Volunteers Week 2025: Meet Marian and Nadman!
Meet Marian and Nadman, two of our brilliant Five Sisters Retail volunteers! If you’ve popped into one of our charity shops, chances are you’ve seen one (or both!) of them in action working.
Marian's Story
What prompted you to become a St Joseph’s volunteer?
“St Joseph’s is well known in Bethnal Green where I live. My friend’s mother died in the Hospice and I witnessed the excellent care she received. So when I retired and was looking for somewhere to volunteer, there was only one choice.”
Tell us about your volunteering role!
“I work two days a week in one of the Hospice shops. I get to meet many different types of people, customers and those who donate. We tidy, vacuum, and check things are properly on hangers. We open at 11 and often have people waiting to come in. I sort donations, do some ironing, and get items ready for the shop floor. Donations come in throughout the day, so there’s always something to do and 4pm comes round very quickly.
It gives me the opportunity to be an advocate for the Hospice and let people know what it does. We work as a team and enjoy good banter. It’s fun to sort through generous donations and decide how to price and display them.”
What have you gained from being a volunteer?
“Volunteering gives me a sense of purpose and makes me feel I’m contributing to keeping the Hospice going. It’s also brought me new friends. It’s lovely to walk in and be greeted by people who appreciate what you do. I would heartily recommend anyone to try it. There are so many opportunities to use your skills and learn new ones.
I’ve learned new skills and appreciated keeping up with new ideas and systems through the training courses available to volunteers.”
What would you say to someone who’s considering volunteering?
“To anyone thinking of volunteering, I would say give it a go. You might be concerned about helping out in a place associated with death but there is so much more going on. It’s about helping people live fuller lives and cope with obstacles. You’ll find it’s actually a happy place, filled with love rather than gloom. There are so many ways to use your skills and learn new ones. The sense of contributing is satisfying.”
Nadman's Story
Nadman was looking for some experience in a retail position and decided to volunteer with our shop team!
“Volunteering gives you a wide range of skills which can be used in a broader range of roles” says Nadman.
We asked Nadman what a typical shift looks like for him. He told us that it can range from fixing up the hangers on the racks to operating the till. Sometimes he sorts clothes or organises donations so they are ready for sale.
Nadman said, “Volunteering has overall made me happier and less stressed in my daily life, while also giving me confidence by gaining experience and skills that I know I can use in other retail spaces.”
Asked if Nadman would recommend volunteering, he said that it was an incredibly fun opportunity with lots of support from colleagues available, and that with St Joseph’s there is the opportunity to choose the days and hours you volunteer, which allows for greater flexibility but also gives you the chance to help out.
Thank you so much to both Marian and Nadman for sharing their experiences and all of their hard work in our shops! It’s greatly appreciated.
How can I volunteer?
It’s National Volunteers’ Week this week (2nd-8th June), so what a great time to start thinking about volunteering! There are so many ways that you can support St Joseph’s Hospice.
If you’d like to find out more about volunteering with us, please call 020 8525 6032, email volunteering@stjh.org.uk or visit www.stjh.org.uk/volunteer for more information.
