Back to the floor for volunteer Twickenham MP Vince Cable (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Back to the floor for volunteer Twickenham MP Vince Cable

11:30am Sunday 22nd January 2012 in News By Christine Fleming

The Business Secretary brought smiles to the faces of Teddington shoppers last week, when he rolled up his sleeves for charity.

Shooting Star Chase’s popular charity shop in Broad Street welcomed the Twickenham MP for the day on Friday, January 13.

He was there to promote the children’s charity’s current volunteering drive, and said: “For a charity like this it does need a lot of help, [as it takes] several million a year just to keep it going because they don’t get state funding.

“They are helped partly from getting financial donations but also when people give their time – some people can give money and some can give time.

“I’ve got this week and next week to do some volunteering and I am just trying to encourage volunteers.”

Dr Cable first became involved with Shooting Star Chase Children’s hospice more than four years ago and has been a keen patron ever since.

When shoppers arrived they saw the MP manning the till, steam ironing clothes and even helping stack shelves.

Customer Ian Smith, 46, of Munster Road, said: “I’m a huge supporter of charity shops in the area, and it is great, just brilliant, to see the local MP supporting them.

“Vince volunteering shows real grass roots support and there is no big media deal about it.”

Karen Sugarman, director of specialist fundraising at Shooting Star Chase, said it was a real boost to have a supportive patron such as Dr Cable backing their charity.

She said: “It’s fantastic really as it is just about making awareness of the need for volunteering.

“If you are 16 or over you can volunteer and it forms lovely friendships. Perhaps people volunteer for different reasons say their life’s got a lot quieter or they don’t get out much but it gets them meeting people and is great for confidence.

“People also know they are helping families who need volunteer support both in the hospice and the charity shops in the high street.”

To become a Shooting Star Chase volunteer contact the volunteer office on 01483 230960 or email volunteers@shootingstarchase.co.uk.