Charity Shop Gift Cards to help local hospices and the environment too!
Pilgrims Hospices is the first charity in the country to accept a new multi-retailer gift card that can be used exclusively in charity shops.
The Charity Shop Gift Card is backed by the Charity Retail Association (CRA), and will be sold and accepted in Pilgrims Hospices’ 30 shops, helping to raise valuable funds for end of life care for thousands of people in east Kent.
Tim Stewart, Pilgrims Hospices Retail and Business Development Manager, said: “Pilgrims are delighted to join the scheme right at the very beginning. We truly believe that the Charity Shop Gift Card will help generate much needed funds for the hospices and help introduce new people to charity shopping.”
As well as boosting charity funds, money spent by cardholders will have a positive effect on the environment by supporting the growing second-hand revolution, which is being led by the environmentally aware Gen Z and Millennials, and is reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill.
Charity shops divert around 339,000 tonnes of textiles away from landfill or incineration every year, saving councils millions in annual waste disposal charges.
The gift cards themselves are recyclable and compostable.
The Charity Shop Gift Card has been developed by Gift Card CIC, a social enterprise, and gives regional and national charities that are members of the CRA their first opportunity to tap into the many billions of pounds gift card market.
More charities across the country will join the scheme in the coming weeks and months.
Local authorities and other support agencies can also choose to partner with the scheme and use pre-loaded gift cards to distribute the financial assistance they provide to individuals and families, which will then be spent in participating charity shops.
The Charity Shop Gift Card is a member of Social Enterprise UK, and the Gift Card and Voucher Association.
If you’re interested in becoming a member of Pilgrims’ retail volunteer workforce, find out more at:
People are inspired and motivated to support us for lots of reasons. Many of our volunteers have personal experience of the palliative care and support we offer to patients and their families; some have a special interest or skill that makes a valuable contribution to Pilgrims. Volunteering can also help you to gain new skills in an area you’ve always wanted to develop.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
30th June 2021
Local business supports Pilgrims Hospices with ‘25 acts of giving’
To celebrate its 25 year anniversary, Ramsgate-based company Business Computer Solutions Ltd. (BCS) is encouraging staff to volunteer for local causes in a ‘25 acts of giving’ initiative. Helen Bradley, Sales Administrator, from Broadstairs and Khan Tomlinson, Systems Administrator, from Ramsgate chose to volunteer for Pilgrims Hospices. They each wanted to give back to the hospice charity that serves their local community.
Helen’s hand-crafted decorative bottles
On 24 June 2021, Helen and Khan gave up their time to volunteer at Pilgrims’ Broadstairs shop. In addition, they donated several items to sell in the shop including jigsaws, photo frames, a desk tidy, books, an armchair rest organiser and a room diffuser. Helen also contributed decorative bottles that she made using new, empty wine bottles with lights inside.
Helen said: “I love a good charity shop, and this one is my favourite in Broadstairs; the staff and volunteers are so friendly. I wanted to get involved and interact with the local public.”
Khan added: “It’s been really fun meeting customers and so interesting to see exactly what goes into managing a charity shop. The volunteers work so hard, and I was surprised how much stock gets donated and processed behind the scenes.”
Mandy Hawkett, Retail Area Manager at Pilgrims, said: “I’d like to thank Helen and Khan for supporting Pilgrims as their chosen charity. I am really proud of Pilgrims’ retail stores and our dedicated shop teams, so I was delighted when Helen approached us regarding the ‘25 acts of giving’ project and her wish to spend the day in our lovely Broadstairs store. The team take pride in their store, creating a fabulous atmosphere to shop and volunteer in.
“It was such a lovely day. Khan worked on the till delivering excellent customer service, and Helen put out new items of stock, ensuring the displays were looking their best throughout the day; both were supported by the experts, our wonderful volunteers.”
Tim Stewart, Retail Business Development Manager at Pilgrims, added: “It’s so important to us that local businesses like BCS support us in what we do. It’s great that their staff came to our Broadstairs shop to see first-hand just how hard our staff and volunteers work to get the most out of the donations we receive. There is a perception that charity shops are simple and straightforward to operate, but I’m sure Helen and Khan can now confirm that there is so much work that goes into getting donated stock ready for sale!
“BCS staff donated so much lovely stock to us on the day, and they were able to Gift Aid it which made the donations 25% more valuable. We’re really pleased that Helen and Khan chose us as their preferred charity, and even better that they took the time out of their busy schedules to come into the shop and help run it for the day; I’m sure they went home exhausted but feeling very fulfilled.”
Other BCS employees are volunteering across Thanet in several capacities, getting involved with beach cleaning, community gardening projects and girl guiding.
Martin Hynes, Managing Director at BCS, said: “At BCS we have always felt businesses should play a role in helping their local communities. We have embraced this philosophy over the last 25 years, which has seen us support various local charities and good causes, including with our most recent ‘25 acts of giving’ where the entire BCS team participated in helping local causes, to celebrate our 25 years in business. We would like to thank Pilgrims for helping make this possible; our team have gained a great deal out of the experience, and we hope to have inspired other local businesses and residents to do the same.”
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
21st April 2021
#SalvagedWithLove: Erin’s mission to change the world and support hospice care
Erin Hayhow from Whitstable is a fashion designer on a mission to change the world. Using only waste materials, which she dyes and paints with her own designs, she is on her way to building a sustainable future for the fashion industry. Her slogan is #SalvagedWithLove.
Erin’s mum, Sarah, was cared for at the Canterbury hospice in 2014. To give back for the support her family received, she plans to donate to Pilgrims Hospices as her brand grows and hopes to run up-cycling workshops with Pilgrims shops in the near future.
Sarah and Erin
After graduating with a first class BA in Fine Art from Solent University, Erin moved to Berlin to pursue a career as an artist but returned home when her mum was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
She said: “I was her carer for two years; during that time, creativity was so important to me because it was a way of understanding what was happening.
“My mum was the most fashionable person I know; my love for fashion came from her, she always dressed me in the coolest clothes. Putting my legs through plastic carrier-bags from our weekly shopping trips, pulling up the handles like straps, I’d made my first pair of dungarees. I wasn’t allowed to wear high heels, but I improvised by painting papier-mache tissue boxes and toilet roll tubes. I put them on with my new dungarees and strutted down my garden like a catwalk.
“During her illness, Mum would wear amazing garments every day and it would give her the ability to conquer the world. It became her armour, and it’s the same to me.”
Erin doing her Firewalk
Sarah was initially given a three-month prognosis but lived with cancer for 18 months. She didn’t feel she needed hospice support until the end of her life. Erin continued: “Mum’s mindset changed once Pilgrims was involved. I remember the hospice so strongly, there was a big community of people ready to support us. They were incredible with her. This was my first experience of hospice care and I want to raise awareness so that others know they can access it, too.”
Erin went on to complete a Fashion Design MA at UCA Rochester, achieving a distinction. She finished her five-piece collection Flowers Grow in Dustbins, made from 100% recycled materials, in 2019; these garments are available to purchase on her website. She also sells a range of more affordable pieces via Instagram @eirinnhayhow. To give back for the support her family received, Erin will donate 5% of the money made from sales to Pilgrims. Erin also took part in the charity’s sponsored Firewalk event in Canterbury on 13 March 2020.
I remember the hospice so strongly, there was a big community of people ready to support us. They were incredible with her. This was my first experience of hospice care and I want to raise awareness so that others know they can access it, too.
Erin
Erin plans to continue donating to Pilgrims as her brand grows and hopes to run up-cycling workshops with its shops in the near future, in exchange for materials that they can’t sell. Tim Stewart, Retail Business Development Manager at Pilgrims, said: “I met Erin in 2019 and she told me her story, explaining she’d been buying bits from our shops and using them as a basis for her new pieces. It was obvious to me that she was talented, and that she wanted to give something back to Pilgrims. So I offered her some materials that we hadn’t been able to sell, along with a couple of rails, and a mannequin to help her starting up. She was very grateful for the support and has offered to run design and screen-printing classes at one of our shops. We look forward to working with Erin in the future.”
Erin added: “After my mum passed away, I moved back to Berlin and began screen-printing on t-shirts and garments DIY-style. As my sewing skills improved, I used fabrics and materials that were either found on the street or donated to charity shops – from there I started to form my own collections. In 2017, I sold my first collection at Studio183 in Bikini Berlin. That summer, I moved back to Whitstable and opened a pop-up store in an old shipping container in a furniture yard in Margate. I became part of a waste-free fashion collective made up of four members; we all make garments from waste materials. We’ve had three shows at the Turner Contemporary and one at Soho House Berlin.
“The fashion industry is the world’s second biggest contributor to global warming, with 350,000 tonnes (that’s around £140 million worth) of used but still wearable clothing going to landfill in the UK every year. My brand says no to fast fashion. It is my intention to help solve our global waste crisis by creating imaginative solutions for unwanted materials.
“We need to find sustainable solutions to our waste problems. We need to re-think the fast fashion system. Fashion should be positive, it should be inclusive, it should be empowering. As designers of the future, it is our duty to be sustainable.”
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,400 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
11th August 2020
Shop with Pilgrims and support local hospice care at the same time
Good news for those of you itching to revisit your friendly local Pilgrims Hospices charity shop in Faversham. The much loved shop opened its doors to the public for the first time since lockdown on Saturday 31 July.
The shop will initially trade with reduced hours, however the charity is delighted to announce that during the first three days of trading, the income generated for hospice care reached an amazing £1700, an excellent result.
I’m very pleased to be back supporting Pilgrims and it’s great to be around fellow volunteers.
Janet Stickles, Pilgrims Volunteer
Mandy Hawkett, Pilgrims Retail Area Manager told us: “We are so pleased to be open again in Faversham, our customers told us how much they’ve missed their visits.
“The support from the team of volunteers was absolutely first class as always and it was heart-warming to see customers waiting for the shop to open its doors and receiving a truly friendly welcome from my team.
Shop Manager Robert Adams with volunteers Janet Stickles, Babs Seville Antoinette Hayward and Area Retail Manager Mandy Hawkett.
“As you might expect, a number of changes and extra measures have been put in place to protect shoppers and volunteers. We’ve received lots of positive feedback on the new layout and roomy shopping area.”
Janet Stickles, shop volunteer added: “I’m very pleased to be back supporting Pilgrims and it’s great to be around fellow volunteers; there’s great comradery and respect amongst our team here in the Faversham shop. I have been a Pilgrims supporter and shop volunteer for many years.
“I thoroughly enjoy helping customer’s to seek out a particular item from our stock. It’s great to see the smiles on faces when we are able to find just what they have been looking for!
“We know the hospices need us but we need the hospices too. It’s a wonderful way to keep in touch with customers and friends within the community. I’ve met new people, made many friends, and know my support is really making a difference to those who need Pilgrims care.”
The Faversham Shop on West Street will be open Thursday to Saturday 10:00am to 4:00 pm until further notice.
We are so pleased to be open again in Faversham, our customers told us how much they’ve missed their visits.
Mandy Hawkett – Pilgrims Retail Area Manager
The charity is reopening shops throughout east Kent in phases and when it safe to do so; you can find a list of those already trading here – shop with us.
In line with government guidelines, donations are sanitised before going on sale; anything donated will be held for a minimum of 72 hours before it’s processed for sale.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
19th February 2020
Fabulous Folkestone furniture shop opens to the public
Pilgrims Hospices has added an exciting new shop to its existing 31 stores across east Kent. The Folkestone Furniture shop opened on Friday 14 February, showcasing a huge range of new and pre-loved items including small pieces of occasional furniture, right up to and including full bedroom suites and, pretty much anything in between, as well as a full range of homewares including lighting, soft furnishings, curtains, ornaments and kitchen equipment.
The newly refurbished shop at 21, Guildhall Street, Folkestone is now a modern and bright space and, a welcome addition to the local community. It had previously been an empty unit for the past eight years, it’s now filled with something to suit all budgets and styles.
We are really excited about our new shop, and we’re pleased to have been welcomed by the local traders. We want the shop to become a key part of the local community.
Tim Stewart, Pilgrims Hospices
Tim Stewart, Pilgrims Retail Business Development Manager said: “We have a brilliant team who have been working amazingly hard to keep this project on schedule and open to the public on time.
“The shop is a wonderful space to showcase our diverse stock range, which includes some beautiful brand new lamps, cookware and so much more along with amazing retro and classic furniture.
“We are really excited about our new shop, and we’re pleased to have been welcomed by the local traders. We want the shop to become a key part of the local community. This is our largest furniture store and, we are confident that we’re offering something for everyone.”
The furniture shop joins the popular Pilgrims shop located in the main shopping precinct on Sandgate Road. The ground floor offers a wide range of goods including vintage clothing, accessories, trinkets, glass, crockery, books and vinyl records to name just a few of the treasures. The first-floor stocks a large selection of clothing, accessories and linens priced at £1, £2 and £3.
Folkestone shop manager Sarah Potts with volunteers Meg Alderson and Dotty Simms
Folkestone shop volunteer Andrea Samson
Folkestone shop volunteer Elizabeth Wyatt
The seaside town of Folkestone is most definitely worth a visit and Pilgrims shops will be topped up with eye-catching items to tempt you, whether an impulse buy or a more considered purchase. The friendly Pilgrims teams will be happy to help you.
The shops are run by a manager and supported by a small team of volunteers, but more volunteers are always very welcome.
If you would like to volunteer in one of the Folkestone shops or find out more about other volunteering opportunities with Pilgrims, click here.
Pilgrims shops generate many thousands of pounds of income for the charity that provides end-of-life care for the people of east Kent. More that 2,400 people are cared for each year, either in their own homes, within the hospices in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet or as part of Pilgrims Wellbeing Programme.The people who generously donate or purchase in our stores are truly making a difference for those who need Pilgrims help the most.
As the festive season approaches, Santa Claus’s time is precious. When Pilgrims Hospices made a request for Santa to welcome everyone to their Pre-Loved Christmas Fair, he politely declined and suggested some fine alternatives.
Dave Hall and Trudy Dotchin from Herne Bay will be standing in for the real Santa as Mr & Mrs Claus at Pilgrims Hospices Pre-Loved Christmas Fair on Saturday 23 November, being held at Westgate Hall, Canterbury.
Trudy with some of the fabulous volunteer team from Pilgrims Hospices Herne Bay shop
Dave and Trudy have both retired from roles as teaching assistants in London and live in Herne Bay. Trudy is a regular volunteer at Pilgrims Herne Bay shop and her partner Dave, has been a Santa at school fairs and local events for more than 10 years.
They both have busy lives but love volunteering and being an active part of the local community. Trudy said; “I’ve been a Pilgrims volunteer for around 8 months, I really enjoy being part of the team. I often visited the shop to browse for a bargain, but now the grandchildren are at school, I have more time to offer my help.
I wasn’t bargaining on being nominated to be Mrs. Claus!
Trudy, Pilgrims Hospices Volunteer
“The hospices are such an important and worthwhile part of our community, I’ve had friends who’ve needed their care in the past and I’m very pleased to be able to offer my time to help in the shop now.
“When Charlotte Brown, Pilgrims Area Manager asked if anyone might like to be Santa for the Pre-Loved Christmas Fair, I suggested Dave straight away, however… I wasn’t bargaining on being nominated to be Mrs. Claus! “
Charlotte said: “I’m delighted that Dave and Trudy are helping on the day: the retail Christmas Fair was a brilliant success last year and raised over £3,000 for local hospice care.
“We are busy gathering all things Christmassy for our event and we hope to have even more to offer our customers this year.”
Come along between 10am – 3pm for gifts, trinkets, new toys and games, fancy-dress clothing, festive glamour, brand new with tags, jewellery, and more.
Get into the Christmas spirit and join the Pilgrims retail team on Saturday 23November 10am – 3pm, Westgate Hall, Canterbury CT1 2BT. Email [email protected] for more information.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress. Every penny raised at the festive fair will be making a difference to people who need Pilgrims care the most.
