Shop volunteer Jacquie Aldous loves being around people and says she is relishing her work with East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
The 68-year-old spends three afternoons a week operating the till in the charity’s Dereham shop, in Market Place.
She finds it both “satisfying and rewarding” and was speaking at the end of EACH’s We Need You campaign.
The aim has been to recruit more shop volunteers like Jacquie, to help in one of the charity’s 44 shops scattered across East Anglia.
“I’m not the sort of person who likes sitting around doing nothing and I’m always willing to do extra hours, if I find myself at a loose end,” said the mum of two, who also has five grandsons and lives in Swanton Morley.
“I really enjoy it and feel I need that contact with people.
“That’s why I love working on the till, because it gives me a chance to see and chat with customers.
“I can talk to anyone and it’s also very satisfying and rewarding being part of such a special charity, doing our bit to raise money that will be used to help and support so many children.
“I always said I wouldn’t volunteer if it didn’t make me happy. It’s something you do out of choice rather than necessity, after all.
“However, I can safely say this makes me very happy. It’s nice doing something different and it’s filled the next chapter of my life.”
Jacquie, married to Philip, was a Human Resources Manager during her working life but took voluntary redundancy in 2010.
Since retiring she has kept herself busy running flower arrangement demonstrations across the East of England, on behalf of the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies.
She also runs an after-school flower arranging club for seven-year-olds and is part of the Norwich Cathedral Flower Guild.
Her other great passion is EACH, having been volunteering for just over a year, and she says anyone who starts is assured of a warm, friendly welcome, certainly based on her experiences in Dereham.
“For me, it works in lots of ways and it’s certainly something I’d recommend to anyone,” she said.
“Our shop is a very happy place and we have staff and volunteers with a real range of strengths. It’s a great working environment.
“Liz, our manager, is very positive and committed and she’s the kind of person you want to work hard for.”
For more information about volunteering, head to www.each.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering or email volunteerservices@each.org.uk
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