This Hospice Care Week, we are celebrating the significant role that hospice shops play in funding our services. As part of this, we are delighted to share the news that our Rye shop manager, Lauren Davies, was recently offered the voluntary role of Director of Youth Engagement at the Charity Retail Association, marking a significant step towards involving younger generations in charity retail.
Lauren plans to bring a fresh and youthful perspective to the board, and is tasked with helping to make charity shops more appealing to young people. This includes leveraging popular social media trends to promote sustainability, raise awareness of GiftAid and encourage donations of pre-loved items from younger families. Lauren sees the role as crucial in changing the perception of charity shops, emphasising that they offer quality items and great value for money, whilst also providing a vital source of funding for hospice services.
Lauren said, “I plan to challenge and dispel the stigma that charity shops are filled with broken toys and incomplete games. Instead, I want to showcase the high-quality items that are available in St Michael’s Hospice shops, especially with the festive season approaching, making charity shops a desirable destination for Christmas shopping.
“I also plan to engage with local schools and educate children about the importance of sustainability and the benefits of donating and shopping at charity shops. I hope that I can inspire the next generation to think differently about recycling, donating and reducing waste.”
For the Hospice, Lauren’s role offers a significant opportunity for us to learn and lead by example in youth engagement and sustainability, potentially setting a new standard for charity shops across Hastings and Rother.
Lauren continued, “I started working at the Hospice three years ago. I came from working in entertainment to running a charity shop and managing a team of wonderful volunteers, which was a big change, but it’s turned out to be the best job ever!”
Our hospice shops play a vital role in funding our services. We invite you to visit your local St Michael’s Hospice shop, details of which can be found here.
