No act of kindness is too small

The rising cost of living means many of us are rethinking our spending and aren’t in a position to donate money to charity. But by donating your time and skills, you can still make a lasting impact on people living with cancer. Here are some ways to get involved that won’t cost you a penny…

Volunteering

Our volunteers are the lifeblood of Wessex Cancer Support, and they’ll tell you that giving their time is incredibly rewarding. Click here to read Ann’s experience. Volunteering is flexible; from two hours a week to several days a month, we’re grateful for anything you can give. You’ll receive training and whether you’re currently studying, working, looking to gain experience or retired, we’ll make sure you find the right role for you and you’re always supported.

Here are some of our volunteering opportunities…

In our shops

Be part of your local community and meet new people! Shop work is a great opportunity to grow your confidence, develop communication skills and try your hand at creative tasks like dressing the shop and arranging donations.

If fashion is your thing, why not help out with our Depop shop? Style your own photo shoots, write catchy descriptions and tap into the latest trends to raise money for Wessex Cancer Support. Find your nearest shop here.

In our support centres

Our support centres are welcoming, calm and safe spaces where anyone affected by cancer can come and access the combination of services that best suit their needs. We have lots of roles available, including greeting clients, assisting with admin tasks, helping our centre managers organise activities and support groups and putting new visitors at ease. Perhaps you could consider being a volunteer befriender? Befrienders are trained and caring listeners for anyone affected by cancer who needs a safe, non-judgemental space to simply sit or share their feelings. Click here to read Gretel’s story.

Find out more about our support centres here.

At our events

Having a team of volunteers is integral to our events running smoothly! Hands-on help includes setting up, selling raffle tickets, assisting participants, organising refreshments and handing out medal. There’s also opportunities for office-based support leading up to events, including researching venues, contacting supporters, planning routes and handing out flyers. We’ve got lots of event roles available with different time commitments and you get to attend for free! It’s a great way to bolster your experience!

Click here to see what events we’re putting on this year, or contact our fundraising team at fundraising@wessexcancer.org.uk.

On Social Media

We believe that everyone impacted by cancer should be able to access personalised cancer support, and social media is a great tool for sharing this message. Are you on social media? Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Liking our posts only takes a second and it can help boost our profile, enabling more people who need our services to connect with us. Sharing and commenting on our content has a bigger impact on social media algorithms, so if you can spare the time engaging with us online is a simple but effective way to support us (and we really enjoy interacting with you, too!)

Signing up to our bi-monthly newsletter, Closer Look, is another easy way to show your support, and you’ll be able to take a closer look at all things Wessex Cancer Support. Sign up here and you’ll receive our next newsletter in your inbox.

Don’t forget to spread the word about Wessex Cancer Support to friends, family and acquaintances in real life, as well as digitally!

By donating your preloved items

Having a clear-out? We’d love your donations! All five of our shops accept good quality clothing, accessories, shoes, children’s books and toys, bric-a-brac, books, CDs, DVDs and vinyl records. Our Hythe shop also takes small electrical items.

Our shops raise around £500,000 every year to support local people affected by cancer and donations are sorted and displayed by volunteers. If you’re not sure what you can donate, ask yourself if you would buy it from a charity shop. There’s a simple checklist you can use: Is it sellable, clean, complete and in good condition? If so, we’d love to receive your donation. Unfortunately we can’t take stained clothing, incomplete games or worn-down shoes, and things like this actually cost us money to dispose of.

Aesop once said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Whatever your contribution, it makes a huge difference to local people affected by cancer and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without you. Whatever you give, thank you.