Book Volunteer
Project overview
Action 21’s Re-Use shops accept and sell donated goods to reduce the number of useful items going to landfill and to raise money for sustainability projects in the local community. Last year The Recycle Warehouse diverted over 100 tonnes of rubbish from landfill!
The Recycle Warehouse is spread out over an indoor building, a couple of steel containers and an outdoor yard and sells a wide selection of items including furniture, children’s games, household items and even ski boots!
We have recently opened a 2nd shop in Sydenham called The Re-Useful Centre. At this site we specialise in bulkier items of furniture but we still sell lots of other things including books, DVD and general bric-a-brac. This shop is open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only.
Principal Function of Volunteer
As a book volunteer you’ll be involved in keeping our book sections organised and well presented.
Tasks and Activities
As a volunteer you will carry out some or all of the following activities, depending on your individual capabilities and preferences. This list is only a guide to the types of activities that may be required.
- Sorting boxes of newly donated books out onto the correct shelves & sections
- Tidying the shelves, moving books back into their correct categories
- Removing any tatty, damaged unsaleable books to be recycled
Benefits
As a Book Volunteer you’ll be part of the wider network of Action 21’s volunteers. This means you’ll receive regular updates and information on the projects and events we’re involved in as well as any social events we organise.
We value our volunteers and aim to fully support them in their volunteering. As part of this commitment we hold regular review sessions so we can check that you’re enjoying your volunteering placement and that your needs are being met. We also believe that volunteers should not be out of pocket for donating their time and effort and so we pay back all volunteers’ reasonable travel expenses.
Skills/Qualifications/Experience sought
- Volunteers should enjoy sorting books and creating order!
- You don’t have to be passionate about books, you might just be interested in re-use and seeing things go to a good home
Minimum age: 14
Time commitment required
A couple of hours a week.
Volunteers can choose when and where they’d like to volunteer:
- The Recycle Warehouse: open 7 days a week, lots of public interaction, dynamic and fast paced!
- The Re-Useful Centre: Tue-Thu the shop is closed to the public so they’ll be less interruptions or if you prefer social interaction you can volunteer when the shop is open on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
Training, Reviews & Support
General
- Registration session with Amy, The Volunteer Development Worker to provide an overview of Action 21 and what volunteering on our projects involves. Also gives you a chance to ask any questions you may have.
- Project Induction with Shop Manager
- End of probation review session (after 4 weeks or sessions of volunteering; with Amy and/or Shop Manager as appropriate)
- 6 monthly review sessions
Expenses
You can claim back reasonable expenses for travel. How you go about claiming back these costs will be explained in more detail during your induction.
If you have the time to volunteer for a full day (9:30-4:30pm) we’ll even give you a free lunch!
Dress Code
No open toed shoes. Clothes suitable for volunteering in an outdoor environment (if you’re volunteering at The Recycle Warehouse).
Location
The Recycle Warehouse: Princes Drive Recycling Centre, Princes Drive, Leamington Spa, CV31 3PH (01926) 426369
The Re-Useful Centre: 5 Ramsey Road, Sydenham, Leamington Spa, CV31 1PL (01926) 453 030
Please ask us for travel directions including local buses to both of our centres.