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“I can’t thank everyone enough for their support”

28 January 2025

VOLUNTEER and House Clearance team member Stuart Bruton has thanked Birmingham Hospice for playing a key role in helping him rebuilding his life.

In May 2023, Stuart was jobless and living on his own in Birmingham without any family for the first time.

His was still coming to terms with the loss of a close relative when a planned move to the Republic of Ireland fell through and he returned to Birmingham looking for renewed purpose.

Fate intervened when he enquired at our Northfield shop for a volunteering position. After a brief trial, he was soon supporting customers on the shop front and in the stock room daily.

Stuart Bruton (middle) with House Clearance colleagues James Hogan (right) and Tyrese Brown (left).

He said: “I was very vulnerable and unsettled. I didn’t know what was going on and having all sorts of emotions, my head was a bit of a mess.

“I didn’t have any other family in Birmingham, and it was the first time in my life that I had found myself on my own. I was trying to deal with it emotionally and mentally – I was quite lost.”

Stuart started volunteering at other local hospice shops and was then asked to join the House Clearance team, where his hard work saw him become a bank paid member of staff.

Since then, he’s not looked back and is keen to help the hospice anyway he can. Importantly, he discovered the hospice’s caring attitude to our employees and volunteers was having a positive impact.

Stuart said: “I have never worked for an organisation where everyone is so happy and smiling. There’s genuine love from everyone to make sure I am alright and look out for me because I am still going through personal stuff.

“But it’s good to know that I have genuine people I am working with who will check in on me and make sure I am okay.”

The hospice also helped him cope with Christmas Day, which can be a difficult time for those on their own, by asking him to support the catering team at the hospice. He was also given a Christmas dinner and a present in recognition of his efforts.

Now, Stuart’s feeling in a much better place compared to two years ago – thanks to Birmingham Hospice.

He added: “I am feeling more positive than I ever have been and in a happier place than two years. The hospice has been great to me, I can’t thank everyone enough for their support.”

If you want to learn more about how to support Birmingham Hospice find out more about our volunteering opportunities in our Retail team.

“I have never worked for an organisation where everyone is so happy and smiling. There’s genuine love from everyone to make sure I am alright and look out for me because I am still going through personal stuff.

Stuart Bruton