A heartfelt thank you to our valued volunteers
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/