Celebrating 10 years of volunteer powerat Willen Hospice’s Stony bookshop

In 2016 a handful of committed volunteers stepped up to keep Willen Hospice’s bookshop in Stony Stratford open for the community. Over the last decade they’ve kept the shelves stacked with stories and helped raise more than £1 million for the Hospice’s vital care.

The busy bookshop on Stony’s High Street, which includes a popular children’s section, is entirely run by volunteers. As well as raising income through selling around 1,000 books every week and encouraging customers to take part in Gift Aid, the team’s impact reaches far beyond the bookshop. Working alongside colleagues in the Hospice’s online retail team, the volunteers help value and sell books through Ebay. They also identify rare and special books for sale through auction houses. 

All of the money raised helps the Hospice’s expert staff care for local patients and their loved ones who are coping with the impact of a life-limiting illness. Retail is an incredibly important part of reaching the £9.6 million the Hospice needs to fundraise each year through the generosity of its community.

The 10-year anniversary of the bookshop’s volunteer team will be celebrated throughout April, with free bookmarks for customers and special promotions. Volunteers will also be formally thanked for their contribution by the Hospice’s Chief Executive, Kate Broadhurst, at a small event on 15 April.

Associate Director of Retail for the Hospice, Ian Palmer, said: “For a decade, our bookshop has been run by a group of volunteers who have so generously given their time – a loyal community of people who love books and stand firmly in support of the Hospice’s cause. Every hour they’ve given and every book they’ve sold has made a real difference to the local families who’ve needed the Hospice at perhaps the most difficult time of their lives. 

“This milestone anniversary also belongs to everyone who’s ever browsed, bought or donated in the bookshop. I want to thank you all for being part of our story. April is a great opportunity to visit the bookshop again, if you haven’t popped in for a while. There’s so much to discover on the shelves and our volunteers are always happy to provide reading recommendations!”

Rita Barratt, who is part of the bookshop’s volunteer steering group, added: “We run the bookshop for a truly supportive local community who show their steadfast commitment to Willen Hospice in so many ways. We’re very proud of our community, our bookshop and our volunteer team.”

Willen Hospice’s bookshop in Stony Stratford is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Find out more about how to shop, volunteer or donate at willen-hospice.org.uk/bookshop or by following the bookshop’s Facebook page.