Sarah Berryman, Senior Medicines Optimisation Pharmacy Technician (Calderdale locality) at NECS, shares what it was like for her and the team, spending the day volunteering at Overgate Hospice donation centre.
“The Calderdale Medicines Optimisation team enjoyed a rewarding day working for the Overgate Hospice, which supports patients in and around the Halifax area. This was our second volunteering day at the Overgate donation centre. The Overgate Hospice is a local charity which provides expert care, support, advice and information for patients who have a terminal illness or a long-term condition that cannot be cured. The money raised by the hospice helps to fund the doctors, nurses and the Patient and Family Support team, to maintain independence and dignity, and provide support for the patients’ family and carers.
“We spent the day at their main distribution hub in Elland, Halifax. Sales from donations made by members of the public to the Overgate Hospice’s 17 charity shops raise £2.2m every year, so it’s an important source of income. Our job was to sort through the bags and boxes and identify which items were suitable for sale in the shops and place items into the different bays, e.g. linen, bags, shoes and children’s toys. Items not suitable for sale were sold on to the rag trade or recycled where possible. We had to work fast as the donations kept piling in as fast as we sorted them. Any of the donated items that qualified for gift aid, we had to diligently record and tag. Gift aid ensures that for every £1 sold from a donated item, 25p can be claimed back from the government, so we had to make sure we did not miss out on this precious extra funding.
“We worked hard throughout the day alongside the regular volunteers, some of whom we had met on our volunteering day last year. The day went over so fast and we were all sad to leave. We had a great laugh, enjoyed doing something practical and meeting new people. It was lovely to spend the day working together away from our usual roles and making a small contribution to the work of this wonderful charity.
“It’s great that NECS allows its staff time to support local charities and worthwhile causes. It’s a powerful way to make a positive impact, foster community relationships and contribute to the areas we live and work in.”