Month: October 2024

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Hospice eBay team deliver record sales

It’s not just in our charity shops where you can bag yourself a bargain and support patients in our care.

Sales through online platforms raised an incredible £49,550 during the 2023/24 financial year – a record amount.

The Hospice’s eBay site first launched in July 2007 and has since sold over 42,000 items, as well as building up a following of more than 4,000 people.

Based at our Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne, our online sales team – made up of staff and volunteers – takes pride in the service they provide, posting out items within a day of them being sold and establishing the Hospice as a top-rated seller on eBay.

The platform’s growth has certainly kept them busy.

“We can list anything from 30 to 50 items per day on average,” said Nicola DePetrillo, Online Sales Assistant.

“We list items sent to us by our shops every week – some can require research, which we use eBay and Google Lens to carry out.

“We sell on average between 100 and 150 items a week. I think the cost of living crisis is one reason why eBay has been so popular – people are looking for a bargain even more nowadays.”

Her colleague Dave Sadler added: “We set our own target of reaching 2,000 active items on the site, which we’ve come close to and have grown from an average of around 600. The more we grow the site, the busier it becomes. Around 80 per cent of what we sell are items listed for a week or less. It’s all about list, list, list for us.”

Our items attract sellers from all corners of the globe, including as recently as July when a Psion Executive PDA Organiser sold for £299 to a buyer in the United States.

“Only around two per cent of our sales are international but it opens up more options,” said Dave. “If we sell furniture or big items like a doll’s house, it will be collection only so we won’t offer postage – that probably happens on one per cent of the items we list.

“If we’re posting items, it’s always eligible to be posted across the world. We only charge our postage for items to get to eBay’s warehouse in Lichfield and eBay will charge extra postage to get it to wherever the buyer is.

“Every item we sell always has the option to be collected from the Distribution Centre to save on packaging costs.”

There have been some gems that have fetched some impressive proceeds for the Hospice including our patron Julie Goodyear’s jewellery range which raised over £16,000, a signed and framed Manchester United shirt which sold for around £2,000, and a stainless steel coffee machine for £180.

All items sold on eBay are generously donated by the local community, who can drop off clothing, books, CDs, DVDs, general bric-a-brac, electronics and ceramics at our Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre (based at Unit 4, Langham Street, OL7 9AX) on weekdays from 8am to 3.30pm.

Dave (left) and Nicola from our eBay team

Dave explained: “Around 90 per cent of items we sell are pre-loved – it’s very rare we get something brand new, which is usually clothing with a label or an unopened jigsaw puzzle.

“The most popular item we sell is probably clothing but books also do really well, they are very easy to list and pack. We try to build collections of particular items, like the Now CDs, where space allows so we can then sell them as a set and hopefully they will be worth more.”

Nicola added: “We need things that are in a good, clean sellable condition. If you are thinking of donating items, ask yourself is it in a good enough condition for me to buy it from a charity shop.”

The team closely monitor feedback they receive – of which 99.8 per cent is positive, according to eBay – and have lots of repeat customers.

To help provide an efficient service, they are also environmentally conscious when it comes to packaging items.

“We used donated cardboard boxes so when people bring stuff in a box we ask if we can use it, which also helps for recycling,” Nicola told us. “We also receive a £10 voucher every month from eBay to buy plastic bags to pack items in.”

Dave explained further: “We would gratefully receive donations of shoe boxes or standard square and rectangular boxes to help with packaging, as well as bubble wrap. We also have a company based in Royton who deals with pianos and has shipments over from Japan which come bubble wrapped so he saves all of that for us so we never have to buy it.”

There are other ways that people can support the Hospice through eBay.

People can sign up to Gift Aid, if eligible, when donating items so they can be worth more to Willow Wood at no extra cost to you.

Sellers on eBay can also donate a percentage of their profits to Willow Wood Hospice – by typing the percentage of your choice and selecting Tameside and Glossop Hospice Limited in the drop-down menu.

Our online retail offering extends beyond eBay as our team have diligently explored other ways of generating as much income as possible for the Hospice.

“We sell scrap metal as well as use Vintage Cash Cow which buys old precious metal, jewellery, watches and cameras,” said Dave.

“If we can’t sell them on eBay, we sell DVDs, CDs and books on Ziffit. We send them off once a week and it can raise around £50 a week on average.

“We use Discogs to sell vinyl records. It was set up when vinyl was a bigger thing and we still have lots of items on there but we don’t really list new items on there as you can’t beat eBay for the number of members it has.”

Keep an eye out for news coming soon about how our eBay team were involved in a historic delightful discovery…

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Inspiring teenage volunteer raises thousands for Willow Wood

An inspirational teenager from Ashton-under-Lyne organised her own event to raise a phenomenal £3,800 in support of patient care at Willow Wood Hospice.

Neev Patel put on a special celebration at Ashton Rugby Club in June, attended by more than 100 people.

The 15-year-old, who is in Year 11 at Hulme Grammar School in Oldham, has felt a connection with the Hospice from a young age and volunteers at our Waterloo shop at weekends.

She has always wanted to hold a fundraising event for Willow Wood and the opportunity arose one day at school.

“As part of a Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) we could write a 2,000 word essay on a topic of your choice or create an artefact – like someone in an older year group restored a Volkswagen,” Neev explained.

“I thought I’m not going to be boring so I pitched the idea to my school supervisor of doing a charity event and he thought it was amazing!

“I found a venue, organised a buffet, I contacted a balloon lady for decorations and emailed lots of businesses for raffle prizes. I got a £200 Booking.com voucher and a four ball at The Mere in Knutsford amongst others.

Neev hosted a charity event to raise funds for the Hospice 

“I invited lots of people, it was £5 a ticket for entry – which all went towards the total amount raised for Willow Wood. We had an auction on the night – one person paid £300 for one of the prizes. It was a really lovely night, it was successful and I really enjoyed it.

“Everyone who attended had the same initiative to spend money knowing it was going to a good cause. My family and friends came and I also reserved a table for the staff and volunteers I work with in the Waterloo shop, who all had a good time.

“I did a speech on the night, I said they were there and thanked them. They received a massive round of applause which was really nice.”

Neev’s mum works in the local healthcare system and has established connections with staff at the Hospice, which is how Neev was introduced to what Willow Wood is all about.

“My mum is a nurse working in Hattersley so she knows a lot of people including Wendy, from the Dementia Support team at the Hospice who I’ve got to know well,” said Neev.

“I’ve always known the Hospice and people that Willow Wood has helped including my grandad. I started raising money when I was quite young, around 10 years old, and we have always been to events like the Christmas Fair.”

Neev has been supporting the Hospice since the age of 13

Neev initially started volunteering for the Hospice as part of her Duke of Edinburgh award when she was 13 years old – helping out at the Waterloo shop on Saturdays.

“I was supposed to do an hour a week for three months and I did four hours a week for two years! I still volunteer there now and I don’t think they want to get rid of me any time soon!

“I really enjoy it, it’s something different and I feel like I am giving back. I sort through donations, price them up and put them in the shop. I go through the clothing rails, I sometimes work on the till too, I do a bit of everything really.”

Neev loves the people most about volunteering and has become a popular member of the team at our shop on Oldham Road.

“Whether it’s the volunteers or the customers, it’s nice to have a conversation with people and I have got to know them,” she told us.

“People will come in and we can have a laugh as we go along. As volunteers, we all know we are there for a purpose and you feel wanted there.

“My fellow volunteers will message me asking how my day was in the shop when they’re not there and I have formed a really good connection with them.”

Neev with shop manager Kellie and some of our volunteers at the Waterloo shop

Willow Wood could not provide vital services without volunteers, who have a positive impact on our community, and Neev would strongly recommend volunteering to other young people in particular.

Explaining the benefits to her, she said: “You grow as a person, you get more social skills so I can talk to anyone about anything now. I understand the way people live their lives and their opinions on things a lot more. I have gained a lot from it and learned new skills which are great for my CV in the future.

“I have become friends with some volunteers from the shop who are in their 70s and I have learned from them.”

Neev has aspirations of becoming a marine biologist in the future and is also keen to continue charity work and supporting the Hospice, around her important studies.

“Willow Wood is just a lovely place,” she concluded. “Everyone is so lovely and you can get on with anyone.”

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Willow Wood did Strictly in sensational style!

Willow Wood did Strictly in sensational style to raise thousands of pounds for the Hospice and wow hundreds at Mossley’s George Lawton Hall on Friday (11th October).

All the glitz and glamour of Strictly Come Dancing was reproduced as nine couples graced the stage to enthrall the audience and impress the judges, including celebrity judge Edwina Currie.

Following a tense ‘dance-off’ it was Cameron Kennedy and his partner Charlotte Cochrane who deservedly danced away with the 2024 Strictly trophy.

Their take on a Tango saw the pair perform some incredible and daring moves to the amazement of the crowd, earning a standing ovation and scoring an amazing 38 out of 40 points from the judges, Edwina giving them a nine out of ten.

There was a close ‘dance-Off’ with hip-hopsters Liz and Vanessa running them a close second, themselves scoring 37 points with an action-packed routine.

Liz and Vanessa came a close second with their amazing hip-hop routine

But, in Cameron’s own words as he accepted the trophy from host Jane Valentine, ‘Willow Wood was the real winner’, with many thousands of pounds raised for the Hospice on the night.

The couple worked on their routine for around six weeks, trained by last year’s winner and Charlotte’s brother Thomas Cochrane.

“He put us through our paces,” said Cameron, who admitted being very competitive and wanting to win the competition, despite not being a dancer in any way, shape or form and being more used to gracing the am dram stage in numerous acting roles.

Charlotte added: “All I said was it’s for charity so let’s have some fun, but Cameron said ‘no’ we had to win it – and now we have I can’t believe it.”

Charlotte and Cameron lifting their trophy with head judge Edwina Currie

Both recommended other couples take part next year to support the Hospice, saying it had been ‘brilliant fun’.

“It’s the best experience and I have loved it,” said Charlotte, with Cameron adding: “I don’t dance and I loved every second of it. It’s a great event.”

All the couples taking part had heartfelt reasons to support the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, which provides compassionate care to local people with life-limiting illnesses.

Cameron himself has been raising thousands of pounds over the years in memory of his late cousin Emma, who died at the age of 21 in the Hospice back in 2013.

“Everything I’ve done – whether it was the small foundation we set up in her name, the boxing match for Target Ovarian Cancer or the marathon for Cancer Research – has been in her memory to honour her fight against ovarian cancer.

“But Willow Wood holds a very special place in my heart as it’s the one part of Emma’s journey that I hadn’t yet raised funds for, and it’s arguably the most meaningful. It’s a cause that means so much to me,” he said.

Charlotte, meanwhile, was dancing in memory of her grandma who died from cancer earlier in the year.

“I wanted to do this to honour her and make her proud,” she added.

The Civic Mayor of Tameside Cllr Betty Affleck and her Consort Declan Fitzpatrick were also present to enjoy the night

Dancing duo Diane Swallow and Gary Peters also know all about cancer, Diane herself battling back against the disease, stating herself that if treatment had not worked for her, she could well have needed Willow Wood herself.

“Thankfully I’m one of the lucky ones whose treatment was successful, but it really made me appreciate the vital role places like Willow Wood play. I’ve had friends who spent time there and I saw first hand the amazing care they received,” she said.

Long-serving Willow Wood volunteer Eileen Smith has been helping at the Hospice for more than 20 years and stepped out with her dancing partner John Maltby to perform a delightful waltz.

While love was very much in the air for Wendy Mutch and Mick Wheeler, much to the delight of judge Edwina.

The audience were lively throughout at Mossley’s George Lawton Hall

A former celebrity contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2011 herself, Edwina said she was especially proud to support the Hospice.

“I have had friends who have been in their care and they do a fantastic job, and they also support the families, who can sometimes get pushed to one side and that support also really matters when someone has passed away.

“If loved ones have been with Willow Wood then you know that they have been comfortable and been able to spend their final days in dignity, and that really matters, it really does.”

She also shared how voting for the couples was also extremely hard, striking the right balance between experienced dancers and non-dancers.

Completing the judging panel alongside Edwina were World Championship hip-hop dancer and Team England athlete Alice-Jane Evans; Latin Steps world champion and dance instructor Aimee Bailey; and Latin Steps dance champion and instructor Sara McGroarty.

Our Willow Wood does Strictly judging panel for 2024

Willow Wood Hospice’s Director of Fundraising and Communications Sam Duncan said: “It’s been a huge success and I would like to say a big thank you to all the dancers who were amazing. Every routine was different and it was just lovely and there was lots of variety.”

She also praised the George Lawton Hall venue, thanking the staff who had helped make Willow Wood’s first Strictly competition event there such a memorable one, with some 180 guests attending.

The amount of money made from the event is still being totted up, which will include ticket and programme sales, a wonderful silent auction and raffle, plus money raised by the couples themselves.

There is still time to donate to the couples’ fundraising page at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/willowwooddoesstrictly where you can also find out more details behind each couples’ story to support the Hospice.

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Exciting new beginnings for our Distribution Centre

We’re delighted to announce that the transformation of our Distribution Centre into a vibrant new Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre is complete.

The grand opening on Saturday 12th October was a fantastic success, surpassing all expectations.

Under the stellar leadership of Manager Paul King and his dedicated team – Daniel, Janet, Richard, and Declan – the ground floor has been beautifully converted into a clearance centre packed with discounted furniture, clothes, toys, and more, while eBay sales continue to thrive on the first floor.

Special thanks go to Head of Retail, Pauline, and the incredible volunteers, including corporate teams who worked tirelessly alongside us.

From clearing and stocking to painting and refurbishing the garden, their efforts made it all happen. Together, they also delivered thousands of leaflets across the community to spread the word!

The shop, on Langham Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 4pm, and donations are always welcome.

Let’s continue celebrating this exciting new chapter!

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Hospice partners with Stalybridge Celtic for exciting legends match

We are delighted that a football match with a difference this weekend will be dedicated to supporting Willow Wood Hospice.

Spectators will be able to take a trip down memory lane as they enjoy watching players of yesteryear from both Stalybridge Celtic and Manchester United.

It also offers a rare opportunity for younger fans to see a glimpse of the former United players who boast extensive trophy-winning and international experience from their careers.

The likes of Wes Brown, Phil Bardsley, Russell Beardsmore, David May, Luke Chadwick and Keith Gillespie will be gracing the turf wearing the famous United shirt.

For Celtic – coached on the day by legendary former Stalybridge boss Phil Wilson – among those returning to familiar territory will be Karl Marginson, Tony Sullivan, Matty McNeil, Dominic Crookes and Mark Burrell.

The ‘legends’ game is at Stalybridge’s Bower Fold ground, off Mottram Road (postcode SK15 2RT), on Sunday 6th October, with kick-off at 2pm.

Whilst taking in the footy, you can also make a difference to patients with life-limiting illnesses across Tameside and Glossop who need our expert care.

There will be an information stall where you can find out more about the Hospice’s vital work and buckets for which any cash donations, however small, will be gratefully received.

Keep an eye out for our popular mascot, Woody, who may also put in an appearance – weather permitting (like most of us, he doesn’t like rain!)

Joanne Lees, Partnership Development Lead at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “We are thrilled to link up with Stalybridge Celtic and appreciate the club’s ongoing support.

“Football clubs are embedded within the fabric of our community. This weekend’s exciting game is a fantastic opportunity for us to help raise awareness of the many services the Hospice provides and that the generosity of the public is vital for us to keep running.

“We hope as many people as possible can attend on Sunday and that we can continue our partnership with the brilliant team at Stalybridge Celtic moving forward.”

Stalybridge Celtic’s Commercial Director Steve Dewsnip added: “The team at Willow Wood Hospice do a fantastic job and have touched the lives of so many people throughout Tameside in a positive way over the last 25 years.

“By bringing exciting events such as the Legends game this coming weekend to Tameside, we are trying to do exactly the same and so it made perfect sense to invite Willow Wood to be our charity partner for this game.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Willow Wood and look forward to collaborating on further community initiatives in the future.”

Tickets for the match are in demand but still available to buy online at https://www.stalyceltictickets.co.uk/event/stalybridge-celtic-legends-xi-vs-manchester-unit-5iw14p

The Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Manchester United will also be screened in Stalybridge Celtic’s matchday supporters bar in Grays Now.