Author: bsa_mar

Shining Stars is a wonderful award scheme for young fundraisers. Here at Willow Wood we’re so very grateful to the young members of our community who not only raise vital money to help us maintain our services, but who become wonderful ambassadors for Willow Wood, that we’ve initiated awards – just for them!

There are three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold.Fundraising can be done by just one or two children, as for example when Annie & Alfie Shaw sold Christmas Flumpets to classmate at the Cheadle Heath Primary, raising the grand total of £100. Or the fundraising can be done over a period of time by a whole school or group.St Peter’s Primary in Ashton have nominated Willow Wood as their Charity of the Year and will be doing lots of activities to raise as much as they can for us over the coming months.Even some of the staff are getting involved with a number signing up for our IKEA Abseil!

Community fundraiser, Chris Hayden is happy to attend school assemblies to talk about Willow Wood, community partnerships and the importance of fundraising. He may even be accompanied by our mascot, Woody who very quickly becomes a favourite of the children he meets.Chris said “We’re very proud when children and young people become involved with us and we want to ensure that they feel proud of their achievements too.Shining Stars is just a small way to show our appreciation of their efforts.”

Download an information booklet, or contact us on 0161 330 7788 or at fundraising@willowwood.org.uk.

After achieving the highest food hygiene rating of 5, Mark was invited by the Environmental Health Department of Tameside Council to participate in the Greater Manchester Healthier Catering Award. This is only given out to those committed to offering foods lower in fats, sugar and salt, who actively promote healthier food and have strategies to promote sustainability.

Mark and his team have worked very hard to ensure that healthy meals do not have to compromise on flavour and variety, and their efforts paid off when they were awarded the Excellence Certificate – the highest award in this category. Khush Ahmed, Enviromental Services Manager and Monica Gartside the Workplace Health Lead visited Willow Wood recently to present the award.

As Mark said “We do everything we can to promote healthy eating, many of our vegetables are from our own kitchen garden. By being used on the same day they’re picked, they couldn’t be fresher or more nutritious.”

The restaurant is open to staff, volunteers, day service users and patient visitors, but you can sample some of Willow Wood’s delicious offerings by booking a Cream Tea on Thursday afternoons, or one of the special Afternoon Teas the second Saturday of every month. Please ring 0161 330 1100 to book your table.

Les takes up the story “It’s always been a big celebration round at our house, and for my wife Kath it was really important to have a last Christmas family get together. We were so grateful to Willow Wood who pulled out all the stops to let us have that time together”.

The family worked hard to transform the garden room into a Christmas grotto, with a tree, lights and decorations, crackers, carols playing in the background and even a model of Santa himself.

Although Willow Wood staff were on hand should they be needed, the extended family were able to some quality time together, making loving memories in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.

“Willow Wood did so much for us, it’s not just the patient they treat – the whole family is looked after. Our daughter Kirsty and her partner John organised the first ‘Kath Whittall Invitational’ football match as they wanted to give something back. They raised over £300 in a weekend and they’re going to carry it on as an annual tournament.”

Patients in our Day Services Unit were treated to a wonderful performance of music and gentle humour when the No Notes visited Willow Wood last week.

This charming group of gentlemen had chosen Willow Wood as their charity of the year during 2016 and raised the wonderful amount of £600 by performing at community centres, care homes and to groups and organisations throughout the year.

Describing themselves as “a group of geriatric singers” they range in ages from mid 60’s to 80+ and have been performing for over 20 years, raising money for a different charity each year.

Day Services Lead Nicky Byrne was pleased to accept the cheque from John Love of the No Notes and said “Thank you for a wonderful mini-concert; we all really enjoyed it.And thanks even more for this donation, I can promise you that it will be put to good use.”

If you’re a member of a group or choir who could help Willow Wood in this way please get in touch with Chris our community engagement and events fundraiser on 0161 330 7788 – he’d love to hear from you.

Willow Wood Hospice would like to thank Selco Builders Warehouse for their very generous donation of a fully fitted brand new kitchen installed at Willow Wood’s Waterloo shop to cater for the increasingly popular coffee bar.

These high end units and work surfaces would have cost in the region of £1,300 and Gemma Coy, Willow Wood’s distribution centre manager said “Having previously worked for Selco I know how committed they are to raising funds for the Hospice, as we are their Charity of the Year.In fact, whilst still working there, I helped raise nearly £1,400 with a virtual triathlon.Staff at the Ashton, Ardwick and Baguley warehouses all got involved”.

Mark Owen, deputy manager of Selco’s Ashton warehouse takes up the story. “When Gemma said a new kitchen was needed we didn’t hesitate; it’s a really practical way for us to help.Mike Temple our kitchen designer liaised with Gemma and the units not only look fantastic but should last for years.”

The coffee bar serves light meals and snacks from breakfast time onwards, and is proving to be a great meeting place for the local residents.Indeed, as one of the shoppers said “It’s like a community centre here, we all just love coming”.The shop is conveniently located on Oldham Road and has its own forecourt car parking.Like all of Willow Wood’s shops it sells a variety of pre-loved goods, including clothes, books, accessories and much more. It even has a small furniture sales area!

Having this on-site resource enables us to offer an additional service to our patients, which can be very useful in their treatment plans.

The pool temperature is maintained at a constant 35^oC and a pleasant surrounding air temperature provides a lovely, warm, relaxing environment. Hoists and steps mean that the pool is accessible to all of our patients who can benefit from such treatments. Brid Hindley, one of our physiotherapists says “Hydrotherapy can be of huge value, and don’t worry if you’re not particularly confident in water. It’s less than a metre and a half deep and there’s always someone in the pool with you!”

The benefits include the reduction of muscle tension and pain relief, leading to relaxation and a reduction in stress. Gentle exercises become much easier when the body is supported, particularly where there is altered muscle tone, pain or difficulty in moving. The warmth of the water increases the blood flow, which in turn helps to rehabilitate damaged muscles or joints. As physiotherapist Chris Wells says “When your limbs are supported in water you begin to feel weightless. This can really help patients follow a series of planned exercises, specifically tailored to their needs”.

Hydrotherapy is just one of the physiotherapy treatments offered by the Willow Wood START Clinic.If you, or a member of your family has a life-limiting illness and could benefit from attending please ring 0161 330 1100 and ask for Day Services.

From the first interview with some of our housekeeping staff, Donna, June and Rachel, to the very last words from our chairman Pat McCloskey, the message across the airwaves was one of pride and commitment.As Donna said “I just love coming to work here, I love talking to the patients and the atmosphere is just great”.

One of our day patients, Nita spoke movingly to Scott Bruton, presenter of Tameside Today, about her experiences of Willow Wood, both as an In-patient for a couple of weeks in January and about her weekly therapy sessions since then – “Willow Wood gave me my life back.Knowing you are there for me has enriched my life.” Scott also took part in an arts and crafts session with volunteer Jacqui, and was thrilled to find out how to make a hedgehog from an old paperback book!

Louise Croombs, presenter of Tameside Radio’s breakfast show, was given a reflexology treatment by Pat, Willow Wood’s complementary therapy lead, and came out of the therapy room relaxed and walking on air.Louise also chatted to Janet, In-patient ward manager, one of the Hospice chaplains, Eddie Inglis and one of Willow Wood’s younger volunteers Fuad.

Fuad, who came to this country as a refuge in 2013, is currently studying at Ashton Sixth Form College, volunteering at our Stalybridge shop and still has had the time to win 10 medals in karate!He is an inspiration and Willow Wood is so proud that he freely gives his time and commitment as a volunteer.

The day ended with the radio presenters tucking into one of Willow Wood’s famous cream teas, which are available every Thursday afternoon between 2-4pm.

If you were listening to the broadcast and feel inspired to offer your support, why not come to our Volunteer Open Day this Thursday 16 March.Held at our distribution centre, Langham Street, Ashton, OL7 9AX between 10am and 3pm, it’ll give you the chance to meet existing volunteers, staff and find out just what opportunities are available.Or if you feel that you or a loved one could benefit from our services please ring 0161 330 1100 and ask for the START Clinic.

Dr Juliana had worked in Rio for 10 years, where she had an interest in geriatrics before moving to Sao Paulo and developing her career in palliative care, which she sees in many ways as a natural progression and actually describes as “beautiful medicine”. On first arriving at Willow Wood she was very surprised to see the lovely gardens, rooms and facilities, as she said: “It’s so lovely, like a hotel.However the atmosphere and energy at Willow Wood is the same as my Hospice in Sao Paulo – people are always amazed at the life and laughter when they walk through the door”.

Hospice care in England is much better established than in many other countries; it is still a relatively new concept in Brazil although it has been gaining ground over the last 20 years or so.

Dr Juliana was also surprised at the ratio of staff to patients here at Willow Wood. In her unit 14 doctors may see around 200 patients over a period of one month, whereas here medical director Dr Mike Tapley and his team of 14 doctors and 30 nurses might only see around 100 patients in that time.Of course, that means that there is a much better understanding of each patient as an individual, and that our care is very closely tailored to specific wants and needs.

One innovation that she was particularly impressed with, and hopes to instigate on her return to Brazil, is the Multi-Professional Tool Kit developed here at Willow Wood to aid communication.It’s a record not only for clinical staff to complete, but also for the patient to record their feelings, and wishes about their illness and their treatment.The patient holds this booklet and is able to update it at any time, thus ensuring that their requirements and aspirations are at the centre of any plans.

It’s been an intense and interesting few weeks, both for Dr Juliana and for the staff here at Willow Wood. This international interchange of ideas and shared experiences is vital to maintain our position at the forefront of Hospice care.

Willow Wood is proud to announce the latest development in their care; a mobile Community Hub which will bring information and support to the people of Tameside and Glossop in their local town centres.

Recent studies have shown that one in four people in the UK with life-limiting conditions are not receiving crucial care and support.The Community Hub aims to help address that by offering information, support and advice on our specialised services and how to access them.

Many people are not aware that, for example, they can self-refer to the START Clinic, which offers complementary therapies, men’s and women’s support groups, physiotherapy and much more to both patients and to their carers.The Hub will also address the misconception that Willow Wood is just for cancer patients.Willow Wood is here for those with heart and lung conditions, neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease or multiple sclerosis and other life-limiting illnesses.

The Community Hub has been fitted out to Willow Wood’s specifications.There is plenty of room for visitors to sit and chat about our services to Derek Thompson, our new support worker and driver.Derek, an ex-paramedic, is looking forward to the opportunity to meet people and let them know more about what Willow Wood can offer to them and their families.There is also a private cubicle for confidential discussions and possible future consultations as the service develops.

This addition to our services has only been made possible by the generosity of the Cheshire Freemasons, who have long supported the Hospice.When they heard Willow Wood was looking to buy and equip an outreach vehicle they didn’t hesitate to donate £25,000, which has covered over 90% of the costs

Karen Vallantine, head of clinical services said “It can be difficult to make people aware of the range of services and support we offer.By having this Willow Wood Community Hub we will be able to reach out to those who may not have been able to access information by more traditional methods.We are very excited about this extension of our services and so very, very grateful to the Cheshire Freemasons for helping us to achieve it”.

The Community Hub was officially launched at 11am on 13 September with a special presentation of the project to senior members of the Freemasons, local dignitaries and other interested parties. Colin Ross, the Provincial Grand Charity Steward was pleased to cut the ribbon and declare it open!

The Hub will be out and about throughout Tameside and Glossop during 2018. We’ll be keeping you up to date with the timetable in the New Year.