A local hospice is looking for people to regularly volunteer in its charity shop in Royston on Saturdays. 
Garden House Hospice Care’s shop is located on the High Street. They need two extra pairs of hands – one to help out between 9am and 1pm and another between 1pm and 5pm – every Saturday. Volunteers will help with sorting stock, serving customers and displaying items for sale. No retail background is necessary, so “anyone and everyone” is encouraged to apply, from those looking to gain work experience to those wanting to add structure to their weekends.
The Hospice relies on the support of volunteers to raise the £7.7 million needed annually to fund its services in North Hertfordshire and surrounding towns and villages. Its shops make up 1/3 of this income and could not operate without volunteers.
Denise Nicholson volunteers in the Hospice’s nearby Baldock shop on Saturdays:
“Loads of our customers come in every weekend, so you get to know them and it’s such a great thing to build up more of a regular clientele. It got to the point where one lady who comes in every weekend jokingly asked me when I was off: ‘Where were you? Did you ask me if you could have a day off?’ and I think that’s just lovely.
“I’ve been volunteering for five years now and I still do it because I get just as much enjoyment out of it. I’ve lived in Baldock over 20 years, but through the Hospice I’ve met so many more people. It’s also nice to feel that you’re in some way contributing, that you’re giving back.”
Amanda Roberts is the Community Engagement Coordinator at Garden House Hospice Care:
“People want to volunteer to make a difference – to improve things or help others. Every volunteer in our shops makes a huge difference to our capacity to provide excellent, individualised care – to put it into perspective, each shift covered could fund a visit to a patient’s home by our community nursing team.
“Not only is the financial impact huge, but volunteering is a positive experience for the volunteer, too. Our recent survey showed that an overwhelming 94% of volunteers who responded are satisfied with their experience, having given something back to the local community while meeting new friends, developing skills and having fun along the way.”
Even if you can’t commit to a regular shift, the hospice still encourages people to get in touch as they often require volunteers to cover holiday or absences.
