VOLUNTEERS are needed to support a hospice’s charity shops and warehouse across Worcestershire.
St Richard’s Hospice, based in Worcester, has 19 shops across the county and a donations processing warehouse in Leigh Sinton.
More than 670 people already give their time to help the hospice run its shops and warehouse – but more support is needed.
The hospice has today (1 October) launched a month-long campaign – Your Time, Their Care – to recruit more retail volunteers. The campaign focuses on the impact voluntary support has on the hospice’s ability to provide its services.
Dan Corns, Associate Director of Retail Operations at the hospice, said: “Our retail operation is a huge undertaking, bringing in around £3 million each year to help us provide our care free-of-charge to the people who need us most.
“It simply wouldn’t be possible to achieve this for our patients and the people important to them without volunteers giving up their time to help us at our shops and warehouse.
“We are so grateful to the volunteers who support us already. But we always need more help with the mammoth task of running 19 shops and processing the huge volume of donations we receive.”
As well as making a difference to St Richard’s, volunteering brings benefits to the individual including the opportunity to make friends, learn skills, stay active, and boost confidence in the workplace.
Volunteer shifts can be flexible to suit personal schedules, and a range of tasks are available including preparing stock for sale, serving customers, visual merchandising, and much more.
Dexter Cairns, 66, is a retired hotel manager and now volunteers at the hospice’s shop in St Swithin’s Street, Worcester.
He says: “Working in hospitality, I am used to being busy around hotel guests and I missed that buzz.
“I am glad to say I have got it back volunteering with St Richard’s!
“I’m giving my time, and I feel that that’s doing something good towards the hospice.
“I enjoy the banter with my fellow volunteers, and the rapport with customers. Two days are never the same.”
To register an interest in volunteering with the hospice’s retail team in a shop or at the warehouse, visit www.strichards.org.uk/support-us/register-your-interest-in-volunteering