GoldPaid runs one free online training session every month for charity retail teams. It is part of the Charity Jewellery Recovery Programme, and it exists for a simple reason. The fastest way to stop donated gold and silver being underpriced is for the people sorting it to know what they are looking at.
The session lasts an hour. It is delivered over a video call, so anyone can join from the shop, the stockroom or home. It is free for anyone involved with a charity, and managers are welcome to invite assistant managers, volunteers, area colleagues and head-office staff.
Who the training is for
- Charity shop managers and assistant managers.
- Volunteers and back-room sorting teams.
- Area managers and regional retail managers.
- Charity retail head office and e-commerce teams.
- Fundraising teams.
- Trustees and finance leads who want to understand the risk.
You do not need any background in jewellery or hallmarks. The session is written for people who have never looked at a hallmark in their lives.
What you will learn in the standard hour
The hour is structured so it stays useful from the first minute to the last. Here is how a typical session runs.
| In the session | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Welcome | How the hour will run, and the charity-first framing. This is training, not a sales pitch. |
| Why value gets missed | The real reasons donated gold and silver get underpriced or mixed into job lots. |
| Gold and silver clues | Stamps, weight, colour, wear and clasps. The realistic signs a piece is worth a second look. |
| Hallmarks in plain English | 9ct to 22ct gold marks, sterling silver marks, and the silver-plate confusion that costs the most. |
| Broken, odd and mixed items | Snapped chains, single earrings, charms, watches and the contents of a tangled jar. |
| What to photograph and send | Which items to flag, what to photograph, and the safe postal process from label to payment. |
| Questions | Time to ask about anything, including pieces you have in the shop right now. |
Why an hour a month is worth it
One trained volunteer who turns a ring over and reads the stamp can protect more value in a single morning than the session took to attend. The training is not about turning your team into valuers. It is about building one habit: pause before pricing anything that might be precious metal, and check.
Teams who attend tend to flag more, guess less, and feel more confident handling the donations that used to go straight onto the tray.
The occasional two-hour deep dive
A few times a year, GoldPaid runs a longer two-hour session for teams who want more depth. It is open to the same people, and it is still free. The deep dive covers:
- Gold purity in detail: 9ct, 14ct, 18ct and 22ct.
- Silver standards, sterling, Britannia and the silver-plate confusion.
- Watches: pocket watches, vintage wristwatches and what to check before pricing.
- Costume jewellery that may still carry real value.
- Designer, antique and branded pieces, and when to be cautious.
- Coins, medals and small precious-metal items.
- Broken jewellery and scrap value.
- When to sell, scrap, auction or seek a specialist.
- The volunteer handling process and shop-level escalation.
- Area manager reporting across multiple shops.
How the sessions run
- One session a month, plus an occasional two-hour deep dive.
- Delivered over a video call. The joining link is sent when you register.
- One hour for the standard session.
- Free for anyone involved with a charity.
- Invite as many colleagues as you like, from one shop or from a whole chain.
- A recording is shared with everyone on the invite list afterwards.
Who delivers the training
The sessions are run by Rocco Clayfield, who runs GoldPaid and assesses charity donations every week. The training is practical guidance drawn from that day-to-day work.
It is not a formal qualification or an accredited appraisal course, and it does not make anyone a registered valuer. It is designed to help your team know when to pause and check, which is the part that protects donations.
Register your charity shop team
You can also call 07763 741067 if you would rather talk it through first. There is no charge and no obligation.
What the training is not
A few honest points. The session is not a sales pitch. There is no pressure to use GoldPaid for anything afterwards. Attending does not commit your charity to selling a single item. And we will never ask a charity to make a decision on a valuation during a training call.
Rocco Clayfield, Director, GoldPaid.
Common questions
Is the training really free?
Yes. There is no charge to attend, no charge per person, and no charge for the recording afterwards. It is free for anyone involved with a charity.
Do we have to sell anything to GoldPaid?
No. The training is entirely separate from selling. Attending commits your charity to nothing. You are welcome to attend and never send a single item.
Can volunteers attend, not just managers?
Yes. Volunteers, back-room teams, assistant managers, e-commerce staff, area colleagues and head-office teams are all welcome. Managers can invite anyone involved with the charity.
Do we need any experience with jewellery?
None at all. The session is written for people who have never looked at a hallmark. It starts from the basics.
Is the session recorded?
Yes. The session is recorded, and the recording goes to everyone on the invite list afterwards, so anyone who could not attend, or who wants a refresher, can still use the training.
How long is the session?
The standard monthly session is one hour. A few times a year there is a longer two-hour deep dive for teams who want more depth.
How many people can we bring?
As many as you like. A single charity can put forward people from every shop in its chain. There is no cap.
How do we get the joining link?
Register once by WhatsApp, phone or email. We add your team to the invite list and send the joining link and date before each session.