St Rocco’s Hospice Needs You!

Thu 22 Oct 26

St Rocco’s Hospice Needs You: Why Volunteering in Their Warrington Shops Changes Lives

Phil

SMITHY & IAN
GOOD MORNING CHESHIRE

Our friends from St Rocco’s Hospice are always welcome in the studio, and this week on Good Morning Cheshire, Smithy and Ian were joined by Elizabeth Logan, voluntary services lead at St Rocco’s Hospice, with a simple message: they need you.

A Hospice That’s Full of Life

St Rocco’s, based on Lockton Lane in Bewsey, has ten inpatient beds, but that’s only part of the story. The team supports people living with a life-limiting illness from the moment of diagnosis right the way through, including at their Vitality Centre, and they look after family members too.

“People think a hospice can be a really sad place,” Elizabeth said, “but actually we find it’s very happy, and it brings wonderful memories for people as well.”

Smithy has seen it for himself. When he visited with the MIX56 team, it felt like a genuinely positive place, and he felt really welcome.

£5 Million a Year and Every Penny Counts

Running St Rocco’s costs around £5 million a year, raised in all sorts of ways.

There are the big events, of course. The Colour Run (“messy, but brilliant,” according to Elizabeth) and the Dragon Boat Race, which went ahead in the pouring rain this year without dampening anyone’s spirits.

But one of the biggest earners is something you’ve probably walked past this week: the charity shops.

Seven Shops, a Furniture Store and… eBay?

St Rocco’s has seven shops across Warrington, plus a warehouse, and each one has its own character. There’s the shop here in Lymm, Sankey Street in the town centre, and the Birchwood shop, which is the discount store. They recently ran a fill a bag for a fiver deal there.

Then there’s the furniture shop, the huge one next to DFS. Elizabeth says it’s well worth nipping in for a bargain.

Something you might not know: St Rocco’s now has an eBay shop, run from the warehouse. People donate some incredible things without realising what they’re worth, and selling the right items online means they raise far more for the hospice.

Smithy admitted he’s become a bit of a charity shop browser lately (“I don’t know whether it’s an age thing”). You go in for nothing in particular and come out with an ornament you love or trousers that fit perfectly.

The Volunteers Who Keep the Doors Open

As voluntary services lead, Elizabeth was always going to bring it back to the people. Without volunteers, the shops simply wouldn’t run.

St Rocco’s has more than 600 volunteers across its events, hospice and shops, and over 250 of them work in the shops. Lots of them have been there 10 or 20 years. At the recent volunteer awards, one volunteer from the Lymm shop received an award for 40 years of service. Forty years!

Plenty of people who come to volunteer have just retired. After a whole working life, retirement can feel lonely, and a few hours behind the till brings back structure, purpose and company. “A huge thing for volunteers in our shops is building those friendships and those bonds,” Elizabeth said. “You can really see that when you go in.”

Not Just for Retirees: Young People Welcome Too

Elizabeth was keen to say this one loud and clear: volunteering at St Rocco’s isn’t only for retired people.

If you’re younger and trying to build your CV, it’s a great way to get work experience and pick up soft skills, especially communication and confidence. Some volunteers have even gone on to paid roles at the hospice and in the shops.

And it’s flexible. Two hours, four hours, whatever you can give. “It’s kind of what you can give, we will take,” Elizabeth said, and the team will work out a shift pattern around you.

How to Get Involved

St Rocco’s is running its volunteer recruitment drive throughout this month. If you’ve been thinking, “Do you know what? I could spare a few hours a week,” now’s the time.

Head to the St Rocco’s Hospice website and find the volunteering page. It’s a small team, but they’ll get back to you, and they’re committed to making sure you have a great experience.

Huge thanks to Elizabeth for coming in. St Rocco’s are great friends of MIX56, and they’re shortlisted at the Warrington Chamber of Commerce awards this week.

We’ll be cheering you on. Good luck!