38 years as a volunteer and counting | Elizabeth's story | Stories

Elizabeth Woodcock had no idea that a browse in her local charity shop with a friend in 1986 would lead to her becoming Hospice in the Weald’s longest-serving retail volunteer. Here, she tells us her favourite memories to date, what she enjoys about her role, and how her dedication to giving back runs in the family…

After clocking up 38 years of dedicated service, Elizabeth continues to volunteer once a week at the Hospice’s furniture shop in Tenterden and enjoys her role as much as ever. “I tend to be behind the till a bit more these days,” said 79-year-old great-grandmother Elizabeth. “I’d like to think I’m a friendly face for customers. I enjoy having a chat.”

Reflecting on how she became a volunteer, Elizabeth said: “I was looking around the Hospice’s little shop in Tunbridge Wells with a friend, and the shop manager asked if we’d be interested in volunteering. There was no interview in those days, we said ‘Yes’ and started the following week.

Donations throughout the years

“I enjoyed it very much, it was a bit of a novelty as there weren’t many charity shops then. Initially, I spent a lot of time upstairs, sorting out clothes and ironing shirts, and progressed to ‘front of house’. Of course, things have changed a lot since then, we didn’t have electric tills in those days.” Over the years the mother-of-three became a trusted volunteer in the Hospice’s growing chain of charity shops, including those in Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook, and Tenterden.

“I enjoy working in the furniture shop,” said Elizabeth. “Many customers are regulars and know us by our Christian names. We have all sorts of items donated. Not long ago we received a beautiful, shabby chic style red bureau. It was bought by a woman who told us she was working on the new Bridget Jones film and said it may end up in Bridget’s sitting room – we shall have to wait and see!

“I remember one customer, who had bought two sofas, returning to the shop to donate an additional £100 after the man who cleaned them for her said she’d got an absolute bargain. It’s lovely when customers appreciate the value of the items and that it’s all going to support the Hospice.”

One of Elizabeth’s daughters, Mary, has followed in her footsteps and has been volunteering in the Hospice’s Southborough shop for eight years, which Elizabeth says “she absolutely loves.”

“As a family, we have a strong sense of social justice and want to give back to the community,” said Elizabeth. “I would encourage anyone with a bit of free time to volunteer. Volunteers are people who care; having such people as colleagues is rather special. It’s a pleasure to give my time to such a worthwhile cause. It’s amazing how time flies!”

Hospice in the Weald has 31 charity shops across Kent, East Sussex and Surrey. Proceeds contribute to the £8 million that Hospice in the Weald needs to fundraise each year to support the free care it provides for those facing terminal illness and their families. Volunteers like Elizabeth play an important role in making the care and support we provide possible, giving their time to help run our shops, where more funds are raised than those we receive through Government funding.

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38 years as a volunteer and counting: Elizabeth's story

Donations throughout the years

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