A hard-working charity shop volunteer has likened her role to a “giant hug” because of the warmth, enjoyment and fulfilment it provides.
Amanda Bourne helps out in the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) store in Colchester High Street.
She has been volunteering for just over a year and first got involved after bringing some donations into the shop.
“To be honest, it’s not something I’d considered before coming in that day,” said Amanda.
“However, when I thought about it, it made complete sense. I’d worked with children throughout my career, training as a nursery nurse in London and also being a nanny overseas in Singapore.
“I’d also been working as a teaching assistant in primary school education.
“Not only that, I could relate to the work EACH does, having had our own experiences when my son was younger. Thankfully, he’s fit and well now, working as a teacher in Japan. However, during his childhood, he was very poorly and spent a lot of time at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
“For those reasons, there was something logical about me volunteering in the shop, as though the idea spoke to me.”
Amanda has no regrets and helps out every Wednesday and Thursday morning.
She says it is a close-knit team and enjoys being part of a ‘special group of people’.
“I thoroughly enjoy it and love coming here,” she said. “I like getting out of the house, and, because everyone’s so lovely here, I always say it feels like a giant hug.
“Everyone’s so kind and respectful, and there are always people around to talk to.
“We’re very close and although we work hard and gets lots done during the course of a day, we also have lots of fun together.
“It’s more than just a shop, and, perhaps because of my background, I’m always thinking about the bigger picture, in terms of the care and support EACH provides.
“I’m always thinking of the families and feel privileged to be in a position to help, in my own way.
“It’s definitely something I’d recommend to anyone and see it as an opportunity to give something back to the community, while supporting an amazing charity.”
By her own admission, Amanda loves things being neat, tidy and orderly, so enjoys spending time in the shop’s sorting room.
“I like working my way through donations and although every penny counts, there’s something particularly exciting about spotting a real gem that’s going to make some money,” she said. “I see it as a challenge.”
Amanda is supporting EACH’s Care to Help campaign – a major recruitment drive taking place throughout May, encouraging extra volunteers to help in its 52 shops and Retail Distribution Centre, in Thetford. One of the key aims is to highlight the direct correlation between volunteering hours and the care and support EACH provides.
New volunteers are being encouraged to step up to the challenge and help change the lives of families receiving vital care and support.
The charity relies on voluntary donations for the majority of its income. This year alone, it needs to raise £8 million from donations and fundraising activities and £9.8 million in retail income. Only 15% of its income comes from the government, county councils and the NHS.
To find out more about volunteering for EACH, pop into your local shop, visit each.org.uk/volunteering, email [email protected] or call 01223 205183 (option four).
EACH has three hospices, including The Treehouse, in Ipswich, and other North Essex shops in Stanway, Clacton, Dovercourt, Frinton and Halstead.
