A CHARITY shop is in need of more volunteers if it is to continue to thrive in Barnard Castle.
Following what has been a positive year for Oxfam, in Horse Market, rotas at the town centre shop currently show a number of shifts during the coming weeks have no-one to cover them.
Newly appointed shop manager, Will Wearmouth, is now desperately appealing for more help to ensure the shop can open as much as possible.
This comes just months after question marks hung over the future of the store.
In October last year, there were fears that the shop would close if more help couldn’t be found. Thankfully, Caroline Cellier, the shop manager who has just stepped down from the role last month, managed to turn things around.
Mr Wearmouth, who is a former volunteer, said: “Caroline has turned the shop around from being in danger of closing to having £24,517 profit to send off to help some of the world’s poorest people.”
Ms Cellier, who was shop manager for 16 months, said: “It was the last chance to save the shop. It was tough. I did a lot of extra hours but it was fun.
“It is a fun place to work. You are always interacting with the volunteers and the customers and I have always done it with lots of passion. It is like Christmas everyday. You never know what is going to be in the bag.”
Ms Cellier has taken up a new job in the pharmaceutical sector but will remain a volunteer.
She is now keen to help recruit others to help the shop reach this year’s profit target of £26,000.
She said: “The last challenge is the volunteers.
“Everything is kind of stabilised now apart from the volunteers.
“That is still a challenge for running everything.”
She added: “We have around 20 volunteers now but we had between 25 and 30. It is a bit low because we had some students who have stopped and some people with long-term illnesses.”
Volunteers are being sought to fill a number of roles including polishing brass, sewing, organising window displays, steaming clothes and organising the online shop.
Mr Wearmouth said: “It is a lot of fun to work here. There is a role for everyone.
“Volunteers are essential. They literally run the shop. Without them there would be no Oxfam in Barnard Castle.”
Anyone over the age of 15 who is interested in getting involved should contact Mr Wearmouth by visiting the shop or calling 01833 631814.
