A hospice is looking for residents ‘seeking a new adventure’ this January to join its fundraising volunteer team.

With ‘Blue Monday’ approaching on January 20, St Clare Hospice is inviting residents to “banish the January blues” by joining their team of fundraising volunteers.

Blue Monday typically falls on the third Monday of January, annually, and is claimed to be the ‘most depressing day of the year’.

According to UK charity Action for Happiness, giving to others through volunteering has been associated with reduced depression and anxiety, and increased personal wellbeing and happiness.

Rob Wallace, voluntary services manager at St Clare Hospice, said: “January is the perfect time to start a new adventure in the third sector!”

“Volunteering has numerous proven health benefits, and with the supposed ‘Blue Monday’ approaching, now is a great time to start a volunteering role with your local hospice charity.”

St Clare is looking to recruit a handful of new volunteers to help their retail outlets in Epping, Harlow and Bishop’s Stortford.

Rob added: “Our shops bring in more than a quarter of a million pounds in profits every year for St Clare Hospice, an absolutely essential source of income that secures the funding of our care and support services for local people living with a life-limiting illness – and their families.

“Our volunteers are vital in running our shops and our donation centre; and we’re in need of more helping hands! Even if you can only spare a couple of hours a week, we’d be most grateful to hear from you.”

The charity is also looking to build a strong team of volunteers who can help to drop off charity collection tins with their local pubs, clubs and venues – especially throughout Buckhurst Hill, Loughton, Epping and Harlow.

“Our charity collection tins can be seen all throughout our catchment area, from the north patch of Uttlesford all the way down to Chigwell in Epping Forest – and East Hertfordshire too”, said Rob.

“Surprisingly, all of that loose change adds up; our collection tins actually generate around £20,000 in vital funds for St Clare!”

“Again, local people help to keep these figures topped up. We have volunteers who come and collect tins, then distribute them throughout local venues: across bar tops, reception desks, shop counters – you name it! It’s not a huge commitment to help out with this kind of role, but it makes a huge difference to St Clare in helping to get our name out there and raise money.”

Find out more about volunteering with St Clare Hospice here.