IF you have some free time and a desire to help the elderly in your community, the Age UK shop in Cirencester want to hear from you.

Based on Castle Street, they are looking for local people to sign up as volunteers to help raise much-needed funds to support the charity’s work with older residents.

Those who give up their time for the charity can expect to support the shop in a range of activities, both behind the scenes and on the shop floor, including serving customers, merchandising and creating displays, managing stock donations and assisting with shop administration.

Volunteering can be a rewarding experience and nine out of ten said that helping out in an Age UK shop helps them feel part of the local community, whilst 92 per cent felt that they were making a difference. Over a third have been volunteering in an Age UK shop for over five years.

The money raised by Age UK’s shops will help the charity to support its local Age UK partners to deliver hands-on local services such as lunch clubs and home safety checks.

Vanessa, Shop Manager the Age UK Cirencester shop, said:  “The Age UK shop in Castle Street is reliant on the support of volunteers, so whether it’s for five minutes or five hours, we are delighted when anyone wants to support us.”