A GRANT made possible by shoppers in Minehead has enabled St Margaret’s Hospice to organise a series of breakfast and coffee mornings for people living in West Somerset.

The grant from the Tesco Bags of Help scheme in Minehead is being used to fund information sessions, starting on Tuesday, March 12, in Wiveliscombe Community Centre.

Fundraising volunteer co-ordinator Susan Bickle will be at the event along with Kara Frampton, community fundraiser West. The late breakfast of tea, coffee and pastries starts at 10am.

Susan and Kara will be there to tell residents about the work that the hospice offers locally and explain how people can support patients through offering a few hours volunteering per year or by even joining a local fundraising group.

“Without our army of dedicated volunteers, St Margaret’s Hospice could not survive,” said Susan.

“Volunteers are embedded in every area of the hospice from reception staff to gardening, and everything in between, including animals such as ponies and dogs – we even have a hospice cat!

“However, we can always do with more volunteers – if people can offer their time even a little as an hour a year, we will have a volunteer role that will suit them.”

Kara said that volunteering roles range from helping out at an event such as a bucket collection to hosting an open garden.

She added: “We already have a small band of amazing volunteers who help us raise funds locally in West Somerset, but hope that more people in the area may come forward.

“Ultimately this all goes to helping the hospice raise the £9.5 million that we need to provide our services per year. We’d love to hear from and meet people who would like to be involved with their local hospice.”

St Margaret’s Hospice is a Somerset charity and not part of the NHS, so it relies on the goodwill of the local community. The aim is to make each day count for the patients, families and carers.