HOSPISCARE is changing the way it runs its Okehampton shop as the organisation is launching its first community-led shop, run solely by volunteers.

Hospiscare is a local charity, providing free, high quality care and support to people with a progressive life-limiting illness and their families.

The Okehampton shop is a vital part of its funding. Last year 147 people living in the Okehampton area were cared for by Hospiscare, with 16 of them being admitted to the Exeter hospice and 117 being visited in their own homes by Hospiscare community nurse specialists Gay Hill and Clare Selley.

Hospiscare head of retail Helen Hunter said: ‘Hospiscare was started by volunteers and they are still at the heart of our charity – we could not operate without them. We are looking for new volunteers who want to give back to the community they live in and help run the shop.’

Hospiscare is looking for volunteers for a number of roles to work in the Okehampton charity store.

Helen added: ‘If you love fashion, books, collectables, enjoy the buzz of selling or prefer to be behind the scenes, keeping the office tidy then there is a role waiting for you! It’s not necessary to have a retail background, just the passion for giving back to the local community and making a difference to people’s lives. We also need people who are prepared to take on a little bit more responsibility to open and close the shop, supporting the volunteers who already do this for us. Our volunteers carry out a wide variety of roles, such as sorting, preparing and pricing stock and operating the till. We give full training, help and support — it’s a wonderful shop and our fantastic team of volunteers make it a very friendly place to be, with many customers regularly popping in for a chat whilst browsing.’

Hospiscare won the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2011 which is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work done in their own communities.

The organisation aims to provide expert support, resources and personalised specialist care for people in Devon who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness.

It costs Hospiscare £6.4-million a year to provide a wide variety of services, with £1.25-millon funded by the NHS and the rest by fundraising events, community and business support, retail services, grants and gifts in wills.

Hospiscare also provides volunteer care navigators to people suffering from life-limiting illnesses, these volunteers work to essentially provide companionship for a few hours each week and help people with any necessary minor chores.

Hospiscare representative Vicky said: ‘We launched the new role of volunteer care navigator last year and these care providers do such a fantastic job helping people in the local area. They offer a unique service, similar to that of a caring neighbour. We are looking for new volunteers to join our team.’

To find out about volunteering in the Okehampton shop, or if you wish to find out more about the care volunteer navigators, call Tracey Barriball on 01392 428824.