What began as a few hours of volunteering has grown into a rewarding career in the heart of the Worthing community. Now managing Guild Care’s Broadwater charity shop, Mark is a familiar face to many local shoppers, but his path to this role has been shaped by personal challenges and a strong desire to give back.

After graduating from university in 2012 with a degree in tourism, Mark spent a decade working in the travel industry. Like many others, his life was disrupted by the pandemic. In July 2020, he was made redundant and began struggling with a mental health illness.

While recovering, Mark stepped away from the pressure of full-time work and took on a new role as a full-time dad to his baby son. During those early days of fatherhood, Mark often visited Guild Care’s children’s charity shop in Rowlands Road, the only one of its kind in the area at the time.

“I was Mark as a dad,” he says. “I wasn’t ready to go back into full-time work, but I still wanted to contribute so volunteering felt like a great option.”

In March 2021, Mark walked into Guild Care’s shop in Rowlands Road and asked if he could help. Sue and Dawn, who ran the shop, welcomed his interest and guided him through the application process. After a successful taster day, he began volunteering for ten hours a week, a role he continued for three months.

It was Sue who first suggested he take on a more formal role of paid work when an opportunity came up to become ‘bank staff’. Mark successfully applied and in July 2021, he started covering shifts across Guild Care’s network of shops. The role offered flexibility and helped ease him back into employment. By the end of the year, he was ready to return to full-time work.

Mark decided to join a travel company as a team leader but another redundancy followed in May 2024. This time, he took a step back and re-evaluated. “The job that gave me the most satisfaction was at Guild Care,” he said. “It felt like the right time to come back.”

Mark already had a strong personal connection to the social care charity. His aunt had been a resident at Linfield House, Guild Care’s care home in Worthing with support for people living with dementia. He visited her weekly and saw first-hand the impact of the organisation’s work.

When he saw a new Guild Care charity shop was about to open in Rustington, he applied for the role of deputy manager. His passion and experience shone through and he was successful. He was there on opening day, when popular online personality Charity Shop Girl visited to mark the occasion.

Now, Mark is acting manager at Guild Care’s Broadwater shop. He loves the creativity of visual merchandising, from colour coordination to product categorisation, and enjoys working closely with his team of volunteers.

“I’ve always loved charity shops. It’s a more sustainable way of shopping and better for the world. But what I love most is working with people and helping them grow. That’s what Sue and Dawn gave me at the outset, and that’s what I try to give others. Everyone matters. 

Two of the volunteers who help in the shop, Becky and Colin, are quick to praise him. “He’s a very good manager, very kind, hard-working and organised. He’s very empathetic.”

For Mark, it’s also a way to give back and be part of something meaningful. “At Guild Care, you’re not a number - you’re valued, whatever your role,” said Mark. “They gave me a chance, and I’m proud to be part of this charity.”

Anyone thinking of volunteering in one of Guild Care’s shops, or in any of the charity’s community services supporting older people, people living with dementia, and children & adults with learning disabilities, are invited to complete the Guild Care Application Form, contact the Volunteering Team on 01903 600602, or email the team on [email protected].