Retail Safety Steward (Volunteer) – City Centre (Glasgow)

Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice
VO104513

About PPWH Shops

The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice operates a network of busy, welcoming retail shops across Glasgow, offering high-quality pre-loved clothing, homeware, books, and unique items that help generate vital income for hospice care. Our city-centre shops in particular can be vibrant, fast-paced, and full of customer activity. Volunteers play a key role in creating safe, friendly, and positive spaces for shoppers and donors. As a Retail Safety Steward, you will help maintain a calm, supportive atmosphere that allows our retail teams to focus on delivering great customer service.

Role Overview

We’re looking for friendly and confident Retail Safety Stewards to provide a reassuring presence in our city-centre hospice shops. You will help staff and customers feel safe and supported, while maintaining a warm and welcoming environment. This is an ideal role for someone who enjoys interacting with people, is calm under pressure, and wants to make a real difference by supporting the hospice’s essential retail operation.

Key Responsibilities

Safety, Support & Customer Experience

Monitor the shop floor and surrounding areas to ensure a safe, positive environment
Offer a friendly, approachable presence to customers and volunteers
Provide guidance or reassurance to customers when needed
Support customer flow during busy periods

Observation & Reporting

Observe and report any safety concerns or incidents to shop management
Follow PPWH procedures for recording incidents or unusual activity
Assist staff by being an additional set of eyes and ears

Loss Prevention (Non-Confrontational)

Support the shop team in reducing loss through discreet observation
Always act in a calm, non-judgemental, non-confrontational manner
Immediately alert staff to any concerns rather than stepping in directly

Team Support

Collaborate with the retail team to support smooth daily operations
Communicate clearly with staff and volunteers throughout your shift
Help maintain a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere

When We Need You (Suggested Timings)

This role is flexible and can fit around your availability.

Typical shifts:

Morning: 10:00am &ndash; 1:00pm
Afternoon: 1:00pm &ndash; 4:00pm
Full day (optional): 10:00am &ndash; 4:00pm

You can volunteer:

Weekly
Fortnightly
Or on a flexible, occasional basis

City-centre shops are open Monday–Saturday, with occasional Sunday opening during busy trading weeks.

How PPWH Will Support You

Comprehensive Induction

You’ll receive:

A welcome briefing
Introduction to PPWH, our retail operation, and the shop team
Overview of safety steward responsibilities
Shop tour and meet-and-greet with staff

Training Provided

Training will cover:

Customer interaction and de-escalation basics
How to observe safely and report concerns
Loss-prevention procedures (non-confrontational)
Shop layout, safety exits, and emergency procedures
Health &amp; safety awareness

Ongoing Support

A dedicated Shop Manager or Assistant Manager on every shift
Regular check-ins to ensure you feel comfortable and confident
Opportunities to take on additional tasks if you wish
Open, supportive environment where questions are always welcome

Expenses & Wellbeing

Travel expenses reimbursed in line with PPWH volunteer policy
Breaks during longer shifts
Friendly, inclusive atmosphere where volunteers are valued

If you are interested, please click the ‘Apply’ button below (available when logged in and registered). You will then be contacted by the coordinator by email or phone call. If you have not heard back after 5 working days, the first step is to contact the organisation with the contact details provided. You could also check your junk/spam folder on your emails just in case the response is there. If that doesn’t work out, then please feel free to contact Volunteer Glasgow on [email protected]

After You Hit &quot;Apply&quot;
Confirmation email sent.
Follow-up contact (email or call) to arrange a chat.
Induction session at the location
Start volunteering with agreed-upon shift times.

You can apply for this role on our web site by following this link: Volunteer Application | The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice

Experience required

• Confident, friendly, and approachable
• Good observation and situational awareness
• Calm, professional, and reassuring in busy or challenging moments
• Good communication and people skills
• Reliable and able to commit to regular shifts
• Experience in customer service, retail, stewarding or hospitality is beneficial but not required
• Willingness to follow PPWH safety guidance and shop procedures

Travel details

Address:
5 Oswald Street, Glasgow, G1 4QR
Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice
How to Get There:
By Public Transport:
Train / Subway: Get off at Glasgow Central or Queen Street Station — both are a short walk from Oswald Street.
Bus: Several city-centre buses stop nearby (check local bus routes towards the city centre).
On Foot / By Taxi:
If you’re walking from Buchanan Street / the city centre, head towards Broomielaw and turn onto Oswald Street just before the railway bridge.
If you

Travel expenses

The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice reimburses volunteers for reasonable out-of-pocket travel expenses and supplies, ensuring you’re never out of pocket while supporting our cause.

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