Local hospices win national awards
THE Shakespeare Hospice Bookshop in Stratford-upon-Avon was named Specialist Retail Outlet of the Year at the recent Hospice UK Retail Awards.
It was one of four awards presented at Chesford Grange Hotel in Kenilworth.
Retail Volunteer of the Year went to Sharon Meesum from The Myton Hospices.
The manager and volunteers at The Shakespeare Hospice Bookshop in Stratford were praised by judges for 'the lengths they go to create a welcoming environment which encourages repeat business and much needed funds'.
The shop on Rother Street has a Children’s Room and a Performing Arts Room offering a wide range of music and vinyl from across the decades, and in 2016 it launched a coffee shop, with its own loyalty card.
It also has a reputation for its delicious selection of cakes,while book clubs are also held monthly at the shop as well as upcycling events.
Tracy Holdback, retail manager at The Shakespeare Hospice, said: "We are over the moon to receive this trophy and it is fantastic that the Shakespeare Hospice Bookshop is recognised and all the hard work our volunteers put in to keep the shop running day to day.
"We have eight different shops across Warwickshire and the North Cotswolds which sell everything from books, music and fashion to home accessories and furniture as well as an ebay store and we rely heavily on volunteers to keep them all running smoothly.”
Retail Team of the Year went to Pilgrims Hospices in east Kent and Most Unusual Item Donated to a Hospice went to St Luke's in Sheffield for an ancient Egyptian shabti.
