Student Alex Watkin-Child has completed a rewarding work experience placement with East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) – and says his time in one of the charity’s shops has helped build his confidence for the future.
The 17-year-old, from Fenstanton, spent three days volunteering at EACH’s Histon Road store, in Cambridge, serving on the till, sorting donated clothing and pricing vinyl records for eBay listings.
He also welcomed people dropping off donations and helped customers carry larger items to their cars.
Alex, who has just completed his GCSEs, chose the shop because he is a regular customer and previously raised funds for EACH.
“I really enjoyed it,” he said.
“Everyone was friendly and welcoming, which I appreciated.
“I’m not the most confident and can find it hard speaking to people sometimes, but they put me at ease and made me feel comfortable.
“Overall, I found it very rewarding and the experience has given me skills I can hopefully take forward in life.
“I feel more confident because of it, and it’s something I’d like to do again one day.”
Although he does not have a personal connection to EACH, Alex feels a close bond as he lives with a brain condition, as well as a form of dwarfism.
In 2017, he and his family successfully secured £25,000 for the charity through OneFamily’s Foundation Community Awards.
The grant was ringfenced to install a new boiler and help refurbish the hospice’s hydrotherapy pool. It also covered the cost of a dehumidifier to make sessions more comfortable for children with respiratory conditions.
Mum Theresa said she was incredibly proud of Alex’s contribution during his placement at Histon Road.
“He doesn’t find things like this easy, but it’s to his great credit that he pushed himself, got stuck in and, by all accounts, made everyone proud,” she said.
“Everyone was lovely to him, which I’m grateful for, and it feels like an experience he got an awful lot out of.”
Shop Manager Bridget Parr also praised Alex’s enthusiasm.
“It was a pleasure to have Alex with us,” she said.
“He approached every task with enthusiasm and a smile, whether he was helping customers, sorting donations or learning about how the shop operates.
“What really stood out was how much his confidence grew over the three days.
“By the end of the week, he was chatting to customers and getting involved in all sorts of jobs, and it was lovely for the team to see.
“All the volunteers and staff loved him, and he’s welcome back any time.”
Alex is pictured during his placement with EACH volunteer Jenny Bowles, who manages the shop’s books and eBay sales.
Alex is now planning to study Animal Care at Huntingdon Regional College. He hopes to pursue a career working with dogs.
Bridget is always keen to hear from more would-be volunteers interested in joining her team. To find out more, pop in for a chat or call 01223 363695.
