OXFAM in Tavistock is marking National Volunteers' Week with an exhibition of portraits of its army of volunteers in the town's library.

The exhibition is also an opportunity to give the public some information about Oxfam's work in the field and current emergency responses and to show how funds raised are spent.

Both shops in Tavistock work hard to convert donations into resources that can be used to combat poverty both in the UK and abroad. 

National Volunteers' Week runs from June 1 to 7 and is an annual event which celebrates the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK. Starting Saturday, May 28 for a week, the exhibition is a way of celebrating and thanking local volunteers.

Oxfam bookshop manager Val Sharpe said: 'There is an amazing amount of volunteer time put in to run the shops and we would be lost without the hard work and support of the volunteers.

'They do everything from banking and pricing to making the tea, they are the face of Oxfam and we benefit from a quite amazing range of skills and qualities that they bring to our shops.

'The town of Tavistock and the surrounding villages has always been greatly supportive of Oxfam not just with donations but also with these gifts of time by the volunteers.'

The photographs of volunteers from both the bookshop and the general Oxfam shop have all been taken by local photographer Keith Urro who is also a long-standing volunteer in the bookshop. 

Also in the library will be two large, bright pink Oxfam donation bins — one for books, and one for shoes and accessories. Any donations will be greatly appreciated.

If anyone is interested in volunteering at either shop, speak to Jacky on 615534 or Val on 613901 or just call into the shops and see them there.

The charity has also published a new book called Ox Travels, a collection of writings on the subject of travel. It features contributions from some of the most well respected travel writers around such as William Dalrymple, Paul Theroux, Rory Stewart, Dervla Murphy, Patrick Leigh Fermor and many more.  

The book is now on sale at the Oxfam bookshop and is being featured as Radio Four's Book of the Week next week.