Clive’s Volunteering Story
03 July 2025
At Sobell House, our volunteers are the backbone of our work. They give their time, energy, and skills to help us raise vital funds, deliver high-quality care, and support families during the most difficult times of their lives. Whether it’s working in our shops, supporting our hospice teams, or lending a hand in the office, volunteers play an essential role across the charity.
Collectively, our volunteers contribute over 31,000 hours each year, saving the charity around £329,000 in staffing costs. This allows those funds to go directly into patient care and support for families.
Among these dedicated volunteers is Clive, who has been an invaluable part of our Kidlington charity shop team for over eight years. With a background in electrical safety, Clive has been putting his skills to good use, helping to make sure every electrical item we sell is safe, functional, and ready for a new home. Here’s what he had to say about his experience…
Why did you start volunteering?
“My Mum died in Sobell House around 20 years ago. I was so grateful for the care that she received that I promised to myself that, when I retired, I would volunteer. I retired from the University of Oxford over eight years ago and have been volunteering at the Kidlington charity shop ever since.”
What do you do in your role?
“I’m happy that I can put my electrical safety skills to good use by testing the electrical items before they are sold. It’s important to us that we sell high-quality items in-store and have happy customers.”
How can people check if their electricals are sellable?
“If in doubt, just check there’s a CE label and it’s in good, clean working order. I am always happy to receive electrical items that can be rehomed!”
Thank you, Clive, for making a difference!
If you’ve been thinking about volunteering, there’s never been a better time to get started. Whether you want to gain more experience, use your expertise in a specialist role, or simply make new friends while lending a hand – you’ll be warmly welcomed into the Sobell House team.
