Save the Children’s charity shops have seen a rise in volunteer numbers, with those under 25 contributing more of their time in stores.
The charity reported this week that its shop volunteers contributed over 324,000 hours last year compared with 277,000 in 2024 – a 17% increase.
Its number of registered volunteers increased marginally year-on-year to 2,381 in 2025 while its number of new joiners rose by 349 to 1,313, the charity told Civil Society.
However, since 2021, the charity’s shop volunteer numbers have declined by 700, which a spokesperson attributed to shop closures and a widespread decline in volunteers post-pandemic.
At the end of 2025, Save the Children UK had 53 shops with paid managers and 27 volunteer-led shops in its retail portfolio.
The charity said its shops are “uniquely powered by volunteers, with an average staff to volunteer ratio of 1:27 compared to the sector average of 1:7”.
In the month of December 2025, its shops raised £1.06m, an 11% increase on the total a year earlier.
Rise in under-25s signing up to volunteer
Save the Children said the rise in volunteering hours “reflects a shift in how people are choosing to volunteer”.
It said many volunteers are now favouring greater flexibility around shifts and a shorter overall commitment to the role, while giving more time during the period they actively volunteer.
“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,” it said.
It also reported seeing an increase in the number of younger people taking on volunteer roles across its retail network.
In 2025, 42% of the charity’s new shop volunteers were aged 18-24, compared with 28% in 2021. Meanwhile, the average age of a new retail volunteer fell by 14 years to 28.
“During this time, we’ve worked hard to strengthen our volunteering offer by introducing more flexible shift options and a wider range of training formats, designed to fit around changing schedules and different learning styles,” a charity spokesperson said.
Save the Children recently introduced Attensi, an AI-powered interactive and gamified app, to deliver support and training for its retail staff and volunteers.
Rolled out in response to the rise in episodic and flexible volunteering and younger volunteers, the charity said 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,” it said.
‘Our volunteers are the beating heart of our stores’
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’re 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.”
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.”
