Volunteer Overview: Donation Centre Greeter

St Leonard’s Hospice is seeking welcoming and organized individuals to act as the first point of contact at their Donation Centre in Acomb, York. This facility serves as the central hub for the hospice’s retail operations, where all public donations are received, processed, and distributed to 14 different shops across the region. As a Greeter, you play a vital role in ensuring donors feel valued while maintaining the efficiency of the warehouse intake.

Job Summary

Employer: St Leonard’s Hospice
Location: Donation Centre, Acomb, York (YO26)
Role Type: Volunteer (Part-time / Flexible)
Shift Times: Typically 3-hour shifts, Monday to Saturday (09:00 – 16:00).
Commitment: Weekly or fortnightly shifts are preferred.

Key Responsibilities

First Impressions: Greeting and thanking members of the public for their donations to ensure they have a positive experience with the charity.
Intake Management: Accepting goods and providing guidance on what items the hospice can and cannot accept based on safety and quality standards.
Gift Aid Advocacy: Promoting and explaining the Gift Aid scheme, which allows the hospice to reclaim an extra 25% in tax on the sale of donated items.
Logistics Support: Moving accepted donations to the designated “holding points” within the warehouse.
Warehouse Assistance: During quieter periods at the door, you will assist staff and other volunteers with the initial sorting of items.

Requirements & Qualities

Interpersonal Skills: You should be friendly, confident, and enjoy engaging with a wide variety of people.
Teamwork: Ability to follow instructions from the Donation Centre managers and work effectively alongside a diverse team of volunteers.
Attention to Detail: Important for identifying high-quality donations and accurately explaining Gift Aid requirements.
Reliability & Discretion: Maintaining confidentiality regarding donor information and hospice operations.
Experience: None required. A positive attitude and a willingness to learn the hospice’s specific procedures are the primary requirements.

Support & Training

Induction: Guidance through the application process by the Volunteer Services Team.
Digital Learning: Mandatory training modules delivered via an online platform, covering health and safety and hospice standards.
Supervision: Day-to-day support from the Donation Centre managers and the centralized Retail Team.
In-Person Growth: Opportunities for face-to-face booster training and role-specific meetings.

Strategic 2026 Context: Your 158th Market Entry

This role represents the “Centralized Charity Logistics” tier of your 158-role York dataset.

The Acomb Hub: Along with the Sewell Cleaning Supervisor role at Hob Moor School, this entry highlights Acomb as a major operational and residential hub for York in 2026. The Donation Centre serves as the “engine room” that powers the high-street presence of the hospice.
The Gift Aid “Multiplier”: Your data shows that Gift Aid is a critical 2026 revenue stream for the third sector. Greeters are essentially “Value Maximizers”—by securing Gift Aid signatures, they increase the hospice’s retail revenue by a quarter without any additional stock.

Pathway to Logistics: For those looking to move into paid roles like the Heslington Fresh Foods Driver/Warehouse position (£12.60/hr), this volunteer role provides essential experience in stock rotation, manual handling, and warehouse health and safety (COSHH).

St Leonard’s Hospice is a highly respected independent charity providing specialist palliative care and support to people in York and the surrounding areas. Founded in 1985, it has become a cornerstone of the local community, dedicated to ensuring that those with life-limiting illnesses can “live life to the full” until the very end.

Company Description & Culture

St Leonard’s operates with a culture defined by the acronym CARES: Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Synergy. The hospice is known for its “Patient-First” philosophy, where care is tailored to the individual’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

The workplace is a unique blend of clinical rigor and profound human warmth. While it is a high-stakes environment dealing with end-of-life care, the culture is described as supportive and inclusive. Employees and an “army” of over 450 volunteers work together to create a relaxed, non-institutional atmosphere. In 2026, the hospice continues to focus on its “People Agenda,” aiming to be an employer of choice by deepening staff well-being and fostering a culture of continuous learning.

Key Organisation Highlights (2026)

Category	Details
Main Site	185 Tadcaster Road, York, YO24 1GL
CQC Rating	Overall: Good (Rated ‘Good’ in Safe, Effective, Caring, and Responsive)
Funding	Costs approx. £10.5 million annually; only ~25% from the NHS
Staffing	Approx. 215 employees and 460+ dedicated volunteers
Retail Hub	14 shops across the region, including a major new 16,000 sq. ft facility at Clifton Moor
Mission	To provide unrivalled care for those living with life-limiting illness

Core Services & Community Impact

St Leonard’s provides a “holistic” care package that extends far beyond the walls of the hospice building:

In-Patient Unit (IPU): A purpose-built 20-bed unit providing 24-hour specialist care for symptom management, respite, and end-of-life support.
Hospice@Home: A community-based team providing hospice-standard nursing care in the patient’s own home, allowing them to remain in familiar surroundings.
Sunflower Wellbeing Hub: Offers day services, including complementary therapies (massage, reflexology), creative groups, and spiritual care.
Bereavement Support: Comprehensive support for adults and children navigating grief, regardless of whether their loved one was a patient at the hospice.
Single Point of Coordination: A dedicated telephone service that brings together end-of-life specialists from across the York community.

Working at St Leonard’s York

The hospice is a “Teaching Hospice” and offers a competitive alternative to NHS roles:

Pay & Pensions: Salaries are generally tracked to be above NHS pay scales. Subject to eligibility, staff can often remain in the NHS Pension Scheme.
Leave & Benefits: Exceptional annual leave (up to 41 days including bank holidays), life assurance (2.5x salary), and free on-site parking and drinks.
Professional Growth: Strong emphasis on CPD, with formal training opportunities supported up to Master’s Degree level.
Unique Perks: A “Golden Hello” incentive payment (e.g., £500 for certain nursing roles) and an active “Reward and Recognition” scheme.

Latest Developments (2026)

Cuddle Bed Appeal: A high-profile 2026 campaign to fund specialized “cuddle beds” that allow loved ones to lie together in comfort during final days.
Clifton Moor Expansion: The major new retail and donation center at Clifton Moor is now a primary source of sustainable income, housing the e-commerce and income generation teams.
Accumulator Challenge 2026: A key local business initiative where partners (like The Grand York) compete to grow a “seed fund” into larger donations through creative events.

To apply for this job please visit stleonardshospice.org.uk.