Helping hands needed at charity shop

The UK’s leading vet charity, PDSA, is calling on kind hearted people who want to make a difference in the local community to support its life-saving work by offering a helping hand at its Plympton.

The shop, located at 78 Ridgeway, helps to fund vital veterinary work across PDSA’s 48 Pet Hospitals – including Plymouth Pet Hospital – which cares for thousands of pets every year.

Shop Manager Susan Philp is urgently appealing for locals to volunteer some time at the store. She said: “The success of PDSA charity shops is all down to our amazing team of volunteers.

“We urgently need help from more local people to continue the life-changing work we do every day in our Pet Hospitals.‚

One of more than 100 PDSA shops in the UK, the Plympton team plays a pivotal role in helping to fund the Plymouth Pet

Hospital, which provides a lifeline to local pet owners who would otherwise struggle to afford veterinary treatment if their pet unexpectedly becomes ill or gets injured.

In 2022, the Plymouth Pet Hospital carried out over 16,000 consultations, 10,000 of which were face-to-face. The hospital costs more than £1.4 million a year to run.

“Volunteering for PDSA is not only rewarding, knowing you’ll be helping a brilliant cause, but it is also fun - you’ll get to meet new people and make some friends along the way in a warm and supportive environment,” added Susan.

“It also looks great on your CV and you’ll receive full training so no previous retail experience is required and we’ll reimburse your travel expenses so you’re not out of pocket.

“If you are an animal-lover who is aged 18 or over and would like to play a part in helping pets in need, we’d love to hear from you!”

There is a network of more than 3,000 devoted PDSA volunteers across the UK who save the charity over £4 million a year by dedicating their time to helping out. Volunteers can choose to spend as much or as little of their spare time to helping out as there is no minimum time commitment.

To find out more please contact Susan on 01752 283932 or pop into the shop. To apply online, please visit the Volunteering with PDSA page.