THE need for volunteers to help develop our services has continued to grow over the past year. The constant flow of new volunteers joining our ranks has allowed us to expand the day care, complementary therapy and bereavement support services.

During the year, about 100 new
volunteers have attended our induction courses and are now working in many areas, including shops and fundraising. Sadly, we have had to say farewell to a number of long-standing volunteers, but we still we have 175 working at Winsley, about 500 working in our 18 shops and about 30 in fund raising. Without these committed, skilled people, we could not provide our present level of service.

In the latter part of 2003, a review of voluntary services across all sections of Dorothy House Hospice Care was carried out, with the aim of assessing current provision and predicting future needs for voluntary services within the hospice and the community, and improving the service as necessary. An action plan was agreed early in 2004 and good progress is being made in several priority areas, initially looking at:

• the role and workload of voluntary services co-ordinators;
• recruitment, selection and placing of
  volunteers;
• core standards for training and development of volunteers;
• training and development needs of managers and staff working with volunteers;
• a framework for assessing new volunteering opportunities.

One of our part-time voluntary services co-ordinators retired at the end of March 2004, presenting an opportunity to fulfil the first of these priorities. It was decided to fill the vacant post and appoint a part-time administrative assistant - both have been achieved, and the service continues to grow.

Olly Barkley of Bath Rugby opened the new shop in Argyle Street, Bath
Photo: The Bath Chronicle

FOR the past three years we have been reporting significant increases in shop income. This year is no exception, with a 26 per cent increase resulting in a profit of £408,000.

Shops that have benefited from refits all see a corresponding upturn in sales. All the shops performed well, with the newly refitted Keynsham shop showing an upturn in sales of 45 per cent.

Two new shops were opened in the year. The Corsham shop in the Martingate Centre is trading very well and continues to receive appreciative comments from customers. Olly Barkley, of Bath Rugby, opened the new shop in Argyle Street, Bath. The shop has provided an outlet on the eastern side of the city centre. Easy access, a pleasant shopping environment and good-quality merchandise have all helped to make it our fourth biggest shop in terms of sales.

To ensure that Dorothy House makes the most money from donated goods, the decision was taken to close the shop in Radstock - trading figures were low and it was no longer economically viable. It closed in early May 2004 and it is hoped that supporters will now visit the Midsomer Norton shop, just two miles away.

The increase in sales needs an increase in donations and volunteers to help. To encourage more donations we have started a charity bag drop and collection service. The response has been very positive and is providing additional profit.

FUNDRAISING is beginning to suffer the effects of sustained campaigning for major capital appeals among other charities in the area. This has had an adverse effect on our income and we do not anticipate an improvement in the near future.

However, legacy income this year has continued to increase, accounting for about half the money raised.
In-house events continue to attract more participants. The Stock Market Challenge, sponsored by Belgrave Asset Management, saw 12 corporate teams raise more than £12,000 from an evening's trading. And more than 130 women enjoyed the thrill of driving a variety of challenging vehicles - and raised over £10,000 - in the Girls on Top event.

The Bath Half Marathon saw a drop in income from more than £45,000 last year to about £26,000 this year. The increased sponsorship required for each entrant put many people off entering, so we are
particularly grateful to the 77 who ran for us. In contrast, we fielded 12 runners in the London Marathon, bringing in more than £12,000.

Valentine's Day saw the first Bang &
Olufsen Ball in aid of Dorothy House. Part of the benefit of being chosen as Longleat's charity of the year was access to various splendid rooms in Longleat House normally closed to the public, and the ball was enjoyed by 120 revellers.
Appeals mailed out to supporters, and our Tree of Light appeal brought in excess of £40,000.

A market research questionnaire, to look at different ways of encouraging donations, met with a very good response. The results will be seen in 2004/05.

With income becoming more difficult to increase year on year, we remain totally dependent on the generosity of our supporters to raise the funds required to run the hospice on a daily basis.