A teenager has shared how volunteering in a charity shop has transformed her Saturdays.
Fifteen-year-old Faith Hawes has been helping out at East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) store in Bury St Edmunds since the start of the year.
Initially, she began volunteering as part of her Duke of Edinburgh Award but soon found herself enjoying the experience.
The keen footballer said: “When I’m in the shop, I feel good.
"It doesn’t seem like a chore, and it’s nice doing something positive, rather than being unproductive.”
Faith sorts through donations and enjoys making the shop floor "neat and tidy".
She also appreciates the chance to interact with older, more knowledgeable people.
“I didn’t feel out of place, and it’s nice being around older, more knowledgeable people, because I spend my whole week with friends and people my own age," she said.
“I’ve met some really interesting people, and I prefer that to being on my own at home on a Saturday morning."
Faith encourages others to consider volunteering, describing it as "very beneficial" and "fulfilling".
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