Jesmond charity shops say they are beginning to feel the strain as research suggests more than a quarter of UK charities are struggling to meet demand due to volunteer shortages.

From processing stock to serving customers and keeping shops open, volunteers form the backbone of charity retail. But local shops are now feeling the strain as fewer people are willing or able to give their time, with one in four (27%) charities nationwide unable to meet demand.

Local branch Mind Jesmond said it has lost “many, many hours” of volunteer support over the past year.

A national issue with local consequences

According to sector research from the Charity Retail Association (CRA) shared with JesmondLocal, the charity retail sector is experiencing pressures in volunteer recruitment and retention that mirror broader social and economic shifts across the UK.

Hannah Weet from the CRA said the cost-of-living crisis has been a “highly significant factor”, with many people forced to prioritise paid work or concerned about travel costs. Research conducted by Oxfam found that 44% of people surveyed felt rising living costs threatened their ability or willingness to volunteer, often because they need to prioritise paid work or cannot afford out-of-pocket expenses such as travel.

Although many charities reimburse travel costs, financial pressure still plays a major role in decision-making, particularly for students, young professionals and those on low incomes.

There has also been a noticeable shift in how people want to volunteer. While charity shops have traditionally relied on volunteers committing to regular or full-day shifts, many potential volunteers now want shorter, highly flexible, task-specific roles that fit around work, studies or caring responsibilities.

Recent figures from the Community Life Survey show that the proportion of adults volunteering at least once a month fell from 27% in 2013 to 16% in 2023, while the number volunteering at least once a year dropped from 45% to 28% over the same period.

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to have a lasting effect too. Many long-serving volunteers, often older individuals who formed the backbone of local shops, stepped away during the pandemic and have not returned due to health concerns or lifestyle changes. Weet said this created a gap that is hard to replace, describing it as something that takes “significant effort to fill with new volunteers”.

Despite these pressures, the motivation to volunteer remains strong. More research from Oxfam highlights that 70% of volunteers are driven by social interaction, friendship and preventing loneliness, underlining the importance of charity shops as social spaces, not just fundraising outlets.

Local impact in Jesmond

At Mind Jesmond, shop manager Leanne Farrier says the volunteer shortage has become increasingly noticeable over the past year.

“A lot of our volunteers are students needing placements for their course, school pupils doing Duke of Edinburgh [awards], or older volunteers,” she explained to JesmondLocal. “Many of them only stay for a year, so we’ve lost many hours of volunteering compared to last year.”

Although the shop has managed to maintain its usual opening hours, reduced volunteer numbers have affected day-to-day operations.

“It’s hard to keep up with all the donations we receive and keep the shop up to the standards we hold ourselves to,” Farrier said. “There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes that people don’t always see.”

Volunteers have stepped back for a range of reasons. Some no longer need to volunteer after finishing education requirements, while others face family commitments, personal circumstances.

To address the shortage, the shop has stepped up recruitment efforts, advertising through church newsletters, posters in-store, the charity’s website and social media, as well as speaking directly to regular customers and members of the local community.

Farrier said volunteers were central to the shop’s work. “Our volunteers are the heart of our charity – without them, we couldn’t do what we do for Mind and mental health.”

She also stressed the personal benefits of volunteering. “It’s about meeting new friends, learning new skills and getting out of the house. There are roles for everyone – from serving on the till to sorting donations or helping with displays.”

A volunteer’s perspective

For some former volunteers, the desire to help remains, but economic and time pressures make continued involvement difficult.

Lucy Bell, a current Newcastle University student who previously volunteered in a Cancer Research UK charity shop while studying, reflects a situation many young people may recognise. “I really enjoyed volunteering because it gave structure to my week and a sense of community,” she said. “It was also nice to feel useful outside of uni.”

However, Bell said her circumstances have since changed. “As a student, once my rent went up and I had to take on more shifts at my part-time job, I just couldn’t justify the time anymore,” she said.

She added that practical barriers also played a role. “Travel costs add up, and the fixed shifts made it difficult to juggle alongside uni and work.” Her experience reflects national findings that suggest volunteering is increasingly shaped by economic realities rather than a lack of goodwill.

Adapting to a changing volunteering culture

According to the CRA, charity shops across the UK are beginning to adapt by modernising how they recruit and support volunteers.

One approach is “micro-volunteering“, which involves offering short, task-focused shifts, for example two hours steaming clothes, sorting donations or covering tills during busy periods. This model appeals to people with limited availability and helps shops fill gaps more efficiently.

Shops are placing greater emphasis on training and skill-building, presenting volunteering as a pathway into employment. Certified training in customer service, visual merchandising and stock management has proved attractive to younger volunteers.

Digital recruitment has also shown promise. Dorothy House Hospice Care introduced QR codes allowing people to apply via their phones, resulting in a 2.5% increase in volunteers aged under 45.

For Jesmond’s charity shops, adopting similar approaches could help ensure long-term sustainability while maintaining their role as community hubs.

Looking to give back in Jesmond? You can volunteer with local charities including Oxfam, Mind, and St Oswald’s Hospice – visit their websites to find out more.