Charity Bookstall Lift and Shift Volunteer

Are you physically fit, practical, and looking to make a difference in your local community?

The UCE Charity Bookstall operates from the United Church of Egham once a month (except for December, January and August). We raise funds for local charities in Runnymede and Spelthorne by selling second-hand books, music and DVDs etc. The church hosts the charity bookstall for one day a month on a Friday, and it takes over the whole floorspace of the church.

On a Thursday afternoon/evening starting at 3pm, a team of volunteers help to put away the church chairs, set up tables etc. Then they bring the contents of the bookstall out of storage and ready for sale on the Friday.  This is a large operation with over 10,000 items in storage and needs several people to ensure the movement of crates of books/records/DVDs is handled safely and efficiently. 

On a Friday morning at 8am we set up outside (this may also require canopies to be put up to protect customers and books from sun or rain) and in the evening at 6pm after the bookstall closes, we reverse the process.

We would like to encourage physically fit individuals to join our friendly team; some crates are heavier than others, so we only ask volunteers to handle items they feel comfortable with. We are asking for a couple of hours a month and there is a choice of time slots to match your availability. If you can’t make it one month that’s fine, but it would be great if you could join the volunteer pool.

What You'll Do*:

• Work under the direction of the volunteer shift supervisor(s)
  
• Help stack and move church chairs/furniture ready to set up the bookstall
  
• Set up tables
• Move crates of books, LPs, DVDs, CDs etc to position them for sale
• Set up canopies outside for very hot or wet days
  
• Put away crates and tables to storage
  
• Return the church to its standard configuration.

* some tasks will vary depending on volunteering days/times

What skills do I need?

Skills needed:

• Ensure you follow health and safety guidelines for manual handling

Note: basic training will be given

About You:

• A team player, reliable and self-motivated
  
• Flexible and willing to get stuck in
  
• Physically fit and able to handle heavy items.