News

What a fantastic morning with lots of cheer and Christmas spirit at our annual Christmas Fayre.

Thank you to everyone that came along to make it such a great event.

Thanks to Mrs Claus for popping in, Worthing & Adur Town Crier – Bob Smytherman for getting the show on the road and Jenna Hall for getting us singing and dancing once again.

A massive thank you to all the volunteers who worked their Christmas socks off to make the hall look festive and make it such a huge success.

Head to our Facebook Page for more photos and videos from the fayre.

Applications are invited for the position of Volunteer Co-Ordinator.

Hours: 15 hours per week
Annual Salary: £9,734 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent

We are looking for a passionate and driven individual to develop and co-ordinate our volunteer experience. As a local charity, we depend on volunteers giving their time to help us run activities and support our fundraising. Worthing Mencap has a strong base of dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers that support the various functions of the charity.

The successful candidate will focus on recruiting, retaining and supporting volunteers across the charity.

Recruit – The role holder will actively recruit to fill volunteer roles in our services and charity shops. Working with colleagues to identify where gaps are and match volunteers to these roles. Actively seeking volunteers by advertising, attending volunteer fayres, developing relationships with potential volunteer sources in the community.

Retain – ensuring volunteers enjoy their experience with Worthing Mencap. Understanding people’s motivation for volunteering, recognising and rewarding their contribution to the charity.

Support – providing volunteers with the opportunity to develop their own skill sets through training, mentoring or alike. Giving advice and guidance when required, supporting any challenges that may occur whilst volunteering with Worthing Mencap.

In addition, the role holder will be responsible for organising an annual ‘Volunteer thank you’ event. This event helps volunteers to connect with other volunteers across the charity

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information.

To request an application pack or if you have any questions, please contact buddys@worthingmencap.org

Closing Date: Midday on Friday 19th December 2025
Interview Date: TBC

Volunteer Co-Ordinator Job Description and Person Specification

Applications are invited for the position of Training Co-Ordinator.

Hours: 10 hours per week – worked flexibly across the week
Annual Salary: £6,489 per annum
Contract Type: 1 year fixed term. Contract extension subject to funding.

We are seeking a competent and enthusiastic individual to co-ordinate and facilitate the day to day running of Buddys coffee shop services and contracted training services at Worthing Mencap. The successful applicant will co-ordinate and maintain the framework and content of the training placements across Worthing Mencap. The role holder will nurture referral pathways with external partners and manage the referral / enrolment process as well as the training placement itself.

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information.

To request an application pack or if you have any questions, please contact buddys@worthingmencap.org

Closing Date: Midday on Friday 19th December 2025 – we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if sufficient applications are received.
Interview Date: TBC

Training Co-Ordinator Job Description and Person Specification

Applications are invited for the position of Charity Shop Supervisor.

Hours: 15 hours – Friday & alternating Thursdays/ Saturdays
Annual Salary: £9,734 per annum
Contract Type: Permanent

We are looking for an enthusiastic and creative individual to support our current Shop Supervisors to run our vibrant and well-stocked charity shops. The post holder will be responsible for the setting up, general running and closing of the shop on their shifts.

On a day-to-day basis the role holder will:
• supervise volunteers (some of whom will have a learning disability or autism),
• manage/ sort through stock and donations
• cash handling,
• resolve customer queries,
• manage gift aid processes.

On an ongoing basis the post holder will be responsible for:
• the general development of the charity shop,
• keeping safe practices of work for staff and volunteers in the shop,
• volunteer training,
• planning and implementing shop themes, based on yearly calendar i.e. Christmas, Halloween etc
• maintaining a well presented, tidy and clean shop

Please see attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information.

To request an application pack or if you have any questions, please contact buddys@worthingmencap.org

Closing Date: Midday on Friday 19th December 2025
Interview Date: TBC

Charity Shop Supervisor Job Description and Person Specification

Customer Notice: Due to costs increasing significantly, there will be a small increase in prices in Buddys from Monday 1 September. We try our best to keep costs low.

We will also be adding some new and delicious options to the menu so keep an eye out for those and do pop in to try them.

Thank you.

Our NEW Homeware Charity Shop is OPEN!

The doors are now officially open and we cannot wait to welcome you in. Selling all things homeware, from small furniture, to bric a brac, to electricals, we have a wide range of stock.

The addition of a second shop also means that we’ve been able to expand our clothing & fashion offering in the original premises. And the best bit, both shops and Buddys are situated in the same parade so it couldn’t be easier to pick up a bargain, followed by a well earned coffee and cake/lunch.

We do also need your HELP…..we’d be grateful for any donations you may have to help get us off the ground. We need help with:

• Textiles & haberdashery
• Easily transportable furniture
• Small, clean, working electricals

Finally, thank you Worthing & Adur Town Crier, Bob Smytherman for doing the grand opening honours at our Summer Fayre today and for always being such a great support and so generous with his time.

Thank you for your support and please do help us spread the word.

NEW CHARITY SHOP – GRAND OPENING SATURDAY 28 JUNE @ 111 SOUTH FARM ROAD

We’re excited to announce that our NEW Homeware Charity Shop will be opening at our summer fayre next Saturday 28 June. And the best bit, it’s just a couple of doors down from our current charity shop & Buddys so you can meet all your fashion, homeware & coffee/lunch needs in one hit.

The Summer Fayre is from 9:30am – 1pm @ 117-121 South Farm Road, Worthing.

We’ve asked the sun and blue skies very nicely to stick around too :)

Sport and Fun Day 2025, one of our favourite days and it just gets bigger and better every year.
To those that came along, we hope you had a great day.
THANK YOU to all the volunteers who helped out, without you it wouldn’t be possible.
And a big shout out to the students at Davison High School For Girls who volunteered today, you were all amazing and we hope you enjoyed it too.
For those that don’t know, sport and fun day is a FREE annual event fully funded by Worthing Mencap for people with an LD or autism. Bringing together the people we support, individuals, local schools, day centres & residential homes for a day of fun activities, laughter & friendship…oh and free ice cream of course.
Please do get in touch if you would like to find out more or get involved.

CHARITY OF THE YEAR
Tonight it was our absolute pleasure to accept the Worthing Community Awards for Charity of the year!

It was an honour to be nominated alongside so many worthwhile causes but to have won, wow, we are all completely overwhelmed and thrilled to pieces.

None of it would be possible without the hard work, support and dedication of our volunteers, members, staff and supporters who make up the Worthing Mencap family, thank you.

A VERY special congratulations and shout out also needs to go to our superstar longstanding volunteer and Trustee Janet who won the Judges Choice Award! So very much deserved Janet for your immense commitment to charity work for us and others in the local community. We are so grateful for all you do.

Lastly thank you to Melanie Peters aka The Social Media Rocket for recognising, supporting and celebrating all the great people, organisations and work within our local community.

We will well and truly be in jubilant spirits tomorrow so keep an eye out on our Facebook for more photos and celebrations.