BARNARDOS Employer Reviews

I work as volunteer. my duties involve checking donations for stock goods that are okay for resale, then tag and hang for pressing .
I also load and unload vans and help in shop when required.

good customer service skills
cashier
working with disabilities
satisfaction of helping the need

this was a voluntary position which was very fun to do, I met new people everyday, and the was awesome

Normally doing a variety of tasks in a friendly atmosphere .The worst job can sorting donations as some are quite mouldy also the management style is quite hierarchical I think they could benefit from having more faith in their workforce and give them a little more local autonomy.

NO TWO DAYS ARE THE SAME. GAINED NEW FRIENDS AT WORK WHO NOW WORK AS A GOOD TEAM.EACH PERSON IS OF VALUE ,WHETHER THEY WORK ON THE TILL,STEAM,PRICE. THEY ARE A PART OF A TEAM.TAKE AWAY A SMALL PIECE AND MACHINE STILL WORKS BUT NOT AS EFFICIENTLY.EACH PERSON HAS SOMETHING TO GIVE TO THE SHOP.
SOME DAYS IT FEELS WORK LOAD IS HARD,BUT YOU MANAGE TO PULL – more... THROUGH AND THE BENEFITS AT THE END OF THE DAY SHOW IN THE TILL.PREPARATION IS THE KEY IN THIS TYPE OF WORK.PLANNING FORWARD IS ESSENTIAL ANY UNFORSEEN THINGS CAN HAPPEN.VOLUNTEERS ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF CHARITY WORK BUT SOMETIMES DO NOT REALISE HOW MUCH.SOMETIMES NOT TURNING UP TO WORK OR CALLING TO SAY NOT IN.THIS CAN HAVE A KNOCK ON EFFECT TO SHOPS.THIS CAN CAUSE UPSET BETWEEN STAFF.SO I FIND THIS HARD AT TIMES.I HAVE GROUND RULES THAT ALL STAFF PAID/UNPAID FOLLOW.THIS GIVES BETTER WORKING AREA FOPR ALL.STAFF ENJOY BEEN INVOLVED IN HOW SHOP IS PROGRESSING.WHERE WE ARE IN LEADER BOARD.
I HAVE LEARNT NOT TO TAKE THINGS AT FACE VALUE.IF YOU WANT TO KNOW SOMETHING ASK THE QUESTIONS FACE TO FACE.DO NOT RELY ON HERESAY.
MY SHOP WAS HARD TO START OFF WITH.NO STRUCTURE. IT WAS LEFT TO ITS OWN DEVICES,WHICH DOWN THE LINE CAUSED ALOT OF PROBLEMS FOR ANYONE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH THE MUD.
I FEEL I HAVE ACHIEIVED A GREAT DEAL AT THIS SHOP.MAKING IT A SHOP THAT CUSTOMERS WANT TO SHOP
IN.CUSTOMERS SAID THAT PREVIOUSLY THE SHOP LOOKED MEESY,SMELLY,NOT OPEN AT CONSTANT TIMES.THEY WENT ELSEWHERE TO SHOP.NOW GOOD COMPLIMENTS ARE RECEIVED ON A DAILY BASCIS.I FEEL PROUD OF MY STAFF,VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE TURNED THIS OLD UNLOVED SHOP AROUND.WE WORK AS A TEAM AND A GOOD ONE AT THAT.
" FAIL TO PREPARE THEN PREPARE TO FAIL" IS MY MOTO – less

Fairly standard as retail jobs go, though rather quiet most of the time. From my experience there, I learned a great deal of practical skills, cataloguing and tagging and so on, and also gained experience dealing with a variety of customer archetypes. The hardest part of the job was having to hike up and down a steep staircase multiple times a day in – more... order to transfer stock from the stockroom upstairs to the shop floor. The most enjoyable part was getting to know my co-workers. – less

There is no such thing as a typical day at work within the children's centre.
I started working for Barnardos 14 years ago as a part time admin assistant working in a small office/project and have advanced to a full time administrator overseeing 5 sites and 13 staff. My workload is varied and enjoyable and my co-workers are efficient and want what's – more... best for the programme - pulling together as a team. – less

i found Barbardos a really good place to get experience for work and felt that the staff were really nice and helpful

seving the puplic it good to get to know them
good work place managerss good to work for and good work mates

No two days ever the same.Sometimes very enjoyable and sometimes gruelling. Working with volunteers is very different to working with paid employees as they are giving freely of their time.I find that the management are not very supportive and training was very inadequate. My co worker and I get on well but she was very demotivated due to running the – more... store for months with no manager and no support. She now says that the store is a much happier environment and quite a few of the volunteers who had left have now returned and are also much happier. The hardest part of the job is the sheer physicality of carrying and moving heavy stock and donations and also sometimes having to work alone when volunteers don't turn up for whatever reason. It is also difficult getting time for lunch and toilet breaks. We do get unpaid lunch breaks but one gets the impression that it's not really expected. – less

I have been at Barnardos for almost four weeks now and have had a great work experience. The job involves dealing with the customers, keeping the work place clean and tidy, stock rotation and replenishing the stock. Making the shop an attractive and inviting place for our customers. Sorting and Steaming all donations and I have learned the importance – more... of Gift Aid.
I have a great working relationship with the management and staff at Barnardos and would like to continue as a volunteer whilst Im looking for work.
The best part of the job for me is the customers. I enjoy going in to work as no 2 days are the same. – less

this was a work experience to gain experience in retail it was a good experience to gain what i need to learn and

A typical day at work can vary as it depends on the room i am in. A typical day can include setting up a variety of activities which will help the children to develop on to their next milestone whether it is using different size rattles to improve babies fine motor skills or baby walkers to help young babies just learning to walk. there also following – more... the routines so taking turn with your colleagues to change nappies at the set times. Giving the babies their bottles, and helping them with their eating. sleep routines. i have learned to work to each child individual needs to ensure they are getting the best possible help to achieve their next milestone. i also learned to be there for you colleagues to help support them in anything they may need. the job can be quite repetitive day after day and can be tiring but the most enjoyable part is playing and working with the babies as it lovely to watch them grow and achieve their next milestone. – less

A great place to work, all staff very friendly, working there helped me with my confidence and work skills

A day at Barnardos was always good fun. Every day I worked with different volunteers so it was very social. everybody got along very well. I trained my volunteers to a high level and although I let them enjoy themselves and have fun, I placed bundaries so they would still be professional. Our manager was brilliant, very understanding and did her job – more... well. I gained my level 2 NVQ in retail here along with many other certificates including information sharing, data protection and safeguarding. – less

I need enjoy working with them then, though my days there then was not too long. It was just abt 3months with them. I had to stop work because we relocated from Preston to Barrow where my husband works at the Barrow hospital.
I learnt using their till for sales, did cloth steaming, display and also attend to customer.

helping children be creative through many activities - children from different schools and different ethnicities come together and bond.
staff are friendly and give great advice.
hardest part is getting some of the children to participate in activities or play with other children
most enjoyable part is doing the activities yourself with the children

Whilst i have been at Barnardos it has given me an opportunity to gain, skills and qualities that I did not have before. It is a chance to learn how to operate the till and handle cash. I am glad the staff and other volunteers were so helpful and have given the opportunity. It is such a pleasure to work for Barnardos and I will continue to do so in – more... the future. – less

A DAY WOULD GO BEFORE I RELIASE IT BECAUSE I ENJOYED MY WORK
- I HAVE LEARNED TO A COMPASSION ON OTHERS AND TO PUT OTHERS FIRST BEFORE MYSELF
- TO WORK TOGETHER WITH OTHERS
- TO WORK NIGHTS BUT WAS NOT HARD BUT JUST BECAUSE I WAS NOT USED TO THEM
- WORKING WITH FAMILIES, AMAZING TEAM AND MANAGERS

I find this company a joy to work for and if they could offer me a position I would take it