‘Drop in for a cuppa and discover the benefits of working for us’ – that is our message to Mid Wales residents with time on their hands.

We are recruiting for volunteers at our new shop in Bear Lanes Shopping Centre in Broad Street, Newtown.

And to help fill positions in time for the opening on March 26, a coffee morning will be held on Tuesday for people to learn more about the roles available.

The shop will be our 28th and be part of a network that contributes more than £1 million each year for the care of families living with incurable illness.

Our volunteer coordinator Dawn Felton said: “This is a great opportunity for people to discover what we do before signing up.

“We have a variety of retail roles from shop floor assistants to back office workers and window dressers. We’re a friendly bunch with bags of enthusiasm so if you possess these qualities, you’ll fit right in.”

Emily Jones, who manages our shop in Ellesmere, said: “The coffee morning will be an informal session and we’re encouraging people to drop in between 10am and 3pm.

“I’ll be there to answer any questions along with a volunteer who is happy to share her experiences; and there’ll be tea and coffee and plenty of cakes to go around. So, pencil 3rd March in your diary.”

Nathan Thomas, 19, said volunteering at our shop in Welshpool has helped turn his life around.

He said: “I didn’t know what to do after leaving school. I attended a training course and came to Severn Hospice to gain retail experience, coming in whenever I was needed.

“The skills I’ve gained have been invaluable and I’ve never felt the need to leave. The atmosphere in the shop is amazing; the customers are polite, and the staff really care about the volunteers and make you feel special.

“After three rewarding years of volunteering, I’ve secured a paid part-time position at the shop. Things really couldn’t have worked out better for me and I’m grateful; it’s turned my life around.”

The coffee morning is at the Hosbis Hafren, Severn Hospice in Back Lane, Newtown.

For more details about joining us, visit our Volunteer With Us page or call 01743 236565/01952 221350.