Following her first year at university, Fatimah was looking for a part-time job over the summer. After struggling to find paid work, she decided to gain valuable experience through volunteering.

Fatimah had been finding it difficult to secure volunteer opportunities close to home in Bradford, so she widened her search to Leeds, where she discovered an opportunity in our Horsforth charity shop.

Just a few weeks after applying, Fatimah was out on the shop floor volunteering two days a week. She says:

“The whole process was so quick, and I was so excited to have this opportunity after searching for so long. It was nice to know that I was going to have something productive and rewarding to do over the summer.”

What started as an opportunity to gain workplace experience, became a chance to develop valuable skills, build confidence and strengthen her CV. Less than a year later, when a paid role became available in our new Morley charity shop, Fatimah felt ready to apply.

Fatimah says the skills she gained through volunteering gave her the confidence to put herself forward for the Assistant Shop Manager position:

“I learnt a lot as a volunteer, including time management and customer service skills, both in the stock room and on the shop floor. I took a hands-on approach and put myself out there. I built relationships with the team and developed my confidence, which encouraged me to apply when the opportunity came up.”

While volunteering does not always guarantee paid employment, Fatimah believes the experience helped prepare her for the next step in her career journey.

“I was nervous about making the transition from volunteering to paid employment, especially helping to set up a new shop. But I was supported by my manager, colleagues from other charity shops and our dedicated volunteers.

“I feel like I belong here. Every day I am gaining experience and developing new skills through my job. Volunteering gave me a strong foundation and helped me build the confidence and experience that employers look for. I believe if you work hard and have a positive mindset, opportunities can come along.”