Charities 

A charity is a not for profit organisation with the purpose to serve those in need, for example by raising funds or doing medical research. These are used to working with volunteers and are often organised as a cooperative with paid staff which may resemble the most complex multinationals.

CHARITY SHOPS

The best experience for those staying a short time (1 to 3 weeks) as part-time/full-time assistant manager you will see most parts of the organisation of a shop, starting form the easiest tasks of stock management, to restocking the shop floor, pricing, assisting those donating goods as well as those purchasing when acting as a shop assistant, all the way to being a cashier and a fundraiser. Of course your progress will depend on your character, personality, language skills and most of all proactivity.

IN THE TOWN CENTRE

First, consider the pace, the professionality, and your goals. You would choose this to get an even more realistic work experience, even the chance to quickly find a paid job in the charity, or to be in the town centre when you finish, but at a cost: you will work harder. In town you will see a more professional approach, “a real shop”, despite the organisation as a whole is not for profit, the charity shop’s target is to make profits to be invested in the purpose of the charity, for example CRUK will spend in research against cancer.

IN THE OUTSKIRTS / SMALLER VILLAGES

In these: volunteers are even more important, the profits made will be lower but the workload and pace lower. Managers, volunteers and clients will be locals, more friends than customers, it is preferred by those who have more difficulties, personally and languagewise.

SPECIALISED

SPECIALISED

You may find shops who define themselves as “Vintage”, specialised in CD’s, books, electricals, furniture and so on. You may even find some that actually sell only one type of product. In truth most sell everything, with a greater stock of what they specialise in.

OTHER CHARITIES

Charity shops represent the vast majority of work experiences available on our site as we believe it is the best experience a foreigner can have, for the welcoming atmosphere, the friendly staff and clients, the willingness to help others, the scope of the charity. You will get to learn about the job, but more about the culture, and sure practise your language skills more than most other places.

Lear in a Flash!

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