VOLUNTEERS from stores across Hampshire have rolled up their sleeves to take part in a project for a hospice charity.

Thirty workers from M&S branches in Winchester, Hedge End and Eastleigh spent two days refurbishing a pirate boat play area for Naomi House and Jacksplace.

The organisation provides expert hospice care to more than 525 life-limited and life-threatened children, young adults and their extended families across Hampshire and the surrounding counties.

The work is normally expected to take over a week to complete, but with the help of M&S, the team completed the work in just two days, enabling children to enjoy the facility as soon as possible.

Julia Palmer Bennet, manager of M&S Hedge End said: “We’re really proud to come together as a team and support Naomi House and Jacksplace. At M&S Hedge End we care passionately about supporting young people in our community.

"The incredible care the organisation provides to families across our region is something we know our customers care about too and we were really pleased to be able to get stuck into refreshing the outside play area.

Volunteering makes a profound difference to communities, and we believe that lots of small actions from lots of people creates a lasting impact to initiatives that do so much good for young people in Hampshire.”

Connor Phillips, fundraising assistant at Naomi House and Jacksplace added: "It’s great to have the support of M&S stores. Our giant wheelchair accessible galleon is a popular element of the Naomi House garden and we are all excited to see it looking ship-shape once M&S have worked their magic."