Team answers hospice SOS call
ACHARITY shop has been given a DIY SOS-style makeover by M&S staff.
Springhill Hospice’s Yorkshire Street store has been transformed thanks to the efforts of 30 Marks and Spencer staff.
Using a £500 donation from the company the staff gave the shop and display cabinets a new lick of paint, spruced up the changing rooms and redesigned the window display.
Mannequins and staff lockers were also donated to the shop.
It’s the second year Rochdale M&S has chosen the hospice to be its nominated charity.
In 2016 £5,000 was raised for Springhill.
Store manager Chris Parker said: “The intention is to do something good in the local community and to create a lasting benefit to our charity.
“Over 30 members of the team here in our Rochdale store volunteered in one way or another over the year. Springhill Hospice is important to our staff, to our customers and the community it serves and we are committed to doing whatever we can to support their vital work.”
As word got out about the project, council employees volunteered to carry out electrical and joinery work in the shop with materials donated free of charge by local businesses. This included replacement tiles and fixings for the suspended ceiling, the installation of new energy efficient LED lighting, refurbished counter tops and display units as well as new carpets throughout the shop, supplied and fitted by Whitefield’s Winton Flooring.
Winton’s commercial director, John Marsh said: “When we heard of this extremely worthwhile project we were very happy to give it our support and we are glad to be able to play our part in supporting the work of the hospice.”
Other support came from LED Group ROBUS, The Electric Center, Rochdale Electrical Distributors, Richard Jones Building Ltd, Howdens Joinery, Abbey Architectural Ironmongery, Howarth Timber & Building Supplies and Lancashire Wallpaper & Paints.
Hospice chief exec Julie Halliwell said: “We were thrilled to have been chosen by our friends at Marks & Spencer for this second year, to learn of the plans for the Make it Matter project and to have the opportunity to benefit from this exciting nationwide initiative.
“The result has been wonderful and the support received quite overwhelming. It really will provide a long lasting legacy for the hospice.”
The newly renovated shop was officially reopened by the Mayor of Rochdale, Coun Ian Duckworth, at which Julie Halliwell presented Marks & Spencer’s Chris Parker with honorary membership of the hospice’s Business Buddies scheme in recognition of their ongoing support.