Letchworth Nub News aims to support our community, promoting shops, businesses, charities, clubs and sports groups in and around our town and surrounding areas.

We will showcase some of these businesses, organisations and individuals regularly in a feature called 'Up Close'.

So, read on to learn more about the brilliant work the Garden House Hospice is doing - boosted by kind hearted volunteers from Raymond James Financial Services.

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LETCHWORTH: A much-loved charity in our area has hailed the community spirit of a North Herts based company after employees spent a day volunteering in aid of a good cause.

Garden House Hospice has praised the volunteer work of staff at Raymond James Investments for their kind-hearted nature in helping out at the charity's distribution depot in Letchworth.

The hospice provides free, compassionate end of life care and support to patients and their families in the communities across North Herts and beyond.

Lockdown has hit charities hard up and down the land, including our area, which is why it is so vital that our community continues to donate to the Garden House, in terms of fundraising as well as with items that can be sold in their charity shops.

Unsung heroes

Which is where the unsung heroes at Hospice's distribution centre come in.

Speaking to Nub News, distribution centre team leader Adam Mitchell said: "This base is the epicentre of our shops, we provide them with stock and we provide them as a base for recycling. We're in the middle of operations, really."

The distribution depot deals with a huge amount of stock on a daily basis. During Nub News' visit the centre was a hive of activity and industry - all in aid of the Hospice.

Hard-working Letchworth resident, Adam, who has been serving the Hospice for six and a half years, added: "On average we receive the equivalent of around 15 'cages' of stock a day that has been donated by our community.

"We receive clothes to toys - with anything and everything in between."

When asked what the strangest donation the centre has received Adam replied immediately: "We once had a real taxidermy tortoise donated.

"We really appreciate all donations but I must admit we didn't know what to do with it...we do get all sort of items."

Much-loved Hospice

The centre is vital for many reasons Adam says. It provides income for the Hospice, which after the challenges that lockdown has brought us all, including charities, is no mean feat.

"Having this warehouse during lockdown was a godsend," Adam explains, "It gave us a chance to restart taking donations. In fact we were the first charity to start taking donations in our area.

"It gave us a good chance to get ready ahead of re-opening once again. And as soon as we re-opened we were ready to go - which gave a boost to the Hospice."

Modest Adam says it is empowering to work for such a great cause.

The feedback has also been great from volunteers, he adds.

"It's good to have volunteers help out at the centre, such as the guys from Raymond James. They have been great today, getting stuck in with work.

"It also helps raise funds and awareness of what we are trying to achieve at the Hospice, and why we're doing it.

"We're delighted that their team has shown such community spirt by coming down to volunteer."

Raymond James volunteering at Garden House Hospice

As part of Raymond James Hitchin branch 20th anniversary year, the team wanted to 'give back' to our community in and around North Herts.

The team is led by award-winning branch principals Faye Silver and Susie Bewell, with Faye telling Nub News: "We closed the office today and volunteered the team to help with an organisation that we've supported in the past.

"Over the years we've raised quite a lot of money for Garden House Hospice and supported them in various events.

"We've got six of our employees having a great time here at the distribution centre."

Raymond James staff that willingly volunteered their time at the distribution centre included Faye and Susie as well as Nick Chan, Hannah Heaton, Gemma Slater and Karen Tyrell.

"Everyone here has been very friendly," added Faye, taking time to praise the Hospice, saying: "The work that the volunteers do here is incredible. We know that Garden House has been badly hit by the pandemic and we're happy to lend a hand helping."

Big-hearted Faye also issued a rallying cry for other businesses around North Herts to volunteer. She said: "We would also urge other companies in our area to get involved with the Garden House Hospice in any way they can.

"The Hospice is very important to our community and Raymond James is always happy to help."

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