Join us, say volunteers in Bury St Edmunds, Thetford and Soham helping to raise millions for East Anglia's children’s hospices (EACH)
It cares for children and young people with life-threatening illnesses and supports their families through the darkest of days.
East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) is a lifeline in the hardest times providing services across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and parts of Essex.
Crucial to ensuring EACH is there for families facing turmoil and tragedy are the volunteers that work in its charity shops – helping to raise millions of pounds a year.
But their numbers fell away during the Covid pandemic and the charity desperately needs more to sign up.
Now some of those who give their time for free in Suffolk and Norfolk have told their stories in the hope that others will be persuaded to join them.
From Bury’s Trudie, to Thetford’s Two Nevs, and Soham’s Maggie... they are typical of the people who keep the sales wheels turning.
Ian Nicolson, EACH’s director of retail and trading, says volunteers are worth their weight in gold. “Without them charity retail isn’t a viable operation. It’s as simple as that,” he said.
And Sarah Throssell, head of retail central operations said: “To be blunt, volunteers are absolutely critical to an organisation like ours. Without them, the figures just wouldn’t add up.”
EACH, which at the last count had 888 active volunteers across its 44 shops in East Anglia, has just completed its annual We Need You campaign in a bid to rebuild numbers post-pandemic.
Figures released this week show another 92 people have so far come forward and if last year’s trend continues, more may follow later.
If last year’s eventual total of more than 200 new volunteers could be replicated it would help close the gap on the shortage caused by the pandemic, Sarah says.
Covid has hit the shops – which need to raise £4.5 million this year – with a good news and bad news dilemma. Sales and donations are up but the number of people to deal with them is down.
“In terms of volunteer numbers, we’re still desperately trying to recover from the effects of the pandemic,” said Ian.
“We’re down 21 per cent compared to pre-Covid. That equates to just short of 200 volunteers.” Donations, though are up by 30 per cent.
“It’s a perfect storm,” he said. Sales are booming, which is fantastic, but it’s creating enormous pressure in our shops because we don’t have the resources to process everything.
“As a result, we’re spending a lot more on staff primarily through paying for more sales assistants and relief managers.”
Bury shop volunteer Trudie Spearman has a special and personal connection with EACH.
Grandson William, now 22, received care from the charity and spent time at The Treehouse.
She started volunteering at EACH’s shop in St John’s Street when it opened in October 2010.
Now, more than a decade on, she is still as committed as ever and doing the same shifts on Wednesday and Friday afternoons.
“I enjoy it very much and love being here,” she said. “I’ve always worked in retail and love being behind a till, talking to customers. We have lots of regulars and that interaction is something you miss when you retire.
“There’s a huge variety of jobs within the shops taking into account people’s interests. It’s about trying to make the most of their skills.
“It’s also extremely rewarding because we’re helping raise money for a very good cause and that’s something I feel strongly about, because of William.
“He has tuberous sclerosis, which results in benign tumours growing in soft tissue. The brain is mostly affected but he has tumours in his eyes, kidneys and small ones in his lungs.
“He’s had two major brain operations and is brain-damaged as a result. We were told when he was first diagnosed he would live until he was about 10.
“Thankfully, however, there have been huge developments in brain surgery and medication during recent years and he’s fairly well at the moment.
“At the beginning, our daughter had nowhere else to turn but the support she received gave her some respite and everyone was very kind.
“At times it was touch and go but during those moments there were always staff on hand to nurse us through it. As a result, I’ve felt very connected and involved ever since.”
Trudie has also recruited others including her husband Alan, who helps with Portable Appliance Testing in the Bury shop.
“He gets a lot of enjoyment from it and has been volunteering for three or four years, ever since retiring,” she said.
“We’re a very happy bunch. Volunteering is a great way to spend your free time and, as well as supporting such a worthy cause, you’re giving something back to the community.”
Gill Portwood also volunteers in Bury. “It’s something I thoroughly enjoy and find very sociable, having moved to the area without knowing anyone because I previously lived in France,” she said.
She joined the team after seeing an advert appealing for volunteers for the shop in Bury.
“I decided to get involved and even held the ribbon when it was opened 11 years ago by BBC Radio Suffolk presenter Mark Murphy.
“My personal passion is for jewellery and I love sorting and pricing donations. Even while isolating, I collected and sorted them at home. I wanted to keep helping as it’s such a worthy cause.”
Fellow volunteer Mary Banthorpe said: “I wanted to start volunteering to get back in the swing of things, having been poorly for some time. That was last April.
“It’s such an important cause, making lives more comfortable and supporting children and families.
“That’s what drew me in and I enjoy using my time to help others. It’s definitely something I’d recommend to anyone.”
Maggie Park loves her volunteer role at the EACH shop in Soham. “The people that work here and our customers are just brilliant.
“It’s a real pleasure spending time in the shop and lovely being part of something so special. There’s always something to do, from sorting and labelling donations to putting things on rails and display.
“We keep busy and it’s definitely something I’d recommend to anyone.
“The EACH shops are wonderful places to work and it’s lovely supporting a charity that does so much great work caring for children and families in our community.”
Sharen Green has just started volunteering in EACH’s Thetford shop. “I’ve only been here a few weeks, having previously worked in a different charity shop, but love it already,” said Sharen.
“I like the atmosphere and am passionate about recycling, so appreciate what shops like this stand for. The staff and volunteers are very friendly, as are the customers. It’s a welcoming, professional environment and we work well as a team.
“Volunteering is something I’d recommend to anyone. It allows you to be sociable and feel valued, working in an environment where you feel safe and supported.”
Meanwhile, helping to keep the show on the road are Thetford ‘double act’ Neville Jordan and Neville Tuck, who volunteer at EACH’s retail distribution centre in Thetford.
They head out with a driver on van runs two or three times a week, delivering donated items to shops across East Anglia, and also collect furniture from people’s homes.
The pair are affectionately known as the two Nevs – Nev One is Mr Tuck and Nev Two is Mr Jordan.
Neville Tuck, from Brandon, has been lending his services for five years and was encouraged to get involved by wife Gill, herself an EACH volunteer.
“I love the variation and find it very rewarding,” he said. “I did a lot of lorry driving during my working life in the timber trade, so enjoy being out on the road and exploring the beautiful East Anglian countryside.
“In all seriousness, I love it and love the company. There’s not one person I don’t like because everyone’s so friendly. I can’t ever see myself not volunteering.
“If and when the physical side of this role gets too much, I’d like to do something to keep involved.”
Neville Jordan has been volunteering for three years, initially juggling it with work commitments before retiring last September.
“I love it and would heartily recommend volunteering,” he said. “It gives you something to get up for in the morning and I like that structure. It splits your week up and there’s only so much gardening, decorating or watching daytime telly you can do when you retire.
“More than anything, I love being around people and there’s always someone to have a laugh and joke with at RDC.
“We work hard but always with smiles on our faces. It’s like a little family and you know that if ever you need help, someone will step forward.
“On an average day, we’ll head out to four or five shops and it’s nice meeting and chatting to different staff and volunteers.”
Marion Jones who works at the Each shop in Sudbury said: “I love volunteering and enjoy being part of a team.
“Our customers are very pleasant and I find it rewarding working in the shop, giving something back to support such a worthy cause.
“I’m happy doing anything, from serving on the till, steaming, putting clothes on rails and tidying our books and bric-a-brac.
“Many of us that work in the Sudbury shop have been here a similar amount of time and so a good repartee has developed between us.
“We know what’s needed to be done to make the shop look as inviting to customers as possible.”
Michael Farrell, manager of Hadleigh’s Each shop, is keen to hear from anyone willing to help in their shop, which is due for a major refit next month.
“We’re always on the lookout for more volunteers. We can never have enough extra help and every pair of hands makes a huge difference,” he said.
“Even if it’s just a day, morning or afternoon a week, it would certainly help, and there are various roles to suit people’s strengths and interests.
“We’d particularly love to hear from anyone keen to serve customers on Saturdays. That’s a role we urgently need to fill.
“It’s a hugely busy day and we’d love to hear from young people especially, who might like to gain experience working in a retail environment.
“I have some helpers working towards their Duke of Edinburgh awards. They’re brilliant and help no end, but they’re too young to serve on the till.
“Working here is great fun and volunteers are guaranteed a warm welcome from our small, close-knit and friendly team,” added Michael.
Anyone interested should email michael.farrell@each.org.uk or call 01473 828436.
Sara Hill, who works in Each’s Framlingham shop, said: “I started volunteering about six months after the shop opened, in 2014.
“I come in once a week and mostly tend to deal with our bric-a-brac section and man the till, too. However, I’ll do whatever’s needed and help wherever I can.
“Volunteering is something I find very rewarding and I’d definitely recommend it to others.
“I love doing something worthwhile and being part of a team that contributes to such a very special charity.
“I also find it very sociable because you meet new people all the time, as well as building relationships with regular customers. It gives you an identity as a useful member of society.”
EACH has three hospices – The Nook, near Norwich, The Treehouse in Ipswich, and Milton Hospice, near Cambridge. Its patron is the Duchess of Cambridge who gave her first public speech when she opened The Treehouse in 2012.
The charity prides itself on its family-centred approach, also supporting parents, carers, brothers, sisters, grandparents and sometimes friends.
They benefit from specialist nursing care, symptom management, short breaks, wellbeing activities, therapies, care at end of life, bereavement support, counselling and volunteer services.
More than half the care and support is delivered in the family home and community.
Families can spend precious time together thanks to the knowledge and expertise of the specialist team.
Around 570 children, young people and family members are currently receiving care, and it is supporting more than 700 families - half of whom are bereaved.
The charity provides its medical and emotional support free of charge. In 2019/20 it got just 16 percent of its income from statutory sources like the Government, councils and Clinical Commissioning Groups.
In addition to shop sales, funds also come from donations, trusts, gifts in wills and fundraising events.
The hospices are not just about end-of-life care. They can be happy places, where children and young people receiving care can live life to their full potential.
For more information about volunteering, go online to www.each.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering or email volunteerservices@each.org.uk
