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Anniversary Ball raises vital Hospice funds

More than 200 guests enjoyed Willow Wood’s 25th Anniversary Ball, helping to raise over £26,000 for the Hospice.

Held at The Village Hotel in Ashton-under-Lyne last Friday (14th June), guests enjoyed welcome drinks, a sumptuous three-course meal and a live band before dancing the night away with a disco at the glittering event.

A raffle and silent auction with some fabulous prizes on offer, donated courtesy of businesses and supporters, helped to boost vital funds further.

CEO Tracy Minshull welcomed everyone to the ball and shared the experiences of her first 60 days in the role.

“It’s been fantastic and a real pleasure and honour to work for such a community organisation,” she declared.

She did not shy away from the challenges facing hospice funding nationally, explaining that collectively the sector faces a £77m deficit.

“We are a critical partner in the NHS. Hospices are part of the solution and everyone has a right to live and die with respect and dignity in a place of their choosing and hospices provide that opportunity and that unique service.”

Tracy praised the many other associated services the Hospice provides, adding it was one reason she wanted to come to Willow Wood so much.

She also highlighted the work of the bereavement, wellbeing and dementia services the Hospice provides.

In attendance at the ball was Greater Manchester Vice Lord-Lieutenant Sharman Birtles MBE, who has been a proud patron of the Hospice for many years.

She said: “I spend as much time as I possibly can telling the world about the good work that goes on at Willow Wood. It never ceases to amaze me about the work and the atmosphere there. It is a magical place that does wonderful work with wonderful people.”

She encouraged others to volunteer and help the Hospice, whether it be one hour, a week or one day.

“I have spent a good part of my life giving my time and there is nothing more rewarding and giving to something like Willow Wood can only enrich your life,” she added.

This year’s anniversary ball was sponsored by Ashton-based Scientific Sanitation Solutions.

Managing Director Wahid Ali said the company was committed to supporting the work of Willow Wood once they had visited the Hospice and found out more about the remarkable work undertaken.

“We saw the work that people are doing at Willow Wood and it resonates with us as a group and we are so proud to be aligned with Willow Wood.

“We are a humanitarian-based business and what we see Willow Wood doing is aligned with our own humanitarian work. It’s a very special, special thing for us.”

The business develops solutions in sanitation and agriculture.

Sales director Neale Samways, who has already undertaken a bungee jump for the Hospice, added: “It’s the little things that Willow Wood do that makes such a difference to people, and it’s the little things that we have implemented as a business that helps change lives, like the sanitation of water for instance.

“Our ethos completely mirrors the ethos of Willow Wood. They are a local organisation like us that are doing great things.”

The event has raised over £26,000, a fantastic total which will support patients from the local community in the Hospice’s care.

Sam Duncan, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who attended this year’s very special anniversary ball.

“The hospice and all its services couldn’t continue without the community’s support and we would especially like to thank Scientific Sanitation Solutions for their support and sponsorship of the ball this year.”

An especially busy year for the Hospice continues with many more special events planned, including next month’s Butterfly Memory Release, Martin Wild Golf Day and Willow Wood Does Strictly to name just a few.

To find out more, visit https://wwtransfer.bsats3.co.uk/events/

You can see more photos from our 25th Anniversary Ball in our Facebook album here.

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Teenager riding high after mammoth challenge for Willow Wood

A Dukinfield teenager has raised a fantastic £1,735 for Willow Wood Hospice by swimming the equivalent of five marathons AND cycling 73 miles.

Leila McClure combined two of her passions for the mammoth eight-month challenge, which she completed before the 20th anniversary of her grandma’s death.

Mary McClure died peacefully in the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, on 5th May 2003 from breast cancer.

Although Leila didn’t get to meet her grandma, the memories shared with her throughout her life made it feel that she had a deep understanding and connection with her.

The 13-year-old, who goes to All Saints Catholic College and is a member of Dukinfield Marlins Swimming Club, has made her family very proud.

Leila’s family have been supporting the Hospice for many years

Her dad Ian told us: “She has smashed her challenge out of the park, eight months of solid hard work that involved a 73-mile bike ride and 131 miles in the pool. The pool swims equated to a humongous 8,384 lengths!

“For a 13-year-old girl, her focus and dedication are inspirational. As well as raising funds for her grandma, halfway through the challenge, her grandad passed away and whilst it had an obvious impact on her, she did not allow this to throw her and she kept focussed on raising as much money as she could for Willow Wood.

“Big thanks to everyone who sponsored her and helped motivate her along the way, including Leila’s amazing friends, as well as Active Tameside for donating free swims at their pools for her.

“What a fantastic achievement, we are very, very proud.”

Leila swam most days in order to complete her epic challenge

Leila set an initial target to raise £500 but quickly smashed it and the money she has raised will make a difference to patients from the local community in our care.

Samantha Kitch, Fundraising Manager at Willow Wood Hospice, said: “We are truly grateful for the incredible determination and heart that Leila has shown to support the Hospice.

“She really is an inspiration to us all and we cannot thank her enough for her amazing efforts, which will help us to provide compassionate care to other families across Tameside and Glossop.

“We need to raise at least £3.3 million every year and, with only around 20 per cent of our funding coming by way of central government, the generosity of our community is crucial.”

If you would like to take on a challenge for Willow Wood, please get in touch with our Fundraising team by emailing fundraising@willowwood.org.uk or calling 0161 330 7788 so the Hospice’s team can support you along the way.

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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://wwtransfer.bsats3.co.uk/hospice-volunteering/interest/

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Hospice celebrates milestone and end of an era

Willow Wood Hospice has been celebrating 25 years of providing compassionate care to patients from the local community.

On Friday 24th May, long-serving staff and volunteers past and present gathered in the Hospice gardens for a special tree-planting ceremony.

Hospice Patron Sharman Birtles MBE JP DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant, delivered a moving speech reflecting on our journey and growth before planting a commemorative tree with the very same spade that cut the first sod in 1997.

CEO Tracy Minshull (centre) with Willow Wood Hospice’s trustees at the tree planting ceremony

Chairman Philip Millson also spoke about the Hospice, inspiring everyone to share cherished memories, reminiscing about the early days and how far the organisation has come.

The celebrations continued the following Friday, 31st May, which was Karen Houlston’s last working day before she retired after 24 years of service to Willow Wood.

Karen with her celebratory retirement balloon display at the Hospice

Karen first joined the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, in January 2000 as a part-time bookkeeper.

With a finance background, she fulfilled a number of roles – including Admin Manager, Finance & Services Lead and Hospice Exec Manager. After completing a Master’s Degree at Lancaster University in ‘Hospice Leadership’ in October 2013, Karen went on to become CEO.

Staff and volunteers who have worked with Karen came together for a wonderful BBQ, prepared by Willow Wood’s Catering team, in the Hospice gardens – where the Willow Wood Hospice Choir also sang for the occasion.

With some of her family also in attendance, Karen received a myriad of lovely gifts, a card and a beautiful retirement cake made by Lynn Valentine from the Hospice’s Catering team.

Karen cutting her retirement cake on her final working day at Willow Wood

Chair Philip Millson, Director of Finance Ian Wicks and Karen’s successor as CEO, Tracy Minshull, reflected on Karen’s achievements and wished her well for the future.

In an emotional speech, Karen shared: “I can honestly say that I have looked forward to every single day at Willow Wood Hospice and enjoyed every moment.”

As a surprise, a video montage of staff and volunteers holding up their personal retirement messages was played out to Karen on a screen during the BBQ.

Since 1999, the Hospice has been a centre of care and compassion, providing dedicated support to patients from across Tameside and Glossop with a life-limiting illness and those closest to them.

The significant milestone will also be commemorated at the 25th Anniversary Ball at The Village Hotel in Ashton-under-Lyne on Friday (14th June).

Limited tickets are available at https://wwtransfer.bsats3.co.uk/events/the-ball/

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Flower Festival blooms funds for hospice care

Hundreds of people enjoyed Willow Wood’s popular Flower Festival last weekend, which raised over £6,000 in support of patient care at the Hospice.

The event was formally opened on Saturday 11th May by Ashton-under-Lyne MP Angela Rayner, along with Willow Wood Hospice’s new Chief Executive Officer, Tracy Minshull.

Local residents packed into the Hospice, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, over both days, which even brought some welcome sunshine.

The seventh annual festival held special significance as it commemorated 25 years of the Hospice providing compassionate care to patients from the local community, under the theme of ‘all things Willow Wood’.

Created by both individuals and groups, the vibrant displays represented services the Hospice offers, the Hospice’s charity shops, fundraising events both past and present, volunteers, the Willow Wood Hospice Choir and the Hospice’s picturesque gardens.

To further boost Hospice funds, each display had a price tag attached so they could be purchased by those in attendance and collected at the end of the festival.

There were also refreshments served by a band of volunteers – including from St Peter’s Church in Stalybridge – in The Hive and Prosecco in the Garden Room, where there was card, craft, wooden craft, cake, tombola and raffle stalls for visitors to browse.

Visitors were kept entertained by Mike Styan and friends from local amateur operatic societies on Saturday, and the Sounds Familiar Ukelele Band on Sunday.

Angela Rayner MP said: “It was my pleasure to officially open the annual Flower Festival at Willow Wood Hospice and this year was extra special as it marks the 25th anniversary.

“I have visited Willow Wood on many occasions during my time as MP and I am always struck by how dedicated and compassionate the staff and volunteers are and how much effort goes into creating such a peaceful and welcoming environment.

“I am incredibly proud to have such a wonderful facility within my constituency and I would like to thank everyone who works so hard to make it such a success. I am sure all the residents, visitors and their families who visit the hospice are grateful.”

The event is organised by a dedicated committee of volunteers, comprising Eileen Smith, Ann Fee, Pauline Giblin, Christine Lucas, Sheila Redfearn, Judith Scott, Lorraine Vaughton and Bernice Woodward.

Eileen Smith, on behalf of the committee, said: “It was a happy weekend, there was a lovely atmosphere and what a positive environment a hospice is.

“We wish to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped in any way to ensure the festival was a great success, everyone who attended and Angela Rayner for opening the event.”

The Hospice must raise at least £3.3 million every year to run and, with only around 20 per cent coming by way of Central Government, the generous support of the community is vital.

If you would like to organise a fundraising event for Willow Wood, please contact the Hospice’s Fundraising team by emailing fundraising@willowwood.org.uk or calling 0161 330 7788 so they can support you along the way.

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New CEO proud to lead Willow Wood into the future

The new CEO of Willow Wood says she wants to make sure the Hospice “continues to have a strong voice” within Greater Manchester and beyond.

As the Hospice based in Ashton-under-Lyne celebrates 25 years of providing compassionate care in May, the month also heralds the start of a new era.

Tracy Minshull officially takes over the reins from Karen Houlston, who is retiring having led the organisation for over 10 years and been part of the Hospice for almost as long as it has been open.

“I feel really humble, Willow Wood is an amazing place,” said Tracy. “It’s been particularly inspirational meeting with staff individually and seeing the difference each individual makes in their role.

“One thing they all say is how passionate they are about working at Willow Wood. I’m really proud and privileged to be the new CEO moving the Hospice forward into the future.”

Tracy, who most recently worked in local government as a commissioner, brings a wealth of experience of working in the health and social care sector for the past 25 years.

Explaining how this will aid her in the role, she said: “Primarily around partnerships so working with our system partners in Tameside and Glossop to really make sure Willow Wood is seen as the area’s centre of excellence for palliative and end-of-life care.

“I am hoping to further enhance the relationships with system partners and the local council, as we contribute so much to existing Tameside plans around supporting people in our local communities to living well at Home. I am also keen to ensure that we build new strategic relationships, enhancing our strategic presence moving us forward past 2024/25.”

Keen to hit the ground running, Tracy has already mapped out how she plans to spend her first 100 days in post.

“The first month is focusing on internal communications so getting to meet everyone. My intention is to meet every member of staff individually to get to know what brought them to Willow Wood, what keeps them here and their skills and expertise.

“The second month will focus on our external partners and stakeholders, getting to know our Trustees better, getting a sense of the partners we already work with in the local community and the new partnerships we wish to forge as we move forward.

“The last month will be focused primarily on strategy and governance, looking at some of our processes and procedures and trying to make sure that we are as ready for the future as we can be.”

Tracy is also eager to ensure Willow Wood continues to be part of the conversation surrounding the need for a sustainable funding model for all hospices.

“In Greater Manchester, we are very fortunate to have the GM Hospices Collaborative,” she said.

“Certainly, I want to be in that group of CEOs to really drive the national agenda as well. I want to work with Hospice UK to make sure Willow Wood’s voice is heard within that arena.

“We recognise that we are in really challenging financial times across the board – that being said, we still have to keep pushing for a sustainable funding model to move forward with.”

And Tracy won’t be afraid to get involved in every aspect of hospice life, with Willow Wood renowned for putting the fun into fundraising.

She added: “My daughter has put us in the ballot for next year’s London Marathon so we’re waiting to find out if we get a place!

“I’m keen to do anything which helps to raise the profile of the Hospice as well as raise vital funds. The thought of a skydive is somewhat terrifying but anything like that would be fine.”

Pictured: Tracy Minshull (centre), the new CEO of Willow Wood Hospice, with some of the Hospice’s nursing staff

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Law firm supports Willow Wood as charity of the year

Our sincere thanks to Bromleys Solicitors for raising a fantastic £862.50 for the Hospice, after choosing Willow Wood as their Charity Partner for 2023.

Throughout the year, staff at the Tameside law firm organised a number of lunches, dress down days and sweepstakes to raise funds. They also attended our Grand Ball in October.

Lauren Healy and Chris Eaton, from Bromleys’ Staff Committee, recently presented a cheque to Samantha Kitch, our Fundraising Manager.

Samantha said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Bromleys for choosing Willow Wood as their Charity of the Year last year and to everyone at the firm who helped to raise a fantastic amount for the Hospice.

“The money will make a difference to patients from Tameside and Glossop with a life-limiting illness in our care. With only 20 per cent of our annual funding coming through central government, the generous support of our community is vital so we can continue to provide a wide range of services to improve the quality of life for our patients and those closest to them.”

Chris and Lauren described the firm’s fundraising efforts as “incredible”.

Lauren added: “It is great to hear what a positive difference the money raised will have on the hospice and its patients and we hope to continue our support in the future.”

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Hospice Vice Chair appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester

We would like to congratulate Mark Llewellin, the Vice Chair of our Board of Trustees, who has been honoured by being appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater Manchester.

Mark was recently appointed by the Lord Lieutenant, Diane Hawkins, who is effectively the King’s personal representative in Greater Manchester.

He has been recognised for making a valuable contribution to the community over many years.

Born and raised in the West Country, Mark first came to Tameside 30 years ago and was appointed the Oldham Coliseum Theatre’s Marketing and Business Development Director. He wrote the first of his two books – They Started Here – about the history of the venue.

Mark continues to be a keen supporter of Greater Manchester theatres, performing arts and heritage. He gives talks on a variety of topics, often in aid of local charities including Willow Wood, while he also looks after Canadian Coronation Street fans who visit Manchester every year.

His late partner, actor Roy Barraclough MBE, became the first patron of Willow Wood Hospice and Mark continued this involvement by serving as a fundraiser, a patron and a trustee.

He is also a director and trustee of Your MCR, which offers work experience and mentoring to media students whilst making a weekly online magazine programme and podcast focusing on Manchester’s arts and charity sectors.

Mark is a supporter of The British Music Hall Society and co-owner of Daisy Nook Garden Centre, on the Tameside-Oldham border.

Within each of Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs, Deputy Lieutenants are “the eyes and ears” of the Lord Lieutenant and formally represent her at events if she is unavailable.

They also work closely with local authorities and are able to assist and advise voluntary groups with any challenges they may face.

Everyone at Willow Wood Hospice is proud of Mark’s achievement.

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Willow Wood named Ladysmith’s Charity of the Year

Willow Wood Hospice will receive a welcome boost to our funds and awareness after being named Ladysmith Shopping Centre’s Charity of the Year for 2024/25.

The partnership will run from April 2024 until the end of March 2025, giving the Hospice a chance to fundraise at the town centre shopping destination and spread the word about our services.

Our mission is to lead and deliver high-quality, multi-profession specialist palliative care, support and education across Tameside and Glossop.

They will put on events, spanning seasonal occasions such as the summer holidays, festive period and Easter, at the shopping centre, with details to be posted on social media.

Ian Pratt, Centre Manager at Ladysmith Shopping Centre, is excited to kick off the partnership and looks forward to seeing what can be achieved together.

He commented: “We are thrilled to partner with Willow Wood as our Charity of the Year for 2024/25.

“Their unwavering commitment to providing comfort and support for people with life-limiting illnesses is unmatched, and we cannot wait to work with them and help support all the incredibly important work they do.”

Ladysmith Shopping Centre combines unique independent businesses and high street brands all under one beautifully curated space, with a community feel. For more information visit www.ladysmithshoppingcentre.com

Pictured: Denise Royle, manager at our Ashton shop, with Ian Pratt, Centre Manager at Ladysmith Shopping Centre