Ready, steady, wrap!

Five colleagues from the Marks and Spencer franchise team got into the Christmas spirit on Tuesday 21 November and spent the morning wrapping over 100 presents. The beautifully wrapped gifts, complete with ribbons, bows and tags from Father Christmas, will fill Santa’s grotto at the St John’s Hospice Christmas fayre on Sunday 3 December.

Over the course of just a couple of hours, the M&S team worked non-stop parcelling up a whole assortment of donated toys and books, accompanied by cheesy Christmas tunes. From easy-to-wrap sticker sets and board games, to trickier umbrellas and teddy bears, the group did a fantastic job. Particular mention should be made to Andy Crowe who was awarded a St John’s Hospice bear for his perfectly wrapped presents.

During the course of the morning the group had the opportunity to have a tour of the 19-bed Hospice and learn about the vital services that events like the Christmas fayre help to fund. The Hospice provides care to more than 3000 terminally-ill patients and their families, living in and around Central and North-West London every year.

“Volunteering for St John’s Hospice was a really great opportunity to volunteer and help towards doing something for the community and a charity while having fun. It was great to learn about the hospice and to get some background about how it helps and supports so many families.”

M&S colleagues will be returning to St John’s Hospice in 2018 to help train the ward volunteers in using iPhones, iPads, laptops and Skype. Ward volunteers will then be able to support patients to speak with relatives and friends who are unable to visit. If you would like to find out more about this opportunity, or other ways your IT skills can make a difference in the community, please contact Emily.