Charity shop volunteers thanked for dedication

EACH charity volunteers are thanked at a special event held in the Sir Bobby Robson suite, Ipswich

Volunteers have been recognised at a special ceremony to thank them for their dedication to a charity.

East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) paid tribute to 150 volunteers working across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex at an event held at Ipswich Town’s Sir Bobby Robson suite, with another planned for next month.

"The precious time retail volunteers give our charity is a lifeline of support to our shops," EACH said.

It added, this year alone, it needed to raise £7.5m from donations and fundraising activities and £8.7m in retail income, as only 15% of its income comes from the government, county councils and the NHS.

EACH supports three hospices – The Nook, near Norwich, The Treehouse, in Ipswich, and at Milton, near Cambridge.

The volunteers help in various ways, including giving their time to support EACH’s care, facilities, fundraising and events teams, as well as staffing its shops.

Director of Retail Ian Nicolson said: "Here at EACH, the expression ‘time is precious’ is a very valuable phrase.

"Certainly in terms of retail, they’re a lifeline – at the very heart of what we do - and it’s genuinely appreciated.

"We help families create precious memories, when time is desperately short, and help families enjoy precious time together, when life is unimaginably difficult."

The event was held to praise the charity's "unique and special" volunteers

The event saw people who had volunteered for more than five years presented with a special long-service award.

"We have busier lives than ever, yet every one of our volunteers finds the time to give something to EACH," said Mr Nicolson.

"That makes them special and unique, and every hour they give helps us raise money, which ensures we’re able to deliver the world-class service we provide."