Our Regional Distribution Centre operates as a warehouse where donated items are processed in bulk. As a stock processing volunteer, you’ll help behind the scenes to sort and prepare donations, such as clothes and homeware, so they’re ready to be sent to our shops for sale.
Every item sold helps fund life-saving research, so by giving your time, you’ll be playing a vital role in helping make progress possible.
You’ll be welcomed into a friendly, supportive team, where you’ll gain valuable skills, build confidence, and make new friends - all while making a real difference for people affected by cancer.
Here are some of the tasks you might help with at our Distribution Centre:
Sorting through donated items and identifying which are suitable for sale in our shops.
Preparing stock for sale by hanging, steaming, pricing and tagging items.
Learning how we price items and how to get the most value from donations.
Helping to keep the space clean, tidy, and well organised.
We value our volunteers’ knowledge and experience. If you have a particular interest, whether it’s photography, books, fashion, or something else, have a chat with the team as there may be an opportunity to get involved more closely in that area.
You don't need any experience to volunteer in our Distribution Centre, you just need to be motivated, enthusiastic and enjoy being part of a team.
We’re on the lookout for individuals who are:
Flexible and happy to get stuck into a variety of tasks.
Enthusiastic about helping raise vital funds through the Distribution Centre’s activities.
Team players who enjoy being part of a supportive, inclusive environment.
But mainly those who can bring their energy and passion to help us beat cancer together!
The minimum age for volunteering in our Distribution Centre is 18.
If you are aged between 16 and 17 you may still be able to volunteer in our Distribution Centre, but you must be on a recognised scheme, for examples short term work experience organised by your school.
You must be living in the UK to volunteer in our Distribution Centre.
We ask all applicants to disclose to us, in confidence, any unspent criminal convictions.
This role is based at one of our Regional Distribution Centres. Just enter your preferred location when searching to find opportunities near you.
Volunteering with us is easy and flexible, so whether you can give a few hours a week or a few days, your manager will help organise shifts that work best for you.
We want you to get the most out of your volunteering experience and our friendly team will be there to support you all the way.
Once you've submitted your application, we'll review it to make sure we have everything we need. We’ll then invite you to a taster session where you can meet the team, learn more about the role and decide if it feels right for you.
If you decide you'd like to join the team, we'll provide a full induction and offer ongoing training opportunities to make sure you're fully confident in your role.
We can also reimburse reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses, as agreed in advance with your manager.
As well as making a huge impact on our mission to beat cancer, volunteering with us can also have a range of benefits for you too, from boosting your wellbeing to helping you discover new skills and interests.
By joining us as a volunteer, you'll have the chance to:
Develop skills and knowledge in retail, distribution and logistics.
Boost your CV by gaining valuable experience for future roles.
Build confidence and make new friends.
Have fun volunteering alongside like-minded people who are supporting the same cause.
At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. And so far, we’ve made incredible progress – in the last 50 years, we’ve helped to double cancer survival in the UK. To make these advances possible, we rely on our community of brilliant volunteers, who give their time to help fund research that saves lives.
By volunteering, you’re helping to bring us closer to a world where everybody lives longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer.
Just click on the ‘Apply for this role’ link at the top of the page, fill out the form and we’ll be in touch.
At Cancer Research UK we know that having a diverse volunteer community will help us to beat cancer. We're committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We will happily consider making any reasonable adjustments to support volunteer applications from people with a disability or health condition.
If you have any questions about becoming a volunteer, please email volunteering@cancer.org.uk. Or, you may find the answer listed in our FAQs.
Return to our volunteering homepage and find out what other volunteer roles are available in your area and apply today.
