What a great series Mary Queen of Charity Shops (BBC2, Tuesdays 9pm) is turning out to be – and here’s hoping the redoubtable Mary Portas can turn round the fortunes of the Save the Children shop in Orpington.

But watching the first episode of the series highlighted for me several points about the Dorothy House charity shops in Devizes and north Wiltshire.

First and foremost, our volunteers do a great job in staffing our shops, sorting and presenting goods for sale – and certainly not allowing any poor-quality, damaged or dirty items to find their way on to our shelves.

Second, our 19 shops in the area served by the hospice – Bath and parts of Somerset, north and west Wiltshire and our joint venture in Salisbury – all have full-time managers and many also have a deputy for some of the trading week.

They are fully trained professionals, who make sure all the shops are well run and well stocked, with inviting window displays and friendly staff.

Thirdly, our supporters are clearly much better trained than those in Orpington – donating great quality goods and snapping up wonderful bargains, all of which contributes towards the £7,000 we need to raise every day to provide free services to patients and their families.

I’d like to challenge Gazette & Herald readers to beat Mary Portas at her own game and make sure the Dorothy House shops in your area continue to receive the very best donations of clothes, accessories, books, bric-a-brac and household goods. I know you can help us make our shops the best in the country.

James McDonald, Head of Retail and Voluntary Services, Dorothy House Hospice Care.