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.
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.
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.