Teesside Hospice are looking for volunteers to help raise funds by working in its charity shops.

The charity is based in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough and supports 3,000 individuals and their families across Teesside.

Each day, it needs to raise £16,000 to keep services running for free for those who need them.

As it is only a third funded, the remaining funds must be raised from the communities within the Tees Valley.

To try make up the difference the hospice currently has 14 charity shops which raises a substantial amount of the funds that help run the hospice and support those living with terminal illnesses such as cancer.

In order to run the shops, Teesside Hospice are looking for helpful volunteers across the Tees Valley to ensure they can continue to provide vital palliative care for those who need it.

The hospice is currently looking for volunteers for eight of its charity shops: Norton, Coulby Newham, Stokesley, Guisborough, Redcar, Yarm, Linthorpe and Skelton.

The impact of the lack of volunteers has meant Teesside Hospice has had to temporarily close shops in the past.

There are many roles that need filling which include: Book Volunteers, Cash Desk Volunteers, Sales Floor Volunteers and Stock Sorters.

Community led, it is vital for Teesside Hospice and their patients that retail shops operate effectively within the Teesside community, to raise funds, and spread essential awareness of their services which include: 10 bed Inpatient, Wellbeing Service, Outreach Service, Bereavement Counselling and a specialist Lymphoedema Clinic.

By volunteering, you’ll receive a variety of benefits, including:

• 20 percent discount on purchases made at Teesside Hospice Retail Shops.
• Opportunities for training and personal development.
• Reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses.
• Provided lunch if you volunteer for more than 5 hours per day.
• Access to discounts with other retailers and companies.

Whether you can spare a few hours in the morning or afternoon, you are making a real difference to the lives of local people across Teesside whilst meeting new people and building new skills.

Anyone who is interested can visit the roles page on the Teesside Hospices website or call 01642 811060