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Get ready to be swept away by the enchanting world of Disney at the annual Flower Festival at Willow Wood! Join us on Saturday, May 13th at 10am and Sunday, May 14th at 11am for a magical experience you won’t forget.

 

This year’s theme is “Inspired by Disney”, a celebration of 100 years of Disney Animation. Expect to see an array of enchanting and whimsical displays that bring your favourite Disney characters to life. The festival promises to be a visual treat for all ages.

 

But the festival isn’t just about the floral displays. There will be plenty of other activities and entertainment to enjoy throughout the weekend. From hand crafted upholstery, greeting cards, wooden garden items to chocolate stalls, there’s something for everyone. And that’s not all! We have Hanging Basket Demonstrations on Saturday, Disney song performances by Mike Styan and Friends on Saturday, and a Ukulele Band on Sunday. You can also enjoy delicious sandwiches, cakes, and drinks, including Pimms and Prosecco.

 

Moreover, the festival is a fundraising event for Willow Wood, a charity that provides care and support to people with life-limiting illnesses. By attending the festival, you’ll not only be able to enjoy the stunning floral displays but also contribute to a great cause.

 

To kick off the festivities, the Mayor and Mayoress will open the festival at 11 am on Saturday. Plus, you can take part in the raffle and win exciting prizes.

 

Entry is just £3.50 with free admission for children.

 

So, mark your calendar and come along to celebrate 100 years of Disney Animation while supporting a great cause. Don’t miss out on this Enchanting Experience, and we can’t wait to see you there!

On April 12th, 2023, Willow Wood Hospice welcomed the High Sheriff of Greater Manchester, Mrs. Lorraine Worsley-Carter MBE DL, to the hospice, along with other distinguished guests. Mrs. Worsley-Carter’s visit was a testament to her commitment to supporting charitable organizations that make a positive impact on the local community.

During her visit, Mrs. Worsley-Carter spent time with volunteers and staff, recognizing their dedication to supporting patients and their families during difficult times. She expressed her gratitude, stating, “I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you all as staff, all volunteers. Because we all know that volunteers are the very fabric of what makes Greater Manchester and this area just what it is.

It has been an utmost pleasure, and it’s a privilege for me to be here today to meet you all.”

Philip Millson, Chairman, also welcomed the guests including the Mayor and Mayoress, saying, “Thank you for making time to come and get an insight into the work the hospice does and how we care for people in our communities in Tameside and Glossop.”

During the visit, Clinical Director, Nicola Cheetham and Medical Director, Dr. Neil Pender gave the High Sheriff a tour of the hospice where she was able to meet with some of the patients. The visit provided an excellent opportunity for the High Sheriff to learn more about Willow Wood Hospice’s work and how it helps those in need.

Willow Wood Hospice is grateful for the support and recognition provided by the High Sheriff’s visit. The hospice’s staff and volunteers are committed to making a positive difference in the community and providing care and support for those in need.

On Friday 17 March 2023, the Queen Elizabeth Hall in Oldham was filled with excitement as twelve couples competed for the coveted Strictly Glitterball Trophy. Six couples from Willow Wood and six from Dr Kershaw’s Hospice had committed to learning a dance routine and performed it in front of a live audience.

 

This year’s theme was “Best of British” in celebration of the upcoming coronation of King Charles, and it was a special night out for all. The event not only supported two fantastic hospices in the community, but it also featured special guests who provided a full evening of entertainment and fun.

 

The evening was a huge success, and the winners of the event were Thomas Cochrane and Luke Cregan, who brought the trophy home for Willow Wood Hospice. The couple wowed the audience with their impressive dance moves. Thomas Cochrane who is self-taught choreographed the dance for the couple impressing the Judges enough to win the dance off and bring home the trophy.

All proceeds from the event were split between the two hospices, and it was a fabulous night out enjoyed by all who attended. It was an excellent opportunity to support a great cause and enjoy a night of glitz, glamour, and dancing.

The Willow Wood Choir has raised an incredible £5000 for palliative care, providing comfort and support to those in need. With their amazing talent and dedication, the choir has made a significant impact on the community and we are grateful for their support.

 

The fundraising effort was recognized by Ian Wicks, Head of Finance, and Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising & Communications, who personally thanked the choir for their efforts. The £5000 raised will go a long way in supporting and providing critical care to the patients of Willow Wood Hospice

“We are thrilled to recognise the Willow Wood Choir for their incredible contribution,” said Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising & Communications for Willow Wood Hospice “Their talent and dedication are an inspiration to all of us, and we are grateful for their support in making a difference in the lives of those who need it most.”

 

The Willow Wood Choir is a group of volunteers who since 2004 have been singing and raising funds for the Hospice. They have performed all over Tameside and Glossop as well as at special occasions at the hospice itself, such as at the Garden of 1000 lights. They are an example of the power of community and the impact that can be made when people come together for a common cause. Their efforts have made a significant impact on the lives of those who have received palliative care at the hospice.

Willow Wood’s Garden of 1,000 Lights has been a very popular event with the residents of Tameside and Glossop since 2017, raising many thousands for the Hospice who can confidently say that the target this year of £10,000 will be well and truly smashed!

This year, for the first time, invitations were extended to a number of businesses, local councillors and organisations to visit the Hospice on Wednesday 7 December to see the lights, listen to a choir singing a selection of Christmas songs and have a complementary mulled wine, hot chocolate or a festive speciality coffee.

One of the first to arrive was the Civic Mayor of Tameside Mike Glover, who was greeted by chairman of the Board of Trustees Phillip Millson, vice-chair Mark Llewellin and patron Sharman Birtles, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.

The evening was very well attended, with around 70 members of the local business community, the Rotary Clubs of both Tameside and Glossop, TMBC and a number of councillors visiting the event.

Mark Llewellin said, “It was a lovely evening, and so good to meet up with supporters old and new. For some, it was the first time they had visited Willow Wood and what better introduction could they have than seeing the spectacular illuminations around our extensive grounds. I’d like to thank the Yew Tree Singers who were in very fine voice and entertained us so well.

“We also had the pleasure of receiving a cheque for £200 from Tameside Rotary. During their very successful Tameside Beer Festival, both the Willow Wood Hospice Volunteer Choir and the Mossley Ukulele Band donated their fee to us. Our sincere thanks to them all.

“And of course, it was an ideal opportunity to showcase our services for the people of Tameside and Glossop. If you or a member of your family has received a life-limiting diagnosis and would like more information about how we may be able to help, details of our fundraising events, lottery or shops, or volunteering to support us, please go to willowwood.org.uk where there is a wealth of information available.”

Willow Wood has been an integral part of the community of Tameside and Glossop since the Hospice opened its doors to the very first patient back on 5 May 1999.

Since then the Hospice has been at the forefront of palliative care and continues to develop and expand its services to meet the needs of the growing and changing population. Earlier this year, Willow Wood appointed Nicola Cheetham in the role of Clinical Director. Nicola has wide experience in the nursing field, including working in the community as a District Nurse, at the Christie as a Chemotherapy Nurse, as an educator, an associate palliative care specialist nurse and a palliative care clinical nurse specialist.

In 2018 Nicola made the transition to Hospice care with Bury Hospice, where she worked as hospice Care Team Manager before being promoted to Director of Clinical Services. These experiences mean that Nicola knows first-hand both the joys and the pressures of working in palliative care, and says “One of my very first patients as a newly qualified staff nurse, was a gentleman with a brain tumour and when he died in my care I knew palliative care was the field for me; getting to know him over that time, getting to know his family, his wishes for the time he had left and helping his family discuss and make decisions about his care, was a real privilege. Sharing his thoughts and feelings, supporting his family and seeing how much my care meant to them was so important.

There’s only one chance to get it right, and that has become my mission.”

Of course, Willow Wood doesn’t only care for patients at the end of their life. The Hospice can help those with a life-limiting condition, from diagnosis through to bereavement and remembrance, and has a range of initiatives and treatments available.

“We assess every patient individually, tailoring their support to focus on their personal goals and we support around 2,000 patients and their loved ones every year. Our approach has been very successful, and our services include an award winning dementia care service, our Day Services START Clinic, complementary therapies, physiotherapy, bereavement support and rehabilitation services. We are now able to deliver therapy support to patients in their own homes and hope to continue to expand and develop our services to enable us to reach more people out in our community.

“We are looking for more nurses to join our team so if you’re passionate about palliative care, and are looking to take that next step in your career, we’d love to hear from you! We offer NHS salaries for our nursing staff and continuance of NHS pension. If you want to find out more, please contact me on 0161 330 1100. We’re so proud of our wonderful facilities and I’d be more than happy to show you round.”

Willow Wood were honoured to meet the Stalybridge Celtic under 13 team, who are proudly sporting the Hospice logo on their shirts.

The team, who play in Division 4 of the East Manchester Junior Football League, visited on Saturday 19 November and were accompanied by manager Steven Burns, assistant manager Sarah Turner and coach Nathan Bailey.

Steven explained the reasoning behind the new strip: “We wanted to spread the word about Willow Wood, and let people know just how wonderful it is. My dad was cared for here, and I just cannot emphasise how much the Hospice did for the whole family. Looking back now, it gives us so much comfort to reflect on the time he spent here. Nothing was too much trouble, and the care was just so personal – thinking about it just takes my breath away.”

Sarah, whose grandfather was also cared for at Willow Wood agreed. “It’s a lovely place and the care is absolutely second to none. Quite a few of the team have personal connections to the Hospice, and we all want to support it however we can.”

Lynn Fothergill, communications, PR & marketing officer met the team and was delighted to be presented with a team shirt. This is to be framed and will be displayed within the Hospice, showing the link between the two organisations. Lynn said, ‘It was so lovely to meet the team, they’re all so enthusiastic and looked very smart in their blue and white kit. “Our thanks to everyone, especially parents Matt and Lyndsey Ramsden who actually sponsored the strip – so very generous, and much appreciated. Having our logo on the shirts may spark conversations about our services and reach a different audience which can only be good.

“We are very proud of our community support throughout the whole of Tameside and Glossop, and Stalybridge Celtic under 13s have just opened up another avenue for us. Our thanks again, we really are very grateful.”

If you would like to find out more about Willow Wood’s care for those with a life-limiting illness, and how the Hospice may be able to help you, there is plenty of information available on our website.

One of Willow Wood’s most cherished events is back – Lights of Love. Lights of Love gives everyone the opportunity to reach and leave a message of love that family and friends can view whenever they need a virtual hug.

And, of course, like Light Up A Life before it, leaving words of love and remembrance for those no longer with us brings a measure of comfort and joy by reliving precious memories. A beautifully presented Book of Love inscribed with your dedications is available to view both on the Willow Wood website and a printed copy in the Hospice’s multi-faith prayer Room.

Willow Wood’s chaplain, Eddy Inglis said: “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 you share your memories of loved ones.

“By dedicating a light on our Tree of Lights, by leaving a message in our Book Of Love 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 Saturday 3 December and the second at the Albion Church in Ashton on Sunday 11 December. These are free to attend and with choirs and brass bands are an emotional yet joyful way to remember, to share your thoughts and love, to pay tribute and to celebrate those special people who are always in your heart.

Local community group Dipak Dristi has, for the second year, raised a wonderful donation for Willow Wood by taking part in the Hospice organised event, the Twilight Wander.

Volunteers at the group, which translates as, ‘Light of Focus’ meet up at the Broadoak and Smallshaw Community Centre and this year raised £1,473.50, taking the total raised to over £2,000. Dipak Dristi was initially set up three years ago by Champaben Mistry following the loss of her husband. Feeling isolated and without a sense of purpose, Champaben decided to do something practical that would also help others in a similar situation and so the group came into being.

Meeting on Mondays the group provides a valuable service to the community, with activities including arts and crafts, music, dance with the aim of promoting a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing for those over 55. The initial contact between Willow Wood and Dipak Dristi was made only two days before the 2021 Midnight Wander, when assistant practitioner Billinda Dyson visited the group. Although the primary aim was to see how the Hospice and Dipak Dristi could support each other, she took information on the sponsored walk and 12 volunteers immediately signed up, raising £600 in just 48 hours.

Laura Marinelli, the organiser of the Twilight Wander said, “We were thrilled last year to meet the group at the event, and it has been wonderful in the meantime to visit each other to find out more about our aims and objectives. Sue Wicks, our departmental administrator and myself were invited to attend their Diwali celebrations recently where we were presented with the donation and had a really lovely time.

We can’t thank them enough for their support and hope we can continue this strong and very valuable relationship.”