NORTHUMBRIA Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is appealing for people to come forward to help in its volunteer-run shops and services.

People with a few hours to spare are being sought to volunteer at Blyth, Wansbeck, North Tyneside and the Northumbria hospitals to work in the trust’s Hospital Volunteer Service shops, meet and greet service or on the refreshments trolley which goes to the wards.

Volunteers will be given full training and hours will be to suit. In the shop, volunteers will be required to carry out general tasks such as serving tea, coffee and snacks, operating the till, dealing with customers and replenishing stock.

Money raised in the shop will goes towards improving the hospital environment, buying specialist equipment and providing the little extras which make a real difference to patients’ experiences.

To find out more about joining the existing crew of over 900 volunteers who help out across the trust’s sites, people are encouraged to attend one of the open events being held on Monday, August 7 to have a chat with Lynn McCormack, volunteer and charity development manager.

These will take place from 10am to 11.30am at North Tyneside General Hospital, North Shields, and 2pm to 3.30pm at Wansbeck General Hospital, Ashington – please meet in the main entrances.

Alternatively, contact Claire Finn on (0191) 203 1511 or email claire.finn@northumbria.nhs.uk.