FIVE volunteers from a Tavistock charity shop have passed their NVQ in retail customer service.

Lauren John from Tavistock, Sarah Mount (Tavistock), Karen Kay (Yelverton), Theresa Hooper (Tavistock), and Demi Conley from Bere Alston, are volunteers at the Oxfam shop in West Street and were helped to complete their NVQ by assessor Martyn Parsons.

The women have been volunteering at the shop varying from ten months to six years filling a variety of important roles.

The newest volunteer, Demi Conley, started ten months ago: ‘I have really enjoyed doing my NVQ as I have learnt many new things about retail customer service. I really look forward to my shifts at Oxfam as is it a nice shop to volunteer in and I have made lots of new friends.’

Shop manager Michelle Tait said: ‘This has been such a motivating experience for these volunteers. They have all worked so very hard to achieve this qualification. My deputy manager Sue Wheeler and I are very proud of them.’

The Oxfam shop in West Street has 30 volunteers, which includes Duke of Edinburgh students who are completing their bronze and silver awards.

Michelle added: ‘One of the things I like about Oxfam is that they believe every volunteer has something to offer and empowers everyone to be the best they can be.

‘Oxfam shops will take volunteers from the age of 14 upwards and with all different abilities. One of the main reasons I love my job is the team I work with. It still amazes me that people give me their most precious thing, their time.’