"Upcycling means taking furniture that would go to landfill, which is extremely important for the environment."

The Upcycling department at Garden House Hospice Care is a fantastic place to volunteer, offering a creative and rewarding way to give back. This initiative transforms damaged or outdated furniture into high-quality, unique pieces through sanding, painting, decoupage, and reupholstering. Volunteers of all skill levels contribute, learning new techniques while making a real impact. Depot Manager Natalie Read share below how crucial volunteers are to the department, bringing diverse skills and enthusiasm to every project. More than just an eco-friendly effort, upcycling helps fund vital hospice care while reducing waste. With a dedicated shop at The Depot in Letchworth and a strong sense of teamwork, it’s a welcoming and fulfilling environment for anyone passionate about sustainability, craftsmanship, and community.

Can you tell us about the Upcycling department at Garden House Hospice Care and what kind of work you do there?

The Upcycling Team take furniture donations which can’t be sold in shops as they are damaged or unfashionable and we sand, paint, decoupage and reupholster those items to make them beautiful. We also make bags and cushions from donated fabric. I have a team of 30 volunteers who all bring different skills - we have grown over the last four years from a team of three, starting off with a few pieces to compliment stock in our Hitchin shop, to now having our own upcycling shop at The Depot in Letchworth.

Why is upcycling important for the Hospice and how does it contribute to the overall mission of Garden House Hospice Care?

Upcycling means taking furniture donations that would otherwise go to landfill, which is extremely important for the environment. It also means that we create a unique, high-quality product for customers in our community, raising vital funds so the Hospice can continue to care for patients, their families and carers.

Volunteers play a big role in charity work. How important are they to the Upcycling department and what kind of tasks do they help with?

Our volunteers are important across all departments; in Upcycling specifically, we look for specialised skills like upholstery or painting. However, we do love volunteers who are flexible; many are happy to be sanding down a table one day, then helping curate homeware to compliment furniture in The Depot Shop the next! Our shop is open six days a week now, so our Upcycling volunteers are very busy making beautiful furniture during the week and then assisting customers on a Saturday.

What skills or qualities make a great volunteer in the Upcycling department and do people need any previous experience to get involved?

It does help if Upcycling volunteers have some experience in painting, sewing or fixing as it is quite a fast-paced environment, and we pride ourselves on our high-quality products. However, we also run workshops for people to learn new skills too. The greatest skills are those shared by all the volunteers across Trading including in the shop, online, sorting and van volunteers: an enthusiasm for the charity and an eye for a good quality donation.

Can you share any memorable success stories of volunteers making a difference or a particularly special item that was upcycled?

Wow, so many items spring to mind! I particularly like it when the team’s complimentary skills come together. We have had customers who want to furnish their whole houses in upcycled furniture, which is a great team effort, as we have to look out for suitable sizes and styles and then custom paint them. We had one client who wanted bedroom furniture and said we could be as adventurous as we wanted! Joanna, one of our very talented volunteers took this on and created an amazing bedroom suite out of Stag furniture with eclectic wallpaper, mismatched donated knobs and of course a little bit of gold. It was absolutely fabulous, and the customer was thrilled!

Apply for a volunteer role at Garden House Hospice Upscaling House here.