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Volunteering Opportunities

Help us make a real difference

Help & Care charity shop

Help & Care is working in partnership with Oakhaven Hospice Trust to run a new retail shop in Southbourne to support the local community and the two charities. 

We are looking for donations of good quality stock for resale. We are particularly looking for our best sellers - women's, men's and children's clothes and bric-a-brac. Our shop is contemporary in style and we are looking for items in good condition. Donating stock is a clear way of supporting our local charity. Stock can be dropped off at any time at our shop between 9:30 and 4:30, six days a week.

In addition, Help & Care are always looking for people to volunteer their time to help serve our customers, to help cashier and to replenish stock.

If you are interested, please get in contact:

Address: 19 Southbourne Grove, Bournemouth, BH6 2QS

Call: 01202 430 792


Volunteering in the local community

A group of about 50 people are registered as general volunteers; they undertake a wide range of tasks offering short term support to people.  Tasks are varied, expenses are paid and full training and ongoing support is provided. 

Here are a few examples of how our volunteers help people

  • Doing a little shopping
  • Writing a letter
  • Completing forms
  • Accompanying someone to appointments
  • Walking a dog
  • Accompanying a person on a social or leisure activity
  • Helping someone with a hobby

Our  telephone support service now runs on three afternoons a week, when a team of volunteers make regular phone contact to isolated people. 

We have a Moneyfriends scheme offering practical help (but not financial advice) to those suddenly faced with managing finances.

Our volunteers also help with a walking group and do home visits to people following bereavement. 

Dorset Macmillan Advocacy

Dorset Macmillan Advocacy partners volunteers with individuals affected by cancer whether they are patients, carers or relatives. The patients we support are aged 50 or over, carers and relatives can be any age.

Advocacy is about ensuring all people are treated fairly and have access to the best treatment and support. Peer volunteer advocates help people to get hold of and understand information, explore their options and rights and help them to have their wishes heard.

By helping older people affected by cancer to resolve issues and difficulties that they may be facing, the volunteers enable them to focus on their health and wellbeing particularly if they are feeling unwell and undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment. Volunteers support their partners flexibly, visiting them at home, attending medical appointments or talking on the phone.

Volunteers should have a good understanding of the impact of cancer, perhaps through a personal experience of cancer or other illness. No previous experience of advocacy is necessary as full training is given. We provide regular support and reimburse expenses. The time commitment is about half a day a week plus monthly team meetings. Please contact us for an informal chat in the first instance or click here to visit the Dorset Macmillan Advocacy website to find out more.

What's it like to be an advocate?