Volunteers’ Week 2025: Meet Susan
To celebrate Volunteers’ Week, we’re spotlighting some of the amazing people who give their time and talents to support St Ann’s Hospice. One of them is Susan Conlon, a long-time volunteer who now works in our Edgeley shop.
Susan Conlon has been volunteering at St Ann’s Hospice’s Edgeley shop for the past three years, bringing warmth, dedication, and plenty of colour coordination to the shop every Wednesday.
Before joining the shop team, Susan first volunteered at the hospice itself, fitting in shifts on the drinks trolley for inpatients every other Saturday morning around her job as a receptionist.
She says: “I loved it at the hospice, it was really nice. I didn’t have a personal connection to the hospice, but it was near where I worked and something I’d always wanted to do after looking after my parents – I started after Mum died.”
After the pandemic paused volunteering on the hospice wards, she was eager to return and found her new place at the Edgeley shop.
At the shop Susan takes on a variety of duties, from working the till to steaming clothes and rotating stock. It’s the people that make the experience worthwhile for her. She says: “I enjoy meeting people. It was like that at the hospice too. Some just want a chat, and that’s lovely. It keeps my brain active too. I’d recommend volunteering to anyone – it’s quite rewarding.
For me, because I worked at the hospice before the shop, I saw first-hand how important it was to raise the money for the hospice. The nurses were lovely and treated the patients with such respect. Susan Conlon, Shop Volunteer
Volunteering has brought Susan friendship, fun, and a sense of purpose. “We’ve done a couple of fashion shows and late-night openings at the Edgeley shop. All the volunteers were the models – it was great fun!”
She says the Edgeley volunteers are proud of the shop and the team behind it.
It’s a great shop. We keep it very colour coordinated and some people don’t even realise it’s a charity shop when they walk in. It has a big children’s section which is great. Zoe, the shop manager, is always open to listening to people’s ideas. It’s an open and supportive environment. Susan Conlon, Shop Volunteer
For Susan, volunteering is about giving back and enjoying life in retirement. “It’s a good way of meeting people and a worthwhile cause. I’d definitely recommend it.”
We’re grateful to Susan and all our volunteers for the difference they make every day.
Volunteers’ Week runs from Monday, June 2 to Sunday, June 8.
Could you volunteer at St Ann’s?
You’ll be challenged, inspired, and empowered to help us achieve our purpose and to play your part in making a difference. We’re currently looking for volunteers in our shops, as well as in our hospice cafés, fundraising, offices and more, including skilled roles.
Find out more