Category: Donations

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Stalybridge couple’s devotion to Willow Wood Hospice inspires legacy giving

A Stalybridge couple who have volunteered at Willow Wood Hospice for over 15 years are helping to secure its future for generations to come by leaving a gift in their Will.

Joanne and Chris Hinds, both 62 and married for 27 years, first walked through the Hospice’s doors in 2006 when Joanne’s auntie Beryl received care there. It was during that time they met Beryl’s driver, Cyril, who ran the Hospice’s Coffee Mornings with his wife Barbara.

Joanne and Chris attended one of the events and were instantly inspired to support.

“If we can’t give up two hours a month to help, we need speaking to!” Joanne and Chris chuckled.

What began as helping out soon turned into something much bigger. Joanne and Chris became part of a team of volunteers who run the Coffee Mornings, who have become a community of friends, and the couple have since supported the Hospice in other ways.

Joanne served as a Receptionist for many years, while Chris is now a trustee. Together, they organise regular quizzes and two much-loved annual fundraising events – The Last Night of the Proms and the Festival of Christmas Music – which have raised thousands of pounds in vital funds for patient care.

Over the years, they have seen first-hand the impact of hospice care on patients and families from Tameside and Glossop.

Having known many people who have needed the Hospice’s services, Joanne and Chris wanted to do their bit to help ensure its essential care remains available long into the future.

“A few years ago, we were discussing Wills and we thought about leaving something for Willow Wood,” Jo explained. “Starting to think about life after death is an emotive subject and it can be difficult. The hardest part about making a Will is deciding what you want to do, particularly as a couple without children.”

Chris added: “We’re leaving a gift as a percentage of our estate. Even just one per cent can make a massive difference and leaves the bulk of someone’s Will to their loved ones. Today is always the right time to think about making your Will.”

Gifts in Wills fund the care of one in five patients at Willow Wood and are vital in providing compassionate, specialist and dignified care now and for future generations.

“Unfortunately the Hospice’s services aren’t fully funded so it’s reassuring to know that by leaving a gift in our Wills will help care for others – it’s our legacy to our community,” said Chris.

‘Anyone can leave a legacy’

Willow Wood Hospice has joined forces with 127 hospices across England, Scotland and Wales as part of the This Is Hospice Care campaign, encouraging local people to consider leaving a gift in their Will.

New data from Hospice UK reveals that gifts in Wills are the lifeline keeping the country’s hospices open, funding the equivalent of 400,000 nights of hospice care every year. However, 59% of the public are unaware that hospices like Willow Wood provide services free of charge.

It costs around £10,000 a day to keep the Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne running. As a charity independent of the NHS, Willow Wood receives just 24 per cent of its annual funding from the government. The remainder comes from the generosity of the community – through gifts in Wills, donations, fundraising events, charity shop purchases, the weekly lottery, and volunteering.

Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “At Willow Wood Hospice, we’re here for our community, whether it’s supporting a partner to provide care at home, helping a loved-one process grief, or providing dignified and compassionate end-of-life care.

“Gifts in Wills make all of this possible, helping to fund the care of one in five of our patients. These legacy gifts ensure that vital support is there, not just for the person who is receiving hospice care, but for those closest to them.”

Catherine Bosworth, Director of Income Generation and Grants at Hospice UK, added: “Our ageing population means demand for hospice care will only continue to grow, so it’s vital that we do what we can to secure hospice care now. A gift in your will to a hospice doesn’t require parting with your money today, anyone can leave a legacy.”

For Joanne and Chris, the decision simply felt right.

After 15 years of unwavering dedication, their legacy will ensure Willow Wood Hospice can continue to care for local families when they need it most.

For more information about leaving a gift in your Will to Willow Wood Hospice, visit willowwood.org.uk/giftsinwills

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Drop off your clothes for Willow Wood in Tintwistle

Tintwistle Climate Emergency Campaign – supported by Tintwistle Village Club and Tintwistle Parish Council – is launching a clothing appeal in January 2026. 

You can help the Hospice raise vital funds and keep items from landfill by donating your clean, good quality adult and children’s clothing.

Simply drop off your items at the Parish Council offices on Sexton Street, off New Road (SK13 1JN) on these dates:

Saturday mornings: 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st January – 10am to 1pm

Tuesday mornings: 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th January – 10am to 11am

Wednesday mornings: 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th January – 10am to midday

Coat hangers would also be welcomed, but shoes, toys and homewares cannot be accepted. Please take items only during the hours stated above.

Email tintwistle.climate@gmail.com with any queries.

Thank you for your support.

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Young sisters whisk up support for Willow Wood

Three determined young fundraisers from Stalybridge have raised an impressive £901 for the Hospice through a community bake sale.

Sisters Hazel and Elizabeth Capper, along with their friend Ivy Brownridge, brought the neighbourhood together with traybakes, gingerbread, and homemade crafts, all in aid of patient care at Willow Wood.

With generous donations from Heyrod Village Store and plenty of help from friends and family, the girls turned their home into a hub of delicious treats.

A huge handmade sign outside the house and buzz across the local Neighbourhood Watch group helped draw in visitors.

The girls’ stall offered more than sweet treats – there were also craft items for sale, adding a creative touch to the fundraiser.

The Capper family are no strangers to giving back. This marks the third time the girls have held a charity bake sale – the first before Covid for Alzheimer’s Support, the second in 2023 for Cancer Research, and now for Willow Wood.

It’s a cause close to their hearts, as grandparents John and Pam Capper volunteer for the Hospice – helping to organise our popular fortnightly Dementia Café and supporting with collecting cans in the community.

Elizabeth, a pupil at Longdendale High School, and Hazel and Ivy, who attend Stalyhill Junior School, were recognised for their efforts with a special visit to the Mayor’s Parlour on Friday 20th June after being nominated by their local councillor, Liam Billington.

Lucy Ta’ati, our Community and Events Fundraiser, personally thanked the girls and reminded them just how vital their support is.

“We need to raise around £3.6 million each year to keep the Hospice running,” she said. “Community fundraisers like this are absolutely essential.”

The girls received certificates of achievement from the Civic Mayor of Tameside, Councillor Shibley Alam, who is also supporting the Hospice during her year in office as one of her chosen charities.

They were joined by their proud father Tim, as well as the Civic Mayor’s Consort Mohammed Khairul Alam.

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Waterloo News hops to it for Willow Wood

Our heartfelt thanks go out to the team behind Waterloo News, who have once again shown amazing community spirit by supporting our Bunny Hop fundraiser.

Established in 2019 to provide residents in the Waterloo area of Ashton-under-Lyne with local updates, Waterloo News is a Facebook page run by dedicated locals Dave Howarth and Lee Woods.

Before Covid, they took over the page with a mission to not only share local news but also support good causes in the community.

Their efforts are further strengthened by Emma Jones from Perry Jones Funeral Services, located just a stone’s throw from our Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre, and close to our Waterloo shop.

Together, this dedicated team has been key in gathering Creme Egg donations for our Bunny Hop fundraiser for three consecutive years.

This year, they collected an impressive 445 eggs, bringing their overall total to over 1,400 eggs – which is also testament to the generosity of the wider Waterloo community.

The sweet treats are given to every child taking part as a reward for hopping for the Hospice.

“The Hospice’s Waterloo shop is local to us and we want to support local businesses and organisations as best we can,” said Dave.

Emma added: “I’m very aware of the donations the Hospice relies on to keep going and it’s great that we can support an organisation that’s very local to us.”

We are grateful for their ongoing support, which makes a difference to our fundraising efforts. Thank you to Dave, Lee and Emma – you truly embody the spirit of community!

To learn more about our Bunny Hop fundraiser and how you can get involved, click here.

EGG-CELLENT: Pictured are Emma Jones (left) from Perry Jones Funeral Services and Dave Howarth from Waterloo News (centre) delivering some Creme Eggs to Kellie Moulton, our Waterloo shop manager. 

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Help Willow Wood crack Creme Egg target

Willow Wood Hospice is appealing for donations of Creme Eggs to reward local children taking part in its Bunny Hop Easter fundraiser.

Last year, a w-hopping 7,000 bunnies took a leap of love, raising nearly £49,000 by donning bunny ears to hop, skip and jump around playgrounds, halls and parks across Tameside and Glossop.

The Hospice is looking for individuals, groups and companies who can donate as many Creme Eggs as they can, to help reach the target of 8,000.

The chocolate treats can be dropped off at the Hospice reception on Willow Wood Close, off Mellor Road in Ashton-under-Lyne (postcode OL6 6SL), or at any of the Hospice’s charity shops. A full list of locations can be found at https://willowwood.org.uk/shop-locations/

There is also the option of purchasing Creme Eggs online, such as via Amazon, and having them delivered directly to the Hospice, via the address above, for the attention of Tracey Schofield.

To ensure they reach the children once they have completed the challenge, the Hospice needs the eggs by Friday 14th March 2025.

Anyone who is unable to physically donate items but still wants to get involved can make a cash donation, which will sponsor the children taking part in the Bunny Hop, through a simple online form at https://willowwood.org.uk/events/bunny-hop/

The Hospice’s very own Easter Bunny, Tracey Schofield, said: “Last year, we raised a record amount for our Bunny Hop since it first launched in 2021 and we would love to top that this year.

“If you have not signed up yet, there’s still time and it’s free to join in. Every child taking part will receive an Easter activity pack, a cute snap wristband, a sweet treat and, of course, the all-important bunny ears. All we ask in return is that every bunny hops to raise funds for Willow Wood Hospice.

“We need as many Creme Eggs as possible and every contribution, however small, will make a difference to children who are raising funds to support patients from the local community with a life-limiting illness. We appreciate your generosity.”

Any school, nursery or children’s group that wishes to take part in the Willow Wood Bunny Hop can still sign up, by emailing tracey.schofield@willowwood.org.uk or calling 0161 330 7788.

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Hospice shops appeal for winter clothing

Willow Wood Hospice’s shops are in desperate need of winter clothing to help keep the community warm during the colder months.

The Hospice’s eight shops across Tameside and Glossop are looking for donations of winter essentials – such as jumpers, shirts, skirts, dresses, trousers, hats, gloves, scarves and coats, which are in good condition.

Donations would be gratefully received by dropping them off at any of the shops during their opening hours.

Find your nearest Willow Wood Hospice shop at https://willowwood.org.uk/shop-locations/

UK taxpayers can also make their donations worth an extra 25 per cent, at no extra cost to them, by filling out a basic form when dropping off donations to sign up to Gift Aid.

Pauline Lunt, Head of Retail at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “Winter is coming and we really need your help to support our local community during one of the toughest times of the year.

“Our shops rely on generous donations to keep the shelves stocked. Any donations of winter clothes will be sold on to be loved again, helping to recycle and reduce waste, but also raise much-needed funds to support patients from your local community who need our expert care at Willow Wood Hospice.

“Thank you so much for your continued support, which really makes a difference.”

The Hospice’s eight shops across Tameside and Glossop are appealing for donations of winter clothes.

Lillie Winterbottom, the Hospice’s Communications and Marketing Manager, has already done her bit by donating her pre-loved clothes after having a clear-out at home.

She said: “I realised I had loads of clothes in my wardrobe and drawers that I’ll never fit into again, and I had to ask myself why on earth I was holding onto them!

“So, I had a proper sort-out and took all the good-quality items down to the Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre in Ashton. From there, they’ll be sent to our shops to be sold.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that the funds raised from my wardrobe clear-out will go directly towards helping care for Willow Wood Hospice patients.”

Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Willow Wood Hospice – based in Ashton-under-Lyne – needs at least £3.3 million every year to continue operating and around 80 per cent of those costs have to be raised through the generosity of the local community.

Anyone who would like to give the gift of their time by volunteering in any of the Hospice shops can express their interest at https://willowwood.org.uk/hospice-volunteering/interest/

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Shop volunteer Stella shows ‘unusual’ find some love

With an eye for quality and a passion for discovering hidden history, our Glossop shop volunteer Stella Quinn knows a thing or two about jewellery. 

During her Friday and Saturday afternoon shifts, Stella meticulously processes donations of bric-a-brac and jewellery, pricing them up and stocking them on the shelves.

She was sorting through one particular bag of costume jewellery donated recently when one item immediately stood out, much to her excitement.

“I just happened to come across an oval locket, it was absolutely stunning,” explained Stella.

“It could have possibly come from a house clearance. I noticed straight away that it was a much older item.

“I know about jewellery and collect some myself. It was just so unusual. The rim was gold metal but not hallmarked.

“It was a miniature of a sailor and his love, with a ship in the background and he’s handing her a bag of money. On the reverse was plaited hair, which was the norm for a love token. It would have been the hair of your best beloved. The couple were in typical Georgian dress in the painting on the front of the locket.

“It was probably earlier than the Victorian age because the style of the dress is Regency and it wasn’t a mourning item because they were almost always black. Victorian jewellery would tend to be black often with plaited hair, based on items worn by Queen Victoria.

“It wouldn’t be something that you could really wear in this day and age, unless you’re dressed for it. But it’s a great item for a collector.”

The love token, around two inches by 1.5 inches in size, is believed to be from circa 1820 to 1840.

The front (left) and back of the locket that was donated to our Glossop shop

Recognising there could be more to the locket than meets the eye, Stella decided to explore online to see if she could get an auctioneer to value it – and her endeavours were worthwhile.

“I discovered Adam Partridge Auctioneers and Valuers, based in Devon, and they were really enthusiastic about it.

“They gave it a basic valuation of between £150 to £200 and also said that they don’t charge charities commission which is really good. They were exceptionally helpful.

“They said anything of that age, like a miniature, would be painted on ivory so we had to get an ivory exemption certificate which for the size of the locket was around £20. They sold it for us and we got £100 for it which was fantastic. I didn’t have a reserve on it, so that was fine.

“It was a real learning curve because I hadn’t taken anything to an auction house before. I certainly would consider it for future donations.”

Stella, who lives in Simmondley, has volunteered in our Glossop shop for around six years.

The former teaching assistant, who worked with students with special educational needs for around 30 years, wanted to support the Hospice after our teams cared for her husband when he was ill.

Stella finds great joy in using her inquisitive mind to really make a difference.

“You never know what you’re going to find when you open a bag of donations and that’s the beauty of it,” she shared.

“In any donation, you can find a piece of silver or occasionally gold. You can’t discount it so you’ve got to look – I always carry a little lens in my pocket, just in case.”

Well done Stella, here’s to unearthing more gems!

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Travel agency’s garden gift helps hospice grow

We are truly grateful to Clarity Travel Management for donating £1,000 worth of gardening equipment to the Hospice.

Staff from the global business travel agency – which has a head office in Manchester – recently volunteered their time with us and were blown away by our stunning gardens.

Steve Riley, Executive Director of Operations, lives in Stalybridge and has family members who have needed the Hospice’s vital services.

After receiving a positive impression and a warm welcome when he visited Willow Wood, Steve and his colleagues wanted to do something to help make a difference.

As well as gifting us brooms, shears, watering cans and an array of other tools for our gardeners to use, the firm has also pledged to donate scaffolding planks and wooden pallets, and support the Hospice in the future.

Our Head Gardener, Sophie Cordingley, said: “We really appreciate the fantastic donation and the generosity of Clarity Travel Management – we cannot thank them enough.

“This high-quality equipment will make such a difference and we will start putting it to good use immediately. It will make everything so much easier for us as a garden team.”

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Ashton shop manager speaks to Tameside Radio

The manager of our Ashton-under-Lyne shop, Denise Royle, has been speaking to Tameside Radio’s Alex Cann about how you can support the Hospice through our shops. 

The interview was first aired on the Breakfast show on Monday 5th February.

If you missed their chat, you can listen below…