Bromyard Hospice Shop to close?

From Cllr Gary Swinford:
Many will have seen that the opening hours of the St Michael's Hospice Shop in Bromyard have recently been reduced from 6 hours per day to 4 hours per day. I know that this reduction in hours was imposed on the volunteers in the shop, without any consultation. The excuse that the Hospice has come up with is "lack of volunteers"; this is simply not true - there is no overall lack of volunteers. Clearly this reduction in hours by a third is going to lead to a drastic reduction in sales at the shop, leading to closure?

The extremely loyal volunteers who keep the Hospice Shop going are thoroughly demoralised, particularly by the high-handed attitude of the so-called Hospice "retail team", who claim to have a "strategy" for the shop! I shall be raising this important issue at the next Bromyard & Winslow Town Council meeting. Gary Swinfo

Comments

+3 #13 Ros Bissell 2013-03-11 13:13

This is a substantial sum and at a time when the Hospice is looking to expand to acommadate more services and patients I can't understand why anyone would consider closing the shop a good idea.

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+5 #12 Gary Swinford 2013-03-11 12:32

Martin

You're absolutely right about the volunteers.

It is particularly important to keep the Bromyard Shop open because it is three shops in one - "normal" charity shop, bookshop and bridal gallery. My wife managed the bookshop voluntarily for three years but has given up in sheer frustration. We believe that the shop's sales could be increased from approx. £50,000 p.a. to £100,000 p.a. but "Head Office" WILL NOT LISTEN!

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+3 #11 Martin Attridge 2013-03-11 06:57

Cheers Gary - since retiring I have taken and left 5 volunteer posts for a variety of reasons. In my experience willing volunteers are far too often taken for granted, as if 'the management' believe they are doing you a favour by keeping you occupied. There is never any excuse for rudeness or high-handedness - to me it's a message to move on and find something better. Or change the management of course!

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+4 #10 Gary Swinford 2013-03-10 20:02

Martin

In fact the overall number of volunteers is sufficient. What is needed is different rostering, agreed with the volunteers by consultation. A professional LOCAL manager could achieve this but what actually happens is that high-handed, arrogant and often rude so-called "Head Office" staff descend on the shop and give their orders. The volunteers are extremely forgiving of the way they are treated because they want to do their best for the Hospice. You would not believe how rude the so-called "retail team" can be to volunteers. A sorry saga.

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+3 #9 Martin Attridge 2013-03-10 17:38

Gary and Graham - thanks for clarifying the financial position. So, the shop ( and others ) certainly seems like a good, little earner for St Michael's.
Now, I am puzzled by the thread 'Call for Volunteers' by Area Manager Liz Went. This seeks new volunteers for the Bromyard Shop, in direct contast to postings made here.
A genuine misunderstandin g or is mischief at work here?!

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+5 #8 Chris Barltrop 2013-03-10 11:56

The attitude of the Hospice management and 'retail team' is certainly questionable. When Sylvia Jenkins was abruptly told her services were no longer required, I was among those who wrote to the Hospice in her defence. I have never received the courtesy of a reply, and while the autonomy of St Michael's has to be respected, I feel they are being as high-handed now as they were then. I am pleased to know that Gary Swinford is taking this up, and I'm sure he'll pursue it doggedly. The Hospice is everyone's, and we should be party to discussion!

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+5 #7 Graham 2013-03-10 09:33

It is interesting to look at the Hospice report and accounts. Go to the charity commision site and search on number 511179 The shops seem to be the biggest source of income.

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+3 #6 Ros Bissell 2013-03-09 18:20

We all know someone who has needed the care of the Hospice and if the shop does close and the Hospice does not get support locally it will be the patients, our friends and family who will ultimately lose the help they need, we know there are 'issues' but for the sake of present and future patients I hope these can be sorted.

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+3 #5 Gary Swinford 2013-03-09 16:00

Martin

Let's just say that the loss of 12 hours/week of trading will lose the Hospice some £300-£400 per week. And of course closing early means that the shop is not open to receive donated goods, just at the time in the afternoon when most donations are received!

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+6 #4 Bromyard Drifter 2013-03-08 19:35

Well done Gary, I also think it is important that the St Michaels stays open in Bromyard...... It just seems that this is another example of a suited jobsworth somewhare dictating what happens on the ground in a town they have probably never visited! If so, then what a shame as it will mean decisions have already been made, probably with little consultation, and we will all be helpless to do more than watch! Give it your best shot Gary!

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