As part of volunteer week, Oldham Oxfam is celebrating its 'amazing' volunteers for the selfless and incredible work they do for the community.

The Oxfam charity shop on Yorkshire Street has been well-established in Oldham for more than 52 years.

Behind the scenes, there is a hard-working team of volunteers whose jobs range from sorting donations to researching valuable items to helping out on the shop floor and everything else in between.

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The shop hit headlines recently after it received an anonymous and generous donation of dozens of Star Wars collectables.

The team staged a special auction for keen collectors, some of whom had queued up and travelled for the big day.

When special and valuable items like this are donated, a volunteer told The Oldham Times that the team likes to research the item and show it off - and give the people of Oldham "first dibs" before listing it on Oxfam's online shop.

Now, Oldham Oxfam manager, Nic Oakes, is celebrating the shop's "amazing volunteers" as part of volunteer week - and in hopes of inspiring others to take on the rewarding opportunity.

Volunteers include Gill, a retired teacher who has been working at Oxfam for six years.

Gill said: "I enjoy a variety of tasks, my favourite being meeting and serving the customers.

"Volunteering at Oxfam is very interesting as you get to meet lots of interesting people, get some very generous donations and get to work with some lovely people.

"If you are thinking of volunteering I would definitely recommend it."

Belle has also been volunteering in the shop for just under a year.

The 30-year-old said: "I enjoy helping our wonderful team.

"I started volunteering because I wanted to give my spare time in order to help make a difference to others.

"I continue to volunteer with Oxfam as the team have become like a family to me and no two days are the same which is truly incredible."

As for teenager Jess Webster, she has been volunteering in the shop for the past nine months and has found it has built her confidence and self-esteem "dramatically".

The 19-year-old said: "I thought when I first started that I would be dismissed because I didn't think I have the same experience as my colleagues, however, I was wrong.

"I was trained efficiently and treated kindly when I made inevitable mistakes.

"I genuinely could not have asked for better people to work with, they are now individuals that I consider friends and the shop my second home.

"I have been challenged and rewarded and have seen my self-esteem and confidence flourish dramatically in a relatively short space of time."

The Oldham Times: Vaughan worked in the NHS before taking up volunteer work in the shopVaughan worked in the NHS before taking up volunteer work in the shop (Image: Oldham Oxfam)

Meanwhile, retired NHS worker, Vaughan Manning, has been volunteering for two years in the media department.

The 66-year-old said: "I volunteered because I thought it was a job worth doing.

"Volunteering has given me a sense of helping people and the social side is enjoyable."

Nic, who has managed Oldham Oxfam for the past six years, added: "This isn't just a job for me but an extension of myself.

"The most rewarding aspect of working for Oxfam for me is nurturing a team. I cannot express how fulfilling it is to see volunteers growing in confidence and gaining knowledge and experience.

"I am grateful to our long-established team, two of which have volunteered in Oxfam for 50 years!

"And I am equally grateful to our new starters.

"Anyone who gives their time to help their local community are heroes in my eyes, and from the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank the 25 people who week in, week out, give their time to our Oldham Oxfam shop."

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