Save the Children’s charity shops are welcoming in a new generation of supporters, with a sharp rise in under-25s signing up to volunteer and more volunteers giving time to support their local stores.
Volunteers contributed more than 324,000 hours to running Save the Children shops across the UK in 2025 – an increase of more than 46,000 hours (17%) compared to the previous year.i
The global children’s charity says the rise reflects a shift in how people are choosing to volunteer, with many now favouring greater flexibility around shifts and a shorter overall commitment to the role, while giving more time during the period they actively volunteer.
This change coincides with a growing number of younger people taking on volunteer roles across the charity’s retail network. Last year, 42% of new Save the Children shop volunteers were aged between 18-24, compared with 28% in 2021. During the same period, the average age of a new retail volunteer fell by 14 years, to 28.ii
Ian Matthews, Director of Retail and Communities at Save the Children, said: “Our volunteers are the beating heart of our stores. They keep our doors open, our shelves stocked and our welcomes warm – without them, our shops simply couldn’t operate. Our continued success is driven by their generous contribution.
“We are incredibly proud to see this community grow and to welcome new generations of volunteers, many of whom tell us they’re drawn to the role by wanting to give something back, the flexibility on offer, and the chance to build friendships, learn new skills and form meaningful, in-person connections. Together, we’re excited to create even more impact for children around the world in 2026.”
The news comes as Save the Children shops report one of their most successful sales months on record. While continuing to navigate the ongoing pressures impacting high-street retailers, Save the Children shops raised over £1,060,000 in December 2025 – an increase of more than 11% compared to the same month the previous year. iii
Victoria Rose, Retail Brand and Proposition Manager at Save the Children, said: “We’re seeing more and more shoppers seeking environmentally conscious gift options at Christmas – and our stores offer this in abundance. From pre-loved clothing, toys or homeware to our New Goods Range featuring artwork created by children we support around the world, offering ethical and sustainable choices for thoughtful consumers is central to everything we do in our shops.”
Save the Children operates over 80 stores in 56 towns and cities across the UK – from St Andrews in Scotland to Holywood in Northern Ireland and Totnes on England’s southwest coast.
Save the Children shops are uniquely powered by volunteers, with an average staff to volunteer ratio of 1:27 compared to the sector average of 1:7. Across the country, more than 2,500 volunteers play a vital role in keeping the portfolio of shops open, with responsibilities ranging from sorting and pricing donations to welcoming customers and creating eye-catching window displays.
Anna, 23, is a student in her last year of university and has been volunteering for 4 months at Save the Children’s store on Nicolson Street in Edinburgh. She says: “I’d visited the shop a few times before I started volunteering and was always struck by the atmosphere as it felt genuinely warm and welcoming. I also loved the range of items on offer – you can tell real care goes into curating what’s on the shelves. I’d really encourage others to give it a go as it’s a great way to meet new people and build experience. It’s incredibly rewarding – and you get first look at some amazing donations!”
In a charity retail sector first, Save the Children recently introduced Attensi, an interactive and gamified app, to deliver support and training for its retail staff and volunteers. Rolled out in response to the increase in episodic and flexible volunteering, as well as the sharp rise in younger volunteers, the app delivers bite-sized, accessible and engaging training modules. Through gamified repetition, it enables staff and volunteers to learn in their own style and at their own pace – helping to build confidence among new starters while increasing the capacity and resilience of existing teams.
The charity’s total volunteering hours have also been boosted by different initiatives, for example, a steady rise in employers across the UK offering paid volunteering days to their staff. Others have longstanding commitments to giving back, with employees from organisations such as People’s Postcode Lottery and Morgan Stanley engaging for many years in volunteering efforts to support their local communities, develop new skills and help drive greater impact for children around the world.
Save the Children works in over 100 countries around the world, including the UK, providing children with access to vital education, healthcare and protection.
To find out more about volunteering opportunities in your area, including workplace volunteering, head to savethechildren.org.uk/volunteer.
