Debbie’s volunteering story at Thames Hospice Dedworth

Local to Sandhurst and Crowthorne, Debbie had always noticed how well presented the Thames Hospice shops were in her area. This led her to visit some of our other shops, including Dedworth, which she began visiting once a fortnight with her mum and sister-in-law.

While there, they started chatting to the retail manager and, before long, all three decided to try volunteering at the store.

“We came in for a taster session and just fitted in straight away,” Debbie says.

Debbie brought plenty of retail experience with her, having previously run a Barnardo’s shop for 14 years before giving it up for health reasons. Her experience meant she quickly became comfortable in the role, particularly in a busy shop like Dedworth.

“It’s a very hectic shop with a constant flow of customers and donations,” she says.

Although Debbie’s sister-in-law no longer volunteers, Debbie and her mum continue to volunteer regularly. Her mum, now 84, still volunteers alongside her every Saturday, while Debbie also volunteers on Wednesdays.

“My mum still enjoys coming in, and it works well for both of us,” Debbie says.

Debbie is an all-round volunteer but is mainly involved in sorting donations, steaming clothes and stocking the shelves. She says the Dedworth shop receives particularly good-quality donations, including designer and vintage items.

“There are always some really fabulous pieces that come through,” she says.

In addition to her regular shifts, Debbie also uses her creative skills to upcycle donated clothing and jewellery. This includes repairing broken costume jewellery and adding small details to donated items before they go onto the shop floor.

“It’s about adding value where you can, and volunteering doesn’t require experience -just a bit of common sense,” Debbie says.