Hospice shops looking for help

St Andrew’s Hospice is preparing to reopen its vital fundraising shops after the four-month lockdown closure – and is seeking new volunteers to help with their work.

The charity has already welcomed back customers to its flagship Home Boutique in Airdrie, with homeware stores among the extended range of premises which have been allowed to open their doors since an initial relaxation of coronavirus restrictions earlier this week.

Most of its other shops, including its store in Coatbridge, will reopen on Monday, April 26, when all nonessential retail outlets are allowed to open their doors for the first time since Christmas.

Although the smaller Airdrie branch on Hallcraig Street will remain closed at present, the charity’s phone and online collection bookings will resume from April 19 and all reopened shops, plus the Airdrie warehouse at Stirling Road industrial estate, will accept donations from April 26.

Now volunteers are needed to help in a wide variety of retail roles, ranging from shop assistants, stock sorters and merchandisers to drivers, buddies and IT/ admin support.

Officials at the hospice, which provides specialist care to patients from across Lanarkshire, describe the past 12 months as“a difficult year”and recently launched an urgent care appeal, saying that the restrictions’impact on retail, events and community fundraising have had“a terrible effect on our finances”.

They say:“we can’t wait to reopen our shops and see our fantastic team of staff, volunteers and customers again; and if anyone can spare a few hours each week to support us in any of these roles, we’d love to hear from them.”

Anyone who is interested in volunteering for St Andrew’s Hospice is asked to contact volunteer co-ordinator Julie Wilson by emailing julie.wilson@standrews. scot.nhs.uk or calling 01236 766951.