Hartlepool-based Alice House Hospice makes urgent appeal for charity shop volunteers
Alice House Hospice has launched an urgent appeal for volunteers to help support its “overwhelmed” retail team.
The hospice has nine charity shops throughout Hartlepool and East Durham, each selling donated goods with all profits being used to fund the charity’s specialist care services.
But Alice House says its shops currently face a staffing crisis, which has impacts on the hospice’s overall income generation.
Its Retail Team is in desperate need of volunteers to act as in-store retail assistants serving customers, accepting donations and managing stock.
Assistants on the hospice’s vans are also greatly needed to support drivers with collections and deliveries of stock throughout the region.
Karen Witherley, the hospice’s retail senior manager, said: “Volunteers are the heartbeat of our shops as without them we would not be able to open.
"We’re currently working with really limited numbers and our existing volunteers do an amazing job, but are incredibly stretched, which affects our ability to run these shops to their full potential.
“In simple terms, this means that we will struggle to raise the money required to fund the hospice.
“Our biggest areas of need are on the vans who are out in the community every day and in our Headland shop on Northgate.
“If anyone can spare a few hours a week or more, I would love to hear from them.”
To find out more about volunteering at any of Alice House Hospice’s charity shops, contact Karen by email on [email protected] or call 07983 974789.
You can also apply to volunteer at: https://alicehousehospice.co.uk/get-involved/volunteer/