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.
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.
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 (left) and Nicola from our eBay team
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…
An inspirational teenager from Ashton-under-Lyne organised her own event to raise a phenomenal £3,800 in support of patient care at Willow Wood Hospice.
Neev Patel put on a special celebration at Ashton Rugby Club in June, attended by more than 100 people.
The 15-year-old, who is in Year 11 at Hulme Grammar School in Oldham, has felt a connection with the Hospice from a young age and volunteers at our Waterloo shop at weekends.
She has always wanted to hold a fundraising event for Willow Wood and the opportunity arose one day at school.
“As part of a Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) we could write a 2,000 word essay on a topic of your choice or create an artefact – like someone in an older year group restored a Volkswagen,” Neev explained.
“I thought I’m not going to be boring so I pitched the idea to my school supervisor of doing a charity event and he thought it was amazing!
“I found a venue, organised a buffet, I contacted a balloon lady for decorations and emailed lots of businesses for raffle prizes. I got a £200 Booking.com voucher and a four ball at The Mere in Knutsford amongst others.
Neev hosted a charity event to raise funds for the Hospice
“I invited lots of people, it was £5 a ticket for entry – which all went towards the total amount raised for Willow Wood. We had an auction on the night – one person paid £300 for one of the prizes. It was a really lovely night, it was successful and I really enjoyed it.
“Everyone who attended had the same initiative to spend money knowing it was going to a good cause. My family and friends came and I also reserved a table for the staff and volunteers I work with in the Waterloo shop, who all had a good time.
“I did a speech on the night, I said they were there and thanked them. They received a massive round of applause which was really nice.”
Neev’s mum works in the local healthcare system and has established connections with staff at the Hospice, which is how Neev was introduced to what Willow Wood is all about.
“My mum is a nurse working in Hattersley so she knows a lot of people including Wendy, from the Dementia Support team at the Hospice who I’ve got to know well,” said Neev.
“I’ve always known the Hospice and people that Willow Wood has helped including my grandad. I started raising money when I was quite young, around 10 years old, and we have always been to events like the Christmas Fair.”
Neev has been supporting the Hospice since the age of 13
Neev initially started volunteering for the Hospice as part of her Duke of Edinburgh award when she was 13 years old – helping out at the Waterloo shop on Saturdays.
“I was supposed to do an hour a week for three months and I did four hours a week for two years! I still volunteer there now and I don’t think they want to get rid of me any time soon!
“I really enjoy it, it’s something different and I feel like I am giving back. I sort through donations, price them up and put them in the shop. I go through the clothing rails, I sometimes work on the till too, I do a bit of everything really.”
Neev loves the people most about volunteering and has become a popular member of the team at our shop on Oldham Road.
“Whether it’s the volunteers or the customers, it’s nice to have a conversation with people and I have got to know them,” she told us.
“People will come in and we can have a laugh as we go along. As volunteers, we all know we are there for a purpose and you feel wanted there.
“My fellow volunteers will message me asking how my day was in the shop when they’re not there and I have formed a really good connection with them.”
Neev with shop manager Kellie and some of our volunteers at the Waterloo shop
Willow Wood could not provide vital services without volunteers, who have a positive impact on our community, and Neev would strongly recommend volunteering to other young people in particular.
Explaining the benefits to her, she said: “You grow as a person, you get more social skills so I can talk to anyone about anything now. I understand the way people live their lives and their opinions on things a lot more. I have gained a lot from it and learned new skills which are great for my CV in the future.
“I have become friends with some volunteers from the shop who are in their 70s and I have learned from them.”
Neev has aspirations of becoming a marine biologist in the future and is also keen to continue charity work and supporting the Hospice, around her important studies.
“Willow Wood is just a lovely place,” she concluded. “Everyone is so lovely and you can get on with anyone.”
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!
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.”
Our first-ever Summer Celebration Day across our Hospice shops was nothing short of a smashing success!
As the school holidays drew to a close, each of our seven shops in Tameside and Glossop truly captured the essence of summer with a variety of activities that brought our community together in the most delightful way.
From face painting and tombolas to children’s treats and games, there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Our fantastic shop managers and volunteers went above and beyond, fully immersing themselves in the fun. Many even dipped into their own pockets to purchase items like balloons and cakes, ensuring the day was extra special.
Community spirit filled our shop floors, as customers also got involved. One talented supporter even baked a stunning cake featuring our 25th anniversary logo, which went down a treat at our Reddish Lane shop!
The energy and enthusiasm of the whole experience contributed to a successful day for the shops’ takings, boosting funds towards patient care at the Hospice.
Pauline Lunt, our Head of Retail, is thrilled with the outcome, saying: “I am absolutely delighted with how our Summer Celebration Day unfolded and how warmly it was embraced by our community.
“I want to extend a massive thank you to our shop managers, volunteers, and customers who came together to make the day a success. Some of our volunteers generously came in on days they don’t normally work – they baked cakes, made crafts and manned stalls.
“Our shop managers even enlisted help from their families. The buzz in each shop was brilliant, and it was heartwarming to see so many smiles when I visited.”
With all the fun and joy shared, we’re already planning to bring the Summer Celebration Day back next year—so keep an eye out for details as summer approaches!
Michelle Knight’s journey with Willow Wood Hospice is a testament to how a fulfilling career can emerge from unexpected beginnings.
Describing her role as Relief Retail Manager as her “favourite job out of everything I’ve ever done”, Michelle found joy and purpose in a position that allowed her to explore the unique character of each of our now eight charity shops across Tameside and Glossop.
Michelle, who lives in Dukinfield, loves the variety the role brings. “All of the shops have their own identity,” she explains. “Although they are variations of the same offer, they are so different from each other. I’ve built such lovely connections with the people I’ve worked with in all of the shops and made so many friends.”
The role involves stepping in whenever a shop manager is unavailable, which means every day is different. “One day you can be cleaning windows, pricing items, and steaming clothes. Another day, you’re serving customers on the till, wiping shelves, and doing some admin. It’s also about making the shop look clean and presentable for our customers.”
What she particularly enjoyed is the opportunity to bring ideas from one shop to another, helping to improve operations across the board. “When covering all of the shops, I would see something that is working in one shop that maybe the other shops aren’t doing and mention it to the other shops, which can help improve things, which we all want to do.”
Michelle loves the variety of the Relief Retail Manager role
Michelle’s journey with Willow Wood began in 2021 when she started volunteering at our Stalybridge shop after seeing a poster about vacancies. She was already aware of the Hospice’s vital work, after a close friend received end-of-life care at Willow Wood. Volunteering twice a week, Michelle quickly became an invaluable part of the team and was encouraged by the shop manager to apply for the Relief Retail Manager position.
Since then, Michelle hasn’t looked back, working for the Hospice for nearly two years. “Willow Wood looks after its employees, and the organisation means so much to everyone involved in it,” she says. “It also means a lot to the wider public. So many people bring donations in because they have lost a loved one at Willow Wood, and they want to help us raise money by gifting their loved one’s belongings.”
The sense of community and support at Willow Wood is strong, with shop managers, volunteers and Head of Retail, Pauline Lunt, forming a close-knit team. “Pauline is brilliant. You can email her, ring her, WhatsApp her, and she is always happy to help. Because she has been a shop manager herself, there is nothing that she cannot answer.”
Michelle emphasises that you don’t need extensive retail experience to thrive as a charity shop manager. “There are no specialised skills required. You don’t have to be a computer whizz. Training can be given if you’ve not used a till before – it’s really easy to learn. What’s important is that you are ready to learn and you are a friendly face that represents the Hospice.”
Michelle has recently taken on the managerial role at our Hyde shop while manager Gemma is on maternity leave, demonstrating the opportunities for growth and development within Willow Wood. “I started as a volunteer, then became a Relief Retail Manager, and now I’m a shop manager, albeit temporarily. Pauline was a shop manager and now she’s Head of Retail, so there are definitely opportunities for development.”
Michelle currently manages our Hyde shop
The Hospice also offers regular training opportunities to help staff to continually develop their skills. “Two of my colleagues, Pauline and Julie, recently went to a retail conference, which was a great experience,” stated Michelle. “We also have regular training that’s hospice-wide, which helps connect us with colleagues in other teams and is an opportunity to develop skills we perhaps otherwise wouldn’t learn.”
With our shop takings surpassing £1 million in the last financial year, it’s an exciting time to join Willow Wood as we expand our operations. “We are giving people more than just a jumble sale experience; we want them to have a nice shopping experience even in this current financial climate,” Michelle says. “The new Glossop shop looks fantastic and almost nothing like a charity shop as we know it. The direction we want to move in is that all of our shops have that same look and feel about them.”
For Michelle, the role of a charity shop manager is more than just a job – it’s about making a difference. “Every day is different in every shop, and I have met so many different people. You feel like you are making a difference to the bigger picture of supporting the Hospice. There’s quite a buzz in the shops, and they can be a hive of activity, but there is a really nice atmosphere.”
If you’re looking for a rewarding role with a strong sense of community, Michelle highly recommends applying to become a charity shop manager at Willow Wood. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to be part of something special.”
Our supporters Ladysmith Shopping Centre are holding a ‘School Uniform Exchange’ to offer families free school uniform, with the option of donating to the Hospice as their charity partner this year.
The local community is encouraged to drop off any used or new school uniform items at the Hospice’s shop, based at the centre in Ashton-under-Lyne, during its opening hours of Mondays to Saturdays 9am to 4pm as soon as possible.
The ‘Uniform Exchange’ shop will be open at the former Simply Clothing store at the Ladysmith Shopping Centre on Friday 30th August and Saturday 31st August from 10am to 3pm on both days – before the new school year begins in September and staff will be on hand to assist.
Uniforms will be free to claim but people are encouraged to make a donation, however small, in support of the Hospice – which provides compassionate care to patients from the local community with any life-limiting illness.
Ladysmith says the initiative aims to ease the financial burden on families amid the cost-of-living crisis, promote sustainability and reduce textile waste.
It follows a Censuswide poll conducted for the footwear brand Wynsors, which revealed that 73 per cent of parents feel that purchasing school uniforms strains their household budget, with 37 per cent of parents admitting they need financial support for these expenses but are unable to obtain it.
“We believe that every child deserves to start the school year with confidence, and a proper uniform is an important part of that,” said Ian Pratt, a spokesperson for Ladysmith Shopping Centre.
“Access to school uniforms is also about equality, dignity and inclusion, ensuring every child feels positive and part of the school community.”
Willow Wood’s dedicated band of volunteers give the gift of their time to make a huge difference to every aspect of hospice life.
To say thank you for their valuable contributions, our Volunteer Services Manager Lisa Pye organised a range of free activities based around the theme of ‘wellbeing’ to celebrate this year’s Volunteers’ Week.
Our Catering team’s very own star baker Lynn Valentine put on a cake decorating workshop which went down a treat.
There was an opportunity to discover jewellery-making techniques with Denise Royle, the manager of our Ashton shop.
A crafty group of volunteers had a creative afternoon painting pots at the 4C Community Centre in Ashton.
To look after their physical wellbeing too, volunteers took in some fresh air with a gentle stroll through nearby Stamford Park.
The week culminated with a lively and competitive session of bingo games and a quiz, led by volunteer Chris Hinds in The Hive.
There were some great prizes thanks to generous donations from local businesses including The Village Hotel, Lilly’s Patisserie & Bistro, Hobsons Hair & Beauty, Magpie’s Nest and Flip Out.
The activities were also funded with help from a £500 grant from local charity Action Together.
Every department in the Hospice received fruit hampers for their volunteers, which were put together primarily with supplies donated by Alimentari Di Alberti Greengrocers in Uppermill and 5 A Day in Stalybridge.
Our retail team also marked the occasion by showing their appreciation to the much-valued volunteers who provide help and support in our charity shops.
Shop managers bought cakes, brownies and keyrings for their volunteers and displayed banners in their windows to celebrate the occasion.
Louise Beeden, our Reddish Lane shop manager, also invited her volunteers to her house for an afternoon tea and a fun quiz.
Lisa Pye, Volunteer Services Manager at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “Volunteers’ Week is always a special time of the year as we celebrate our amazing volunteers across every department of the Hospice.
“We simply could not provide the vital services we do without their help and support – they make a profound difference.
“Everyone who took part in the activities had a great time. We cannot thank our volunteers enough for their selfless contributions.”
If you would like to join our team of volunteers and make a positive impact on our community, you can express your interest by filling out a simple form on our website at https://willowwood.org.uk/hospice-volunteering/interest/
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