Steph and Vernon’s story

Steph and Vernon began volunteering at Blythe House’s Buxton shop in February 2024, after relocating to the town from Birmingham following their retirement.

After busy careers – Steph as a nurse and Vernon as a university lecturer in business studies and economics – the couple wanted to embrace new opportunities and enjoy experiences they hadn’t had time for while working.

Both keen on walking and travelling, Steph and Vernon, who married in 1986, also wanted to get involved in their new community and feel part of something meaningful.

Initially, they enquired about helping with gardening at the hospice. But after taking part in Blythe House’s twice-yearly volunteer training programme – which they found both thorough and interesting – they met Sue, manager of the Buxton shop, and decided to lend their support there.

Steph said: ‘We didn’t just want to sit at home and do our own thing in retirement – we wanted to contribute to our local area and do something worthwhile. Volunteering at the shop enables us to give something back, and we know the difference we’re making. Even if we sell a dress for £6, we can see exactly where that money goes and the impact it has.

‘We enjoy receiving the newsletters from the hospice team and reading about services like the Roaming Car and Hospice at Home. It makes us feel proud to be helping support them. Whilst we may only be a small cog in a very big wheel, we can see and feel the difference we’re making. When you add up how much the Buxton shop raises in a year, the total is staggering.’

Vernon added: ‘We volunteer every Monday morning at the Buxton shop, but we’ve also helped at the Matlock and Bakewell shops when needed. We’ve enjoyed supporting fundraising events too, like Chatsworth Country Fair. It’s great meeting different members of the team and learning more about what they do. It’s really a privilege to see the difference the hospice makes locally, and we’re very happy to do our bit.’