'I belong here': the people driving a Maidenhead charity shop's heartbeat

From treasure troves on the shop floor to tired furniture reborn in the workshop, Thames Hospice’s Maidenhead Homestore is always alive with activity.

The Advertiser has delved into how staff, volunteers and donors help turn second-hand bargains into vital care for families across the Thames Valley.

‘Places like this are wonderful,’ said Ginny Williams, who has just stepped off the tills after a busy shift at Thames Hospice’s Maidenhead Homestore.

Even on a Tuesday afternoon, the shop is a hive of activity as deliveries, donations and eagle-eyed shoppers – on the hunt for a bargain – flow through its doors.

As one piece of furniture is sold, another is brought out onto the shopfloor – even more are being restored in an upcycling workshop behind the scenes.

‘The fact that you’re doing good’

Thames Hospice 'is a fantastic place', says volunteer Ginny Williams

For Ginny, from Maidenhead, who has worked at the store since it opened in late 2024, the last 14 years at Thames Hospice is part of a larger chapter of volunteer work.

She says: “I've done volunteering for about 30 years of my life, mainly with animals – that's my thing.

“If there was an animal shop like this, I'd be in it. But places like this are wonderful.”

For a day a week, Ginny spends time volunteering behind the tills and helping price up the Boyn Valley Road Homestore’s treasure trove of items.

It is an important job, as each sale matters.

The Homestore plays a big role in raising the near £6million that Thames Hospice’s charity shops generate every year.

Each penny helps the hospice continue to deliver vital end-of-life care to thousands of people across the Thames Valley annually.

Ginny said: “I just like to be a part of something. You know, a part of a team. I kind of belong to this organisation.

“That's what I like about it. And the fact that you're doing good.

“The hospice is a fantastic place.”

‘Win-win for the hospice and the environment’

Upcycling artists Zahida Hashmi, Emma Dale and Erica Haynes

The team of volunteers and staff at the Homestore, work together on layouts and displays to make sure items catch the eye and sell.

Creativity continues in the Homestore’s restoration workshop, where tired bookshelves, tables and wardrobes are given a new lease of life.

For upcycling maestro Emma Dale, from Windsor, the home studio manager, a day’s work often means returning home speckled in brightly coloured paint.

“I just love it here,” she said.

“Seeing something that's potentially on its way to landfill, actually having a new lease of life and at the same time making money for the hospice.

“So it's like a win-win, isn't it?”

The upcycling team also offers commissions to customers who might have a more specific idea in mind.

Previous requests include furniture decorated in glitter paint and pineapple wallpaper.

‘A massive part of the community’

Steve Linnett's work behind the scenes helps more than just the Maidenhead store.

 Keeping the stock ticking over for the Homestore, as well as Thames Hospice’s more than 20 other charity shops, is distribution manager Steve Linnett.

Away from the shopfloor, the distribution centre is ‘the lungs’ of the organisation, he said.

There are around 15 deliveries and collections to and from the centre each day, with each sorted from the carefully ordered mountain of stock.

And that is on top of the continuous flow of charity donations.

“We get maybe 60 to 100 donations a day,” Steve said.

“They queue up before the gates are open - which is good because it shows that we're a massive part of the community.”

That community role continues when, each week, a small group of young offenders join the distribution team.

“It's really good because you see them grow,” Steve said. “Especially the younger ones where they've obviously been led down a bad path.

“You can guide them, and it's really good to see them grow because everyone needs a second chance, to be fair.”

‘Lucky to have a great team’

Mary Cadle said the Homestore team was 'exceptional'

Tasked with bringing all the moving parts together on the shop floor, seven days a week, is store manager Mary Cadle.

Mary worked for years at wedding outfitters No. 25 on The Parade in Bourne End, before making the switch to Thames Hospice initially as a retail assistant.

She said: “I'm not exaggerating when I say things are selling as fast as they’re coming in the door – sometimes before we've even got them into a room set.”

The job is hands-on: putting together dismantled furniture and shifting pieces together to create designs for rooms.

Without the store’s ‘passionate’ staff and volunteers, Mary said, none of it would be possible.

“I'm very lucky that I have a great team,” she said.

“They all work exceptionally hard - they’re all very passionate about it.”