Mary and Mind need you

Posted Friday 2 October 2009

Mind is once again teaming up with fashion powerhouse Mary Portas for the next series of Mary Queen of Shops. After transforming the way the nation thinks about donating to charity shops earlier this year, she is now turning her hand to encouraging the public to give up a bit of their time to volunteer.

On Friday 9 October she launches the very first V Day. Mary will be signing up recruits to volunteer in charity shops in a completely new way, on their own terms. The trial day will see people trying out volunteering for the first time to see if it's their cup of tea. V Day is being filmed as part of a Mary Queen of Charity Shops Revisit programme for BBC2.

Mary aims to get more people, of all ages and backgrounds, to volunteer, she said: " Working with charity shops is the best thing I've ever done. It really does make a difference to people's lives. I see volunteering as being a bit like a relationship. You wouldn't expect long-term commitment on the first date. V Day is a flirtation with volunteering, before deciding if you want to come back for more."

The first V Day will be held on Friday 9 October 2009 in 20 charity shops around London, including three Mind stores in Islington, Stoke Newington and Bermondsey. It is jointly coordinated by Mary Portas, Mind, Help The Aged, Age Concern North London Hospice, Save The Children, Sue Ryder Care and The National Association of Charity Shops.

Find out how you can take part on the V Day website.

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