Long-serving East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) volunteer Linda Higham says helping out in one of the charity’s shops has allowed her to keep busy, meet others and make new friends.
Dedicated Linda spares two mornings a week to lend a hand in the EACH store on Angora Park, in Peartree Road, Stanway, and has been an ever-present since it opened in December 2018. She serves customers, prices stock and steams donations – and says she would recommend volunteering to anyone.
Staff at the busy shop are on the lookout for extra help to help them sort through a recent influx of donations.
Linda joined the team shortly after moving to the area and said: “It’s been brilliant for me, and it’s something I always enjoy and look forward to. I’ve got three sons and five grandchildren, so family values are very close to my heart. That’s why I feel so strongly about supporting this particular charity, and it’s always satisfying going home afterwards feeling I’ve made a difference. It’s also been good for me personally, because I didn’t know anyone, apart from family, when we first moved to Colchester.
“I saw the shop was opening and thought it would be a good way to meet new people. That’s definitely been the case, and volunteering gets me out of the house and keeps me busy, which is so uplifting. I particularly like serving customers, because it’s the best way to get chatting and meet new people.”
Linda, who is married to Mark and lives in Colchester, helps on Monday and Thursday mornings. She says as well as the social aspect, she likes keeping active after a busy career working for the same finance company in Hornchurch and then Brentwood, where she stayed for 30 years.
“I’d retired a couple of years before starting at the shop, so was looking for something to fill a bit of a void,” she said. “I’d never volunteered before, apart from helping at my sons’ playgroup many years ago, but haven’t looked back since. It’s great, rewarding and definitely something I’d recommend to anyone.”
Anyone interested in volunteering in the shop can pop in for a chat, email Manager Julie Herlihy via Julie.Herlihy@each.org.uk or Sales Supervisor Kellie Brown via Kellie.Brown@each.org.uk. Alternatively, call 01206 239536.
EACH has 54 shops across the region, including six in North Essex. In addition to Stanway, the others are in Colchester High Street, Clacton, Dovercourt, Frinton and Halstead.
This year alone, the charity 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.
