Tag: Students

Posted on by

Travis pushes his limits in marathon challenge for hospice care

Travis Taylor running his marathons

A remarkable fundraising challenge took on an even deeper personal meaning for Travis Taylor when his grandad began receiving hospice care as he was running seven marathons in seven days for Willow Wood.

The 21-year-old, who has just graduated from the University of Leeds, completed an incredible 295 kilometres over seven days, raising more than £2,100 to support patients with any life-limiting illness that we care for.

The total raised could pay for five full days of care for a patient on our Inpatient Unit.

Travis on day one after reaching halfway point
Travis on day one after reaching halfway point.

Travis – whose girlfriend Hannah has volunteered at Willow Wood and whose mum, Caroline, and auntie, Pauline, are both part of our Retail team – had chosen to support the Hospice because of his family’s connection. However, during the challenge, the cause became even more personal.

His grandad was diagnosed with a brain tumour and began receiving hospice care during the very week Travis was completing his marathons.

“Thankfully he was able to hear about my challenge and I visited him the day after I finished but it brought home the cause I was fundraising for and motivated me even more. Unfortunately he died two weeks later.

“I am glad I’ve been able to raise money for the same cause that helped my grandad and my family through that time. The support we received, which we didn’t have to pay for, was second to none. I never knew how special an environment hospices can be.”

Travis on day five at Ribblehead Viaduct in Yorkshire Dales
Travis on day five at Ribblehead Viaduct in Yorkshire Dales.

Travis, who was a keen swimmer growing up before taking up running in 2020, fittingly called his challenge ‘Week at the Knees’.

Over the course of seven consecutive days, he tackled a variety of routes and terrain, covering roads around Lancaster, cycle tracks and even an 800-metre climb up Ingleborough. The challenge tested him physically and mentally, but with encouragement from family and friends, he crossed the finish line on the seventh day.

“I think having some of my mates to run with along the way made a big difference for my morale. It was nice having my family there on the last day and we set up a finish line.”

Although Travis completed the challenge injury-free, there were moments when he questioned whether he could continue.

“It was really difficult but as I got towards the end, I kept thinking about the reasons why I decided to do it in the first place,” he said.

Travis's cousin Lucas, dad Paul, sister Lauren, gran Kathleen and uncle Mark at the impromptu finish lane.
Travis’s cousin Lucas, dad Paul, sister Lauren, gran Kathleen and uncle Mark at the impromptu finish lane.

“I’m most proud of the fact I carried on when days four and five were very gruelling. I didn’t get the weather on day five and had to do it on the treadmill in the gym.

“It gets past the point where your body is tired anyway, but I don’t think anyone can prepare you for the mental energy side of it.

“I think traffic was the biggest problem I faced as running on roads can be difficult,  but planning the routes was the most important thing.”

Now recovering with more runs and gym sessions, Travis says he isn’t finished with fundraising. He already has his sights set on an even bigger challenge – a 180-kilometre ultra-marathon in Chamonix, France, within the next couple of years.

Travis thanked everyone who supported and donated to his challenge, helping him raise more than he had hoped to.

Donations can still be made via his JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/week-at-the-knees

Posted on by

A first glimpse into hospice care for student Nicole

The Temple Project is an initiative aimed at providing nursing students with valuable exposure to different health settings, including hospice care.

Through this project, students undertake one-day placements at Willow Wood Hospice, allowing them to observe and participate in the multidisciplinary approach to palliative care.

This hands-on experience is designed to enhance their understanding of holistic, patient-centred care in a real-world setting.

Willow Wood Hospice has been actively supporting the Temple Project by welcoming a select number of students for these placements. The feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the educational value and the compassionate environment at the Hospice.

The Hospice is committed to continuing its support for this initiative, aiming to inspire and educate future healthcare professionals in the field of palliative care.

Nicole Williams, a first-year Adult Nursing student at the University of Salford, recently completed her one-day placement at Willow Wood Hospice as part of the project. The experience exceeded her expectations and left a lasting impression.

Nicole, from Oldham, had never stepped inside a hospice before and understandably felt nervous.

Her only previous connection was through a friend whose mother had died at a different hospice. “I thought it would be a sad and heavy place,” she admitted. “But I was so wrong.”

From the moment she arrived, Nicole was struck by the calm, welcoming atmosphere and the warmth of the team.

Shadowing ward sister, Lauren, she took part in medication rounds, attended a doctors’ meeting, and observed the changing of a syringe driver – all under compassionate guidance. A workbook helped her explore the many services offered at Willow Wood, from patient support to The Sanctuary room.

What stood out most was the environment itself. “It’s so different from a hospital,” she reflected. “Every member of staff greeted me, the pace was calmer, and the care was deeply personal.”

She also noticed how the team interacted with patients and families: always speaking directly to them – even when a patient was unconscious – and keeping clinical paperwork unobtrusive to preserve a homely, respectful atmosphere.

Nicole’s understanding of hospice and palliative care transformed throughout the day. She learned the important distinction between palliative and end-of-life care and saw first-hand how hospices support quality of life, not just its end. “I used to think nothing could beat being at home at the end of life – but Willow Wood felt like home.”

Describing her day as awe-inspiring, serene, and stimulating, Nicole says the experience has sparked a strong interest in hospice care. “I’d love to return for a longer placement. It just felt right for me.”

To anyone who thinks hospices are just sad places, Nicole offers a different view: “It’s not a place of sadness – it’s a place of love, respect, and dignity.”

She’s already recommended Willow Wood to her peers – and will continue to do so. “Even if hospice care isn’t your chosen path, it’s an invaluable learning experience.”

Are you a student who is interested in a placement at Willow Wood Hospice? Find out more by clicking here.

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

Sixth Form students give their time to Hospice shops

Seven students from Ashton Sixth Form College have spent some of their time volunteering recently in our Willow Wood Hospice charity shops.

Ahmed Cali, Adam Dixon, Armaan Hussain, Oliver Hutchfield, Nathan Nyoni, Alexandra Serban and Maurice Owhonda Utchay generously gave their time to support our retail operations.

The seven of them, all second-year A-Level Business students, gave a combined 350 hours volunteering at The Purchase and Donate (PAD) in Stalybridge, as well as at our Waterloo and Ashton-under-Lyne shops.

The students had to complete 40 hours of work experience each as part of their course, but they all ended up doing 50 instead – between 24th February and 3rd March.

Ahmed and Maurice volunteering at our Ashton town centre shop

Adam, 18, from Dukinfield admitted he didn’t know a lot about the Hospice beforehand. However, he learned a lot more during his time volunteering, including that the income generated from our charity shops directly supports patient services at the Hospice.

Adam commented on his time working at The PAD in Stalybridge: “It was fantastic. It helped me improve my confidence and other skills like communication and time management.

“When the delivery van came in, I helped move all of the sofas and cabinets into the store, and I carried items from the store into the van to deliver to customers. I also put donated items onto shelves and helped customers when they needed support.”

The work of the students not only supported the Hospice’s shops, but it also gave them opportunities to build their skills and gain more work experience.

Adam being interviewed at Ashton Sixth Form College by Ciaran Greenwood during his placement with the Hospice’s Communications team

Adam further commented on his future ambitions, seeking entrepreneurial goals: “I want to start sharing, like going into investments and start going from there. So just get a job somewhere, save up money and start investing it into various businesses.”

He enjoyed it so much that Adam is continuing his volunteering at Willow Wood, working at The PAD on Fridays during his free periods at college. We wish him and the rest of our amazing student volunteers the best of luck in their future endeavours.

Willow Wood Volunteer Services Manager, Lisa Pye, had this to say about the students’ efforts: “We are very thankful for the amazing support that the students at Ashton Sixth Form College have given us. Volunteers are vitally important to help support the work that Willow Wood Hospice does. We’ve had fantastic feedback from the retail managers about all of the hard work they have done, and we hope they enjoyed it and taken something from the experience.”

If you want to learn more about the volunteering opportunities that are available at Willow Wood Hospice, please visit www.willowwood.org.uk/volunteering to express your interest.

By Ciaran Greenwood

Posted on by

College students get creative to support hospice care

We’re thrilled that the Aspirations group at Tameside College has chosen Willow Wood Hospice as their charity for an exciting enterprise competition.

Using offcuts from the college woodshop, they have made stamps from scratch and used them to print unique designs on tote bags, pencil cases and badges.

Their goal is to raise at least £200 for our Hospice while showcasing their creativity and business skills – as part of their entry into a Manchester wide business challenge.

They kicked off their fundraising with a fantastic hands-on workshop at the Beaufort Road Food Hub, where people could buy pre-made items or print their own designs—it was so much fun!

We also hosted a pop-up shop in our reception, selling their amazing creations, with all proceeds going directly to Willow Wood.

The competition runs until Friday 28th February. They will present their idea to the judging panel and the winner will be announced on 11th March.

A huge thank you to Becky Holmes, the teacher leading this project, and to the students for their incredible effort.

Posted on by

‘Willow Wood is one of the most positive places I’ve worked at’

We are delighted to have recently seen an increase in the number of students choosing to undertake a placement at Willow Wood Hospice. 

Christina applied for a counselling placement with us as part of her studies at Tameside College, working towards becoming a qualified counsellor.

“I knew Willow Wood offered counselling, and I thought, where better to do it than here? I honestly couldn’t have been happier with the placement,” said Christina.

“It’s been an excellent environment for my placement, and the Family Support team has been incredibly supportive.

“I was interviewed by Callie [Head of Community Services] and Sarah [Senior Family Support Counsellor] and I remember walking away thinking ‘I really hope I get this.’ You just know when something feels right. I was over the moon when Callie told me I’d been offered the placement at Willow Wood.”

After completing her placement, Christina continued to volunteer at the Hospice, describing the experience as overwhelmingly positive.

She explained how pivotal the placement had been in supporting her journey to qualification.

“Every hour spent with a client is a learning opportunity – you can’t help but grow. I’ve developed as a counsellor here, thanks to the ongoing support and guidance from Callie and Bethan [Family Support Lead]. That support has been there every step of the way, both as a trainee and now as a qualified counsellor.”

“I’d known about Willow Wood before my placement, having taken part in the Midnight Wander, and through friends who had shared their positive experiences when loved ones were cared for here.

“When I first started my placement, people would often comment on how sad it must be, and yes, it is difficult watching someone experience the pain of losing a loved one. But it’s also incredibly rewarding to know that I’ve played a part in supporting that person through such a challenging time. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to work with the clients here. It’s truly been an honour.”

Christina (centre) with Callie Harrop (left), Head of Community Services, and Bethan Creighton, Family Support Lead at Willow Wood Hospice

Christina described Willow Wood as ‘a wonderful place doing vital work for the community’.

When talking about the wider organisation, Christina felt Willow Wood has been ‘one of the most positive places I’ve ever worked at’.

She added how the team excels at making a difficult time more manageable. “The Hospice staff are deeply committed to their work, and it’s inspiring to see so many volunteers from the community involved too. I’ve really felt like a valued member of the team.”

Christina’s passion for counselling stems from her desire to help others through the toughest times of their lives, and Willow Wood provided the ideal setting for this. “I’ve worked with children and young people for the past 12 years, and I love what I do. Being able to combine this experience with counselling has been an incredibly enriching and insightful opportunity for me.”

Christina also works as a Programme Development Manager for the charity Power2, which supports children and young people to thrive. She has been with the organisation for over 12 years, where her role involves designing and writing programmes to help young people at risk of not reaching their full potential.

“I’m thrilled to be completing my next placement at Power2, working with young people facing mental health challenges. It means a great deal to me to be able to complete my placement at a charity that I know does such incredible work with children and young people.”

Callie Harrop, Head of Community Services, said Christina has been a real asset to the Hospice’s Family Support team.

“Her warm, friendly nature and her passion for good outcomes for those she works with has been a joy to observe,” she said.

“Whilst on placement and through volunteering, Christina has supported a number of people including patients and family members of those who have accessed Willow Wood services, and has received some fantastic feedback about the relationships she has built and the impact the counselling has had for those she has supported.

“Whilst we will miss Christina on our team, we wish her all the very best for her future studies and next steps in her career and know that anyone lucky enough to meet Christina as a counsellor will have a positive experience.

“We are always so grateful that individuals choose to spend their placements with us and always aim to provide a supportive and inclusive environment for our Trainee Counsellors, with guidance when navigating a caseload, a chance to reflect on their sessions and the offer of training, supervision and learning opportunities to enhance their placement offer.”

When asked if she would recommend a placement or volunteering at Willow Wood to others, Christina’s response was simple: “100%! I’ve already spoken to my previous college tutor and told them I’d highly recommend Willow Wood for counselling placements.

“I honestly couldn’t recommend it enough. It’s been an incredible placement – it feels like you’re really giving something back, and that’s something I think is really important.”

Willow Wood Hospice welcomes students on medical, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and counselling placements.

To find out more, visit https://willowwood.org.uk/vacancies/student-placements/ or email education@willowwood.org.uk