Hospice needs furniture donations

ST Joseph's Hospice is appealing to the local community to donate furniture, electrical items and white goods for its charity shops.

The Hospice operates 10 charity shops across Merseyside, 3 of which, in Kensington, Warbreck and County Road, sell furniture, household goods and electrical items.

The Hospice offers a free collection service and will pick up any goods that it is able to sell in its shops.

St. Joseph's Hospice raises over ₤100k each year from its charity shops and it all goes directly to the Hospice, providing Hospice care and services to families from across the local community

If you'd like to arrange a house clearance or furniture collection, please call us on:- 0151 525 3072.

Jo Rigby-Clare, retail manager for St., Joseph's Hospice, said:- "Stocks are currently low in our furniture shops and so we need your help. We need tables, cupboards, lamps, shelves, mattresses, sofas and chairs, plus electric items and white goods that are in full working order. Our van drivers will even come and collect it absolutely free if we can sell it. They will even come and do a whole house clearance and remove anything that is good enough to sell. Please remember we can only collect items that we can sell so they must be in a good, clean condition and in full working order. Also, all soft furnishings, such as sofas, mattresses or upholstered items, must have a fire label sewn which meets the British Standards Specification for Fire Safety."

Are we living to work, or working to live?

THE average UK worker will spend around 85,000 hours at work during their lifetime, or just under 10 years!  Globally this number is only on the rise, so it's no surprise that having a healthy work life balance is becoming essential to employed people and their employers, perhaps even more so for those with children at home.

As part of 'National Work Life', that will runs over 7 October to 11 October 2019, a campaign run by Working Families will take place exploring the importance of maintaining a healthy balance for working parents and carers and gives both employers and employees the chance to shine a light on wellbeing and the work life mix in the workplace.

It also follows the release of a major survey, named:- 'The Better Life Index,' from the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), which named The Netherlands as the country with the best work life balance. The UK was 11th from last of the 35 states in the list, with determining factors including leisure and personal time, the employment of mothers, household income and wealth, and working hours.

At work benefits are central to a healthy balance, from flexible working, through to supportive financial benefits or ongoing education. For many, being able to continue to better themselves is key to maintaining a healthy sense of wellbeing, yet finding time to study can be hard.

Aneta Barham, a 30 year old from Norfolk, has 3 children, including a 1 year old. Since living in the UK, she has been able to continue her education via distance learning, something that has contributed to her sense of wellbeing and happiness.

She said:- "As a working mum with a busy working husband I didn't think I had time to do anything other than fulfil those key responsibilities. Studying was something I wanted to continue to do, so I can support myself in my role as a carer for those with disabilities and mental illnesses and also providing palliative care, but also work towards my ultimate dream of becoming a translator of Polish and Spanish."

To ensure she can continue down this route, Aneta has studied with distance learning provider Open Study College and has ensured her dream has stayed alive.

She added:- "I knew I wanted to study, despite lacking free time. Distance learning is so flexible, there is no pressure and I can study whenever I want to."

Since arriving in the UK Aneta has undertaken a number of courses to support her professional career, including Introduction to Psychology Level 2 with Open Study College.

Other comments from students included this one from a working mum of 1:- "I'm so glad distance learning was an option for me as it has allowed me to strike a good work life balance between working, studying, doing the school run and spending quality time with my family."

Sam Rutter, CEO at Open Study College, added:- "Flexibility is often a key reason behind our students opting for the distance learning route. In fact, 75% of our students said that they chose distance learning as it allows them to fit studying around their schedule, including work and family commitments. A further 20% directly referenced children as a motivating factor as well, which demonstrates the importance of flexibility for people trying to create a healthy balance between work, home life and themselves."

To find out more visit:- OpenStudyCollege.com.  

What what do you, our readers  think about this?  Do we work to live or live to work?  We would love to hear your thoughts on this classic question... Email our views to:- News24@SouthportReporter.com and let us know...