In just 18 months, our charity shop in Blyth has grown into a vibrant community hub – a place where volunteers, regular shoppers, and generous donors come together to support St Oswald’s Hospice.
Volunteer Melanie Timlin has been part of the shop team since day one.
After retiring from the Civil Service, she joined the team and quickly discovered the sense of belonging, friendship and satisfaction that volunteering can bring.
As the shop becomes known by more and more locals, new volunteers are joining on a regular basis Melanie says:
“Excitingly our volunteer community has expanded recently to include a number of young volunteers completing their Duke of Edinburgh Award and local students looking to gain retail experience. Not only do they provide vital support to the shop but are developing key skills, learning about the charity and are sharing their experiences across the wider Blyth community.”
Volunteering allows people to learn new skills but also provides a sense of togetherness and support explains Melanie:
“The team of staff and volunteers have become a little community, we are so supportive of each other.
“2024 wasn’t the easiest year for me but the care and understanding I received from both volunteers and staff has been amazing.
“Volunteering has acted as a distraction and has been so good for my mental health at a particularly stressful time.”
“A real surprise for me is that I feel the store has become a shopping destination for some. We have many customers and donors from the local area who return time and again. I see ladies making regular trips to browse and purchase bespoke pieces as they can find one-of-a-kind items, they cannot purchase anywhere else.”
Outside of the shop walls, the team have been collaborating with other community groups and charities in the area.
“I collect wool that can’t be sold in the shop and drop them off to local craft groups who make crochet items for babies in the RVI and blankets for the homeless. We even drop off excess plastic carrier bags to the local food bank.”
Melanie has “absolutely loved” her time volunteering in Blyth adding:
“It’s great seeing the impact we can have on the community in Blyth and for everyone at St Oswald’s Hospice.
“If anyone is thinking about lending a hand in their local shop but aren’t sure I would encourage you to give it a go. I don’t think you’ll regret it!”
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.
