VOLUNTEERS at St Margaret's Hospice Care's shop in Burnham-on-Sea have celebrated the charity's 40th anniversary by turning its windows ruby.

The charity had big plans to celebrate its 40th anniversary this year but sadly they were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The majority of St Margaret's charity shops are now open and shop staff and volunteers in the Burnham-on-Sea shop have been hard at work decorating the windows with ruby decorations.

The windows are helping to brighten up the high street and have given the hospice opportunity to say thank you to its customers for their loyalty throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. 

The charity is also promoting its Virtual Bucket Collection, to try to replace the income they would normally receive from bucket collections across the county.

Elizabeth Yates, a volunteer who has been fundraising for St Margaret’s Hospice since the early 1980’s, said:“I’ve been a volunteer for the hospice for well over 35 years, part of the original fundraising team that raised the money to build the Taunton hospice hub.

"I started to volunteer as I had witnessed the difference hospice care could make to patients and their families.

"After moving to Somerset, I wanted to ensure our community had the same opportunity for care and support my family had been privileged to experience in other parts of the country.

“I am proud to be part of an organisation that has embraced hospice care and over the last 40 years Somerset has benefitted from compassionate and patient centred care.

"I want to make sure that the hospice continues to be able to provide their services, helping over 4,900 people each year. Please give whatever you can to the Virtual Bucket Collection, even small change can make a big difference.”

All money raised from the virtual collection will go towards the care of patients and their families across Somerset.

"Throughout the pandemic the charity’s care and support has not wavered. The work of clinical teams remains ongoing; staff are visiting patients in your community, supporting families and caring 24/7 in the in-patient unit," a St Margaret's Hospice Care spokesperson added.

"The 24-hour adviceline has increasingly become a ‘lifeline’ to patients and families as face to face contact has not been possible.

"You can donate to the Virtual Bucket Collection Campaign by scanning the QR Code on the poster at a St Margaret’s shop near you or by visiting: www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/virtualbucketcollection."