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► Lydia's House

What:

Lydia’s House is a social enterprise which operates from a showroom on Dean Street in Newcastle but also operates training workshops in Sunderland. We offer a range of Interiors services through the showroom which provides income and training opportunities for vulnerable women at our Sunderland workshops. We have 3 workshop areas where we train women in furniture restoration, traditional picture framing techniques and soft furnishings. We work in partnership with other supporting agencies such as the Probation Service and Gentoo to support women on release from prison and other vulnerable backgrounds.

Volunteer Role:

Showroom Assistant - this would involve dealing with customers, working in the showroom to keep display areas clean and tidy, assisting with window and showroom displays, processing orders, communicating with the workshop to assess progress of customers orders, undertaking some administrative tasks, assisting with the upkeep of the website and other general tasks.
The volunteering would take place in our Dean Street showroom in Newcastle and we would ask that volunteers are available in particular during the middle of the day, though flexibility is available on days and times required.
We sometimes have opportunities for volunteers to work in one of the 3 workshops and these opportunities may arise in the future but currently we are mainly looking for support in the showroom.

Skills/benefits/experiences:

Volunteers will gain customer service skills and will learn about Interiors services. A good working knowledge of antiques and vintage furniture would be helpful but is not necessary. This role would particularly appeal to individuals who are studying Interiors, Art, Art History and other Design based courses.
We will also equip volunteers with an understanding of Health & Safety in the workplace and administration around customer orders and maintaining stock records.
Where a volunteer is suitably qualified they could become involved in the photographing of stock and uploading of this onto our website.
Volunteers may also get an opportunity to produce designs for marketing material and update social media and the website.