Unsung heroes come in all forms, shapes and sizes; you will often pass them daily without a second thought. People dedicating their free time to help other people is something we rarely give enough praise to.
Charity shops offer a vast range of items, from a vintage designer jacket to an antique ornament, statistics show a rise in people spending in charity shops. With the cost-of-living crisis taking a grip of the UK economy, these establishments are more important than ever. I spoke with Michael Shaw and his wife who have been volunteering at the Sue Ryder on Bath Road for an impressive 10 years.
When asked why they continue to volunteer Shaw said, “It’s for a really good cause, so yeah we get a sense of gratification for helping others.” His wife chimed in mentioning the community aspect, she said, “meeting people, getting to know them, you become friends with them.” Volunteering is on a no minimum commitment scheme; Sue Ryder alone has around 6,000 volunteers who make the charity work possible. Michael mentioned the meaning behind the charity work is incredibly important and he often meets people who have received care from the hospice.
Alongside the aid charities give, the ethical and environmental impacts are also incredibly helpful, it’s estimated they save councils at least £31 million each year by diverting 339,000 tonnes of textiles away from landfill or incineration. Shaw commented on this, “I see so many items come through, getting passed from person to person, it’s good to see, instead of getting thrown away.”
It been reported 92% of adults have been affected by the cost of living crisis, people have looked to food banks and namely charity shops as cheaper alternatives to make ends meet. Michael noted that Bath Road has a lot of charity shops but said “it’s good to have a balance, you can’t just have charity shops as nice as they are. I think we’re lucky in that England has a lot of charity shops, a lot of countries don’t have charity shops, the premise is unusual to them – especially [in] Europe.”
The number of charity volunteers has dropped by nearly a quarter since 2019, due to covid and economical changes. So its heart-warming to meet and recognise the people who are actively going out of their way for others, especially ones as dedicated as these two.
