Do you enjoy discovering hidden treasures, researching unusual finds or selling items online? If the answer is yes, we’d love to hear from you.
Our Online Sales team, based at our Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre on Langham Street (off Oldham Road) in Ashton-under-Lyne, is looking for friendly and enthusiastic volunteers to join our growing department.
No two days are the same. You could be sorting donations, researching interesting items, taking photographs, packing orders or preparing listings for our online selling platforms. Donations can include everything from ceramics and vinyl records to clothing, books and electrical items.
Volunteer hours are flexible between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, so whether you can spare a morning, an afternoon or a full day, we’d love to welcome you to the team.
It’s an exciting time to get involved. Our Online Sales team manages our eBay, World of Books and Vintage Cash Cow platforms, and we’ve recently re-launched our Vinted page. Every item sold helps raise vital funds to support patient care at Willow Wood Hospice.
Ben Williams, who recently joined the team alongside Sally Dawson, said: “I’ve had my own eBay business for over three years. Since coming in, we’ve tried to streamline our processes and make everything more efficient, spending more time taking photos and listing items to raise as much money as possible to support patient care at the Hospice. It’s a fantastic place to work and a great time to get involved. Your role can be tailored around your skillset and what you’re interested in, so it really is varied and flexible.”
If you’d like to become part of our Online Sales team, please contact Lisa Pye, our Volunteer Services Manager, by emailing volunteering@willowwood.org.uk or calling 0161 330 1100 to find out more.
For Brenda Donnelly, volunteering at Willow Wood Hospice is about giving something back.
Brenda, who lives in Hollingworth, joined the Hospice as a Visitor Liaison Volunteer on the Inpatient Unit in September 2025.
After a 16-year career as a hotel receptionist, she was perfectly suited to a role that combines welcoming people, offering support and helping families feel at ease during difficult times.
The Hospice has long held a special place in Brenda’s heart. Her father received care at Willow Wood before he died 12 years ago, and she always hoped to volunteer when she retired.
Now volunteering three mornings a week, Brenda helps answer phone calls, takes messages for staff and supports visitors and families. Her role also allows nurses and support workers to focus on patient care, while ensuring visitors always have someone available to help.
A typical shift can involve anything from offering refreshments and explaining more about the Hospice, to guiding visitors to where they need to go. Just as importantly, Brenda is there to provide a listening ear.
“I think it’s important that our visitors know there is always somebody willing to sit down with them to listen when they need to talk to somebody other than family,” she said.
One of Brenda’s most memorable moments came on her very first shift, when she welcomed a family whose loved one had just been admitted to the Inpatient Unit while nursing staff settled the patient in.
Brenda believes empathy is one of the most important qualities needed for the role, alongside confidence when speaking with visitors and families and the ability to provide accurate information.
Her advice for anyone considering becoming a Visitor Liaison Volunteer is simple: “Just be yourself and willing to lend an ear.”
What Brenda enjoys most is the sense of teamwork on the Inpatient Unit.
“I love the team, how they all work together and how I was made to feel very welcome and part of that team from day one,” she said.
She also says one of the highlights of every shift is being greeted by Julie Acourt, our Inpatient Unit Administrator.
“I have learned so much from her – she is excellent at what she does.”
For Brenda, volunteering means the world. It is her way of thanking Willow Wood for the care her father and wider family received, while helping to support others going through similar experiences.
Her message to anyone thinking about volunteering at the Hospice?
“Just do it, you’ll love it.”
Has Brenda inspired you to become a Willow Wood Hospice volunteer? Check out our Volunteer Vacancies page to see the exciting opportunities we have available and how you can get involved.
Three of our long-serving volunteers enjoyed a very special day at Buckingham Palace recently, in recognition of their outstanding commitment to the Hospice.
Steve and Pauline Giblin, from Ashton-under-Lyne, and Colin Hearnshaw, from Dukinfield, were invited to Royal Garden Parties after being nominated by senior members of the Hospice team.
Steve and Pauline have dedicated a combined 31 years of volunteering to Willow Wood. Steve, a former Environmental Health Officer with Tameside Council, supports the fundraising team, volunteers as a photographer and has served as a Hospice trustee for the past year.
Pauline, who worked in NHS administration for 32 years, began volunteering in the lymphedema clinic before moving to the wellbeing team. She is also a member of the Willow Wood Hospice Choir, sits on the Flower Festival committee and helps with the monthly Coffee Mornings. Together, they continue to play a vital role.
The couple’s invitation now has pride of place, framed in their home.
Pauline said: “It was a surprise and an honour to receive our invitation to attend the first of this year’s royal garden parties, hosted by his Majesty, King Charles.
“On arrival at the Palace that day, we were warmly welcomed through the main gates by Palace staff and security officers and promptly treated to the most delicious afternoon tea, before strolling through the beautiful gardens in the grounds of the Palace.
“It was almost like being on the set of a film, with everyone dressed in beautiful outfits and all this accompanied by the band playing by the lake – it was quite a surreal experience.
“The arrival of the Yeomen of the Guard signalled the imminent appearance of the Royal Family – their Majesties the King and Queen, The Princess Royal, The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
“It was truly a day we will never forget and we are so grateful for having been given that opportunity to attend a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.”
Colin Hearnshaw, 86, attended a second Garden Party with his youngest son, Keith.
A volunteer complementary therapist for 20 years, Colin has provided Reiki support to thousands of patients since joining Willow Wood in 2006 after retiring as a music teacher. Alongside his weekly volunteering role, he has shared his knowledge with fellow volunteers, doctors, nurses and carers, helping them develop their skills and gain qualifications.
Colin said: “It was a pleasant surprise to receive the invitation in the post a few months ago. It was a huge honour to be one of around 2,000 people there – my youngest son Keith and I had a great day out. It was a marvellous occasion and a real privilege. The gardens were beautiful.”
As he celebrates 20 years of volunteering, Colin says he hopes to continue supporting Willow Wood for as long as possible – a sentiment that perfectly reflects the dedication shown by all three volunteers honoured at Buckingham Palace.
If you’re thinking of giving back and making a difference in your community, this is the perfect opportunity to come along and find out more about volunteering with Willow Wood Hospice.
Our Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre on Langham Street (off Oldham Road) in Ashton-under-Lyne is holding a Volunteer Recruitment Day on Saturday 9th August from 10am to 2pm.
There are a range of flexible roles available – from helping with eBay and sorting through donations to being a Retail Assistant or a Driver’s Mate. You’ll get a glimpse of what’s involved in the video below…
What to expect on the day:
• Tours of the premises every hour on the hour
• Meet our friendly team in a relaxed environment
• Say hello to our mascot Woody!
• Enter our raffle to win a hamper worth over £50
Whether you’re looking to learn new skills, meet new people, or simply want to support a local cause, we’d love to see you there.
Danny Goodwin was a loving husband, father and family man, and a lifelong Manchester United fan and an avid concert-goer.
“He was quite an active person and we used to go dancing together,” his wife Vera said. “He liked to go out and keep busy – he used to like going for a pint and he was in a quiz team.”
Born in Hattersley and one of eight children, Danny was brought up in the countryside and loved walking.
“We used to go on hikes with dad’s (large!) extended family when we were kids which has left us with such happy memories,” his daughter Jane told us.
“He was always good at art and took some lessons later in life – we have some of his paintings hanging in our homes.”
Danny harnessed his interest in art to become a painter and decorator, and his love of the outdoors led to him volunteering in the Willow Wood Hospice gardens for 15 years.
He was inspired to give back after one of his sisters, Janet, received end-of-life care at the Hospice.
“Dad loved helping out in the gardens and he would even bring our beloved dog Cassie with him. I came with him one day just to help too,” said Jane, who lives nearby in Ashton-under-Lyne.
“He also helped out at some fundraising events – he would get involved in the duck race and took part in the Firewalk one year too.”
Danny at the duck race
‘Fantastic care – not just for my dad, for us too’
Danny was therefore familiar with the Hospice’s surroundings when he became ill.
“He said he really wanted to go to Willow Wood Hospice,” Vera explained. “It was always where he wanted to be. He was very happy in here although he was really poorly.
“You weren’t worried about leaving him at Willow Wood because you know he’d be really well looked after.”
Danny came to the Hospice’s Inpatient Unit in June 2015 and spent eight days in our care before he died from lung cancer, aged 73. His family were very grateful for the care he received.
Danny’s daughter Louise said: “The staff were really good and attentive. I can’t praise them enough, honestly. Fantastic care – not just for my dad, for us too. We felt he was in such good hands and it took a lot of the stress off us, particularly my mum. Nothing was too much trouble. You don’t feel rushed to leave and we could bring the dog to see him. It feels like you can come any time and it feels peaceful.
“Just to be able to come and spend time in such a beautiful environment was so lovely. It was June so the weather was lovely and we used to wheel him outside so he wasn’t indoors all the time – the rooms are attached to the gardens which is great.”
How Danny’s family still support the Hospice
Jane (left), Vera (centre) and Louise in the Hospice gardens
Louise said realising the Hospice was largely funded by donations from the community was the driver to support it more.
Jane added: “I just feel like that’s what he’d want us to do. He would be proud.”
Since Danny’s death, the family have supported the Hospice in a number of ways.
Vera, Jane and Louise all play our weekly Lottery and have attended fundraising events over the years, while Vera also donates clothes to our charity shops.
“We go every year to the Flower Festival, the Last Night of the Proms and the Garden of Lights, which are all lovely events,” said Louise.
Jane added: “We always donate for Light up a Life. Louise and I also did the Midnight Wander before dad died. The year after, I did the abseil from Ikea and managed to raise £1,000. I just felt that I needed to give something back and I loved it.
“My dad also decided that he wanted donations at his funeral to go to Willow Wood.”
Jane (left) and Vera at the IKEA abseil
They also attend the Butterfly Memory Release every summer in the Hospice gardens that Danny helped to maintain.
“It’s just beautiful and particularly because it’s in the gardens where dad volunteered,” said Jane.
“It’s amazing how many people come to it. It’s just a very nice, calming atmosphere. It’s peaceful and you can just reflect.”
‘People should not be fearful of a hospice’
Living locally, Danny’s family were aware of Willow Wood but didn’t know much about it until Danny’s sister Janet was cared for.
They think more people are becoming aware of what hospices do and that they are not places to be feared.
“I think people are more aware of it these days, definitely. I think people should not be fearful of a hospice at all,” Louise said.
“I have said to people that I know that the Hospice is a beautiful place. It’s uplifting in a way. The fact we can still come in years later is of great comfort to us.”
They want others to support Willow Wood so our specialist teams can continue to support more families like theirs.
“It’s worth supporting the Hospice because people need it,” said Jane. “It’s an important part of the community as well. When we come to the Coffee Mornings here, or the other events, we’re here for a sad reason in our lives, but it’s still a lovely community feeling.”
If you would like to find out more about the services Willow Wood Hospice provides, you can visit www.willowwood.org.uk or call 0161 330 1100.
Willow Wood Hospice is inviting the local community to a Fun Family Open Day at its Clearance Outlet and Donation Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne.
It’s taking place on Saturday 26th April from 10am to 3pm at the Hospice’s shop at Unit 4 on Langham Street, off Oldham Road (postcode OL7 9AX). On-street parking will be available.
The event promises to be a jam-packed day of activities for people of all ages to have fun, grab a bargain and learn more about joining the Hospice’s team of volunteers in its growing retail operations.
For your little ones, there will be face painting, free goodie bags for the first 50 children, and an opportunity to meet Hospice mascot Woody the Bear.
To keep you refreshed, there will be ice cream, cakes and more available to buy. Plus, there will be a raffle and a tombola – with a chance to win some fab prizes!
Paul King, Warehouse and Logistics Manager, said: “Our Clearance Outlet opened in October last year as a ground floor retail space and we have already received lots of fantastic feedback.
“We would love to welcome new customers, so bring along your family and friends to have some Saturday fun, pick up a bargain and support patients from your local community with a life-limiting illness.”
Lisa Pye, Volunteer Services Manager, added: “We’re excited for what promises to be a brilliant day. As well as a chance for families to enjoy some springtime fun, anyone curious about volunteering opportunities at the Hospice and our charity shops will be able to find out lots more information.”
Anyone who would like to find out more about the Fun Family Open Day can email volunteering@willowwood.org.uk or call 0161 330 1100.
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.
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