Back Doing My Bit For The Community!

With lockdown at an end in England, I was back doing my bit for the community this Monday, volunteering at Cancer Research in Portsmouth. I am always happy to be working with people who share the same ideals and objectives as me. Everyone who works at the shop in Commercial Road were equally pleased to be making money for the valuable research that has suffered so much during this pandemic.

All charities, up and down the country have taken such a huge drop in income over the last nine months, that it is important they get back to a semblance of normality, especially during this lucrative Christmas season. Understandably many volunteers like me are reluctant to put ourselves at risk, working in such a people centric sector of the economy. When one looks back over the duration of the pandemic, one can see just how badly retail has suffered. High street shop closures, including the Arcadia Group, Debenhams and Bon Marche, highlight the extent of the loss, all of us can see, as we walk through our local shopping arcades and precincts. This is a terrible time for everyone, trying to make ends meet, volatility and uncertainty are the buzz words of the day and it is important all retailers get back to selling.

Monday at the shop was busy, busier than usual, which was great to see. People were out in force Christmas shopping after the four-week lockdown and luckily for Cancer Research, we were able to make some money and break some targets. Like all shops we are fighting for business in a very competitive market, so going that extra mile, working that much harder is important; hopefully we can end the year on a high.

It's great to be back, at least, for as long as it lasts!