Two of our favourite dates in the calendar each year are when we invite our fantastic volunteers to Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith to celebrate their volunteering milestones.

This year our celebrations marked the outstanding contribution of 104 supporters who have donated between three and 35 years of volunteering.

We have more than 750 regular volunteers who donate their gift of time to do everything from helping in our shops and at fundraising events, to keeping the hospice gardens looking beautiful.

This year’s recipients were delighted to meet two of the children cared for at the hospices - Lily and her mum Vicky at Hope House and Alaw and her mum Ffion at Tŷ Gobaith.

Our Chief Executive Andy Goldsmith told the guests that every single volunteer helped children with life-threatening conditions to live their best life, whether that was helping to promote the services of the hospice to reach more children, helping to care for the children, or helping to raise the money needed to provide the care.

The awards were presented by our chair of trustees, Steve Henly, and our vice chair of trustees, Barbara Evans. Barbara was instrumental in founding our charity 35 years ago and has been a volunteer trustee ever since. She was delighted to receive her 35 year award from Steve.

There was also a very special and emotional presentation in memory of Marg Yates, a much-loved member of our Bridgnorth Shop team and a finalist in the Charity Retail Awards Volunteer of the Year in 2024. Sadly Marg died earlier this year, but we were delighted that her award was accepted by her sons Darren and Dean. 

Marg's sons Dean and Darren, with Bridgnorth shop volunteers Patricia, Mary and Brenda

Presenting the award Steve said: “Marg dedicated 20 remarkable years to volunteering at our Bridgnorth shop, where her warmth and enthusiasm made a lasting impression on everyone who walked through the door.

“Marg greeted every customer and donor with genuine kindness, and poured her heart into countless fundraising efforts including her legendary tombolas. She is so missed by all of us at Hope House and is a privilege to present her long-service award to her sons Darren and Dean.”

Volunteer Opportunities

If you would like to find out more about the exciting volunteering opportunities at Hope House Children’s Hospices call into your local charity shop or click the link below.

Volunteering Opportunities 

The Full List Of Recipients Were:

Bangor Shop: Adrian M Jagdeo; Brenda Baston; Shirley Cleever (all 3 years)

Bayston Hill Friends: Sue Parry; Sue Roberts (all 35 years)

Bridgnorth Shop: Brenda M Keen; James Moorcroft; Julie Blunt; Patricia A Jepson; Rosanna M Atkins (all 3 years); Margaret Yates (20 years, awarded to Marg’s sons Darren and Dean); Mary Thompson (25 years)

Chester Shop: Alan Higgins; Beverley Haughton; Helen Johnson; Jackie Cockeram; Jill Foley; Linda Holland; P D Perry (all 3 years); Pauline Williams (5 years)

Church Stretton Shop: Karen Wilson; John E Blaise; Lois Mileson; Polyanna Woodhouse; Theodore Langslow (all 3 years); Jo Bate; Sarah Bratby (all 5 years)

Ellesmere Friends Group: Barbara McBride (20 years)

Flint Shop: Chro J Noori; Keith Antony; Liz Williams (all 3 years); Debbie Newbegin; Helen Moulton; Jean Warne (all 5 years)

Fundraising Volunteers: Laraine Edwards; Scott Blakemore (all 3 years); Anne Ashton (5 years); Jan Trotter (10 years); Carol Smith (15 years); Ifan R Hughes MBE (20 years); Ian Turner, Judith Weaver (all 30 years); Pat Jones (35 years)

Harry's Helpers: Jeff Jones; Julia Jones (all 20 years)

Hope House Care: Judith Claes; Nicola Doogan (all 3 years)

Llandrindod Wells Friends Group: Maria Francis (3 years); Sally Russell (5 years); Mo Davies (10 years)

Llandudno Shop: Christine A Edwards; Sarah Gallagher; Mrs Lesley Pardon; Nicola Trbojevic; Malgorzata Mliczek; Anne Turner (all 3 years); E.T. Hockley; Christine Boyle; Carol Brown; Jenny Weeden (all 10 years)

Llanfyllin Friends Group: Rosemary Dunn (25 years)

Ludlow Shop: Anne H Lowe; Linda Davies; Wendy Elliot (all 3 years); Carole M Atack (10 years)

Mold Shop: Glenys Leach; Maureen Gifford (all 3 years)

Nantwich Shop: Debbie Card; Jenny Doyle; Sandra Johnson (all 3 years); Marylyn Minshull (10 years); Jennifer Guilliard (15 years); Rosie Slawinska (25 years)

Oswestry Events Group: Diane Seager (25 years)

Oswestry Shop: Elana Macdonald; John P Cullen; Ryan James (all 3 years); Gill Hill; Mary Trow (all 5 years); Peter Morris (10 years); Sue Carsley (30 years)

Porthmadog & Penrhyndeudraeth Friends Group: Meinir Lloyd-Jones (20 years)

Shrewsbury Harlescott Shop: Benjamin M Wacton; Christine Grindley; Claire Kirk; Janet White; Karen A Jones; Margaret Evans; Michael Monaghan; Naomi Mills (all 3 years);  Julie D Jones; Cameron Paull; Sonia Clayton (all 5 years)

Shrewsbury Oteley Road Shop: Debbie Colton; Elaine Fellows; Joyce Jones; Lynda James; Marcus Coulson; Patricia Cupples; Sally Small; Wendy Young (all 3 years); Roger Pittaway; Val Taylor (all 5 years); Ella Richards (15 years)

Tŷ Gobaith Gardens: Helen M Walk (15 years)

Trustees: Gary Morton; Kelly Miller (5 years); David Sharp (10 years); Barbara Evans (35 years)

Trustee & Welshpool Shop: Graeme Harkness (5 years)

Tywyn Friends Group: Carl Peach (3 years); Anita Inman; Trina Hawkes (all 5 years); Linda Birchenough (10 years)

Welshpool Shop: Emma-Louise C Jones; Pam Ingram; Pamela Larby; Rhian Evans; Sandra Irving (all 3 years); Carol Lloyd (5 years)

Wrexham Shop: Carol Slapa; Jill Rice-Jones; Llinos Hunt, Margaret E Price (all 3 years)