Bristol shops

CLIC Sargent will be throwing a series of celebratory parties to say thank you to the committed volunteers working in all five of the charity’s Bristol shops.

The 99 volunteers, who range in age from 15 to 83 years old, give up a combined total of 368 hours per week of their spare time to help out in the Bristol shops which raise vital funds to support families affected by childhood cancer.

This week (Monday June 1st to Sunday June 7th) is the 25th anniversary of National Volunteers’ Week and CLIC Sargent is using the UK's annual celebration of volunteering to thank its own dedicated group of volunteers.  Shops in Downend, Fishponds and Keynsham are treating their hard-working volunteers to a mad hatter’s tea party, and they will be sporting an array of crazy hats as part of the celebration.  Meanwhile, the charity’s shop staff in Cotham have been inspired by the local university ball and will be dressing shop mannequins in glamorous gowns. The staff will be dressing up as waiters and encouraging their volunteers to rest their feet for the afternoon while they serve them food and drink. Elsewhere in Kingswood CLIC Sargent team will be showing their appreciation for their volunteers by holding an afternoon tea party and showing a short film about the work the charity does as a way of saying thank you. 

Dorothy McGee, Retail Area Manager of the CLIC Sargent shops in Bristol, said: “Volunteers’ Week is the perfect opportunity for us to say a massive thank you to our loyal group of volunteers who regularly give up their time to lend a hand in the shop.

“Our volunteers come from all walks of life and bring a range of skills and experience, fresh energy and enthusiasm to our shop teams. Whether they are able to offer the occasional hour or several days, their support is essential in ensuring the shop can continue to run and help make a real difference to families whose lives have been turned upside down by childhood cancer.”

Last year CLIC Sargent more than £2 million through its chain of charity shops. This money will be used to help children and young people with cancer and their families with the trauma of diagnosis, the often long journey through treatment and to continue to support them afterwards. 

Locally, CLIC Sargent provides three homes from home in the Bristol area offering free self-catering accommodation which allows families to remain together close to the hospital. The charity also provides a range of frontline care professionals including social workers, nurses and play specialists based at Bristol Children’s Hospital.

If you’ve got a couple of hours to spare and you would like to make them count you can find out more about helping out at your local shop or other volunteering opportunities within the Charity by calling the CLIC Sargent helpline on: 0800 197 0068 or visit the Volunteer pages. 

Clevedon - 10A Old Street, Clevedon – Tea Party - Wednesday (June 3) from 12pm to 3pm.

Cotham - 38 Cotham Hill, Bristol – Party inspired by University Ball – Thursday (June 4) from 11am

Downend - 6 Downend Road, Downend - Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – Monday (June 1) 12pm to 3pm

Fishponds - 4 Straits Parade, Fishponds - Mad Hatter’s Tea Party – Friday (June 5) 12pm to 3pm

Keynsham - 5 Temple Street, Keynsham – Mad Hatter’s Tea Party - Thursday (June 4) from 12pm to 2pm.

Kingswood - 20 Regent Street, Kingswood – Tea Party and film showing – Friday (June 5) 1pm to 3pm

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

• For any media enquiries please contact Suzanne Palmer in the CLIC Sargent press office on 0117 3148621 or email: suzanne.palmer@clicsargent.org.uk