Volunteering: Kath’s experience

Kath Maccoll first noticed the Yorkshire Cancer Research charity shop in Harrogate as she walked her usual route to work. When she saw a poster in the window asking for volunteers, Kath decided to put her name forward.

She said: “I was walking past the shop on my way to work, and when I sat down at my desk, I kept thinking about the poster in the window. I’d never worked in a shop before, but I had a Wednesday afternoon free, and I thought I could easily put that time towards volunteering.

“When I came into the shop to talk to Kate, the shop manager, I immediately felt at ease. She introduced me to the work that Yorkshire Cancer Research does, and the ethos of the charity and I felt really excited by that. If I could be a part of that, then I wanted to help.”

Kath’s mum passed away in 2019 after being diagnosed with a type of brain tumour called glioblastoma, and contributing to Yorkshire Cancer Research has been a way for Kath to feel closer to her.

She continued:

“If there was one thing that my mother loved, it was a charity shop.

"She really enjoyed digging around and finding new and unique things. I feel like she would have loved this shop in Harrogate, it’s got some lovely items in it and she was a very charitable person. If she was here now, I’d be able to tell her all about it."

Kath, who works at a local school and is a mum of two, fits her volunteering around her busy schedule, and has been part of the team since it first opened six months ago.

She said: “I started just as the shop opened in September of last year. I couldn’t believe how many people were coming through the door and how much we were selling. It was exciting. There was a real buzz around the shop opening.

“We’re a lovely team here and I always look forward to coming in and seeing the other volunteers.

“You can have a nice chat with customers over the till. It’s really rewarding in that way. Some people are looking for a chance to have a bit of social interaction, rather than just shopping. We always give people a warm welcome.”

The charity’s shops play an important role in funding world-leading research in the region, and volunteers like Kath help Yorkshire Cancer Research prevent, diagnose and treat cancer in Yorkshire.