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From volunteering in a newly opened Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) shop to becoming the Manager of another within just 14 months, Debbie Edgell’s journey shows how taking a small step can completely change the direction of your life.
After moving to Gloucestershire and taking a career break, Debbie was looking for something that would give her a renewed sense of purpose, confidence, and connection. What started as a few hours volunteering at our Brockworth shop soon became something much bigger.
Now, Debbie is preparing to open and manage our newest GWAAC shop in Bishop’s Cleeve, near Cheltenham - and we’re incredibly proud of what she’s achieved!
A fresh start in Gloucestershire
Originally from Hartlepool in the Northeast of England, Debbie spent years working in a corporate role at Samsung, where she specialised in sales and planning, developing strong skills in strategy, coordination, and problem-solving. Later, after moving to Gloucestershire, she worked as a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant at a primary school for thirteen years.
Interestingly, Debbie’s role at the school first came from volunteering.
“I used to do voluntary work at the school because I started off as a parent, and that’s how I got my last job,” she explained.
After years of working in education, Debbie decided the time had come to take a step back and focus on her health and wellbeing. Towards the end of her career break, she began looking for local volunteering opportunities that could help her reconnect with people, rebuild confidence, and ease herself into something new, believing, “It was time to be on a different track and a different direction.”
That was when she spotted that GWAAC’s Brockworth shop was preparing to open. Debbie attended one of the shop’s volunteer taster mornings before the doors officially opened in February 2025.
Finding confidence through volunteering
Before volunteering with GWAAC, Debbie admits she knew very little about the charity and the lifesaving work we carry out across the region. But as she settled into the Brockworth shop team, she quickly found herself enjoying both the variety of the role and the sense of community around her.
Over time, Debbie got involved in all aspects of shop life, from processing donations and steaming clothes to serving customers at the till. She also took on one of our specialist volunteer roles, helping with social media content for the shop.
Five months into volunteering, an Assistant Manager vacancy became available at the Brockworth shop. At first, Debbie did not think the role was for her. However, encouraged by the rest of the shop team, who believed she was more than capable, and with a transferable set of skills from her previous jobs, she decided to apply.
Despite having little previous retail or charity sector experience, Debbie’s commitment, attitude, and time spent volunteering had already demonstrated exactly what she could bring to the role.
“Being a volunteer is low stakes. You can go in and do as much or as little as you'd like to do in the knowledge that you're helping the charity and making a difference.”
“I never in a million years thought I would get to this point; I wouldn't have even dreamt it. It's changed my life and put me on a different track, and exactly what I needed. The people I've been surrounded with have lifted me, and you can't put a price on that.”
Debbie and the shop team at Brockworth
Taking the next step
Transitioning from volunteer to Assistant Manager brought new responsibilities and challenges, but Debbie says volunteering helped make the leap feel much less daunting.
“Because I had been a volunteer and proved myself, that counted for a lot. All the experience I had gained within Brockworth through volunteering went a long way,” she said.
As Assistant Manager, Debbie continued learning the operational side of running a charity shop while also helping support volunteers who were in the same position she once was.
After eight months in the role, a Shop Manager position came up for an upcoming Bishop’s Cleeve shop near Cheltenham. Debbie initially displayed the advert in the Brockworth shop and thought nothing of it. But once again, the team around her encouraged her to believe in herself.
After a successful interview, Debbie was offered the role. When asked how she feels about becoming Shop Manager, Debbie said:
“I’m nervous and excited all at once. I can’t wait, I’m so excited! I’m going into the unknown with how things are going to work, who I’m going to be working with, and what the shop’s going to look like. But having the time to visit other shops has been really valuable.”
Reflecting on how far she has come in just over a year, Debbie admits she never imagined volunteering would completely change the direction of her life.
Volunteer with GWAAC
Debbie’s story shows just how volunteering can become much more than simply giving back. Whether you’re looking to meet new people, rebuild confidence, learn new skills, or even take the first step towards employment, there is a place for you within our retail volunteer team.
As a former volunteer herself, Debbie says:
“Don't hold back, give it a go. Meet new people, make new social connections, and become part of the community whilst supporting a great charity that saves lives.”
With our new Bishop’s Cleeve shop opening in the second half of 2026, there has never been a better time to get involved.
If you’re interested in volunteering at one of our shops, visit our retail volunteering page or pop into your local GWAAC shop for a chat with the team. We can’t wait to welcome you.
