Building Confidence Through Volunteering
When Thomas began volunteering at ECI’s Jelly charity shop, he had one clear goal — to improve his chances of finding paid work by gaining hands-on experience in retail and customer service.
With guidance from the Jelly team, Thomas learned key skills like handling stock, serving customers, using the till, and managing donations. He quickly became a valued part of the team, growing in confidence and gaining a real appreciation for the work involved in running a busy charity shop.
Beyond practical skills, Thomas says the experience gave him a fresh perspective on his own life, and helped him feel more connected to the community.
“Volunteering at Jelly has helped me realise what I’m capable of. I’ve grown in confidence, learned so much, and it’s made me really value the generosity of others.” – Thomas
With structured training, encouragement, and a supportive environment tailored to his goals, Thomas has taken big steps forward — building both his skill set and self-belief.
Growth, respect, and community were at the heart of Thomas’s journey — and we’re proud to have Thomas in our Jelly Team!
To find out more about our Award Winning Jelly Charity shop click here.