Tag: The PAD

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The scheme helping young people thrive at Willow Wood

In early 2024, our Retail and Volunteering teams embraced a promising new opportunity to support local young people in collaboration with Tameside Council.

The Youth Employment Support (YES) scheme is aimed at helping 16 to 24-year-olds into the world of work, encouraging local organisations to offer at least six months of paid employment.

The scheme provides funding to make it easier for employers to give young people an opportunity.

Last year, we welcomed our first participant, Declan Ranahan, through the scheme—and he quickly made his mark. Declan has since progressed into a full-time role, balancing his Driver’s Mate position with an apprenticeship supported by Clarendon Sixth Form College.

Declan (pictured at the front) has established himself as part of our Retail team
Declan (pictured at the front) has established himself as part of our Retail team

His success has paved the way for others. Since Declan’s start, five more young people have joined our Retail team through the scheme, working at the Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne and our Purchase and Donate Shop in Stalybridge.

Each of them has brought enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and a fresh perspective.

Paul King, our Warehouse and Logistics Manager, has been mentoring some of the young people and has witnessed their progress firsthand.

“It has worked really well for us,” he said. “The young people get a lot out of it because they are treated like staff. We support them as much as we can and they are given responsibility. The majority of them do want to stay on at the end of the six months.

“Declan has been an example to others – he’s come a long way in the time he’s been with us and really enjoys his Driver’s Mate role.

“The young people with us have been supporting our van drivers and sorting out stock and serving customers in the Clearance Outlet downstairs. They have been quick learners, have had a positive attitude and have been a massive help.”

For Libby Marshall, 18, from Dukinfield, the role has been eye-opening and empowering.

Libby Marshall in the Clearance Outlet
Libby has been working in our Clearance Outlet

“I wasn’t doing anything so I was looking for a job and this came up. It’s been really nice – the friendly environment and the people I’m working with. I didn’t really know anything about the Hospice before so I’ve learned a lot about it.

“I’ve learned communication skills and just being more confident because before I wasn’t really good at communicating.”

Kaylum Duggan, 19, from Stalybridge, has taken on a Driver’s Mate role since January 2025.

Kaylum Duggan
Kaylum is enjoying being a Driver’s Mate 

“It’s a nice working environment and very cooperative. I’ve learned to work in a team, being prepared and lots of physical skills like manual handling. I feel like I’ve had a good impact and I’m enjoying it.

“I would definitely recommend the YES scheme to others – it helps you get out of your shell and find opportunities that help you grow as a person.”

Emily Kellett, 23, from Dukinfield, brought with her some previous volunteering experience, but says her time at Willow Wood has taken her skills and confidence to new levels.

“I’ve developed skills like customer service, money management and teamwork. It’s been lovely working with Libby and all of the team – I feel like I fitted in from day one and I’ve made some great friendships. I want to stay working in retail.”

For many of these young people, previous alternative education placements or work environments had not been the right fit. But at Willow Wood, they have found encouragement, responsibility, and a welcoming team.

Neil Radford, who is involved in the YES scheme at Tameside Council, has praised the collaboration.

“Some of our cohort have challenges and have struggled with social anxiety, particularly around peers of their own age,” Neil said.

“Since working at Willow Wood, we’ve seen their confidence and self-esteem grow and have encouraged increased social interactions across different age groups and some will now travel on public transport independently. They are also broadening their social activities by attending gyms, watching films at the cinema and going shopping with peers.

“Additionally, they have gained valuable experience in learning about the world of work and the responsibilities of being an employee. Through their time at Willow Wood, they have developed essential skills such as teamwork, time management, and workplace communication, which have further boosted their independence skills.

“We would especially like to thank Paul King and his team at the Clearance Outlet and Lisa Pye for their support, patience and kindness. Without this, our scheme wouldn’t be the success it is today.”

To find out more about volunteering at Willow Wood Hospice, visit willowwood.org.uk/vacancies/volunteer-vacancies

Anyone interested in taking part in the YES scheme can contact the Employment and Skills team at Tameside Council on 0161 342 3111 or email employmentandskills@tameside.gov.uk

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The success of our Purchase and Donate shop in Stalybridge

For over 10 years, the Purchase and Donate (PAD) shop in Stalybridge has been a cornerstone of the community, offering a unique shopping experience while raising vital funds for Willow Wood Hospice.

Specialising in children’s toys and clothing, bric-a-brac, and furniture, last year this bustling shop generated around 30 per cent of our shops’ total annual income – which directly supports patients from Tameside and Glossop with life-limiting illnesses in our care.

A team that makes it happen

The PAD is a thriving operation, thanks to a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to keep things running smoothly.

Manager Michelle Baxter is proud of the shop’s impact and the commitment of those who support it.

“We are grateful to have a wonderful team who work incredibly hard,” Michelle shares. “We’re lucky to receive fabulous, high-quality donations, and we have a wide range of customers who support us. Knowing that we make a significant contribution to the care of patients at the Hospice makes it all worthwhile.”

Michelle Baxter
Michelle Baxter

 

A treasure trove of items

The PAD shop offers something for everyone. On the ground floor, customers can browse a selection of furniture – including sofas, beds, kitchen tables, coffee tables and mirrors – as well as books, picture frames and even jigsaw puzzles.

The dedicated bric-a-brac section is a treasure trove of unique and quirky finds—perfect for those who love discovering hidden gems.

The bric-a-brac section is a treasure trove waiting for you to discover

Upstairs, the children’s section has seen exciting developments. Since the café closed, Viv Frattaroli and her team have expanded the space to offer even more for families.

“We wanted to make the most of the space and create a welcoming environment for children and their parents,” says Viv. “Now, we have an even wider range of children’s items, from teddies and toys to clothes and prams. It’s fantastic to see families coming in and finding great-quality items at affordable prices.”

Viv Frattaroli
Viv Frattaroli

Pay the PAD a visit

The PAD shop wouldn’t be the success it is without the generosity of donors and customers, and every purchase made directly helps us provide essential care to those who need it most.

If you’re looking for quality pre-loved furniture, you’ll still find a fantastic selection at the PAD.

Some of the furniture available at The PAD

We now a smoother system in place to collect your furniture donations – visit www.willowwood.org.uk/furniture-collection to find out more.

Whether you’re hunting for a bargain, donating items or simply browsing, the PAD shop is a special place where the community comes together to make a difference. Thank you for your continued support!

You will find the PAD at 13/15 Shepley Street (postcode SK15 2AH) and it’s open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4pm.

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The PAD’s adoption initiative to give a teddy a new home

A trip to our Purchase and Donate (PAD) shop in Stalybridge has just got even more special, thanks to a creative new initiative in the children’s section.

Customers now have the chance to ‘adopt’ a teddy bear, complete with its own name and an adoption certificate—just like Paddington!

The idea came from young volunteer Jay Kettlewell (pictured), who wanted to add a fun and meaningful touch to the shop’s pre-loved teddies.

Jay, 24, from Stalybridge, has been volunteering since December 2024, helping out up to three days a week. Her mum, Anita, also volunteers in the children’s section, making this a wonderful family effort.

“I work at conventions selling my art, and one of my projects is ‘Adopt a Ghost,’ where I make resin ghost items,” Jay explained.

“We always have lots of teddy bears donated to the shop, so I thought, why not bring this idea here? It gives the bears a bit of personality and makes it a more special experience for customers.”

You can ‘adopt’ a teddy bear at the back of the upstairs floor at The PAD

Jay made the adoption certificates herself and worked with Viv and the team to set up the display at the back of the floor, which officially launched on 24th March.

Each teddy now has its own unique name and, for those that don’t come pre-dressed, the team has lovingly added clothes to make them extra special.

“As long as we keep getting bears in, we’ll keep doing it,” Jay said. “We thought it would be a lovely thing for children, but of course, anyone can adopt a teddy!”

With a variety of teddies available in different sizes and prices, now is the perfect time to come along, find your new furry friend, and give them a loving home.

Pop upstairs when you’re next in the PAD shop to take a look—you might just find the perfect bear waiting for you!

To keep the initiative going, Jay and the team would really appreciate any donations of teddy bears.

You can find The PAD at 13/15 Shepley Street in Stalybridge (postcode SK15 2AH). It’s open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4pm.

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Hospice shops introduce new smoother system for furniture donations

To make the most of every donation, Willow Wood Hospice’s charity shops now have a new system for fast and free furniture collection.

It comes as the Hospice’s furniture donation vans have also been given a much-needed makeover.

Having looked a little worse for wear previously, the refreshed fleet have a clear and contemporary new livery with details of the updated donation process.

With the newly revamped vans hitting the road across Tameside and Glossop, the Hospice is rolling out a smoother system for swifter furniture collections.

Previously, donors had to call the Purchase and Donate (PAD) shop in Stalybridge to arrange a pick-up, but the process has now been streamlined to make it more efficient.

Now, anyone looking to donate furniture can contact Paul King, Warehouse and Logistics Manager, and his team directly.

You can take photographs of the item(s) you wish to donate and send them via WhatsApp on 07549 275158 with your name and address including postcode, as well as a description of the item(s).

If you don’t have WhatsApp, you can submit your photographs by filling out a simple form on the Hospice website at https://willowwood.org.uk/furniture-collection/

For those unable to send photographs, you can call 0161 669 4849 to speak to the team to arrange collection.

Our Hospice furniture donation vans were looking a little worse for wear. But fear not, because we’ve given them a much-needed makeover!

Paul said: “It’s essential that we have as much information as possible about the donation because we cannot accept everything and we would hate to waste anybody’s time in turning up to pick up an item that we would be unable to accept – e.g. a sofa without a fire label or furniture that we wouldn’t be able to sell because of wear and tear.”

The new process means the Hospice’s team can make the best use of the space at the Donation Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne, plan collections more effectively, and get donations into shops quicker than ever.

About the new system, Paul added: “It’s all about better stock distribution, smoother sales, and faster collections.

“This new system isn’t just making collections easier—it’s set to boost furniture sales and improve stock across all three shops! The PAD and Waterloo will continue to sell furniture, but without the added pressure of handling logistics, freeing them up to focus on providing the best possible service to our customers.

“Plus, we’ve simplified booking system, so it’s now easier than ever to donate! We introduced a WhatsApp function which is already been a game-changer, letting people send photos and a description of their donation for a quicker response.

“From first contact to collection, the whole process can now be wrapped up in as little as three days, depending on what suits the donor—making it faster, simpler, and more efficient for everyone!”

If you see the new-look vans out and about, tag Willow Wood Hospice on their Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn platforms.

The Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, provides specialist, compassionate and dignified care to patients from Tameside and Glossop with any life-limiting illness and those closest to them.

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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

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Rhoda remembers fallen soldiers with special display

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 has created the display for the third year in a row

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.

The display is in the window of The PAD shop on Shepley Street in Stalybridge

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.”