Store Assistant

Community Action Network; Poole; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 19,000; Part time

Job summary

Dorset Scrapstore is recruiting a part-time Store Assistant for 17.5 hours weekly in Poole. You will engage customers, assist volunteers, handle till operations, and help sort, price and display donations. The role requires enthusiasm for crafts and environmental reuse, with training provided.

Reporting to the Store Supervisor, you will contribute to a friendly team, open and close the store, and support events and workshops as needed. A passion for arts and community impact is essential.

Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal & communication skills essential.
• Excellent customer service skills essential.
• Involvement/interest in arts, crafting, upcycling or creativity essential.
• Desirable to have a full UK driving licence.

Responsibilities

• Provide courteous, helpful service to customers, including queries.
• Offer creative advice to members on their projects.
• Stock and prepare materials for display in store.
• Cash-handling and accurate till operation.
• Merchandising and organizing donations.
• Open/close store and cash up.
• Assist with workshops and health and safety compliance.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Arts & crafts interest

Social media experience

Education

Level 5 GCSEs or equivalent

Full UK Driving Licence

Job description

Store Assistant vacancy

Every Wednesday 9.45 – 4.15 and Sunday 9.45 – 2.15, and every other Saturday 9.45 – 4.15

Salary: £13.00 per hour

Are you passionate about the environment and love creativity and working with people?

We are looking for an enthusiastic Store Assistant to join the team, working with our volunteers and other members of staff, here, at our inspiring community store in Poole!

Dorset Scrapstore is a not-for-profit Charity providing a community crafting hub that facilitates the education and reuse of scrap materials across the County.

It’s a varied role, so you’ll never be bored! Reporting to the Store Supervisor, you’ll be using the till, helping customers and supporting the volunteers in organising how donations are sorted, priced and presented in the store. In addition you’ll also have responsibility for opening up, cashing up and locking up.

The person we are looking for will need to have great interpersonal skills and have a proactive approach to problem solving, multi-tasking and prioritisation. Creativity, and an interest in arts, crafts, upcycling and/or re-purposing is essential. You’ll need to be reasonably physically fit to do this role and enjoy it. We’re a small team working hard to meet the charity’s objectives, so we like to ensure we can support each other. Training and support are given where needed.

Closing date: Midnight Friday 16th October 2026
Interviews: Week commencing 19th October 2026

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Store Assistant Job Description

• JOB TITLE – Store Assistant
• ORGANISATION – Dorset Scrapstore
• LOCATION -Dorset Scrapstore, Unit 23 Cortry Close, Poole, BH12 4BQ
• CONTRACT / HOURS – 17.5 hours per week
• RESPONSIBLE TO – Store Supervisor
• ANNUAL LEAVE – 5.6 weeks per annum pro rata inc. bank holidays

About Us

Dorset Scrapstore’s mission is to provide a community crafting hub in Poole that facilitates the reuse of scrap materials for arts, crafts and creative purposes. We collect clean, surplus materials destined for landfill, mainly donated by industry and commerce, and also from individuals. These unique and exciting salvaged materials become a valuable, low cost resource for art, craft, education and community projects. Dorset Scrapstore is a membership organisation that has been supporting local schools, community groups and families for over 25 years with the key aim of supplying low cost craft materials through environmentally friendly means. Dorset Scrapstore is a registered charity and not-for-profit company. As well as operating our store, we hold art and crafts workshops and attend events.

The Role

The purpose of the role is to provide engaging and high quality customer service to our customers and be a friendly and energetic member of the team.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Provide a courteous and helpful service to customers, including handling customer queries.
• Offer creative advice to members regarding their creative projects.
• General stocking-up and preparation of materials to display in store.
• Cash-handling and accurate use of the till.
• Merchandising, sorting out and organising donations.
• Store opening & closing responsibility and cashing up.
• To be aware of, and comply with all Health & Safety legislation relating to the welfare and safety of staff and volunteers, the operation of the shop and all items sold (training given).
• Ensure that shop premises are clean and tidy.
• Handle membership enquiries and check data completed on membership forms and on our database.
• Entering data of new members onto our database and complying with GDPR rules (training given).
• Work effectively as part of the Dorset Scrapstore team, which includes both Staff and Volunteers.
• Help to load, unload and occasionally drive the van.
• Help to keep the store tidy and well organised.
• Ensure the effective display and presentation of materials across the Store.
• Occasional supervision and/or running of workshops.

PERSON SPECIFICATION – Key criteria

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the essential criteria below through their application and at interview.

Criteria – Essential/ Desirable

Qualifications

• Educated to Level 5 GCSEs or equivalent – Desirable
• Full UK Driving Licence – Desirable

Skills

• Strong interpersonal & communication skills – Essential
• Excellent customer service skills – Essential
• Involvement/interest in the arts, crafting, upcycling and/or creativity – Essential
• Computer literate with social media posting experience – Desirable

Experience

• Retail experience including till operation – Essential
• Charity sector experience – Desirable
• Working with volunteers. Knowledge of safeguarding & Inclusion & Diversity – Desirable
• Working with people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities – Desirable
• Running or assisting with workshops for children and adults – Desirable

Person

• A commitment to the values, aims and objectives of the Scrapstore – Essential
• Positive and enthusiastic – Essential
• Ability to work as part of a team and independently – Essential
• Comfortable opening and locking the store – Essential
• Physically able to stand for most of the time in store and bend and stretch and lift items safely (<16kg waist height. HSE guidelines apply) – Essential
• Willing to have a DBS check – Essential