Letter from Chris Coe to all Shop Volunteers

As most of you will already know - Chris Coe is the Trading Director for our shops. That means he is responsible for all & everything to do with the shops we love & work in. Here is an extract from his invitation to meet up with him:

" Dear Shop Volunteers

I want to invite you all to one of this year's Oxfam Live events. If you haven't attended an Oxfam Live (known as Forums until 2004), their format and focus on Oxfam's work have rightly made them very popular in recent years. I have written to your shop manager asking that your shop is represented, in as large numbers as possible, at this year's Oxfam Live events.

The work and support of the shop volunteers is vital to the achievement of Oxfam's mission. The day's proceedings start with a 90-minute session exclusively designed for you to exchange your opinions and to ensure your voices are heard. A senior manager from the Trading Management Team will attend each of these sessions to listen directly to your views. This session honours our commitment to consult directly with volunteers; please note that it is not open to paid shop staff.

A short break will follow, during which shop volunteers who have attended the 'Talking Shop' session - and are staying on for the main Oxfam Live event (all of you, I hope!) are welcome to enjoy the food and drinks that will be provided for you.

Oxfam staff, campaigners, donors and potential supporters will then join us at the beginning of the main Oxfam Live event, for a stimulating exchange of news, ideas and views. Everyone can choose to attend all or part of the event. It would be great if you could attend the whole Oxfam Live event, but you should feel free to come for as long as your commitments allow.

As well as the opportunity at 'Talking Shop' to air issues specific to shop volunteering, the day is your chance to find out how your time and energy enable Oxfam to overcome poverty in the 70 countries in which we work - helped by an international Oxfam programme officer, who will present a picture of our ongoing work.

We look forward to meeting you at Oxfam Live - you will meet volunteers and staff from other shops, and other Oxfam supporters in your area, and have a wonderful opportunity to create a network of like-minded people who are all working to make the world a more safe and just place for everyone in it.

Best wishes

Chris Coe
Trading Director

6 January 2006 "


This year's date for this amazing event for us here in London is the evening of 18th May. I know it sounds like a long way off - but it's best to get it into your diary now - and of course I will remind you about it a few more times before the event - through this blog, the shop message book (under the till), by chatting to you - and the notice boards. The venue has not yet been confirmed - but in the past it has been pretty central - so quite close to our shop.

Right - I will put up a notice list in both shops notice boards - please feel free to add you name to mine if you want to attend - it's always a great night out!!