A SOUTH Gloucestershire charity hospice is celebrating the work of its volunteers as part of National Volunteers Week.

St Peter’s Hospice, which benefits from vital volunteer support across its shops, fundraising department and at the hospice itself, is highlighting the support given by volunteers to help provide care for people with life-limiting illnesses this week.

Jenni Travers, head of volunteers at St Peter’s Hospice, said: “Our volunteers are invaluable to us and we are delighted to take this opportunity to celebrate the outstanding work they do.

“Volunteers take on a host of roles within the charity from shop assistants across our many retail outlets to hairdressers and drivers at the hospice. Then there are those who give up their time to simply sit and have a cup of tea with our patients, a job which means so much to those who need it.

“From offering their valuable time to giving us the benefit of their specialist skills the volunteers are invaluable and help make St Peter’s Hospice such a wonderful community charity.

“We rely heavily on funds raised by the public and on help given by the local community. Without these volunteers we wouldn’t be able to continue running the 47 charity shops across the city which contribute so much to funding care for life-limited patients both at home and at the hospice.

“Volunteers really are the unsung heroes of the hospice and we’re pleased to be able to thank them this week.”

St Peter’s Hospice cares for more than 2,670 patients each year as well as supporting family members, and all services are provided free of charge.

The hospice care costs around £18,000 a day and for around £14,000 of that, the hospice relies on gifts in wills, kind donations and funds generated by the hospice shops.

For more information on how to support St Peter’s Hospice visit www.stpetershospice.org.