This Volunteers’ Week (1 – 7 June), St Luke’s Hospice is celebrating its volunteers for their invaluable contributions and is appealing for others to join them in supporting the charity’s work.
The charity is welcoming new people to join their highly dedicated shop volunteer team, which will provide valuable support to the local community and re-coup months of lost income due to COVID-19.
The 18 shops across Harrow and Brent are a lifeline to the Hospice and rely heavily on volunteer staff. The Hospice has been on the frontline throughout the pandemic, and the charity must significantly increase its income to safeguard its vital services. All shops adhere to government guidelines in relation to hygiene and infection control to create a safe shopping experience for customers, staff and volunteers alike.
The charity’s Head of Retail, Prabhakar Sundaresan, said: “A huge thank you to all our volunteers for the support they have given to St Luke’s. Our shops simply cannot run without the generosity of volunteers. Before COVID-19 we had over 600 shop volunteers, and less than half have been able to return since we reopened in April. We urgently need volunteers across all of our shops to continue to deliver our care.”
“This Volunteers’ Week, we’re inviting the community to join our shop teams to unite with us to help us overcome the biggest challenge we have faced. Without our hardworking, friendly, and caring volunteers, St Luke’s Hospice wouldn’t be able to offer all of the specialist care and support services to families. If you’re a student with some time to spare or you just want to keep busy, volunteering in one of our shops is extremely fulfilling.”
Shop volunteer roles are varied, and shifts are available to suit individual needs and commitments. Volunteers can get involved in a variety of tasks such as; sorting through donations, steaming clothes, arranging window displays, and promoting the work of the Hospice with the local community.
Volunteer opportunities are available at the St Luke’s shops in Burnt Oak, Harlesden, Harrow, North Harrow, Harrow Weald, Hatch End, Kenton, Kingsbury, Pinner, Preston Road, Rayners Lane, South Harrow, Stanmore, Wealdstone, Wembley and Willesden Green
