Politicians roll up their sleeves to promote Volunteers¿ Week

Leading politicians rolled up their sleeves and got down to work in their local Cancer Research UK shops as part of Volunteers’ Week (1st-7th June), a UK-wide celebration of volunteering which recognises the contribution of volunteers and encourages more people to get involved.

Dr Vincent Cable, MP for Twickenham visits the Teddington Cancer Research UK shop

Politicians from across the party political spectrum led by example and tried out various volunteering roles - from sorting and preparing donated clothes, to manning the till and pricing goods. The following politicians took part in the initiative to encourage people to give up their time and help out at their local Cancer Research UK shop:

  • Adam Afriyie MP - Conservative Shadow Minister for Innovation, Universities and Skills
  • Justine Greening MP - Conservative Shadow Treasury Minister
  • Dr Vincent Cable MP - Deputy Party Leader and Shadow Chancellor for the Liberal Democrats

Justine Greening, MP for Putney (centre) meets the shop manager and a volunteer at the Putney Cancer Research UK shop

There are around 600 Cancer Research UK shops across the UK which sell donated items and brand new goods. They rely on local people to donate good quality clothes, shoes, books and bric-a-brac, as well as volunteers to help run the stores.

The shop manager and volunteers at the Windsor Cancer Research UK shop with Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor (right)

To find out more about volunteering for Cancer Research UK visit your local shop, contact our Volunteering team on 020 7438 5277 or click here for information about volunteering opportunities in your area.

Alternatively, if you would like to find out more about the visits made by politicians to Cancer Research UK shops in other parts of the UK please visit our events pages for Wales and Scotland. Understandably some of the politicians we approached were not able to visit their local Cancer Research UK shop to promote this year’s Volunteers’ Week, however, across the UK there was a balance of political parties involved in this initiative.