When Avril took early retirement alongside her husband, she quickly found that the quiet life wasn’t quite enough. Always active and deeply connected to her community, she began looking for something meaningful to fill her time.
Being a lifelong Yeovillian, Avril knew the town inside and out—and one place that had always stood out to her was the St Margaret’s Hospice Hendford shop. It was familiar, local, and purposeful.
It’s a hospice. It would be good to do some charity work. It’s doing them a favour, but I gain from it as well.”Avril
Avril started with just one morning a week—Tuesdays—helping with sorting donations. Over time, she added Fridays to her schedule and stayed with it for years. Her role evolved too. From sorting in the back, she moved to working on the till and became involved with the bric-a-brac section. Her creativity soon shone through, especially when it came to arranging displays, which was a skill she’d carried over from her previous career.
I love it. It’s such a wonderful atmosphere that they’ve created to work in.”Avril
Her enthusiasm hasn’t waned—not even after nearly two decades.
Avril began volunteering for St Margaret’s in 2005. Now, twenty years later, she’s seen the shop transform from what she remembers as “a bit of a jumble sale” into a bright, welcoming space. It’s even moved buildings multiple times! Bit by bit, she’s watched it grow, improve, and adapt.
But Avril has never lost sight of why she volunteers.
I do it for the hospice. But there’s part of me that does it for me as well.”Avril
She’s made friendships, built connections with regular customers, and hears kind comments that remind her she’s making a difference.
For her, volunteering isn’t just about giving time—it’s about finding joy, purpose, and community in the everyday moments.