Author: bsa_mar

Staff and volunteers at Willow Wood are delighted to invite supporters back to their beautiful gardens on Saturday 9 July for the Butterfly Memory Release, a touching way to remember loved ones.

Event organiser Laura Marinelli said, “We are thrilled that we’re able to welcome everyone back to remember their loved ones this special way. Every life remembered is represented by a delicate Painted Lady, which will take flight from your hands into our wildlife friendly gardens.

“It is a wonderful spectacle as they open their wings and lift into the air before coming to rest on the flowers, many of which have been planted to provide food for the butterflies. It’s quite poignant in later months to see butterflies flitting in the gardens, and to wonder if they are descended from one you may have released in memory of a special person.

“If you’ve not heard of this before, you may wonder why the Hospice has chosen butterflies for this memorial event. It’s because, in folklore and myths throughout the world, butterflies are seen as a symbol for the soul. Indeed, the ancient Greek word for butterfly was the same as their word for the soul. And it’s not just in European myths; in Russian, Japanese, South American, Indian and Samoan tales butterflies are revered in the same way. So, it just seemed an appropriate and magical way to remember those who meant the world to you.”

The butterflies are released following a short blessing by Hospice chaplain Eddy Inglis, and it truly is a wonderful spectacle and a joyous way to commemorate loved ones.

The day also sees the Willow Wood Summer Fete. Lisa Buckley, newly appointed community and events fundraiser said, “I’m really looking forward to this and to the Summer Fete which runs alongside it. Although I’ve only been here a few weeks, I’ve really hit the ground running and I’m very busy organising stalls, entertainment and refreshments for the day.

“If you’re attending the Butterfly Release, you’ll be able to spend some time to reflect over a cream tea, light lunch or even a glass of Pimms’s! And if you want to shop, there’s a fantastic range of stalls with handcrafted items, accessories, wax melts and much more. It really is a lovely way to spend a Summer Saturday.”

To find out more about the Summer Fete and Butterfly Memory Release or to dedicate your butterflies online please click here. Alternatively, you can pick up a dedication from the Willow Wood reception or any of its eight shops.

We’ve only just completed our New Year celebrations, but Easter Eggs are already on sale – and Willow Wood are asking for your support with our Easter fundraising, the Bunny Hop.

The Bunny Hop took place last year for the first time raising around £40,000 and was, after the necessary cancellation of so many events, a huge boost for Hospice funds. Aimed at schools and nurseries, it was taken up very enthusiastically by thousands of local children who hopped round their schoolyards wearing the bunny ears provided by Willow Wood and took their certificates home with pride.

As well as the ears and certificates, the Hospice gives each child taking part a Cadbury’s Crème Egg as a thank you for their support, and this is where we’re asking for your help. Laura Marinelli, the event organiser said, “We’ve got 5,000 children signed up for this year, so if you could pop a couple of the treats into your shopping basket, we’d be so very grateful. They can be dropped off either at our reception or your nearest Willow Wood shop, and will really help our fundraising. We only suggest a donation of £1.50 for each child, so any eggs donated will mean more of the money raised will go directly to patient care.

“Of course, many of the children raise more by asking for sponsorship and I’d like to thank them, their families and all the schools and nurseries taking part.”

The Bunny Hop takes place throughout April and is an ideal way to introduce pupils to the concept of charities as a whole, and the important role Hospices play in our community. Willow Wood mascot Woody was so happy last year to visit as many of the organisations taking part as possible to thank the children personally and both he and Laura are looking forward to doing the same again this year.

Full information about the Bunny Hop is available here.

The first couple of months in the year are always a good time to take stock and to look ahead, with the start of 2022 having a more positive and upbeat feel than recent years. Why not take charge of that positivity and sign up for one of Willow Wood’s challenge events.

One to tick off the bucket list for many people is an abseil – and the Hospice can certainly help with that! Held this year on Saturday 23 April, participants will be rappelling down the four story high Village Hotel in Ashton. This iconic building dominates the landscape – can you imagine the view from the top? It really will be a challenge to take that first step over the edge, and you can sign up online at willowwood.org.uk.

And how about climbing Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales standing at 1,085 metres high (or 3,560 feet in old money!) Designated as a national nature reserve for the rare flora and fauna which can be found there, the Hospice will be taking the Llanberis Path which is generally considered to be the easiest to follow. However, it’s 14.5km there and back, so will take around six hours to complete. If it’s something you’ve always wanted to do, sign up to walk with Willow Wood and you can be helping others at the same time by raising sponsorship which will go to support patients and their families. So that’s another good reason to join!

If you’re looking for motivation to help you stick to your ‘must get fitter this year’ resolution, why not be part of the 100k in 100 day challenge. This can be achieved any way you want – you can jog, cycle, use a rowing machine or just walk the dog! It’s such an easy challenge to fit into your lifestyle, whether you prefer to do a 10k hike every weekend, or walk just 1k every day. There’s no charge to join, but Willow Wood is asking that you raise as much sponsorship as you can. The Hospice cares for thousands of local people every year and is only funded for about 20% of annual costs or to put it another way, eight out of ten patients are cared for by donations from within the community. By joining with fundraising events such as these, you are playing an incredibly important part in helping local people and Willow Wood is so very grateful for your support.

For more information or to join any of these fundraisers please go to our events diary – and if your bucket list includes a skydive, keep in touch! There’ll be information coming on that soon too.

Willow Wood, in partnership with the Hospice for the Oldham area, Dr Kershaw’s are holding a huge and very prestigious fundraiser in March this year – Strictly Dance.

“It’s going to be fantastic” said Willow Wood event organiser Laura Marinelli. “All 360 tickets sold in a matter of days, and we have a waiting list in case of cancellations – it really has caught people’s imaginations. However, in capturing the glitz and glamour of the original Strictly Come Dancing, we are obviously incurring some large expenses.

“It’s being held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham which is a fantastic venue for an event of this kind and as well as the ten couples competing on the dance floor, we’ll be having professional entertainers to make it a really wonderful evening out. Dinner and a drinks reception are included, there’ll be a professional videographer in attendance and a souvenir programme. As you can imagine, all this is costing the two Hospices many thousands.

“We’re looking for companies to help offset some of those costs. We have a number of different packages available, and there are also advertising opportunities starting at just £75 in the evening’s programme.

“So, if any companies out there are looking to ally themselves with a much-loved, high-profile local charity please get in touch! Together, Willow Wood and Dr Kershaw’s social media followers number well over 30,000 and our reach is many times greater than that. We also have regular event updates on local radio and will be putting out press releases about Strictly, so there are many opportunities to get your name and logo in front of potential customers.”

In addition, Willow Wood is also looking for luxury raffle prizes for the evening. Guy Salmon Land Rover, Stockport were the first to come on board with a Land Rover Experience Day and both Hospices are keen to get more companies involved.

Laura said “We’d be so grateful for offers of support and I’ll be happy to talk through the different options. By committing to sponsor part of our very special Strictly Dance fundraiser you will be helping our patients live their life to the fullest, supporting their loved ones and helping us develop our life-enhancing care.

“If you’d like to find out a little more about the sponsorship opportunities before getting in touch, please go to our Strictly webpage where you will find more information about the event and can download our full sponsorship proposal.”

As we all become more aware of the toll that fast fashion is taking on the world in general – the fashion industry is second only to the oil industry in terms of pollution –shopping in charity shops makes more sense than ever. Not only is it a great way to keep costs down, it’s a great way to reduce your impact on the planet and, by shopping in your local Willow Wood shop, you are also helping the Hospice care for the people of Tameside and Glossop.

Of course, it’s not just fashion. The Willow Wood shops are an ideal source of books, toys, household essentials, baby goods, furniture and more. And if you know someone who loves to browse around our shops then we have the ideal gift for you: the newly launched Charity Shop Gift Card. Sharon Hodgkiess, retail operations manager said: “If you’re a regular customer in our town centre shops, you’ll know just how good they are. Our community donates thousands of high quality items to us every week, and the large turnover means that there’s something different in stock every time you visit.

“So what better present than this newly launched Gift Card? It can be loaded with amounts starting at £20, and that £20 could outfit someone from head to toe. We’re thrilled to be the first North West charity to join this scheme. Not only does it encourage recycling of goods, but the card itself is fully compostable, a real plus if you’re concerned about the environment.”

The Gift Cards can be purchased from all the Willow Wood shops, please call in the next time you’re out and about to find out more. Or go to willowwood.org.uk/shops where you will find a link to buy online.

And if you’re looking for a Secret Santa gift, then the Willow Wood shops have a small range of brand-new low-cost buys ideal for popping under the tree. Sharon said: “We’ve got key-rings, purses and more, or alternatively, how about recycling one of our pre-loved jigsaws or board games? There’s also our reception gift shop with a much larger range including costume jewellery, hats, scarves, and even the specially produced Willow Wood Gin! It’s open until 8pm every day and, like our other shops, is also stocked with our Christmas cards and 2022 diaries, although I must point out that the Gift Cards cannot be used on new or sale items.

“If you’ve never shopped with us before, we’d love to see you.”

Once again Julie Goodyear MBE has stepped in to help Willow Wood, the hospice for Tameside and Glossop, raise much-needed funds to help their local community.

Miss Goodyear became a patron of Willow Wood in June this year, although she has long been a supporter of the Great Manchester hospice. Last year her wonderful donation of jewellery both personal and as worn in her role as the iconic Bet Lynch, raised over £16,000, which went directly to patient care.

Miss Goodyear said: “The amount raised was way beyond my expectations, and I was thrilled to be able to help the Hospice in this way.Willow Wood cares for up to 3,000 patients on their In-patient Unit every year, and offers life-enhancing care to many more with their Day Services.It’s a wonderful charity, and one I’ve been involved with since hearing about it from their founding patron, Roy Barraclough who I worked so closely with on Coronation Street.I was very proud when I was asked to represent the Hospice as a patron as the care they provide to their community is second to none.”

Vice-chair of Trustees, Mark Llewellin took up the conversation: “I’ve been involved with fundraising for Willow Wood from the very early days and, through my involvement with Coronation Street, I’ve counted Miss Goodyear as a close personal friend for many years.We were all delighted with the amount raised from the auction last year, and when she offered to donate 50 more lots for a second sale were over the moon.”

The star item this year is a beautiful ball gown, with a white tulle skirt and black satin bodice, which Miss Goodyear wore to the Coronation Street 50th Anniversary Ball, held at the Hilton Hotel, Manchester.As you would expect, there is a liberal sprinkling of sequins on the gown which comes with a matching wrap and a photo of Miss Goodyear wearing the gown.Other lots in the auction include earrings presented to Miss Goodyear when she and Roy Barraclough switched on the Blackpool illuminations in 1990 and jewellery worn in the iconic ‘Pal’s’ scene with Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox).

“A number of our day patients had great fun modelling some of the lots, as did a number of our volunteers and staff” said Mark, “and the photos are shown on the Willow Wood website – our thanks to them for taking part.”

Mark continued: “The sale itself will be held on Ebay, starting at 12 noon on Sunday 14 November and will run for 10 days.So, if you’re looking for a Christmas present for a Corrie enthusiast, I can’t think of anything better than a piece of jewellery worn behind the bar at the Rover’s Return.And if you’re a fan of Miss Goodyear then treat yourself and support an amazing charity which helps so many live their best possible life.She would be thrilled to bits if we could top last year’s total! The catalogue is available to peruse now at willowwood.org.uk/JulieGoodyear so go online and make a note of the items you would love to own.”

Light Up a Life had long been a fixture in the Willow Wood calendar; so many supporters welcomed the opportunity to leave a message of love and remembrance for those no longer with us. However, the last couple of years have clearly shown just how much we need to maintain and to nurture links with family and friends and how important that interaction is for our wellbeing.

The Hospice therefore has extended the Christmas themed event, and our newly christened Lights of Love is still here to remember lost loved ones, but also to reach out to close friends and family who may be living overseas, working away from home or who, for whatever reason, are no longer in regular contact.

Willow Wood’s chaplain, Eddy Inglis said: “I think we’ve all seen the effects enforced separation has had, we all need interaction with loved ones to flourish and to thrive. Special occasions such as Christmas and the New Year are times when we want to reach out to each other and if we can’t physically embrace our nearest and dearest, then we can help reach out with a message of love.

“By dedicating a light on our Tree of Lights, by leaving a message in our online Lights of Love Book, you are reaching out to those special people, sharing your love and knowing that they will be able to read those messages whenever they need to feel that connection, that special, loving bond. It is a simple but meaningful way to share love, friendship – even to give each other a virtual hug.

“And you’re not just leaving messages or sharing memories, by taking part in Lights of Love you are helping to ensure that future memories can be made for our patients and their loved ones. Your donations are ensuring that our specialised services can continue into the future, your loving messages are improving the lives of our patients and for that, we thank you.”

Two celebratory carol services will be held, one at Glossop Parish Church on Tuesday 7 December and the second at the Albion Church in Ashton on Sunday 12 December. These are free to attend and featuring choirs, brass bands are a joyful way to mark the start of the festive season.

To leave a message in the online Book please go to willowwood.org.uk/lightsoflove where you will find full information.

On Friday 15 July Willow Wood received a donation from the Sajjad Foundation – and it was truly delicious! Sajjadur Rahman, his wife Saleha, daughter Nabilah, and daughter-in-law Hannah visited the Hospice with Cllr Joyce Bowerman to present a selection of spicy delicacies to staff and volunteers. This was to mark Eid al-Adha, traditionally a time of giving and helping those in need.

The Sajjad Foundation is only four months old, and has been set up to formalise the charity work that the whole family are involved in. Last year to celebrate Eid they donated meals to We Shall Overcome, based at the Station Hotel in Ashton, to help feed the homeless in the area During Ramadan and while fasting, Sajjadur ran 150k over 30 days, raising the magnificent total of £4,000 which was divided between three local charities. They are also supporting 60 families in Bangladesh following last month’s floods.

Karen Houlston, chief executive of Willow Wood said, “It was wonderful to meet Sajjadur and his family today, and to find out a little more about their work. We were very proud that they chose to the Hospice, and I can assure you that our staff enjoyed the samosas, bhajis and salad immensely.

“We took the opportunity to give a brief tour round the Hospice and our gardens, and to explain a little more about our services to the community of Tameside and Glossop. We hope that this is just the start of a long and mutually beneficial relationship.”

This National Volunteers Week, 1-7 June, Willow Wood is celebrating the part its volunteers play in keeping the Tameside and Glossop Hospice at the forefront of Hospice care.

Mark Llewellin, vice-chair of the Board of Trustees, explains, “As we are gradually returning to normal our volunteers are once more taking up their roles throughout the Hospice. Although we are still not yet up to full strength, last month alone we calculated that, at minimum wage, our volunteers saved us around £60,000. And as a number of our volunteers work in highly skilled areas such as Health & Safety or Complementary Therapies and others mentor us in specialist skills, the true figure would be much higher!

“Without our volunteers there is no doubt that we would not be able to maintain and develop our specialised and loving care to our patients and their loved ones.”

Lisa Pye, volunteer services manager, agrees. “Our volunteers work in every area of the Hospice. The very first person you will meet if you walk through our doors will be a volunteer receptionist. The skills, professionalism and dedication of our nearly 600 strong team are something we are very proud of, and their commitment was recognised back in 2016 with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service – the equivalent of the MBE for volunteer groups.

“On Saturday we held a tea party for those volunteers who had completed five, ten, fifteen, twenty and even twenty-five years of service with us where they received their long service award. And this week myself, members of the senior management team and board members will be out and about every day thanking our volunteers personally and handing out specially baked cupcakes.

“Of course, there is always room at the Hospice for more volunteers. As we continue to expand and develop our services, we also need more support. Whether working in Willow Wood itself, helping at fundraising events or serving in our shops, there are plenty of opportunities, details of which can be found online at willowwood.org.uk.”

This week is not the only time that volunteers are celebrated. Later in the year the Hospice holds a massive party and this year will be the first one since 2019. “We’re hoping to make this the biggest and best party ever” said Mark “and for the first time this year we are looking for local businesses to sponsor the party. Whether you can help cover the costs of dressing the room, the refreshments, or even become a headline sponsor we would be very grateful. Again, you can find information on costs and benefits on our website. But in the meantime, please join us in paying thanks to our wonderful team of volunteers. They are simply the best.”