I would like to take the opportunity in National Volunteers’ Week (which runs from June 1-7) to say a massive thank you to all the dedicated Oxfordshire volunteers who support the children and young people’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent.

In Oxford, our volunteers give their time in a number of ways, including organising their own fundraising events, helping at our Big Bucket Collection in December, and at our abseil at the John Radcliffe Hospital, as well as helping out in the CLIC Sargent Shop in Headington.

Whether they are able to offer the occasional hour or several days, by giving up their time they are helping to make a real difference to families whose lives have been turned upside down by childhood cancer.

Every day, 10 children and young people in the UK hear the shocking news they have cancer.

CLIC Sargent provides clinical, practical, financial and emotional support to help the whole family cope with cancer and get the most out of life.

Locally, the charity provides specialist nurses, social workers and a play specialist at the John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital in Oxford and CLIC Court, our Home from Home near to the hospital, where families can stay free of charge while children are under treatment.

If you’ve a couple of hours to spare and would like to make them count, why not consider joining CLIC Sargent as a volunteer?

See our website at clicsargent.org.uk/volunteer or call 01865 761761.

Thank you to everybody who has given up their time to support us – your help is much appreciated.

CLAIRE SHOVELTON, CLIC Sargent community fundraising manager, Windmill Road, Headington