VOLUNTEERS are needed to support the St Richard’s Hospice superstore which opened in Stourport in July.
Since the charity opened its first ever superstore on the Tannery Retail Park, thousands of shoppers and donors have since been welcomed through its doors.
Their purchases have helped raise vital funds to continue the hospice’s care to patients in Stourport and across the county.
But the store now needs more volunteers to join its ranks so has issued an appeal for people to come forward.
Michelle Chance, the hospice’s retail team regional manager, said: “Our new superstore has been a fantastic success so far, and we’re hugely grateful to everyone who’s shopped with us or donated items.
“We are indebted to our group of volunteers who enable us to open the superstore each day, but we always need more support.
“Put simply, we couldn’t continue our mammoth retail operation across the county without voluntary support to help run our shops and process the huge volume of donations we receive.
“Each year, our 19 shops, online store, and warehouse bring in around £3million to help us provide our care free-of-charge to the people who need us most.”
She added St Richard’s would love to hear from anyone who wants to join the volunteer team.
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.
Stella Gurney, who has volunteered at the superstore since it opened, added: “Volunteering has made a whole difference to my world.
“Since I have been volunteering at St Richard’s, my health and wellbeing has improved.
“It has given me a sense of purpose, I have learned new skills, and I have made friends.”
In a typical day volunteering, Stella will sort through clothing for sale and price them up, put stock out in store and keep displays organised and tidy.
Stella said: “It is lovely to be a little tiny part of something that, at the end, is going to give somebody that care they need.”
Anyone interested in volunteering with the hospice’s retail team should visit: strichards.org.uk/support-us/register-your-interest-in-volunteering for more information and to sign up.
St Richard’s Hospice is an independent charity offering free, expert care for adults with an illness that cannot be cured, and support for their loved ones and carers.
It needs £12million each year to runb the hospice, including patient care and support services – to do this it relies on voluntary support, including from donations, gifts in wills and retail and events for the majority of its income. The remainder is funded by the NHS.
Go to: strichards.org.uk for more on St Richard’s Hospice.
