were talking to me. To alert me of an emergency, they would flash lights as I wasn’t able to hear the fire alarm. They really made me feel included in all aspects of the shop.”

Hear from Paul

Blackheath Shop Volunteer

“I started volunteering because I wanted to keep busy, but also to help support a charity who continue to change the lives of so many. My day-to-day activities include serving at the till, sorting through donations and signing customers up to gift aid, to name a few!”