I volunteer for eight hours a week in a local charity shop. I did this to not only give back to the community, but try to distract myself from bad anxiety and depression spells I started experiencing this past summer. I completed the training and am talking more to customers and getting good feedback from them.
The issue however is one of the shop managers who over the past weekend, made it out to not only another volunteer but customers in the shop that I’m a Liability, as well as being too weak and overwhelmed to do anything right. It does take me longer to learn things but when I learn it, I get it. I remember it. On my last shift (Sunday just gone), the shop manager in question said some offensive comments about my autism to my face, saying that I wasn’t allowed to take snack or toilet breaks (all the other volunteers are) and that even after making over £300 in just a few hours, they shrugged their shoulders and said “that’s not too bad” in a tone of voice that wasn’t encouraging.
I have another shift tomorrow and I’m left in a serious dilemma. I love volunteering but this shop manager will be there and I’m 99% convinced that the second I arrive for the shift, they will be on to me again after the events of Sunday. Once again, I feel that I’m being bullied for trying to be a good person and do something positive. It doesn’t help that I’m also unemployed and after my current experiences, I’m definitely being made to feel that no one will ever employ me and that is bringing me down. I do have support to work with an advisor from a different charity but even with an edited CV and cover letter practice, I just feel too anxious and after the events of this year (being diagnosed with autism, dropping out of uni, family members saying nasty comments to me about my autism), I really don’t know what more I can do.
I’ve tried reasoning with said shop manager but they refused to listen to me. Do I not show up tomorrow? Do I go but the minute they start onto me, I walk out? Do I quit and find somewhere else to go? I really don’t know what to do right now.
It also doesn’t help that I’m always left alone as well plus the shop in question has no CCTV, so I’m always terrified that someone will break in. Not saying where I’m based for safety reasons!
Please help!