Local residents are being encouraged to recycle their real Christmas trees with Willow Wood Hospice while supporting patient care in the community this festive season.
The Hospice is once again collaborating with partners including Tameside Council and Hartley’s Garden Centre to provide a convenient collection and recycling service.
It will be available throughout Tameside between Monday 6th and Friday 10th January 2025, and in Glossop from Wednesday 8th to Monday 13th January 2025.
Your tree will be taken away with no hassle, no waste and no needles in your car!
Register your real Christmas tree to be collected today by visiting www.just-helping.org.uk/register-tree. Simply enter your postcode and submit your details via the online form.
Registration closes at midnight on 2nd January 2025.
When your registration is complete, stay on the website to make a donation to Willow Wood Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, which provides specialist care for patients from Tameside and Glossop diagnosed with life-limiting illnesses.
Samantha Kitch, Fundraising Manager at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “By using our collection and recycling service, you will be disposing of your real Christmas tree responsibly and by donating, you’ll be helping us to continue providing compassionate care to those who need it most in our community.
“With only 21.5 per cent of our annual funding coming from central government, the support we receive from our community is absolutely vital. With your help, we can improve the quality of life for our patients and those closest to them, helping them to live as well as possible for as long as possible.
“We would like to thank Tameside Council and Hartley’s Garden Centre for their invaluable support in facilitating our Christmas tree collections this year.”
In Tameside, the trees will be collected by Tameside Council’s refuse collection team and then mulched to be used in parks across the borough.
Councillor Laura Boyle, Tameside Council’s executive member for environmental services and neighbourhoods, added: “I would like to thank everyone involved in organising this eco-friendly service, which has the twin objectives of protecting not only the environment, but also vulnerable people within our community.
“I’m delighted to give my full support to this innovative scheme which enables Tameside residents to demonstrate sustainability while giving to a charity that has helped so many people in the borough with the vast amount of positive, valued work that it does. I know all donations will be gratefully received and put to very good use.”
The collection and recycling service is supported by national charity Just Helping, which assists charities, volunteers and businesses to contribute to their community and the environment.
After costs, Willow Wood Hospice will receive 85 per cent of donations and up to 15 per cent will be distributed by Just Helping to other local charities.
The Inpatient Lounge at Willow Wood Hospice has been transformed thanks to the generous support of local and national businesses.
The room is a dedicated and comforting space for those who are visiting patients on the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne.
It has received a welcome uplift through a project led by Joanne Lees, the Hospice’s Partnership Development Lead, at no cost to Willow Wood.
Sofa supplier Sofology provided sofas and chairs, and their team cleared, cleaned, designed and painted the room on Monday 18th November.
Oak Furnitureland gifted new accompanying furniture – including a coffee table, dresser, lamp tables and a book case – which was delivered by Stephen and Balazs.
Kath and Sarah from Notcutts Garden Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne, who are long-time supporters of the Hospice, made sure the room was complete by donating relaxing house plants.
VIDEO: Take a quick look around our Inpatient Lounge, without setting foot inside…
Joanne said: “We are incredibly grateful to Sofology, Oak Furniture Land and Notcutts, whose generosity has made the transformation of our Inpatient Lounge possible.
“Every well-used room needs a little TLC after a while and the support of our corporate partners really does make a huge difference especially when the Hospice is faced with a challenging financial situation.”
Gemma Hannan, manager of the Sofology store in Stockport, wanted to give something back to the Hospice, whose team provided compassionate care to three of her family members when they needed it most.
“Just after our daughter was born, my partner Warren’s mum Pauline found out she had throat cancer and was told she had three months to live,” Gemma explained.
“Her health really deteriorated and Willow Wood became the point of contact to look after her. I’ll never forget my first visit to the Hospice, which was very emotional, and the nurses made Pauline feel very comfortable.
“When we got the call to say she was near the end of her life, the nurses were fantastic – they made it so comfortable for Pauline and for us as a family. We couldn’t have asked for more. They made us laugh when we needed to laugh, they cried with us when we cried. It just felt like a community.
“My nanna Frances also had to come to the Hospice when she had cancer. The Hannan family is huge and it was the first time they visited Willow Wood. Under the circumstances, they felt so at home and the Willow Wood team were brilliant again. You couldn’t wish for a better place to look after your family member.
“My uncle Darren also passed away at the Hospice – I was there literally by his side which was really emotional. I cannot thank everyone at the Hospice enough for what they have done for my family.”
GALLERY: Check out some images before, during and after the refurb…
Sofology allow their staff two days a year to volunteer for a good cause and Gemma used one of hers to help out in our shop in Hyde, where she lives.
“I was a fashion retailer for 20 years before joining Sofology so I wanted to get stuck in and it really opened my eyes,” she said.
“The team were so welcoming and it’s really amazing what they do. I helped unpack clothes, label and rack them.”
Gemma has always wanted to help out at the Hospice too so, when the opportunity to give the Inpatient Lounge a glow-up arose, she jumped at the chance to join her Sofology colleagues.
“I know what it’s like to need to use the room so we wanted it to be warm and cosy so people can get respite from difficult moments.
“I was joined by our Warrington store manager Laura, James from our Maintenance team and Craig who is one of our Style Partners.
“We wanted to make it very comfortable and reflect the beauty of the Hospice gardens. When you’re going through a difficult day and you just want a breath of fresh air or a walk, the gardens are just beautiful.”
Willow Wood’s Clinical Director feels the newly-refurbished room can make a real difference to those closest to patients at the Hospice.
“Having a peaceful and welcoming space on our Inpatient Unit for those closest to our patients is invaluable,” said Nicola Cheetham.
“During undoubtedly difficult times in their lives, we hope they can find solace and share precious moments by using the facilities in our refreshed lounge.
“When our teams first saw the new-look lounge, they were blown away – it looks fantastic. We really appreciate the support of our corporate partners for making it happen and working so diligently whilst respecting the privacy of our patients.”
On Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, the local community will fall silent to honour the servicemen and women who risked their lives in conflicts around the world for our freedom.
This period of Remembrance is particularly poignant and significant for our Hospice volunteer Rhoda Hendry, whose uncle Jack died in the Second World War.
For the third successive year, Rhoda has created a special Remembrance-themed display in the window of the bric-a-brac room at our Purchase and Donate (PAD) shop in Stalybridge to commemorate the occasion.
“I was born in 1937, two years before the Second World War started, so I spent many a night in an air raid shelter,” Rhoda recalled.
“My father’s youngest brother was 21 years old when he was killed in Belgium. He’s buried in Leopoldville, which we went to see as a family and it’s a magnificent place. Jack’s name is also etched on the Cenotaph in Ashton.
“Remembrance does mean a lot to me because they gave their tomorrow for our today. It’s important to reflect and remember every year.
“People don’t realise what those men and women sacrificed. It’s unbelievable to think what they must have gone through because they didn’t have the equipment in the early parts of the war that we have nowadays.”
Rhoda – who has siblings who also give the gift of their time to the Hospice – will be paying her own respects on Remembrance Sunday at the ceremony held in Stalybridge.
She takes pride in what’s on view in the window at The PAD, recently creating a spook-tacular Halloween display and will soon be putting together a festive-themed one.
“I have never had any tuition in dressing windows but I have worked in shops before during my career,” Rhoda explained.
“People walk past and look at it or come in the shop and say nice comments about the window displays. If you can’t do something with 110 per cent of effort, don’t do it at all, is my motto.”
The 87-year-old spent around an hour on her Remembrance window – she made the poppy wreath herself and her daughter contributed the soldier silhouettes.
The framed photograph and story of how a Stalybridge resident gave up their home during the war to become a hospital for injured soldiers to recuperate was donated by Peter from Providence Furniture in Hyde, who is a supporter of the Hospice and has a keen interest in the Royal British Legion.
Rhoda, who lives in Dukinfield, has been volunteering for Willow Wood since 2006 – which is her way of giving back after her husband received end-of-life care at the Hospice.
“John died at Willow Wood in 2001 and I will never be able to repay the staff for what they did for him,” she said.
“I stayed at home for five years and then I thought I have to do something. I started at the Grosvenor Street shop in Stalybridge and have never looked back really.
“I now help out for three days a week at The PAD and I love it. I take great joy when I go home at the end of the day in seeing how much money we have raised for the Hospice.
“My sister Patricia and my brother Terence also volunteer for the Hospice too. Patricia helps to clean the bric-a-brac room at the PAD.”
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.”
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/
It’s not just in our charity shops where you can bag yourself a bargain and support patients in our care.
Sales through online platforms raised an incredible £49,550 during the 2023/24 financial year – a record amount.
The Hospice’s eBay site first launched in July 2007 and has since sold over 42,000 items, as well as building up a following of more than 4,000 people.
Based at our Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne, our online sales team – made up of staff and volunteers – takes pride in the service they provide, posting out items within a day of them being sold and establishing the Hospice as a top-rated seller on eBay.
The platform’s growth has certainly kept them busy.
“We can list anything from 30 to 50 items per day on average,” said Nicola DePetrillo, Online Sales Assistant.
“We list items sent to us by our shops every week – some can require research, which we use eBay and Google Lens to carry out.
“We sell on average between 100 and 150 items a week. I think the cost of living crisis is one reason why eBay has been so popular – people are looking for a bargain even more nowadays.”
Her colleague Dave Sadler added: “We set our own target of reaching 2,000 active items on the site, which we’ve come close to and have grown from an average of around 600. The more we grow the site, the busier it becomes. Around 80 per cent of what we sell are items listed for a week or less. It’s all about list, list, list for us.”
Our items attract sellers from all corners of the globe, including as recently as July when a Psion Executive PDA Organiser sold for £299 to a buyer in the United States.
“Only around two per cent of our sales are international but it opens up more options,” said Dave. “If we sell furniture or big items like a doll’s house, it will be collection only so we won’t offer postage – that probably happens on one per cent of the items we list.
“If we’re posting items, it’s always eligible to be posted across the world. We only charge our postage for items to get to eBay’s warehouse in Lichfield and eBay will charge extra postage to get it to wherever the buyer is.
“Every item we sell always has the option to be collected from the Distribution Centre to save on packaging costs.”
There have been some gems that have fetched some impressive proceeds for the Hospice including our patron Julie Goodyear’s jewellery range which raised over £16,000, a signed and framed Manchester United shirt which sold for around £2,000, and a stainless steel coffee machine for £180.
All items sold on eBay are generously donated by the local community, who can drop off clothing, books, CDs, DVDs, general bric-a-brac, electronics and ceramics at our Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre (based at Unit 4, Langham Street, OL7 9AX) on weekdays from 8am to 3.30pm.
Dave explained: “Around 90 per cent of items we sell are pre-loved – it’s very rare we get something brand new, which is usually clothing with a label or an unopened jigsaw puzzle.
“The most popular item we sell is probably clothing but books also do really well, they are very easy to list and pack. We try to build collections of particular items, like the Now CDs, where space allows so we can then sell them as a set and hopefully they will be worth more.”
Nicola added: “We need things that are in a good, clean sellable condition. If you are thinking of donating items, ask yourself is it in a good enough condition for me to buy it from a charity shop.”
The team closely monitor feedback they receive – of which 99.8 per cent is positive, according to eBay – and have lots of repeat customers.
To help provide an efficient service, they are also environmentally conscious when it comes to packaging items.
“We used donated cardboard boxes so when people bring stuff in a box we ask if we can use it, which also helps for recycling,” Nicola told us. “We also receive a £10 voucher every month from eBay to buy plastic bags to pack items in.”
Dave explained further: “We would gratefully receive donations of shoe boxes or standard square and rectangular boxes to help with packaging, as well as bubble wrap. We also have a company based in Royton who deals with pianos and has shipments over from Japan which come bubble wrapped so he saves all of that for us so we never have to buy it.”
There are other ways that people can support the Hospice through eBay.
People can sign up to Gift Aid, if eligible, when donating items so they can be worth more to Willow Wood at no extra cost to you.
Sellers on eBay can also donate a percentage of their profits to Willow Wood Hospice – by typing the percentage of your choice and selecting Tameside and Glossop Hospice Limited in the drop-down menu.
Our online retail offering extends beyond eBay as our team have diligently explored other ways of generating as much income as possible for the Hospice.
“We sell scrap metal as well as use Vintage Cash Cow which buys old precious metal, jewellery, watches and cameras,” said Dave.
“If we can’t sell them on eBay, we sell DVDs, CDs and books on Ziffit. We send them off once a week and it can raise around £50 a week on average.
“We use Discogs to sell vinyl records. It was set up when vinyl was a bigger thing and we still have lots of items on there but we don’t really list new items on there as you can’t beat eBay for the number of members it has.”
Keep an eye out for news coming soon about how our eBay team were involved in a historic delightful discovery…
We’re delighted to announce that the transformation of our Distribution Centre into a vibrant new Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre is complete.
The grand opening on Saturday 12th October was a fantastic success, surpassing all expectations.
Under the stellar leadership of Manager Paul King and his dedicated team – Daniel, Janet, Richard, and Declan – the ground floor has been beautifully converted into a clearance centre packed with discounted furniture, clothes, toys, and more, while eBay sales continue to thrive on the first floor.
Special thanks go to Head of Retail, Pauline, and the incredible volunteers, including corporate teams who worked tirelessly alongside us.
From clearing and stocking to painting and refurbishing the garden, their efforts made it all happen. Together, they also delivered thousands of leaflets across the community to spread the word!
The shop, on Langham Street in Ashton-under-Lyne, is open from Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 4pm, and donations are always welcome.
Let’s continue celebrating this exciting new chapter!
An evening of funny stories, memories and fun with well-known footballers past and present will be held in Tameside in aid of Willow Wood Hospice.
The fifth annual Willow Wood Football Night takes place at Dukinfield Masonic Hall on Friday 1st November from 8pm.
Over the years, football favourites such as Martyn Buchan, Peter Barnes, Eamon O’Keefe, Trevor Ross and Tommy Booth have appeared to help raise money for the Hospice.
This year, Manchester United and England star Ella Toone will tell her fascinating story of being a lifelong United fan and how she joined the club as a junior before moving because there wasn’t a senior women’s team at the time.
Spells at Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City followed, as she progressed through England’s Under-17s and Under-19s levels before returning to United in 2018 when they re-introduced a women’s team.
Also part of the line-up is former Manchester City goalkeeper Alex Williams MBE, who will explain his life in football and the work he went to specialise in after his days between the posts for City.
Ex-City kitman and club legend Les Chapman will be appearing, with some hilarious stories from inside the City dressing room. As a midfielder, he played in the Football League between 1966 and 1987, making 749 appearances, before spells in coaching with Stockport County, Preston North End, Huddersfield Town and Manchester City.
Completing the guest list is Joe Bunney, who played in the Football League for the likes of Bolton Wanderers, Hartlepool United and Rochdale as well as at non-league level for Ashton United, Macclesfield and Lancaster City among others.
Joe, who still plays today, has a wealth of information about the life of a player earning a living in the sport and insight into the difficulties and opportunities faced by young footballers.
They will be in conversation with former top-flight referee Roger Dilkes, who will be the Master of Ceremonies for the night.
The popular event is organised by Brian Wild and Chris Smith, who are long-time supporters of Willow Wood.
They are hoping to raise a record £5,000 this year for the Hospice – which provides specialist, compassionate and dignified care to patients from Tameside and Glossop with life-limiting illnesses.
“We’ve raised thousands for the Hospice over the years and many people have a real connection with the work the Hospice does – it touches almost every family at some point of their lives,” said Brian Wild, who is a patron of the Hospice.
“The Football Night always sells out early and the tickets get snapped up. I take my hat off to these sportspeople that give up their time for free to entertain the 200-plus audience.”
Vanessa Murphy-Wood, Community Fundraiser at Willow Wood Hospice, commented: “Without people like Brian and Chris organising these events, Willow Wood would not continue to operate so we cannot thank them enough.
“Putting on these events make a massive difference. If you’re a football fan, or just want a good night out, please get a ticket if you can and help support the Hospice.”
Tickets are £15 each, which includes pie and mushy peas, and can be bought by calling 0161 718 7911.
LISTEN: Click on the play button below to hear Brian and Chris speaking to Tameside Radio’s Alex Cann all about the event…
The Mayor of Greater Manchester said he is committed to supporting local hospices on his first visit to Willow Wood.
Andy Burnham met staff and volunteers at the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, on Thursday afternoon (12th September).
He was joined by two secondary school pupils Skye Yates and Nicholas Ali, and their teacher Tasleem Ayoub, from Great Academy Ashton, who were shadowing the Mayor for the day.
Mr Burnham engaged in a productive discussion with Willow Wood CEO Tracy Minshull, Clinical Director Nicola Cheetham, Medical Director Dr Mary Ann Mahadevan, and Chair of the Board of Trustees Philip Millson.
As a former Health Secretary, the Mayor is familiar with, and a welcome advocate of, the hospice movement. He sympathised with the current financial and sustainability challenges faced by Willow Wood and other hospices across Greater Manchester.
Mr Burnham acknowledged that a fairer balance is needed when it comes to distribution of funding to hospices from the Government.
He also recognised the contribution hospices make in supporting the pressures on already overwhelmed hospitals and the unique role that hospices like Willow Wood play within the wider health and social care system, as well as in local communities such as Tameside and Glossop.
On the Inpatient Unit, the Mayor also met Hospice patient Tom Sullivan and his daughter Lynn Passman, who told him about the compassionate care they have received and how Willow Wood is a special place.
Tracy Minshull, CEO of Willow Wood Hospice, commented: “We are very grateful to Mr Burnham for taking the time to visit us and recognising the vital work of our dedicated staff and volunteers.
“He valued the expertise that the hospice movement has in providing dignified, high-quality end-of-life support and we hope, with the Mayor’s support, we can work collaboratively with our partners across Greater Manchester for the benefit of our patients and those closest to them.”
Philip Millson, Chair of the Board of Trustees, added: “We were honoured to welcome the Mayor of Greater Manchester, who spoke very enthusiastically about the importance of hospice care.
“He is keen to support Willow Wood and hospices across Greater Manchester where he can, and we hope to welcome him again soon.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: “It was a privilege to visit Willow Wood Hospice, where I heard about the compassion, care and dignity its staff and volunteers provide to local people when they need it most.
“The commitment and sense of community at Willow Wood really shines through. Thank you to all the hospices across Greater Manchester for the essential work you carry out across our city-region.”
Willow Wood Hospice, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is a leading provider of free, specialist palliative care for patients with any life-limiting illnesses in Tameside and Glossop.
The Hospice needs at least £3.3 million every year to run and almost 80 per cent of those costs have to be raised from the community each year, with just 21.5 per cent coming by way of the Government.
Mr Burnham is currently serving his third term as Mayor of Greater Manchester – a role he has held since 2017. It involves leading on Policy & Reform and Transport, as well as chairing the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
His job also ranges from setting budgets and priorities for public services to acting as an ambassador for the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester – of which Tameside is one of them.
Prior to being the Mayor, Mr Burnham was MP for Leigh from 2001. In Government, he has held ministerial positions at the Home Office, Department of Health and the Treasury.
In 2008, he became Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, before returning to Health as Secretary of State in 2009. In opposition, Mr Burnham also served as Shadow Education Secretary, Shadow Health Secretary and Shadow Home Secretary.
Looking for something?
Use the seach box below.
Keep up to date with what is going on at Willow Wood
