Be a shop volunteer
Our seaside shops can’t open without volunteers like you helping our charity.
Just like our lifeboats, they need a dedicated volunteer crew – people of all ages and abilities – willing to give a little time to help save lives at sea. Read on and watch our videos to discover the difference you could make to our charity as an RNLI shop volunteer – and the difference it could make to you.
RNLI shops started life as simple cake stalls run by volunteers to raise money for their local lifeboat station.
These stalls started selling official commemorative RNLI products for our 1924 centenary and quickly moved on to selling souvenirs and Christmas cards. Stalls then grew into community shops at our stations and we started to standardise the look and feel of our shops from 1990 onwards.
Today, in addition to our traditional souvenir stalls at events, we have a growing number of more than 170 RNLI shops on the coast and inland across the UK and Ireland, all of which are still run by dedicated volunteers.
Many of these shops are located alongside our lifeboat stations, attracting almost 7 million visitors every year.
They stock an excellent range of unique and competitively priced souvenirs and gifts including homeware, clothing, keyrings and toys, all to raise vital funds to save lives at sea. See why you should become a charity volunteer and find a shop volunteer role near you below.
Why become a shop volunteer?
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Our shop volunteers can make a real difference in ensuring that people arrive as visitors and leave as supporters.
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Your welcoming nature will ensure that our shops are a friendly and attractive place to buy from.
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For many people, buying something from an RNLI shop will be the first time they come into contact with our charity. And as a shop volunteer, you could be the person who inspires them to support us now and in the future.
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You’re one of a kind – and your individual skills, abilities and background will make our volunteer crew stronger. We’re working to be more inclusive than ever, and welcome applications from everyone.
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Have fun, meet new people and join a motivated and enthusiastic team who are making a difference.
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Learn new skills and gain experience to enhance your CV.
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Gain the satisfaction of giving back.
Meet RNLI shop volunteer Rosie
Read RNLI shop volunteer Rosie's story – PDF 2.16MB
What shop roles can you do?
Shop volunteer
Offer a friendly and efficient service to all shop customers. There is also the opportunity to take on specific tasks such as stock coordination and merchandising.
Shop lead volunteer
Take a lead on certain activities with support from the shop manager/coordinator, such as rota coordination, stock, banking, training or health and safety.
Shop manager / coordinator
Manage and motivate a team of shop volunteers and maximise the shop’s potential.
Deputy shop manager / coordinator
Support the shop manager to manage and motivate the team and maximise the shop’s potential.
Current shop volunteer opportunities
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