A KIDDERMINSTER hospice is on the hunt for Wyre Forest residents to take on the challenge of becoming a community champion for the charity.

Kemp Hospice wants people to become ambassadors for them, working with other volunteers in the community to arrange fundraising activities and promote their work.

Community fundraiser Elisabeth Smith said: “I started out as a volunteer because I saw what a great impact Kemp has on the people who need bereavement support or the incredible clinical care they provide for people with life-limiting illnesses, and I wanted to help raise money so that work could continue.

“Now I want to find and support people, especially in the Bewdley, Stourport and outskirts of Kidderminster areas that can help Kemp carry on their amazing work.

“They celebrate their 50th anniversary next year, and this year marks the fifth anniversary of their children’s bereavement service called ‘Kemp for Kids’ as well.

“It costs over £1,000,000 a year to provide a full range of care services and I hope to find people in the community that can help me fundraise for Kemp.”

She added: “A community champion would be somebody that has a real ‘get up and go’ attitude, someone that has a ‘can do’ mentality and be able to bring people together to create a fundraising volunteer group whilst being supported by Kemp.

“These groups could create quiz nights or organise coffee mornings and car boot sales or they could go out collecting money together with collection boxes at local supermarkets.

“How they would like to work as a group is entirely up to them, I just need to find people, our champions that can set the ball rolling.

“Kemp Hospice is such a fun place to be, despite the difficulties many people who need us face.

“People wrongly assume that a hospice is a sombre, depressing place but in our Day Hospice there isn’t a day that goes by where people aren’t smiling and laughing.

“It would be great for communities to come together, to do something positive, to work together and have fun at the same time and maybe make new friends.

“I want our community champions to be people who can see the great work being done here and can spread that message throughout the Wyre Forest.”

Community champions need to be able to volunteer for approximately four to five hours every fortnight and organise people to join a volunteer hotel.

Anyone wishing to be a community champion can contact Elisabeth on 01562 756066 or emailing fundraising@kemphospice.org.uk.