THE work of volunteers in the community will be celebrated at the launch of a new annual event this weekend.
St Michael's Hospice has instituted a Long Service Awards scheme to publicly acknowledge the many people who give up time to work for the Herefordshire hospice in a voluntary capacity.
More than 300 volunteers will be present on Saturday at Hereford's Royal National College for the Blind to receive a badge and certificate in acknowledgement of their five, 10 or 15 years' service to St Michael's.
BBC journalist Michael Buerk, who started his career on the Bromsgrove Messenger, will present the awards and give his view on voluntary work.
Funded
The scheme, which is funded by contributions from local businesses, will be an annual event aimed at celebrating the work of the people who work in the hospice's charity shops, who raise funds and who work at the hospice itself.
"We should never forget that, if it weren't for a band of determined and enthusiastic volunteers, St Michael's Hospice wouldn't exist," said the hospice's chief executive Walter Brooks.
"It was volunteers who saw the need for a hospice in Herefordshire, raised the money for it and got it built.
"And that commitment continues. At any one time, we've more than 400 people regularly giving time to help our paid staff to make St Michael's Hospice the special place it is,"
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