Musician Barry is hitting the right notes in his ‘thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding’ volunteering role

Music maestro Barry Holden has taken to shop volunteering to ‘strum’ up more funds for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).

The 76-year-old has raised thousands of pounds for children’s charities, including EACH, by staging a series of Live Aid-style concerts in North Walsham.

The first was in 1986, inspired by Sir Bob Geldof’s global fundraiser, and another took place in January 2005 in the aftermath of the devastating Boxing Day tsunami.

Barry’s gigs have since taken place every year, apart from the last two because of COVID, and raised in the region of £100,000.

As if that was not enough, Barry started volunteering in EACH’s North Walsham shop six months ago and he was speaking during week one of the charity’s We Need You campaign.

The recruitment drive started on Monday and runs until 28th January, with the aim of encouraging others to step forward and help in one of the 44 EACH shops across East Anglia.

“It’s something I thoroughly enjoy,” said Barry, whose wife, Chris, has been volunteering in the shop since 2018.

“I worked in the retail industry for years and it’s nice still having some involvement, despite being retired.

“EACH is a charity that allows you to share ideas and use your own initiative and it’s lovely working alongside a fantastic bunch of people.

“I find it very rewarding.”

After so much phenomenal fundraising, Barry could be forgiven for sitting back and thinking he had ‘done his bit’ to help EACH.

However, he remains as dedicated as ever and said: “I still get so much out of it and would recommend volunteering to anyone.

“I only do two or three hours a week so it’s not a big imposition on my time, but hopefully it helps.

“I think others would love it, too.

“You can bring your own skills and ideas to the role and for anyone retired, like myself, it’s nice staying active and involved with something as special and worthy as EACH.”

In addition to organising his fundraising concerts, Barry also sources coveted items to be auctioned and his heroics were rewarding with an appearance on ITV show Surprise Surprise in December 2013.

Host Holly Willoughby shared a film highlighting his great work and then, much to Barry’s amazement, introduced rock legend Sir Rod Stewart, who signed a guitar.

“I was stunned and it was a very special experience,” said Barry, who has two children, three grandchildren and was invited to the opening of The Nook hospice in 2019.

“I’ve played the bass guitar in bands all my life.

“Music is part of me and it’s always been a real pleasure channelling that passion into helping others.”

For more information about volunteering for EACH, head to www.each.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering or email volunteerservices@each.org.uk

Ends

It’s nice staying active and involved with something as special and worthy as EACH.

Notes to Editors

“We’d heard about EACH and knew they were a fantastic cause that had supported families we knew, but we never thought we’d be the ones that needed them! Sadly, as fantastic as it is, their service will always be required, and every child who needs their help deserves to have it.”

  • We care for children and young people with life-threatening conditions across Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk, and support their families.
  • We offer families flexibility and control over where they receive their care and support, including where their child dies – at home, in hospital or at one of three hospices at Milton (Cambridge), The Nook (Norfolk) and The Treehouse (Ipswich).
  • Our family-centred approach includes specialist nursing care, symptom management support, short breaks, wellbeing activities, therapies and counselling, all meeting the individual needs of the child, young person and whole family.
  • We are recognised as leaders in our field, with a reputation for excellence and commitment to pioneering development and innovation.
  • We rely on voluntary donations for the majority of our income and this year need to raise £5.5 million from fundraising and £5.4 million in income from our shops. The year before the pandemic we received just 16% of our total income from statutory sources.
  • EACH Royal Patron – Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.
  • For more information about EACH, including forthcoming events and how you can help raise funds, visit www.each.org.uk or call the Norfolk fundraising office on 01508 500894.

Keep in touch:

www.each.org.uk

www.twitter.com/EACH_hospices

www.facebook.com/EACHhospices

www.instagram.com/eachhospices

www.linkedin.com/company/eachhospices

 

For further information about this release please contact:

Matt Plummer | Media and PR Manager | 07738 328058 | Matt.Plummer@each.org.uk

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