The journeys of Eva and Norma as volunteers at St Andrew’s Hospice showcase the profound impact of giving back – highlight the skills, experiences, and connections gained through volunteering and serve as a heartfelt invitation for others to join them.
With a new shopping outlet in the former Poundstretcher in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire to add to the 13 other fundraising shops in the region, St Andrew’s Hospice is looking for volunteers to both help complete the fitting out of the store and to work in it when it opens.
The bold new venture offers vintage and new goods, quality second hand furniture, toys, gifts, homewares and so much more and is hoped to bring a vibrancy to the local area and provide a shopping experience the whole family can enjoy.
It is also an excellent opportunity to generate the funds needed to provide specialist care and support for the people of Lanarkshire. But to make this exciting project happen, the charity needs to recruit a team of volunteers to cover 280 shifts.
Eva began her volunteer journey with St Andrew’s Hospice in 2019 and has since become a shop manager.
“I decided to start volunteering because I wanted to give back to my community. I went into the Hospice’s Hamilton shop and picked up an application form. It’s given me so much work experience; I’ve priced donations, sorted donations, restocked shelves – I even started cashing up as well.
“I’ve made so many connections with customers and other volunteers. It’s been an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend volunteering.”
Norma volunteers in the Dove Shop within the hospice itself and said: “I have realised that I am so much stronger in myself since volunteering; I’m much more resilient than I ever thought I could be.
“I’ve found out that there’s also a different kind of life for me after losing my husband in 2019. It gives me a purpose to get up and get out in the morning and that’s been so good for me in many ways.”
Why your support matters
St Andrew’s Hospice provides specialist palliative care for individuals living with life-limiting conditions. Services include symptom management, rehabilitation, and end-of-life care.
As well as its Inpatient Unit, it also provides care and support to patients, their loved ones and the wider Lanarkshire community through its outpatient and wellbeing services, bereavement support services and Compassionate Lanarkshire service which offers emotional, therapeutic and practical support to help individuals and families in their own homes.
Services are free of charge to the population of Lanarkshire, funded partially by NHS Lanarkshire, but significantly through community generosity. The continued provision of these vital services is made possible by people buying from and donating to its shops, supporting events, and leaving gifts in their Wills.
Volunteer opportunities await
Join the team in making a difference. Your contribution will not only support St Andrew’s Hospice, but also enrich your life with new experiences and connections.
There are many facets to retail work and there are opportunities to shape your role according to your interests.
Among the roles required are –
- Customer service: Meeting customers and handling sales transactions.
- Stock management: Sorting, pricing, replenishing stock.
- Merchandising: Arranging stock attractively.
- Furniture repair and restoration: Giving new life to donated items.
- Logistics: Picking up and delivering stock.
- Security: Includes monitoring CCTV.
- Maintenance: Keeping the shop floor and back store clean and tidy.
Before its grand opening, immediate help is also needed with tasks such as wallpapering and joinery. If you can spare a few hours for these jobs, please contact retail manager, Irene Viola at 07753 496 595.