10
STUDENT REPORT
C
ommunity, the environment we live in and the people
within it form a vital part of our identities. Therefore,
surely we should feel obliged to give back. This idea is what
volunteering is all about, returning the favour and making a
difference no matter how small it may be.
Back in December, I decided to volunteer at my local charity
shop which sold clothes, books, CDs, DVDs, toys and bric-
a-brac. The Sue Ryder charity supports people living with
life-limiting and long-term conditions. It was founded by Sue
Ryder in 1953 as a result of the creation of a nursing home
in Suffolk. Since then the charity has expanded on a national
scale and there are now a number of care centres and charity
shops across the country. However, all of this comes with a
great need for funding, for example, it costs the charity
£24.8m to run their hospices. Due to nationwide spending
cuts it is now becoming increasingly difficult to manage all
these areas of need.
I spoke to Tina Sorrell, Assistant Manager of the Watford
branch, about the services Sue Ryder provide for the
community and how simple it is to support their cause.
What inspired you to work at Sue Ryder?
What inspired me to work for Sue Ryder was simple. I knew
of the charity from being a customer. I knew the work they
did and the care they gave to terminally ill people. I wanted
to be part of that.
How does Sue Ryder help the community?
Sue Ryder helps the community by providing end of life care
at its palliative care centres across the country, by providing
neurological care to those suffering with conditions such as
Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington’s Disease and brain injuries. It is
also a major provider of care and support to those suffering
with cancer, and their families.
What does your job entail?
My job entails supporting the Shop Manager to maximise
the sales income from the donations we receive and reach
our weekly targets. This involves researching the value of
items, providing great customer service, understanding our
customer needs, and preparing all sorts of items for sale. This
might involve displaying them well, matching them up with
similar items, cleaning or mending them etc.
How can you apply to become a volunteer?
To become a volunteer you must come into the shop and talk
to us. We'll give you an application form and invite you back
in for a trial. If both parties are happy, we'll agree what
days/hours are mutually suitable and the type of work that
is allocated.
What are the positives of volunteering?
Giving something back to the community, raising money to
support the charity, developing work and life skills, sharing
skills, interacting with customers and colleagues, making
friends and combatting loneliness.
What can others do to support the charity?
Lots! Come and work with us, come and volunteer, do a
fundraising event (everything from coffee mornings to fashion
shows to running 10k or the marathon!)
Out of all the charities, why did Sue Ryder
stand out to you?
I don't know what it's like to work for the other charities so
that's a difficult question to answer. However, I was impressed
by the service I always got in its retail shops when I was a
customer so that encouraged me to look further into what the
charity did and how it might be suitable for me.
In conclusion, Sue Ryder is a great cause and I recommend
volunteering at your local charity shop, whether you want to
gain experience or just provide a helping hand to those in
need. It may not seem like much at the time but every donation
of time or money is warmly welcomed by the charity because
sometimes it is the little things in life that matter the most.
Beth Read
11E
VOLUNTEERING
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What’s in it for you?
11
L
eading up to the greatly anticipated referendum in
June, I spent a week with MP Richard Harrington and
the Conservative office in Watford.
With Harrington backing Prime
Minister David Cameron’s decision to
remain in the EU, I became a member
of the ‘Stronger In’ campaign and took
an active role in the days leading
up to the campaign in order to have
my opinions heard. From door-to-
door canvassing to standing out in
thunderstorms wearing my campaign
t-shirt, trying to convince last minute
commuters at Watford High Street
Station with leaflets, we were relentless
in the ‘bread and butter’ politics that
ultimately get the votes.
At 17 years old I could not vote in this election, and
like many of my peers I found myself in an extremely
frustrating situation when I heard only 36% of 18 – 24
year olds turned up to vote on the 23rd June. With
over three quarters of young people voting to remain,
I found it exasperating to think that 74% of the people
that this vote will most affect decided not to have a say
in their future. If they had, one can only imagine the
difference it would have made.
My experience with the ‘Stronger In’ campaign may
not have led to success, but the positive results from my
experience are endless. This was a
vote where parties could collaborate;
myself being a member of the
Labour party but joining with the
Conservatives and Liberal Democrats
in Watford in order to achieve
a greater good. I found myself
propelled into on-street debates
with passing shoppers, allowing me
to have a first-hand effect on the
way people voted and a chance to
enhance my debating skills against
passionate (leave) voters.
My week of campaigning, including
staying up until 4am at the vote
count and leaving disconsolate and dejected, has only
fuelled my passion for future campaigns. Although the
result was not in our favour, it has made me realise the
impact an individual can have; for everyone who isn’t
involved with politics or sees it as a grey area, I can
only implore you to get involved and have a say. Not
only is it a greatly rewarding task, but also allows you
to make a contribution, even if the government will not
let us vote… yet.
My Involvement with
The EU Referendum
April Gilling 13C
STUDENT REPORT
