Young volunteers

Are you a young person looking to volunteer with us? Well, you've come to the right place!

Here, you'll find all the information you need about volunteering with Forget Me Not - from the different roles available to accreditations to volunteer inductions.

First of all, we'd like to say thank you. We value the work our young volunteers do and we're so grateful for all the time our volunteers donate to us day in, day out. If you're just starting out on your volunteering journey - thank you so much - and we hope you find the right opportunity here at Forget Me Not. 

So, what is a young volunteer?

A young volunteer is a person between 14 - 18 years old who donates some of their time to us in our charity shops or in a fundraising role.

Why Forget Me Not needs young volunteers  

We think it’s important to have a diverse volunteer base, which includes young volunteers. We believe that our staff and volunteers should reflect the communities we serve - and our young volunteers bring a fresh, innovative and unique perspective to the work we do - making them a valuable resource for the present, and the future! What's more, we're committed to nurturing our young volunteers' skills, energy and enthusiasm - equipping them with the skills and experience they'll need in the future. 

Benefits of volunteering for young volunteers

  • Learn new skills and meet new people
  • Boost your confidence
  • Enhance your CV
  • Learn about the world of charity retail
  • Do your bit for local children and families
  • Give back to your community
  • Paid expenses in line our volunteer expenses policy
  • Learn about the world of fundraising

What roles are available? 

We have a variety of exciting roles available for young volunteers working in our shops – from working the shop floor to handling the stock room to assisting with online orders and social media! We have limited vacancies in some of these areas, so roles are offered to the best suited candidates. 

See our current volunteering vacancies.

Volunteering to employment

Did you know, volunteering can often open the door to paid employment? Young people can really set themselves apart by demonstrating they have developed relevant skills in a volunteering role. Whether you move to a paid position with Forget Me Not or take your retail career elsewhere - volunteering with us is sure to give you the jump-start you need!  

Get accredited for your time

Volunteer with us and get certification for your time - whether that’s through vInspired or the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) scheme.

You can do your DofE volunteering with Forget Me Not, and if you’re 14 or over you could count fundraising with us towards your award.

We also work with the NCS (National Citizen Service) for young people to undertake volunteering within their local communities. In the past, we’ve had groups fundraising for us by creating gardening spaces, hosting fashion shows and much much more! For more information please contact your local NCS. 

As well as offering accreditations for the time young volunteers donate, we also work in partnership with Kirklees College and Huddersfield New College to offer their students industry work placements.

Applying to be a volunteer 

You will need to give us some information about yourself in order to start your volunteering journey with us. Find below the relevant links to get started. 

  • All volunteers must complete a volunteer application form. 
  • For volunteers under the age of 18, a parental consent form is also required. 
  • Please note, a work permit may be required for some young volunteering roles - see below for more information.

Work permits

Young volunteers who volunteer regularly with us may require a work permit depending on their age. Work permits are issued through the local authority where the young person will be volunteering. Our volunteer team can support you with your application.

Forget Me Not has charity shops in three local authorities, please see below:

Kirklees Council

Calderdale Council

Oldham Council 

Please note: It is the responsibility of the young volunteer to ensure they do not exceed the permitted hours of working outlined in the work permit. Please refer to the above links for more information or contact the volunteer team.

Volunteer induction

All of our volunteers are invited to a volunteer induction. These are currently hosted on Zoom and give our volunteers an insight in to how we support our families and local communities. As a young volunteer, the induction is useful because it helps build your confidence in your role, increases your understanding of Forget Me Not and gives you a chance to ask any questions or raise any concerns. It's also a great opportunity for you to meet the volunteer team and get acquainted with your fellow volunteers! 

If you’d like further information regarding volunteering at Forget Me Not, please visit our Volunteer FAQ