It's National Volunteers week from 1 to 7 June and charity shop volunteer, Nicky Cullis, has a role she says she's never going to give up.

Volunteering exclusively on the Bridal Floor at disability equality charity Scope's shop at 8 East Street in Bridport, her role is to make sure customers are made to feel as special as possible whilst finding the perfect dress or outfit for them.

The Bridal Floor opened in 2021 and is a dedicated inspirational, boutique style room for brides to be, grooms, mothers of the bride and groom, wedding guests and, teen prom-goers. There's also a wide range of eveningwear. So far, the team has helped around 5,000 customers to look absolutely stunning on their big day. Or night.

Nicky joined Scope Bridport in 2018 volunteering in the main shop. When the Bridal Floor opened, she was invited to run it, by Shop Manager, Sonia Hallett. Word of mouth soon got out about her incredible service that made the whole experience relaxing and fun for customers. So much so, her reputation has reached customers from New Zealand, South Afrida, Switzerland, Portugal and Scotland.

Nicky Cullis, Volunteer, Scope charity shop's Bridal Floor in Bridport, says: "I started volunteering at Scope in 2018. When the Bridal Floor was launched in 2021, Shop Manager, Sonia, encouraged me to exclusively run the service. I jumped at the chance and I'm so glad I did because I can't give it up. I absolutely love it. I can't think of another role I've had that is so rewarding.

"There are many reasons why I love helping customers to look their very best on their big day. The main one is always seeing the sparkle in their eyes and their body language change when they've known they've put on the right dress. It sometimes brings a tear my eyes, I'm so happy. That's when I know I've done a good job.

"What I always hear though is that the customer has had a lot of fun. We let them try on as many outfits as they wish, within their two hour appointment. I'm told many traditional bridal shops limit you to how many you can try on. We also give customers a choice of me being in the room or not. However, I'd say around 80% of brides prefer I'm with them to help with anything. It's very relaxed here.

"It's not just the brides or prom-goers that we help. We do the entire wedding party from groom, bridesmaids, flower girls and mother of the bride or groom. Their wedding guests also make a point of visiting us. We also have same sex couples come to us, as they know we look after all our customers the same.

"Since we launched, word of mouth has travelled far. At least to the other side of the globe.

"One bride to be from South Africa was visiting family over here. She wasn't planning to get her dress in the UK but came in with her mother to try on a few and get a feel for what would suit her. As it happened. she found the right dress here and was so pleased her mother could be part of the whole experience. It was a very special moment.

"But I'll never forget bride to be, Shannon. Two weeks before her wedding, her dress was stolen. She heard about the Bridal Floor and contact us via Facebook. Although it was very short notice, we created a special appointment for her and she found her perfect outfit. I think we'll always remember the look of relief and joy on her face. And of course, her very kind feedback.

"The comments we get in our Guest Book are all so kind and appreciative. It really makes my role as volunteer worth every minute.

"I definitely recommend volunteering, you get so much back. But, you can't have this role because I'm staying put."

Customer Shannon, wrote the following in the Bridal Floor's Guest Book: "After my dress was stolen, I was heartbroken but you gave me hope again. What you do changes lives in ways you may not always see not only did you help me find a dress you gave me back a piece of my wedding dream.

"I can't thank you enough for stepping in when everything felt lost. You helped restore not just my wedding dress, but my excitement for the day. Your kindness and generosity turned a stressful situation into something truly special. I'll always be grateful for the kindness from Sonia and Nicky - they are angels in disguise x."

Sonia Hallett, Shop Manager, Scope charity shop, Bridport, said: "Nicky is definitely the reason for the Bridal Floor's success. I should know, I usually take the requests from customers wanting to book an appointment. They tell me they've heard of Nicky's incredible service from their friends or family and want to be seen by her.

"A real testimony to Nicky is that all our customers leave the most incredible feedback in our Guest Book. One bride to be from Portugal, who got her mother to come and get her outfit for the wedding, after finding her dream dress, said: "Nicky was lovely, it was great fun. Found an amazing dress. Just perfect". Another customer from Norwich said: "I had the best time. Nicky, you're a diamond".

"It's been wonderful to see how much momentum the Bridal Floor has gained since we launched it. We're all so proud that word of Nicky's amazing volunteering for Scope has travelled around the world. Thanks to her, demand for appointments is going through the roof, and twice a month, we now offer these on Sundays. This is a big help for school pupils searching for their dream prom dress.

"We're always ready to make adjustments to make your visit go smoothly. If you're looking for the perfect outfit for your special event, I can highly recommend you book an appointment with Nicky.

"I'd like to thank Nicky and all the wonderful volunteers here at Scope Bridport. Every one of them does such an outstanding job, always going the extra mile for our customers and for the charity. They're the lifeline of the shop and I couldn't be more grateful for their support."

• The Bridal Floor is by appointment only. Call 01308 421313 or via their Facebook page at @scopebridportshop
• When a customer books an appointment, they simply give their dress size and Nicky will have stunning brand new and pre-loved and vintage wedding dresses in that size, with accessories, ready for the bride to choose from.
• Getting Bridal Floor area ready was an epic community effort. They transformed an unused room, needing lots of TLC, at the top of the building, into a boutique style area, creating a unique space in the town. The cost to Scope was £0.00.

For more information about Scope, visit: www.scope.org.uk