Category: Third party supporters

Posted on by

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.

Posted on by

Hospice teams up with theatre behind the scenes

We’ve loved working with Guide Bridge Theatre on their recent production of The Odd Couple.

Our Retail team has been speaking with Vicky from the theatre’s volunteer coordinators team since November to help supply props for their performances – including a table, chairs, and a glass cabinet pictured from the latest show.

By renting selected items from our shops at a much-lower cost than specialist prop hire companies, the Audenshaw theatre saves money and storage space, as well as accessing unique, period-appropriate pieces.

Once the show ends, we simply collect the items and return them to our shops, ready to be sold.

It’s a collaborative way to support a brilliant local theatre, promote sustainability, and raise vital funds for the Hospice.

We’re looking forward to seeing this little project develop!

“This partnership is a win-win,” Vicky said. “We often need unique items to help bring our stories to life on stage — from vintage armchairs to quirky lamps. Being able to source these from Willow Wood Hospice means we can do so affordably, while also contributing to an incredibly worthwhile cause.”

Paul King, our Warehouse and Logistics Manager, added:  “We’re thrilled to be working with Guide Bridge Theatre. It’s wonderful to see our donated goods taking on a second life on stage, helping to tell meaningful stories and entertain local audiences, all while raising funds for hospice care. It’s a beautiful example of community collaboration in action.”

The next Guide Bridge Theatre production is Agatha Christie’s A Murder Is Announced, which opens on Monday, July 28, and organisers hint that several pieces sourced through the new initiative will feature prominently.

Pictured is a scene from The Odd Couple production and our furniture collection van parked outside the theatre.

Posted on by

Students turn style into support for Willow Wood

The cafeteria at Clarendon Sixth Form College was recently transformed into a vibrant hub of creativity and compassion, as first-year Level 3 Fashion and Textiles students hosted their very own Fashion Show and Sample Sale — all in support of Willow Wood Hospice.

From concept to catwalk, the entire event was organised, styled and modelled by the talented students themselves. Their passion and professionalism shone through every outfit and every detail.

Held on Friday 6th June, the event was open to all students and staff at the college based in Ashton-under-Lyne town centre.

The afternoon concluded with a PrettyLittleThing sample sale featuring one-of-a-kind pieces — raising over £575 in just one hour!

Our Head of Retail Pauline Lunt, Director of Fundraising and Communications Sam Duncan, Glossop shop manager Caroline Lillis, and Stalybridge shop manager Julie Wilson were all proud to attend and show their support.

Pauline said: “It was absolutely fantastic to see the creativity and energy the students brought to the event. The amount they raised in such a short time is truly impressive, and we’re so grateful for their support. A huge thank you to all the students and staff for choosing to support patient care at Willow Wood – we’re incredibly touched.”

The students had such a fantastic time that they’re already thinking about doing it again — so watch this space for more fashion and fundraising in the future!

Olivia Kitchen, fashion and textiles student at Clarendon Sixth Form College, said: “The event was amazing and it was great to raise so much money. I found the event gave me an insight into the industry and how fast paced it can be. It was a thrill to be modelling and working backstage and it helped me to realise this is the side of the industry I would like to go into. Considering we only had a few days to plan this event between us, I feel like we pulled it off fabulously. This project has tested our time management skills and allowed us to work as a group.”

Ryan Boulton, fashion and textiles teacher at Clarendon Sixth Form College, said: “I’m incredibly proud of the students for what they achieved with this project. They took full ownership of the task and their creativity, professionalism and teamwork really shone through. Not only did they raise a fantastic amount for a brilliant local cause, which many people in Tameside feel a connection to, but they also gained real world experience that will benefit them hugely as they move forward in their careers.”

Posted on by

Children from Stalybridge school make pilgrimage to Willow Wood

Pupils and staff from St Peter’s Catholic Primary School with staff from Willow Wood in the Hospice gardens.

Pupils from St Peter’s Catholic Primary School in Stalybridge have embarked on a ‘pilgrimage’ from the school to Willow Wood Hospice.

Twenty-eight children from Year Four walked from the school on Hough Hill Road to the Hospice in Ashton-under-Lyne, which took around 40 minutes, on Wednesday 7th May.

They were warmly greeted by Willow Wood’s staff and volunteers and, after having refreshments, pupils Keeva Gallagher and Evelyn McGrath presented the Hospice’s Director of Fundraising and Communications, Sam Duncan, with a special candle.

The youngsters also had a look at the Hospice’s beautiful gardens before walking back to school.

Every 25 years, the Catholic Church holds a Jubilee year and all members of the Church family participate in the holy year.

To mark the occasion, every class at St Peter’s has chosen somewhere to make a pilgrimage to and Year Four decided to choose Willow Wood Hospice – which provides free specialist, compassionate and dignified care to patients living with any life-limiting illness in Tameside and Glossop.

Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising and Communications, receives the candle from Keeva and Evelyn at Willow Wood Hospice.
Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising and Communications, receives the candle from Keeva and Evelyn at Willow Wood Hospice.

Sinead Barber, class teacher and Deputy Headteacher, explained: “This year is the Catholic year of the Jubilee and the theme is Pilgrims of Hope, that we become Pilgrims of Hope and during this sacred year everybody is encouraged to make a pilgrimage to a sacred place to reaffirm their faith.

“So our Year 4 class have walked to Willow Wood. It was a lovely walk on a sunny day and we had lots of volunteer helpers. Lots of the parents came along to support us as well which is really nice.

“As a school, we want to bring the community into school and go out into the community as well.

“The candle we have presented symbolises that Jesus is the light of the world. The candle and the light is a symbol of hope.”

The school has supported the Hospice previously – their Choir have sung at our Garden of Lights celebration evenings in the lead-up to Christmas and, more recently, at our Dementia Café.

Pupils have taken part in our Bunny Hop campaign at Easter – hopping around the school playground to raise funds for the Hospice.

They have also supported Willow Wood through their Christmas productions when they sell programmes and other items.

Lucy Ta’ati, Community Events and Engagement Fundraiser, said: “We were truly touched by the children’s visit and their thoughtful gesture.

“It’s incredibly heartwarming to see young people actively supporting their community and taking an interest in what we do at the Hospice.

“Their candle gift was a beautiful symbol, and we’re so grateful to St Peter’s for their continued support.”

Posted on by

Flower Festival blooms again at Willow Wood with magical success

Hundreds of visitors visited the ninth annual Flower Festival at Willow Wood Hospice across a sun-soaked weekend to experience the spellbinding sights and floral delights.

The event has already raised over £6,000 towards patient care at the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, with more money still to come in.

Guests who came on Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11, wandered through an enchanting array of 21 floral displays which followed the theme of the magical world of Harry Potter.

The wizarding world of Hogwarts was reflected – from the Ministry of Magic and Quidditch, to The Prisoner of Azkaban and even Professor Pomona Sprout’s Herbology Class.

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.

The festival was officially opened on Saturday morning by Hospice patron Ellie Leach – a former Coronation Street star and Strictly Come Dancing champion – who cut the ribbon.

Adding an extra touch of Harry Potter magic on Saturday was Bill Andrew — the real-life driver of the Hogwarts Express in all seven films — who shared stories from behind the scenes and signed books and photos for delighted fans.

Visitors also enjoyed posing for photos with life-sized cutouts of Harry Potter characters, generously donated by Star Cutouts UK, which were available to buy at the end of the weekend to raise additional funds for the Hospice.

There were also refreshments served by a band of volunteers 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.

Outside in the Hospice’s picturesque gardens, guests basked in the beautiful weather while enjoying live music from the Mossley Ukulele Group and Mike Styan and friends on Saturday, and the Sounds Familiar Ukulele Band on Sunday.

The festival is organised by a committee of dedicated volunteers, comprising Eileen Smith, Ann Fee, Pauline Giblin, Christine Lucas, Sheila Redfearn, Lorraine Vaughton, Moya Evans and Pam Chadwick.

Speaking on behalf of the Flower Festival Committee, Eileen said: “It was an amazing weekend and the weather was glorious. We’re so grateful to everyone who came along to support the festival. A special thank you to our Willow Wood patron Ellie Leach for opening the event, and to Bill Andrew for travelling from Crewe to share his unique Hogwarts stories.

“We would also like to thank everyone who helped in any way — from arranging flowers and sponsoring displays, to working in the kitchen and manning the stalls. A big shoutout goes to Jeanette, Christine and John who work all year to handcraft cards, cushions, and wooden gifts — donating 100 per cent of their takings to Willow Wood.”

As the petals settle on another successful festival, the committee will soon start looking ahead to next year’s event — which will mark the 10th edition of this much-loved community celebration.

It costs £3.6 million a year for Willow Wood Hospice to continue providing its vital services to deliver compassionate care to patients from Tameside and Glossop with a life-limiting illness.

With only around 24 per cent of that total coming from the Government, the Hospice relies on the generosity of the community by making donations; organising or supporting fundraising events; donating or buying goods to its charity shops; leaving gifts in Wills; joining the weekly lottery or volunteering.

If you would like to organise your own fundraiser for Willow Wood, the Hospice’s Fundraising team can support you – contact fundraising@willowwood.org.uk or call 0161 330 7788.

Posted on by

Music with a mission at Dukinfield pub

A MUSIC festival organised by a local pub raised the roof over the Bank Holiday weekend in aid of Willow Wood Hospice.

The Angel Inn in Dukinfield held the two-day event christened ‘Angel Fest’ for the second successive year.

Last year’s event raised over £2,000 for the Hospice – based in Ashton-under-Lyne, which provides compassionate and dignified care to patients with any life-limiting illness from Tameside and Glossop. 

The pub hoped to raise an even bigger total this year and have achieved it, with the final amount confirmed as £3,098.99. 

Landlady Dawn Woodhouse chose to support Willow Wood, where a family member was cared for, and after a number of customers expressed to her how vital the hospice’s services are for the community.

One of the acts on stage during this year’s Angel Fest

 Lucy Ta’ati, our Community Fundraiser, said: “Our heartfelt thanks go to Dawn and the team at The Angel Inn for their incredible support and generosity. 

“Events like Angel Fest show the true spirit of community and raise vital funds that help us continue providing compassionate care to local people with life-limiting illnesses. 

“We’re truly grateful for everyone who supported the event and helped make the weekend such a fantastic success.”

For the event, the beer garden at the King Street establishment was decked out in multi-coloured bunting and a full stage set-up, courtesy of Mick and Kev from J&J Transport. 

Entertainment was in full swing on Saturday (3rd May) and Sunday (4th May) – provided by Si Peddle, Carl Morris, Dale, Flashbax, the Rockerfellas and many more. 

There was plenty of festival fun both indoors and outdoors, including Mel and Pete’s Karaoke, and games such as a charity 501 darts competition – with a fantastic malt whisky prize donated by Philip and Mary Cox. 

Food stalls selling burgers, hot dogs, candy floss and more kept everyone fed, and there was a charity auction. 

Posted on by

Magical experience ahead at Willow Wood Flower Festival

Fans of Harry Potter are in for a treat as that’s the adopted theme for this year’s fundraising floral fundraiser event.

The much-anticipated Flower Festival returns to Willow Wood Hospice in 2025 for the ninth year, on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May.

Guided by a dedicated committee comprising Eileen Smith, Ann Fee, Sheila Redfern, Christine Lucas, Pauline Giblin, Judith Scott, Bernice Woodward and Lorraine Vaughton, this cherished annual event promises to be as vibrant as ever.

This year’s festival will be inspired by the theme of the magical world of Harry Potter. Throughout the weekend, visitors can immerse themselves in captivating displays, crafted by both individuals and groups.

While leisurely exploring the stunning exhibits, you can bask in the serenity of the Hospice’s picturesque gardens. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the showcased displays, adding a touch of beauty to their homes while making a difference to patients in our care.

The event will also include some life-sized Harry Potter cardboard cutouts to grab your photograph with, donated by Audenshaw business Star Cutouts Ltd. The licensed cutouts feature a range of Harry Potter characters that can be ordered online at mycardboardcutout.co.uk.

Members of the Flower Festival Committee and Lucy, our Community Fundraiser, with some familiar faces from the Harry Potter series

Star Cutouts Managing Director, Ian Ravey, said: “We thought it would be really nice to support Willow Wood Hospice and it’s an organisation I have had experience with, because they looked after my brother before he died. They rely on charitable donations so it is always good to help when we can.”

The cutouts – which normally cost around £40 each – will also be available to buy at the end of the festival by making a donation to the Hospice.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be bringing the magic of Harry Potter to this year’s Flower Festival,” said the Willow Wood Hospice Flower Festival Committee.

“A huge thank you to Star Cutouts for their generous donation of the fantastic life-sized Harry Potter cutouts – they’ll add a fun element to the weekend, and we’re so grateful for their support in helping us raise vital funds for the Hospice.”

Bill Andrew, the driver of the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter films, will also be bringing lots of photos and signing copies of the books on the first day of the festival.

The Flower Festival will be open on Saturday 10th May from 10am to 4pm and Sunday 11th May from 11am to 4pm. Entry will be £3.50, with proceeds going to Willow Wood Hospice. Admission is free for children aged 12 or under. Light refreshments will also be available.

Parking at Willow Wood Hospice is restricted to patients, families, Blue Badge holders and the workforce. Alternative parking is available nearby at the Darnton Road Pay & Display car park (postcode OL6 6RL).

If you would like more information about the Flower Festival or you are interested in buying a cutout, please contact Eileen Smith on 07799 172 313.

Posted on by

Place of Welcome has a cracking time supporting Willow Wood

There were smiles all around as a self-funded community group in Ashton-under-Lyne helped to raise over £400 for Willow Wood Hospice this Easter.

Based at St Gabriel’s Church, Place of Welcome is a friendly, welcoming group that meets every Monday, offering a vital space for companionship and connection.

Since it started in November 2018, it has grown steadily and is run by around 20 dedicated volunteers, welcoming an average of 45 people each week from around Tameside.

“We wanted to try to help people who are socially isolated and lonely – we’ve been going ever since,” said volunteer Sandra Kiy. “On the third Monday of every month, we have a theme and provide a free two-course lunch and some entertainment to make it fun.

“A lot of people who come live alone or they are carers for somebody so we want them to have something to look forward to and remember when they go back to their empty homes. We try to get out into our Community Garden as much as we can too, weather permitting.”

With Easter Monday (21st April) falling on one of their themed days, it was the perfect opportunity to do something special – and meaningful.

Everyone had plenty of Easter fun while supporting the Hospice.

The group marked the occasion in style – not only celebrating together, but also raising funds for patients with life-limiting illnesses from the local community in our care.

“We decided that we wanted to do something for charities in the area. The people who come to us are very generous and it’s nice to give to a good cause which does a lot for the community,” Sandra continued.

“Mandy, Julie and I all sing in the Hospice Choir, so we had a connection already to Willow Wood. We said we would like to support the Hospice because it’s something that’s close to everybody’s hearts. Everyone knows someone that’s either been there or visited.”

Sandra reached out to our Fundraising team after reading about our Bunny Hop campaign, which inspired their own Easter-themed challenge. Although not everyone in the group could hop, that didn’t stop the fun – or the fundraising!

On the day, around 50 people packed into the church’s community room, donning bunny ears and full of Easter cheer.

They enjoyed a repertoire from the Willow Wood Hospice Choir and a visit from our mascot Woody the Bear, before the winners of their Easter bonnet and cake competitions were announced.

Members of the Willow Wood Hospice Choir performing.

After a delicious lunch, there was a packed programme of Easter activities, for which they were sponsored to complete – from ‘pin the nose on the bunny’ to a game tossing eggs into a basket.

Of course, no Easter celebration would be complete without chocolate – and everyone got Crème Eggs to take home!

“We all had lots of fun and we’re delighted to support Willow Wood – we hope the money we’ve helped to raise makes a difference,” said Sandra.

Tracey Schofield, who leads on our Bunny Hop campaign, said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Place of Welcome volunteers and attendees for supporting the Hospice as part of their Easter celebrations.

“It’s heartwarming to see everyone come together and that our Bunny Hop campaign inspired them to raise vital funds. We rely on the generosity of our community to support patients and those closest to them from Tameside and Glossop when they need us most.”

Keep an eye out soon across our platforms to see how much this year’s Bunny Hop campaign has raised.

Posted on by

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.