Endomag Volunteers Give Hospice Plant Stall a Fresh New Look

We are delighted to share that our much-loved plant stall at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity has been given a stunning makeover thanks to the incredible support and hard work of three volunteers from Endomag, based on the Cambridge Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge.

On 17 April 2025, Arthur Lallement, Jen McClure and Patrick Schmidt from Endomag visited the Hospice to lend their skills and enthusiasm to refresh the plant stall, which has become a staple feature at the entrance over the spring and summer months.

The plant stall is situated outside the entrance (from Spring to Autumn) of the Hospice at Shelford Bottom and people are welcome to donate or buy (for a small donation) plants or local produce. The proceeds all go back to supporting people in Cambridgeshire with an advanced serious illness or other life-limiting condition and those who need end of life care.

Over time, the stall had become weather-worn and was in need of some attention. The Endomag team kindly supported the project from start to finish, including planning, purchasing materials and delivering the refurbishment. They even repurposed wooden pallets to create attractive new signage which supported the Charity’s Green Strategy.

 

Arriving at the start of the day, the team were eager to get started. They quickly set up their tools and materials and began by dismantling the stall, sanding back the old paint, and preparing the surfaces for a fresh coat. Several coats of Arthur Rank Hospice Charity green brought the stall back to life. They were fortunate with the weather, which helped the new paint dry quickly. Chalkboard signs were crafted and painted from the upcycled pallets, and a kind volunteer from the knitting group had created handmade bunting to finish the look.

 

 

The team enjoyed lunch in the Bistro on their break, before getting back to work and managing to complete the project in a single day. The signs were beautifully written by a member of the Green Group at the Charity and the finished stall is already attracting lots of interest.

Arthur Lallement, IP Manager at Endomag, shared his thoughts on the project:

Why did you decide to help?
“I know what it is to receive palliative care, and I find it gratifying that we can help people end their lives in a recomforting environment. It makes me think of someone I loved who passed away ten years ago, so there is a bit of meditation for me in this regard.”

What did you enjoy about the project?
“I was able to use my DIY skills to help others while I usually only use them to fix things at home for myself or my family. I discovered that by giving away some of our time and energy we can gain inner peace by feeling more kind to the world.”

Did you learn anything about the Hospice by doing the project?
“I wrongly thought hospices were like derelict hospitals. I was wrong. Arthur Rank is clean, modern and comfortable.”

Would you recommend volunteering for Arthur Rank Hospice Charity?
“Yes, definitely. It is fantastic to hear that the stall is generating income. It feels like we’ve made a real impact.”

The plant stall has already been mentioned in a recent report. During the Quality Assurance Visit in May 2025, conducted by the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board, the team noted in their first impressions the “homely environment with a bench at the entrance and a vegetable and plant stall where the public can help themselves and make a donation if they wish.”

Sophie, Corporate Partnerships Officer at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, commented:
“We are so grateful for Endomag’s support with this project and the new look has generated lots of interest already. It was great to see how much the volunteers enjoyed taking on the project and that they can already see the impact they have made.”

Arthur and Jen have since returned to volunteer in the Hospice gardens and were delighted to see the stall being so well used by visitors.

If you would like to donate plants or pick up something new for your garden, please do come by and visit.

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For more information or to get involved in any form of Corporate Volunteering at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity, please contact our Corporate Partnerships Team at partnerships@arhc.org.uk — we would love to hear from you.