A local hospice charity has this week appealed for volunteer drivers in the Burnham-On-Sea area to come forward.
Weston Hospicecare says its charity shops in Burnham-On-Sea, Cheddar and Clevedon are busier than ever and there is an urgent need for deliveries and pickups to be carried out on a daily basis.
Maria Beaton, Volunteer and Training Advisor at Weston Hospicecare, said: “Our shops really depend on our van drivers, without them it would be almost impossible to replenish our shops.”
“Volunteering can be incredibly rewarding. Many of our volunteers have developed new skills or gained valuable work experience. It’s a great way to meet new people and get involved with the community. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who volunteers because it allows us to have more funds available to provide Hospice care to the community.”
Roy Ackland, pictured, is one of the charity’s volunteer van drivers who moves stock between the charity’s shops and goes out into the community collecting people’s larger donations.
He said: “I have been a volunteer driver for about 5 years. I had always worked in a factory until my retirement and was used to meeting and speaking to lots of people on a daily basis. I liked the feeling of being part of a team when I was at work and seeing the staff and other volunteers in the hospice shops is just like that.”
Over 680 people volunteer for Weston Hospicecare, saving the Hospice £1.1million a year in salaries. For more information about volunteering, click here.
