A WYRE Forest charity are on the lookout for new volunteers to join their community-spirited group.

Kemp hospice are appealing for golden volunteers to help boost the number of people helping in their charity shops and donation centre in their 50th anniversary year.

They hope to encourage 50 people to offer a helping hand by becoming one of their new Gold Star Volunteers.

The hospice operate seven charity shops across the region, including a furniture store and a donation centre on Lisle Avenue in Kidderminster, as well an online eBay store and a ‘by appointment’ bridal shop.

All profits generated by shops contribute directly to providing free care and support to people dealing with life-limiting illnesses and bereavement.

The Hospice have retail shops at Coventry Street, Worcester Street, Oxford Street and Lisle Avenue in Kidderminster, Load Street in Bewdley, and Tan Lane in Stourport.

Lynne Haines, Head of Retail a Kemp, said: “Our volunteers are the life-blood of Kemp Hospice and without the small army of people who donate their time and expertise to us I don’t know what we would do.

"It takes a very special kind of person to volunteer, someone that has a sense of wanting to do some good for their community or someone who has retired and wants to ‘give back’ in their spare time.

"Volunteering in our Kemp Shops and in our donation centre is a great way for people to get out and meet new people and to contribute to the vital work of the charity. It’s also a brilliant way for people to gain some retail experience if they’re looking to get back into work."

People interested in becoming a Gold Star Volunteer can email volunteering@kemphospice.org.uk, call into any Kemp Shop or go online to www.kemphospice.org.uk/volunteer.