Love to read? Know your classics? Up on the latest bestsellers? We are looking for people that love books - fiction or non-fiction, classic or contemporary - to help us select, research, prepare, photograph and list our eclectic stock for sale on Oxfam’s bespoke online shop. During these uncertain times Oxfam’s work to tackle global poverty is more vital (and more challenging) than ever before. Can you put your book expertise to use to help us raise money to support and empower some of the world’s most vulnerable communities?
What you can do at the shop:
· Stock selection to help us match our listings with our customers’ interests
· Researching rare and valuable books
· Photography and editing
· Creating accurate and engaging online listings
What we can offer:
Oxfam's core values are empowerment, inclusiveness and accountability, and we stand by these in all aspects of our work. When you volunteer with us you will have the opportunity to develop your skills (and enhance your CV) and bring your own ideas into the shop. You will be warmly welcomed and you will feel a sense of ownership over the work you do. We will provide full training, giving you the benefit of our experience. We provide references for our volunteers, and we believe nobody should be out of pocket to volunteer with us, so if you live outside the Cotham area we can help with reasonable travel costs. Our shop only sells online and we are not open to the public, so if are interested in gaining ecommerce experience but would value a quieter, relaxed working environment, you will love it here!
What our team have to say about working at the shop:
“Oxfam has given me my first relevant volunteering experience – I’ve learnt about a range of different items as well as how an organisation works – and it gives me a chance each week to switch my focus away from uni work!”
“You come across lots of interesting items, but it can be a thrill when you find something rare or out of the ordinary”
“I’ve been here for four years and I love it – very friendly team, very varied – dealing with high end clothing, antiquarian books, household items and much more – it’s great to find new homes for unwanted goods”
What we ask for:
· Enthusiasm for selling books online!
· A willingness to learn and to work within Oxfam's core values
· A commitment of a 3 hour shift per week for at least 3 months
· A commitment to abide by all shop health and safety processes
What your help will enable us to do:
Every pound raised in these incredibly challenging times supports Oxfam’s aim of ending extreme poverty. This income is vital to empower people to help themselves out of poverty, and, crucially, it allows us to act immediately when a disaster happens - saving lives and providing essential resources to help rebuild communities.
Can you help us raise as much as we can to continue our work this year? We won't live with poverty. If you feel the same way we would love to work with you!
How to apply:
Simply fill in our online application form: https://volunteering.oxfam.org.uk/opportunities/112157-ecommerce-volunteer-online-shop-cotham-hill-books-2026-04-09
Once we receive a reference back for you we will invite you in for a look around and a chat to see what you would like to get out of the role. If you have any questions about volunteering or about the application process please do get in touch!