A NORTH-EAST hospice has celebrated its “wonderful” volunteers by putting them in the shop window!

Butterwick Hospice Care marked Volunteers Week by holding a shop window contest at its retail outlets to shine a spotlight on those who give their time freely.

Retail volunteers at Butterwick Hospice Care’s nine high street shops, located across Teesside and the North-East, decorated their shop windows to encourage others to donate their time, share what they love about volunteering, and to celebrate each other and the charity they care about.

The Northern Echo: The Butterwick Hospice Care shop in Norton High StreetThe Butterwick Hospice Care shop in Norton High Street

The contest encouraged volunteers to show how much fun volunteering can be by using items on sale in their shop.

Gerry Weetman, Retail Operations Manager, said: “Volunteers are the lifeblood of Butterwick Hospice Care. They help reflect and build a bridge between us and the community we serve.

“We couldn’t operate our shops without the support of our wonderful volunteers, who give us the gift of their time and bring a range of qualities, skills and expertise that enriches the organisation.”

The competition was fiercely contested, but the shop in Norton emerged victorious by asking volunteers to write down their thoughts on why volunteering matters and displayed them in the window. A trophy and vouchers worth £30 were presented to the volunteers and shop manager Gordon Pollock.

The Northern Echo:

Gordon said: “I just want to say thank you to my volunteers, and to everyone who involved with our shop and across the hospice’s retail arm. Without their help, I don’t think I would be able to cope. This is a great recognition of all their efforts and their dedication.”

  • Butterwick Hospice Care has charity shops in Stockton, Norton, Thornaby, Yarm, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, and Barnard Castle. Visit www.butterwick.org.uk/find-butterwick-retail-shops for more information or to find out about volunteering.