Month: May 2024

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Glossop shop is on the move

Willow Wood Hospice’s charity shop in Glossop will be moving into a much larger home next week. 

The current shop at 57 High Street West has a half-price sale on before it permanently closes at 4pm on Saturday 25th May.   

The new shop is situated across the road at 12 High Street West – which was most recently One Bay and previously Thomas Cook.

It will open to customers for the first time on Wednesday 29th May at 11am – when the High Peak Mayor, Councillor Stewart Gardner, will officially cut the ribbon. On opening day, customers will receive a raffle ticket with every purchase to be in with a chance of winning a food hamper. 

Pauline Lunt, Head of Retail at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “We are always looking to improve our retail offering and we had outgrown our space in Glossop thanks to the fantastic support of the local community. 

“In our new premises, we have an increased floor space and a greater high street presence.

“We wish to express our sincere thanks to local businesses who have supported us in getting the new shop up and running – including Colebarn Developments Ltd in Hadfield.” 

Caroline Lillis, Glossop shop manager, added: “We are really excited to open our new Glossop shop, which is bigger and brighter with an extended range of items. 

“We cannot wait to welcome customers old and new so they can see our brilliant new shop for themselves.”  

The shop will be open seven days a week – from 9.30am to 4.30pm Mondays to Saturdays and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays. 

You can contact the shop by calling 0161 669 4855 and keep an eye out on the community noticeboard in the shop for updates about the Hospice, its services and fundraising events. 

Supporting the Hospice’s charity shops is just one way that people can make a difference to patients from the local community. 

Donations of new or used items, dropped off during the shop’s opening hours, are always appreciated to ensure they become the gift that keeps on giving. See which items you can donate at https://willowwood.org.uk/what-can-i-donate/

The Hospice would also be grateful to anyone who can spare a few hours every week to lend a hand in the new shop. No previous retail experience is needed as training will be given. You can express your interest by visiting https://willowwood.org.uk/hospice-volunteering/interest/ 

If you would like to be part of the Hospice’s Retail team, keep an eye out for any new positions when they become available at https://willowwood.org.uk/vacancies/ 

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Flower Festival blooms funds for hospice care

Hundreds of people enjoyed Willow Wood’s popular Flower Festival last weekend, which raised over £6,000 in support of patient care at the Hospice.

The event was formally opened on Saturday 11th May by Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner, along with Willow Wood Hospice’s new Chief Executive Officer, Tracy Minshull.

Local residents packed into the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, over both days, which even brought some welcome sunshine.

The eighth annual festival held special significance as it commemorated 25 years of the Hospice providing compassionate care to patients from the local community, under the theme of ‘all things Willow Wood’.

Created by both individuals and groups, the vibrant displays represented services the Hospice offers, the Hospice’s charity shops, fundraising events both past and present, volunteers, the Willow Wood Hospice Choir and the Hospice’s picturesque gardens.

To further boost Hospice funds, each display had a price tag attached so they could be purchased by those in attendance and collected at the end of the festival.

There were also refreshments served by a band of volunteers – including from St Peter’s Church in Stalybridge – in The Hive and Prosecco in the Garden Room, where there was card, craft, wooden craft, cake, tombola and raffle stalls for visitors to browse.

Visitors were kept entertained by Mike Styan and friends from local amateur operatic societies on Saturday, and the Sounds Familiar Ukelele Band on Sunday.

Angela Rayner MP said: “It was my pleasure to officially open the annual Flower Festival at Willow Wood Hospice and this year was extra special as it marks the 25th anniversary.

“I have visited Willow Wood on many occasions during my time as MP and I am always struck by how dedicated and compassionate the staff and volunteers are and how much effort goes into creating such a peaceful and welcoming environment.

“I am incredibly proud to have such a wonderful facility within my constituency and I would like to thank everyone who works so hard to make it such a success. I am sure all the residents, visitors and their families who visit the hospice are grateful.”

The event is organised by a dedicated committee of volunteers, comprising Eileen Smith, Ann Fee, Pauline Giblin, Christine Lucas, Sheila Redfearn, Judith Scott, Lorraine Vaughton and Bernice Woodward.

Eileen Smith, on behalf of the committee, said: “It was a happy weekend, there was a lovely atmosphere and what a positive environment a hospice is.

“We wish to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped in any way to ensure the festival was a great success, everyone who attended and Angela Rayner for opening the event.”

The Hospice must raise at least £3.3 million every year to run and, with only around 20 per cent coming by way of Central Government, the generous support of the community is vital.

If you would like to organise a fundraising event for Willow Wood, please contact the Hospice’s Fundraising team by emailing fundraising@willowwood.org.uk or calling 0161 330 7788 so they can support you along the way.

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Learn about local dementia support at Information Day

Willow Wood Hospice is hosting an Information Day to start an informal conversation and offer guidance around dementia care provision in Tameside and Glossop.

It’s taking place at the Hospice, based on Willow Wood Close in Ashton-under-Lyne, on Friday 17th May from 11am to 3pm.

The drop-in hub, in The Hive room, will be a market place information event, which is free to attend and open to the public and professionals.

Attendees will be able to chat to representatives from Willow Wood’s Dementia Support team, the Integrated Care team, Age Concern, Memory Clinic, local PCNs and Alzheimer’s Society.

The event coincides with Dementia Action Week, an annual campaign led by Alzheimer’s Society that brings people together from across the country under a unified theme to take action on dementia.

Nicola Lavery, Dementia Services Lead at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “One in three people born in the UK today will go on to develop dementia in their lifetime. Being diagnosed with dementia, or caring for a person with dementia, can be challenging.

“We want people from our local community to know that support is available to anyone affected by dementia in a number of ways.

“If you are looking for valuable information about dementia services in our area, including here at the Hospice, please come along to our Information Day to find out more.”

On the day, limited Blue Badge parking will be available at the Hospice. Darnton Road has a public pay and display car park if you are not coming on foot or public transport.

Anyone who has any questions about the event in the meantime can call Willow Wood’s Dementia Support team on 0161 330 1100.

Pictured: Nicola Lavery (left), Dementia Services Lead at Willow Wood Hospice, and Wendy Irons, Dementia Assistant Practitioner at Willow Wood Hospice.

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New CEO proud to lead Willow Wood into the future

The new CEO of Willow Wood says she wants to make sure the Hospice “continues to have a strong voice” within Greater Manchester and beyond.

As the Hospice based in Ashton-under-Lyne celebrates 25 years of providing compassionate care in May, the month also heralds the start of a new era.

Tracy Minshull officially takes over the reins from Karen Houlston, who is retiring having led the organisation for over 10 years and been part of the Hospice for almost as long as it has been open.

“I feel really humble, Willow Wood is an amazing place,” said Tracy. “It’s been particularly inspirational meeting with staff individually and seeing the difference each individual makes in their role.

“One thing they all say is how passionate they are about working at Willow Wood. I’m really proud and privileged to be the new CEO moving the Hospice forward into the future.”

Tracy, who most recently worked in local government as a commissioner, brings a wealth of experience of working in the health and social care sector for the past 25 years.

Explaining how this will aid her in the role, she said: “Primarily around partnerships so working with our system partners in Tameside and Glossop to really make sure Willow Wood is seen as the area’s centre of excellence for palliative and end-of-life care.

“I am hoping to further enhance the relationships with system partners and the local council, as we contribute so much to existing Tameside plans around supporting people in our local communities to living well at Home. I am also keen to ensure that we build new strategic relationships, enhancing our strategic presence moving us forward past 2024/25.”

Keen to hit the ground running, Tracy has already mapped out how she plans to spend her first 100 days in post.

“The first month is focusing on internal communications so getting to meet everyone. My intention is to meet every member of staff individually to get to know what brought them to Willow Wood, what keeps them here and their skills and expertise.

“The second month will focus on our external partners and stakeholders, getting to know our Trustees better, getting a sense of the partners we already work with in the local community and the new partnerships we wish to forge as we move forward.

“The last month will be focused primarily on strategy and governance, looking at some of our processes and procedures and trying to make sure that we are as ready for the future as we can be.”

Tracy is also eager to ensure Willow Wood continues to be part of the conversation surrounding the need for a sustainable funding model for all hospices.

“In Greater Manchester, we are very fortunate to have the GM Hospices Collaborative,” she said.

“Certainly, I want to be in that group of CEOs to really drive the national agenda as well. I want to work with Hospice UK to make sure Willow Wood’s voice is heard within that arena.

“We recognise that we are in really challenging financial times across the board – that being said, we still have to keep pushing for a sustainable funding model to move forward with.”

And Tracy won’t be afraid to get involved in every aspect of hospice life, with Willow Wood renowned for putting the fun into fundraising.

She added: “My daughter has put us in the ballot for next year’s London Marathon so we’re waiting to find out if we get a place!

“I’m keen to do anything which helps to raise the profile of the Hospice as well as raise vital funds. The thought of a skydive is somewhat terrifying but anything like that would be fine.”

Pictured: Tracy Minshull (centre), the new CEO of Willow Wood Hospice, with some of the Hospice’s nursing staff