I love being a daisy
When Jackie Phillips retired early, she struggled to find something worthwhile to do with the time she had on her hands.
After working for 16 years as manager of a community alarm service in her home town of Romsey, Hampshire, she was left wondering what to do with herself.
But that soon changed when one of her friends mentioned volunteering: "As time went on I felt I was losing my confidence," says Jackie. "So, at the suggestion of a friend, I became a volunteer in our local Cancer Research UK shop."
It was like a new lease of life for Jackie: "Thoroughly enjoying being part of a team and feeling useful once more, I regained my confidence", she says.
Soon after, in 2005, she heard there was a new charity shop opening in Romsey and they were looking for an assistant manager. So Jackie applied, and got it!
"Daisies" opened in May 2005 and has gone from strength to strength with the help of almost 30 volunteers. The shop is owned by the Wessex Cancer Trust, which offers immediate support to cancer patients across Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire and the Channel Islands.
The shop takes its name from the logo of the trust - a daisy.
Novel ways
And aside from selling a wide range of quality donated goods as well as Wessex Cancer Trust merchandise, Daisies has a number of other novel ways of generating revenue.
Jackie says "In the shop itself we have held a fashion show, we dressed up as fairies for late night Christmas shopping and we even run a fancy dress hire service which is going really well.
"Also, two of our volunteers haven't got time to work in the shop so they sell some of the items we are donated on eBay, which has proven really popular. For instance they recently sold a plate for £160 – which we would never have received in the shop!"
Although Daisies is not short of new and exciting fundraising ideas, Jackie says that as the shop is open 6 days a week they need a lot more volunteers.
"To anyone in a similar situation I found myself in I would say try volunteering," says Jackie. "You have so much to gain from the experience.
"What might seem small to you is nothing compared to what you will be giving others. Why not give it a try? You may find it leads to things you never imagined would happen, like me."
If you are ever in Romsey why not pay a visit to Daisies, at 56/58 The Hundred (opposite Jane Scarth House)? And if you're interested in
volunteering, give them a call on 01794 524247.
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