Gen Z Flocks to Save the Children Shops as Under-25 Volunteers Surge
By Charities Correspondent
A new wave of young volunteers is breathing fresh life into Save the Children charity shops — with under-25s signing up in record numbers and clocking up thousands more hours on the shop floor.
In 2025 alone, volunteers poured more than 324,000 hours into running the charity’s stores across the UK — a jump of over 46,000 hours (17%) on the previous year. It’s a major boost for high streets at a time when many retailers are still feeling the squeeze.
And it’s young people leading the charge.
Last year, a striking 42% of new shop volunteers were aged 18–24, up from 28% in 2021. Over the same period, the average age of a new retail volunteer dropped by 14 years to just 28 — proof that Gen Z is stepping up to give back.
The charity says the spike reflects a shift in how people want to volunteer.
Flexible shifts and shorter commitments are proving especially popular, allowing supporters to fit volunteering around studies, jobs and other responsibilities — while still giving plenty of time during the weeks they sign up.
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 are 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.”
The feel-good factor comes as the charity celebrates one of its strongest festive trading periods yet.
Despite ongoing challenges on the high street, Save the Children shops raised more than £1,060,000 in December 2025 — up over 11% on the same month the year before.
Shoppers hunting for greener gifts are said to be driving the sales boost, snapping up pre-loved fashion, toys and homeware, alongside the charity’s New Goods Range featuring artwork created by children supported by its programmes.
With more than 80 stores in 56 towns and cities — from St Andrews to Holywood and Totnes — the retail network is powered almost entirely by volunteers.
The average staff-to-volunteer ratio stands at 1:27, compared to a sector average of 1:7. Nationwide, more than 2,500 volunteers help keep doors open, sort donations, style windows and welcome customers.
Anna, 23, who volunteers at the charity’s Nicolson Street shop in Edinburgh, said:
“I’d visited the shop a few times before I started volunteering and was always struck by the atmosphere as it felt genuinely warm and welcoming. I also loved the range of items on offer - you can tell real care goes into curating what’s on the shelves.
"I’d really encourage others to give it a go as it’s a great way to meet new people and build experience. It’s incredibly rewarding – and you get first look at some amazing donations!”
In a first for the charity retail sector, Save the Children has also rolled out Attensi — an interactive, gamified training app designed to support both staff and volunteers.
The bite-sized modules are tailored to suit flexible and episodic volunteering, helping new starters build confidence quickly while strengthening existing teams.
Volunteering hours have also been boosted by employers offering paid volunteering days, alongside long-standing corporate supporters including People’s Postcode Lottery and Morgan Stanley, whose staff regularly lend their time.
Operating in more than 100 countries worldwide, including the UK, Save the Children works to ensure children have access to vital education, healthcare and protection.
To find out more about volunteering opportunities, visit savethechildren.org.uk/volunteer.
