VITAL to Bury Hospice are the volunteers who work in the shops and warehouses, and the charity is looking to recruit more people to the roles urgently.

Volunteers ensure the smooth running of the hospice’s reception as well as its shops and warehouses.

Shop volunteers sort, price and label items for sale and warehouse volunteers help the warehouse manager organise donations, with drivers and the more physically robust helping out with the heavy lifting of big items such as furniture.

But, according to managers, because more customers are coming through the shops and more donations are being made, the charity urgently needs more people to come and help out.

Sam Duncan, retail and volunteer services manager at Bury Hospice, said: “The hospice couldn’t function without the support and dedication of our volunteers, but we need more.

“Due to the success of our retail operation we are particularly looking for people to volunteer in our warehouse and shops.

“Volunteering can be extremely rewarding and plays a vital part in the work that we do within the community of Bury.”

The hospice has several shops throughout the borough, including in Bury town centre on The Rock, and its warehouses are located behind Asda in Radcliffe Industrial Estate.

The volunteers all have their own reasons for getting involved with the charity, some have a personal affiliation to the hospice, having seen loved ones cared for there, others do it for the social life.

Michelle Martin, manager at the Bury Hospice shop in The Rock, Bury, said: “It’s like being in a family volunteering here.

“Everybody looks after each other and we have a really good team spirit.

“There is definitely a big social aspect to volunteering here and people have made life-long friends.”

Brian Seymour, aged 80, a former teacher from Sunny Bank, used to volunteer on reception at the hospice’s old site in Dumers Lane, Radcliffe, after taking early retirement.

Now working in one of the charity’s warehouses in Radcliffe Industrial Estate, where among other jobs he helps organise donated records and books, Mr Seymour has spent 25 years working as a volunteer for the charity.

Later this month he will receive a long service award for his devotion to the cause, but insists the work has been his pleasure.

“I have met some wonderful people during my time here and have been fortunate to see first-hand the dedication of all the other volunteers,” said Mr Seymour.

“After 30 years teaching, I just wanted to give something back when I retired and I’ve ended up doing this for nearly as long.

“I couldn’t recommend volunteering for Bury Hospice highly enough, it is a very rewarding thing to do.”

Daniel Cope, aged 22, from Bury, who works in the furniture warehouse, said: “I enjoy volunteering with the other guys here and it is good fun being part of a team.

“Moving the furniture around keeps you fit and it is good to help out with something that it important.”