Every time you donate items to Weldmar shops, or purchase a pre-loved item from us, it contributes towards a significant sum that helps to fund specialist care for adults in Dorset with a life limiting illness, and support for the loved ones of our patients.
Whether you’ve bought or donated a pair of jeans or a jacket, a book or a butter dish, or a dining table or designer dress from one of our stores across the county, we count you as one of our #HospiceShopHeroes – along with the team of staff and volunteers who keep our shops, superstores, outlets and online shops running smoothly.
Hospice Care Week 2024: The impact of Weldmar charity shops
Did you know that the sales of second hand goods provides almost twice as much income to Weldmar as its NHS funding?
In 2023/24*, Weldmar’s income from the NHS was 2.16 million pounds. This means that, to continue providing our services, we need to raise just over 10 million pounds. Income generated by our charity shops was 4.28 million.
This year, we are preparing to spend almost a million pounds more on our services than we expect to raise through our charity shops and fundraising activities. Many other hospices across the country are experiencing similar challenges, with some forced to cut services or jobs.
As Hospice UK points out, “Jeans, books and CDs are funding vital services. And while it is brilliant that hospice shops provide affordable everyday items for our communities, and raise millions every year, we don’t think it’s right that government funding is coming up short.” Read on to discover how you can do something simple to help the call for hospice funding to be addressed.
Hospice Shop Hero – Monica Atkinson
This year, as Weldmar Hospicecare turns 30, Monica Atkinson celebrated her 90th birthday. Monica has been a regular volunteer at our charity shop in Sherborne since October 1999, and is one of our ’30 Faces of Weldmar’.
Of all of the aspects of volunteering at the shop, it was the donations of jewellery that particularly interested Monica. Under her own steam at her own expense, she put herself through some courses to learn more about it. She takes the jewellery that is donated, will clean it, and value it based on her new found knowledge.
More about MonicaHospice Shop Hero – Laura Rawlins
Another of our ’30 Faces of Weldmar’ is Laura Rawlins, manager at our St Thomas Street shop in Weymouth. Laura is our longest serving member of retail staff, having started as a Deputy Manager in the same shop back in 2006.
Laura really enjoys the variety in the job and that no two days are the same, having to adapt and change plans as required. Her favourite thing about her job is the people, she says “I’ve met a lot of lovely volunteers who I’ve worked with for a long time. It’s sad when some of them pass away, and when some of them leave as they just can’t do it anymore. I also have customers that have followed me to the different shops that I have worked in.”
More about LauraHospice Care Week 2024: Weldmar shops in numbers
- During 2023/24*, Weldmar Hospicecare shops – thanks to your support – raised a huge £4,279,000!
- That came from the sale of no less than 1,129,564 items, meaning the average price of an item in a Weldmar shop is just £3.79!
- For every £1 we spend on running our shops, we raise £1.44.
- 4,359 items were sold on our eBay shop.
- Almost half – 46% – of our 921 current volunteers are part of our retail team.
What is your best Weldmar shop find?
The next edition of the Weldmar Magazine is out in January 2025, and we’re looking for stories of your best Weldmar charity shop finds!
Fashion that has become a firm favourite? What have been your unmissable bargains, or must have items?
If you would be happy to feature with your favourite find for our magazine feature, please email Anissa at marketing@weld-hospice.org.uk. We would love to hear from you!
* figures for 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024