Our Blyth Shop Turns Two: Why Melanie Still Loves Volunteering

Volunteer Melanie has been part of our Blyth charity shop since the very beginning.

After retiring from the Civil Service, she stepped into a new chapter with us and quickly found herself at home in the community‑focused store.

As the shop celebrates its second birthday, Melanie reflects on why, two years on, volunteering continues to bring her so much joy.

Here’s what Melanie said:

“It’s been two years since our Blyth shop opened, and I’m still volunteering each week.

Our volunteer numbers are the same as last year, although naturally there’s a bit of turnover for various reasons such as people getting jobs. We were all delighted to hear only this week that one of our volunteers has successfully landed paid employment – amazing!

The shop has gone from strength to strength, and from speaking to customers I hear first-hand what a difference we are making. Of course, money through the till supports the vital work of the Hospice, but the shop also has a huge impact on our local community.

On a practical level, we donate odd balls of wool to local Knit and Knatter groups, who use them to make items for hospital baby units.

We also receive large numbers of plastic carrier bags through donations, and these are given to a local food bank to help with food distributions.

We have a link with a school uniform group, and any items of uniform we receive are passed on to low-income families.

In the lead-up to Christmas, many customers commented on how affordable our toys, books and clothing were and how they were able to buy so much more for their children by shopping with us.

Another customer has recently lost a significant amount of weight and now visits the shop regularly for the excellent quality and range of clothes we stock, as she builds up an entirely new wardrobe.

But I think one of the most poignant stories was a customer who had moved to the area with virtually nothing. She said, discovering the shop had been a lifeline, as over the last few months she was able to purchase essential items for her new home.

Chatting to the different faces who pass through our doors week after week really brings home to me just how much good our shop is doing.

It makes me so proud to play a small part at St Oswald’s Hospice, making a difference to patients and their families. Here’s to the next 12 months!”

If you’ve been inspired to volunteer in your local St Oswald’s Hospice charity shop, visit our Retail Volunteering page to see how you can make a difference today.