Charity card shop asks Cranleigh volunteers for gift of time this Christmas

Cards for Good Causes sells cards for around 300 charities via a national network of pop-up shops - including Cranleigh. Volunteers are vital to help them run smoothly and ensure that the charities gain as much benefit as possible from sales.

Chief Executive of Cards for Good Causes, Christine Holland says: “Christmas cards are an important source of funding for charities but increases in stamp prices and general uncertainty about the economy have both impacted on sales. Our volunteers are key to ensuring a maximum return through our shops and, put quite simply, we could not do what we do without them.”

“Many return year after year which we think speaks volumes for the sense of satisfaction they get from being part of our team but we always need more.”

Training is provided with volunteers usually working in pairs for either a morning or afternoon session. The pop-up shops are each coordinated by a manager and open in a variety of premises, including churches, museums, tourist information centres, libraries, community centres and within other retail organisations. They usually open in the six to eight weeks before Christmas.

In the past five years, charities have received more than £20 million from Cards for Good Causes - representing at least 70p in every pound out of which charities had to pay for the production and distribution of their Christmas cards and any VAT.

To find out more about volunteering please visit www.cardsforcharity.co.uk/join-us.