Donations Sorting Assistant

Yorkshire Cancer Research; Harrogate; On-site; GBP 4,800 - 5,200; Part time

Job summary

Yorkshire Cancer Research is seeking a Donations Sorting Assistant to work Saturdays at our Harrogate hub. You will sort clothing, bric-a-brac, electrical items and other donations for resale in our charity shops and online outlets, in line with health and safety rules.

Supported by the Donation Centre Manager, you’ll welcome donors, maximise Gift Aid where possible and help maintain a welcoming environment for volunteers.

Qualifications

• GCSE level education or equivalent.
• Basic understanding of Microsoft Office programs including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• Highly organised with good time management skills.
• Can-do attitude with the ability to focus and get the job done.
• Resilient and able to react to quickly changing dynamics and flexibility.
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong team-player.
• Able to motivate self and others.
• On-site work at the Yorkshire Cancer Research Centre, Hornbeam Park, Harrogate.

Responsibilities

• Quickly and efficiently sort donated stock (clothing, bric-a-brac, electrical items and other donations).
• Ensure donated stock is stored safely and in line with health and safety regulations.
• Identify items suitable for specific shops and coordinate delivery to maximise income.
• Maintain adherence to policies and procedures.
• Communicate with Retail teams about stock offers and requests.
• Create a welcoming environment for volunteers and supervise as needed.
• Support the Donation Centre Manager and Deputy in their absence.
• Coach corporate volunteers on sorting standards and representing the charity well.
• Process donated goods promptly to maximise income and minimise stock loss.
• Maintain high standards of customer service for donors and supporters.

Skills

GCSE level education

Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel

Organised and good time management

Can-do attitude

Resilient and flexible

Prioritise workload

Good communication and interpersonal

Team-player

Motivate self and others

On-site in Harrogate

Education

GCSE level or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job title: Donations Sorting Assistant

Role profile: Donations Sorting Assistant Role Profile

Directorate:Retail, Services and Operations

Salary: £24,454.04 FTE (based on 37 hours per week), Pro rata salary of £4,956.90 per annum based on 7.5 hours per week.

Hours:Part-time, Saturday, 7.5 hours per week

Closing date:24 September 2026

Permanent or Fixed Term:Permanent

About Us

Yorkshire is one of the regions hardest hit by cancer. Together, we can change this.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a charity dedicated to funding research so that you and those you love live longer healthier lives, free of cancer.

Thanks to supporters, the charity funds vital cancer research and pioneers innovative new services for people with cancer. These life‑giving medical breakthroughs are helping more people survive cancer – in Yorkshire, and beyond.

As an inclusive employer, our aim is to ensure our workforce reflects the rich diversity of our region. We believe a diverse workforce is vital to us taking action to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer more effectively in Yorkshire. We offer equal opportunities regardless of race, religion or belief, age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage and civil partnerships.

We’ve got a strong set of values that inform everything we do, and we’re looking for people who are aligned with these. As a Donations Sorting Assistant, you will put people in Yorkshire at the heart of everything you do, unite with colleagues and other organisations in this cause, and dare to think big and bold to make positive solutions happen.

To find out more about our values and how important they are to us, please read the role profile linked above.

The Benefits

We offer a wide and generous range of benefits designed to support our employees through every stage of life. To read about these, please see the benefits section of our Careers Page.

The Role

As a Donations Sorting Assistant, you will be responsible for quickly, efficiently, and accurately sorting donations of clothing, bric‑a‑brac, electrical items, and all other donated items for re‑sale in our network of charity shops and via our eCommerce outlets. This role will operate in accordance with all health and safety regulations.

Supporting the Donation Centre Manager, you will be expected to receive stock donations from our donors in a friendly, positive, and welcoming way. Great customer service is also essential for this role to maximise income through Gift Aid sign‑ups, and every donor should be encouraged to sign up to Gift Aid if it is applicable for them.

Specifically, you will:

• Quickly and efficiently sort a wide variety of donated stock.
• Ensure that donated stock is stored appropriately and safely, in accordance with all health and safety regulations and charity policies.
• Identify if any specific donated stock suits the profile/demographics of specific shops in the retail network and ensure that those items are ringfenced and delivered promptly to maximise income for the charity.
• Work in a way which adheres to policies and procedures.
• Communicate with Retail teams regarding stock offers and ensure that any requests for specific items are actioned promptly.
• Create an engaging and supportive environment for our volunteers and ensure that the Donation Centre and Warehouse are both great places to work.
• Support the volunteer team by providing communication, support, guidance, and direction in the absence of the Donation Centre Manager or their Deputy.
• Contribute to a supportive and professional working environment for the volunteers.
• Coach any corporate volunteers in the standards that we expect in sorting and represent the charity positively.
• Ensure that the donated goods are processed promptly to maximise income for the charity.
• Work in a way that minimises the risk of damage and stock loss.
• Create a welcoming professional atmosphere and deliver high standards of customer service for all customers and supporters

About You

To be considered for this role, you will need:

• To be educated to GCSE level or equivalent
• To have a basic understanding of Microsoft Office programs including Outlook, Word, and Excel.
• To be highly organised with good time management skills.
• To have a “can-do” attitude with the ability to focus and get the job done.
• To be resilient and able to react to quickly changing dynamics and flexibility.
• To have the ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
• To have good communication and interpersonal skills.
• To be a strong team-player.
• To be able to motivate self and others.
• To be able to work on-site in our Yorkshire Cancer Research Centre, Hornbeam Park, Harrogate.

Application

As this role is based in a warehouse environment, applicants must be aged 18 or over in order to apply.

Yorkshire Cancer Research is a responsible and flexible employer. We welcome any discussion for flexible working at the interview/offer stage where we will consider an individual’s circumstances against the needs of the charity.

We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates from all backgrounds. If we can make any reasonable adjustments to support your application please contact us.