Charity Shop Home Week: Turning Homeware Into Hospicecare

At Weldmar, we know that home is more than just a place. It’s a feeling of being cared for, and surrounded by people and things you love.

Our Outlets and Superstores are dedicated to helping you create that feeling, offering kindly donated unique pieces that tell a story. Last year, Weldmar shoppers purchased over 7500 items of furniture, directly supporting the free provision of specialist care for patients with life limiting illnesses and support for their families.

Creating a homely feel

Wendy Dixon, a regular Weldmar shopper, has spent years curating her living spaces through the “thrill of the find” that shopping for pre-loved items brings. For her, the character of a piece is fundamental to creating a sense of it belonging in her home.

“I’m drawn to vintage pieces because they have a history and a quality that’s hard to find today,” Wendy shares. “The gentle fading of wood, the patina on brass, those signs of age make pieces feel loved and lived with, in a way modern, mass-produced furniture simply doesn’t.”

In a world of fast furniture, it can be hard to find items built to last a lifetime. Choosing pre-loved pieces, you’re also investing in craftmanship with items designed to be part of your daily life for decades.

Wendy found her perfect centerpiece at a Weldmar Outlet, a beautiful brass bed for £125. “I’ve managed to fill my home with pieces I truly love at a fraction of the cost,” she says. “Sustainability matters to me too, rehoming and reusing items feels far better for the planet.”

Thank you to Wendy for letting us use these photos of her beautiful home, all featuring pieces purchased from Weldmar. If you’re on Instagram, you can find her at @the.wendy.house_67 and while you’re there, give our Charity Shops page, @weldmarcharityshops a follow, too.

More than a purchase

For many, home is where they feel safest, and the money raised in our charity shops helps fund Weldmar’s Specialist Hospice at Home service. This dedicated team is comprised of Weldmar Community Nurses, Specialists, Assistant Practitioners and Healthcare Assistants who all work tirelessly to ensure patients can remain in their own familiar surroundings at the end of their life, if that is what they wish.

Home away from home

For patients who come to stay in the hospice we strive to provide a home away from home. It isn’t just about clinical excellence, it’s about the small touches that make every moment matter. From favourite dishes lovingly prepared fresh in the kitchen, to the facilitating of families spending as much time as they like with their loved-one, there’s a real focus on helping patients enjoy life’s simple pleasures.

Like Gary Phipps, who was able to spend precious time in the hospice Retreat, enjoying the company of his family in the Dorset sunshine while sipping a glass of his favourite whisky.

The idea of “home” runs right through the heart of Weldmar Hospicecare, from our shops to the end of life care we provide. And by choosing to shop for homeware at our charity shops to create your own lovely retreat, you’re also protecting the sanctuary of home for patients to make sure every moment is filled with the comfort and dignity they deserve.

If you have furniture you would like to donate, or want to find out where your nearest Outlet or Superstore is, you can use our shop finder: www.weldmarhospicecare.org/shops