Tag: Tameside

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Curzon Ashton and Ashton United derby to raise support for Willow Wood Hospice

Curzon Ashton FC team posing for a photo at the Tameside Stadium with Joanne Lees from Willow Wood Hospice

Curzon Ashton Football Club’s match against local rivals Ashton United on Bank Holiday Monday will be dedicated to supporting Willow Wood Hospice.

The early-season clash at the Tameside Stadium (OL7 9HG) will be on Monday 31st August, kicking off at 3pm.

Curzon Ashton has chosen Willow Wood as its charity partner for the 2026/27 season, and supporters attending the eagerly anticipated cross-town derby will have the opportunity to make a donation and find out more about the vital care provided by the Hospice.

Curzon’s players will also be wearing t-shirts showing their support for the Hospice during the pre-match warm-up.

With both sides competing in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the fixture promises plenty of excitement on the pitch – while offering fans the chance to show their support for local people living with any life-limiting illness.

Mike Smith, Curzon Ashton Community Foundation Manager, said: “Curzon Ashton is proud to be supporting Willow Wood Hospice as our charity partner this season. The Hospice plays such an important role in our local community, supporting patients and families when they need it most.

“Football brings people together, and we hope that by dedicating this local derby to Willow Wood, we can help raise awareness of the Hospice and encourage supporters to get behind its incredible work.”

Curzon Ashton and Willow Wood Hospice staff and mascots
Curzon Ashton has partnered with the Hospice for the 2026/27 season.

Joanne Lees, Partnership Development Lead at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Curzon Ashton for choosing Willow Wood as its charity partner and for dedicating this exciting local derby to supporting the Hospice.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the local football community and raise awareness of the specialist care we provide to patients and the people closest to them across Tameside and Glossop.

“We hope supporters will come along, enjoy the match and, if they can, make a donation or find out more about how they can support Willow Wood.”

Based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Willow Wood Hospice provides specialist, compassionate and dignified care to people with any life-limiting illness across Tameside and Glossop. The Hospice also supports families and those closest to patients.

It costs £4.1 million a year to run the Hospice, which receives only 22 per cent of its funding from the government – the rest must be raised by the generosity of the community through donations, organising or supporting fundraising events, buying pre-loved items from Willow Wood’s charity shops, leaving gifts in their Wills, joining the weekly lottery, and volunteering.

Admission is £14 for adults, £10 concessions, £5 students, £2 for 12–16-year-olds, with free entry for Under-12s. A family ticket for two adults and two children under 16 costs £25. Tickets can be purchased on the gate on the day.

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Runners encouraged to lace up for Tameside 10k in support of Willow Wood

RUNNERS, joggers and walkers are expected to take to the streets this weekend as the popular Tameside 10k returns for a fifth year.

The community event, founded by former English super middleweight boxing champion Charlie Schofield, will take place on Sunday, June 7.

This year it will be raising money for Willow Wood Hospice and the Royal British Legion.

Open to people of all ages, fitness levels and abilities, participants can choose to run, jog or walk the 10-kilometre route, which starts at Ultimate Fitness in Stalybridge and finishes at The Rising Moon pub in Hyde.

The Tameside 10k is back on Sunday.

The event gets under way at 10am, with entrants asked to arrive from 9.30am. The route is relatively flat, featuring only a slight incline, and will be fully marshalled and signposted. Official timings will also be recorded.

Since retiring from professional boxing, Charlie has focused on encouraging people across Tameside to become more active, which is why he has established the annual 10k.

Charlie said: “Join us for the Tameside 10k and make a difference for a cause close to your heart. Whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned runner, this community event is for everyone. Walk, jog or run your way to the finish line, then celebrate your achievement with us afterwards.”

Tara Farren, Community and Events Fundraiser at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “We’re delighted to be a beneficiary of this year’s run, which is always a fantastic community event.

“Whether you’re an experienced runner aiming for a new personal best or taking on your very first 10k challenge, this is a brilliant opportunity to achieve something special while helping us continue to provide vital care and support to local patients and families.

“Good luck to everyone taking part – we’ll be cheering you on every step of the way!”

Charlie Schofield

Entry costs £20 which must be booked in advance online at https://www.schofieldboxingfitness.co.uk/tameside10k 

More information about the event is available on the Tameside 10k Instagram page.

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Curzon Ashton teams up with Willow Wood Hospice for season of support

Curzon Ashton and Willow Wood Hospice staff and mascots

A new partnership between Curzon Ashton FC and Willow Wood Hospice is set to make a big impact both on and off the pitch.

The Tameside football club has chosen the hospice as its Charity of Choice for the 2026/27 season.

The partnership will see The Nash support Willow Wood through a series of fundraising events and awareness campaigns across the season to bring fans, players, staff and the wider community together for a cause close to home.

Both organisations are based in Ashton-under-Lyne and play an important role in the local community.

Curzon Ashton is preparing for life in the Northern Premier League Premier Division next term, while the hospice continues to provide specialist palliative and end-of-life care for patients with any life-limiting illness across Tameside and Glossop.

Supporters can expect plenty of activity both on and off the pitch throughout the season.

Plans already include a 10k sponsored walk in July involving club directors, players, staff and fans, as well as a dedicated charity matchday where players will wear Willow Wood Hospice t-shirts during the warm-up. The fixture will also feature a hospice information stall and a signed shirt raffle.

Other fundraising ideas include a Charity Quiz Night at the stadium and a sponsored ‘Stop Out to Help Out’, where participants will camp overnight on the pitch to raise money for the hospice.

Mike Smith, the Foundation Manager at Curzon Ashton FC, said the club hopes to make a real difference through the partnership.

“We’re pleased to partner with the hospice to help raise awareness and valuable funds. We hope that we can enhance the great work already being done by everyone at Willow Wood and look forward to working with them,” he said.

For Willow Wood Hospice, the partnership is another example of how local organisations can support the charity.

Joanne Lees, Partnership Development Lead, said: “We are absolutely delighted that Curzon Ashton FC has chosen us as its Charity of Choice for the 2026/27 season. As two organisations rooted in Tameside and committed to supporting our local community, this partnership feels like a perfect match.

“The support from Curzon Ashton will not only help raise vital funds but also increase awareness of the care and support we provide to patients and families across Tameside and Glossop. Partnerships like this truly make a huge difference.”

It currently costs around £11,200 a day to run Willow Wood, with only 22 per cent of the hospice’s annual funding coming from the government. The remaining income must be raised through donations, fundraising and community support.

With football fans known for backing their teams through thick and thin, both the club and the hospice hope the local community can get firmly behind the partnership in the months ahead.

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Hospice named official charity partner of StalyFest

StalyFest is excited to announce Willow Wood Hospice as its official charity partner for this year’s event on Saturday 9th May.

Taking place at the home of Stalybridge Celtic Football Club, StalyFest is already a highlight of the local calendar, bringing together music lovers, families, and the wider community for a day of live entertainment and celebration. This year’s headliners The Lightning Seeds are sure to entertain the crowd, at an iconic football ground, with their classic 3 Lions in a World Cup Year. It will definitely be Coming Home to Tameside!

This year, the festival is set to make a greater local impact by supporting the vital work of Willow Wood Hospice.

Willow Wood Hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care to patients with any life-limiting illness from anywhere in Tameside and Glossop, offering compassion, dignity and comfort when it is needed most.

As part of the partnership, StalyFest will host a range of fundraising activities throughout the festival, including donation points, charity-led initiatives, and awareness campaigns to highlight the essential work carried out by Willow Wood Hospice. Members of the public will be able to buy tickets for the festival directly from posts on the Hospice’s social media channels at a reduced rate and 10 per cent of the cost will be donated to Willow Wood.

Paul Bowden, Chief Financial Officer at Stalybridge Celtic, said: “We are delighted to welcome Willow Wood Hospice as our official charity partner. Their work touches so many lives in our community, and we are proud to support them through StalyFest. Our main aim is to increase awareness of the essential services they provide, but we have also created a fantastic opportunity for Willow Wood to fundraise on the day and through tickets sold via their digital platforms.”

Joanne Lees, Partnership Development Lead at Willow Wood Hospice, added: “We are incredibly grateful to be chosen as StalyFest’s charity partner. Support from our community, like this from Stalybridge Celtic, is vital so that we can continue to be here when patients, and those closest to them, need our services. It costs around £11,200 a day to run the Hospice, so every penny raised really does make a difference. We’re looking forward to being part of such a fantastic local event.”

Attendees are encouraged to get involved, support the cause, and help make this year’s festival one to remember – not just for the music, but for the positive impact it will have across the community.

The Festival Line-up Is Almost Complete

Along with the Lightning Seeds, the supporting line-up is sure to excite. With bands like Republica and the Virginmarys appearing alongside well-known solo acts Huey Morgan (Fun Luvin’ Criminals) and Ben Ottewell (Gomez).

And to keep things local, we’ve asked Cobain Jones to return after his brilliant set last year and we introduce our “Battle of the Bands” winners the Ventrelles.

With a few final touches to put to the line-up, it should be an even bigger day than the 2025 inaugural festival.

For more information about StalyFest, including event details and tickets, please visit www.stalyfest.co.uk.

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Eggs-traordinary donation in Maisie’s memory

A huge thank you to local charity Maisie Moo’s Missions for donating an incredible 1,600 Cadbury’s Crème Eggs to support our Bunny Hop appeal.

The donation was made in honour of what would have been Maisie’s 16th birthday last month. Maisie Almond, from Stalybridge, died in hospital aged 14 in October 2024 from acute liver failure, just 17 days after first complaining of a stomach ache, before she was able to undergo a liver transplant.

Her parents, Kathryn and Stuart, founded the charity in her name to support projects that empower disadvantaged young people, while also raising awareness of organ donation and the importance of donating blood.

Maisie had a special connection to Willow Wood Hospice, volunteering in our Hyde charity shop – where she still has her own corner in tribute. Trustee Ian McClure, whose mum Mary was cared for at the Hospice, also volunteers at our Coffee Mornings.

Kathryn said: “When we saw the Crème Egg Appeal, we wanted to help as it aligns with our strategy to support other charitable initiatives and the eggs are supporting children who are fundraising.

“Maisie enjoyed working in the Willow Wood shop and always wanted to help others in need. We have found strength in wanting to make a difference to others in Maisie’s name.”

We are so grateful for this thoughtful and generous support.

To reward the amazing youngsters taking part in our Bunny Hop, we still need more Creme Eggs before the closing date of Friday 6th March.

Any donations to the Hospice or any of our shops would be greatly appreciated.

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A wonderfully Wicked day at the Willow Wood Hospice Walk

Stamford Park and Chadwick Dam were filled with colour, sparkle, and a dusting of community spirit as hundreds of supporters took on Willow Wood Hospice’s brand-new 5km walk with a difference.

Basking in the autumn sunshine, 275 walkers of all ages came together last Sunday (21st September) with friends and family to create lasting memories while raising vital funds to support patient care.

Over £15,000 has been raised so far and there’s still time to boost the total further by making an online donation at https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/willowwalk

This year’s Wicked theme brought magic and colour to every step – with costumes ranging from gravity-defying witches and sparkling Glindas to those simply enjoying the day in their own style.

A real highlight was the dazzling Wicked-inspired performances from The Drama Department, who brought the worlds of Glinda and Elphaba to life with showstopping songs and dance numbers that had the walkers and onlookers singing and clapping along.

The Hospice also continued its collaboration with local colleges as students from Ashton Sixth Form College made fabulous Wicked-themed paper costumes and students from Tameside College added to the fun by providing colourful face painting.

The 5km challenge offered fun for all ages, including a Trail Tracker quiz, sticker trail, finishing-line treat, and of course, every participant received a well-deserved medal and certificate.

Willow Wood’s mascot Woody the Bear was there to cheer everyone on and Tracy Minshull, CEO of the Hospice, cut the ribbon to set the walkers on their way.

Browse through our photo album from the day by clicking on the image below:

Tracey Schofield, Events Lead at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “It was a fantastic day and the weather was kind to us! It was lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves and walking to support patients with life-limiting illnesses and those closest to them.

“A massive thank you to everyone who took part and embraced the Wicked theme; The Drama Department; our Hospice staff and volunteers; Robertson, HN Nuttall and Set Produce; and Tameside Council for use of the park.”

Keep an eye out for next year’s Willow Wood Hospice 5km Walk – the theme for 2026 will be announced very soon.

It costs £3.6 million a year for Willow Wood Hospice to continue providing its essential services to deliver compassionate care to patients from Tameside and Glossop with a life-limiting illness.

With only around 24 per cent of that total coming from the Government, the Hospice relies on the generosity of the community by making donations; organising or supporting fundraising events; donating or buying goods to its charity shops; leaving gifts in Wills; joining the weekly lottery or volunteering.

If you would like to organise your own fundraiser for Willow Wood, the Hospice’s Fundraising team can support you – contact fundraising@willowwood.org.uk or call 0161 330 7788.

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Guide Bridge Theatre takes the Enchanted Evening reins

A much-loved musical tradition that has raised thousands for Willow Wood Hospice is entering a new chapter as Guide Bridge Theatre steps in to take over the running of the annual Enchanted Evening concert.

Now in its 22nd year, the concert has become a cherished fixture in the local calendar, drawing audiences from across the borough for a night of nostalgic musical theatre performed by talented soloists from local operatic societies.

Organised since its inception in 2004 by Mike Styan and a dedicated team of musical friends, the event has raised over £20,000 for the Hospice, including £1,386.50 last year.

This year marks a ‘changing of the guard’ as Mike steps back from the organiser role, passing the baton to Sue Holden and the team at Guide Bridge Theatre, who will host the concert for the first time on Friday 26th September at 7.30pm at their venue on Audenshaw Road.

Reflecting on his years leading the event, Mike said: “It has been an absolute privilege to organise the Enchanted Evening for the past 21 years. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved — not just the money raised, but the joy and community spirit the concerts have brought.

“I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has supported us over the years, from the performers and audiences to our loyal sponsors. I’m thrilled to see Sue and the team at Guide Bridge Theatre take it forward, and I know they’ll do a fantastic job keeping the magic alive.”

Sue Holden and Mike Styan handing over the music books in the Hospice gardens
Sue and Mike handing over the music books in the Hospice gardens

Sue appeared in the very first concert back in January 2004 and is thrilled to be involved in its future.

“Mike has done a tremendous job over many years and has thankfully agreed to share his knowledge with me,” she said.

“I am delighted that Guide Bridge Theatre have agreed to host this event and thank everyone there for supporting this venture. This means that all the money from ticket sales can go directly to the Hospice.

“Work has already started on this year’s programme and I am excited to be working with some very special and talented people, all of whom give freely of their time and talents to support Willow Wood. I have no doubt it will be a truly magical Enchanted Evening.”

The concert has seen a number of homes over the years — from its debut at Ashton-under-Lyne Civic Hall, to Stalybridge and Dukinfield Methodist Churches, as well as being held virtually during Covid-19. Throughout it all, it has retained its heartwarming appeal and community spirit.

The event continues to receive the support of Steve Pearson Car Sales on Acres Lane in Stalybridge, whose backing helps ensure the funds raised can support the care of patients with any life-limiting illness from Tameside and Glossop at the Hospice.

“Once again it is our absolute pleasure to be involved in the Willow Wood Enchanted Evening event,” said Steve. “Each year has got bigger and bigger, and hopefully this year is going to be the best yet. We’re looking forward to helping make it happen.”

Tickets for this year’s event are £10 per person and can be purchased online at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/venueplan/bkgzmkgzwvrv.

As always, audiences can expect a night filled with wonderful music, nostalgia, and community spirit — all in support of Willow Wood Hospice.

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Double recognition at Tameside Business Awards

We’re thrilled to share that Willow Wood Hospice won the Retailer of the Year award and received a Special Commendation for Care in the Outstanding Contribution to Tameside category at the Tameside Business Awards.

The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday night at The Village Hotel in Ashton-under-Lyne.

We were represented by our CEO Tracy Minshull, Chairman Timothy Jackson, Clinical Director Nicola Cheetham, Director of Fundraising & Communications Sam Duncan, Head of Retail Pauline Lunt, and Partnership Development Lead Joanne Lees.

These honours are a testament to the dedication, compassion and relentless hard work of our incredible workforce – which is all of our staff and volunteers.

We have also been shortlisted in the Social Enterprise / CIC / Charity of the Year category at this year’s Pride of Tameside Business Awards.

We will find out if we have been successful on Friday 13th June at Dukinfield Town Hall – fingers crossed!

Pictured: CEO Tracy Minshull and Clinical Director Nicola Cheetham (left) with our Special Commendation for Care and Director of Fundraising and Communications Sam Duncan and Head of Retail Pauline Lunt with our Retailer of the Year award.

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Music with a mission at Dukinfield pub

A MUSIC festival organised by a local pub raised the roof over the Bank Holiday weekend in aid of Willow Wood Hospice.

The Angel Inn in Dukinfield held the two-day event christened ‘Angel Fest’ for the second successive year.

Last year’s event raised over £2,000 for the Hospice – based in Ashton-under-Lyne, which provides compassionate and dignified care to patients with any life-limiting illness from Tameside and Glossop. 

The pub hoped to raise an even bigger total this year and have achieved it, with the final amount confirmed as £3,098.99. 

Landlady Dawn Woodhouse chose to support Willow Wood, where a family member was cared for, and after a number of customers expressed to her how vital the hospice’s services are for the community.

One of the acts on stage during this year’s Angel Fest

 Lucy Ta’ati, our Community Fundraiser, said: “Our heartfelt thanks go to Dawn and the team at The Angel Inn for their incredible support and generosity. 

“Events like Angel Fest show the true spirit of community and raise vital funds that help us continue providing compassionate care to local people with life-limiting illnesses. 

“We’re truly grateful for everyone who supported the event and helped make the weekend such a fantastic success.”

For the event, the beer garden at the King Street establishment was decked out in multi-coloured bunting and a full stage set-up, courtesy of Mick and Kev from J&J Transport. 

Entertainment was in full swing on Saturday (3rd May) and Sunday (4th May) – provided by Si Peddle, Carl Morris, Dale, Flashbax, the Rockerfellas and many more. 

There was plenty of festival fun both indoors and outdoors, including Mel and Pete’s Karaoke, and games such as a charity 501 darts competition – with a fantastic malt whisky prize donated by Philip and Mary Cox. 

Food stalls selling burgers, hot dogs, candy floss and more kept everyone fed, and there was a charity auction.