Month: January 2020

LEEK United’s Veronica ‘Ronnie’ McNeil gave East Cheshire Hospice (ECH) a ‘tree-mendous’ helping hand after becoming a ‘Branch Manager’ of a different kind for the day…

Ronnie, who runs the Society’s Macclesfield Branch, joined other volunteers for the Hospice’s annual Christmas Tree Collection this month (January).

Now in its 20^th year, the collection and recycling event raises vital funds for the Hospice by putting householders’ unwanted old ‘living’ festive trees to good use.

People make a donation to the ECH when they register their tree for collection, and teams toured the postcode areas in and around the Hospice picking up over 7,000 trees for shredding.

“This is the second year that Leek United has sponsored one of the collection vans, and I wanted to join them again by helping on the rounds,” said Ronnie.

“Many of the old trees we collect would otherwise end up on rubbish dumps, so this is a great, fun way to raise funds for the Hospice – one of the Society’s main charity beneficiaries – and the amazing work it does in our community.”

Each year, the Christmas Tree Collection raises over £100,000 and last year ECH reached the cumulative sum of £1million raised since the collection started.

Kate Bowmar, Corporate Fundraiser at ECH, said: “We are extremely grateful that Leek United offered to sponsor a van for our annual Christmas Tree Collection for the second year in a row, and were delighted that Ronnie volunteered to join us again.

“Every year we rely heavily on the generosity of local businesses such as Leek United to cover the cost of running the collection, meaning all donations received will go directly to supporting the Hospice.”

Leek United’s Macclesfield Branch Manager Veronica ‘Ronnie’ McNeil (far left) is pictured with fellow volunteers Tom Horsfield and Georgina Timson in front of the van sponsored by the Society for the tree collection.

We want to hear feedback on our services from members of the community, even if they have never used our services.

The Hospice is making the appeal as part of a plan to shape its services for the future.

The Hospice’s Governance Co-ordinator Claire Duncan, who leads the Engagement and Insight Programme, said: “Feedback is central to service improvement here at East Cheshire Hospice, and we already collect feedback from our patients, their families, volunteers and members of staff.

“We have internal focus groups for departments such as the Sunflower Wellbeing Centre, our in-patient unit, Hospice @Home and our volunteer service. We monitor all the feedback we are given to make sure we’re learning from it and providing the best services we can.

“However, now we want to spread the net wider, including getting the opinions of those who may not have even heard of the Hospice and the services it provides.

“It’s possible that there are unmet needs that we are unaware of, or that some of our services are not as well known as they might be, but we won’t know that unless we talk to our community.

“We hope that this additional feedback will help us learn how we can improve our services, or create new services, based on the needs of the community.

Claire Duncan, Governance Co-ordinator at East Cheshire Hospice.

“I’d love to make contact with people who have used our services in the past, may never have heard of, or used, East Cheshire Hospice and who would be willing to join and participate in a focus group so we can extend our feedback and insight channels.”

if you’d like to join a focus group or are interested in finding out more information, please contact us on 01625 610364 or email admin@echospice.org.uk or via our website eastcheshirehospice.org.uk

Sisters Jemima and Annabelle Jordan have been reaching new heights with their latest fundraising challenges.

Annabelle (11) climbed Mount Snowdon, while Jemima (13) tackled two Snowdonia passes, Crackstone Rib and the Wrinkle, both of which are rated as severe.

The King’s School pupils, from Henbury, presented a cheque for £2,050 to East Cheshire Hospice from their adventures.

From left, April Green, Key Relationships Manager at East Cheshire Hospice, with Annabelle, Jemima and Katie Jordan.

The donation will support the charity’s Childhood Bereavement Service which has already benefitted from the family’s generosity and Dream Beams, a charity established last year by the girls’ mum Katie to support children’s causes.

It was inspired by Jemima and Annabelle baking cakes to help buy Christmas presents for a children’s home in Barbados.

A charity Ball raised £102,100 for the Hospice and Katie’s team will tackle the National Three Peaks Challenge in June as part of their next fundraising challenge.

Katie has also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Jemima and Annabelle have also raised funds for the Hand on Heart charity to provide defibrillators for local schools.

Jackie Wayman has been helping out on the ward at East Cheshire Hospice for less than six months and wishes she had started sooner.

East Cheshire Hospice is looking for new ward volunteers like Jackie and will explain more at an open evening in the Hospice chapel on Millbank Drive, Macclesfield, on Wednesday, January 22 (5-7 pm).

Jackie, from Lyme Green, helps at lunchtime once a week and also does an afternoon on reception.

She said: “The Hospice is so well-loved by the people of Macclesfield and surrounding areas, I thought I’d apply to volunteer there.  I wish I’d tried to fit in a shift before I retired 18 months ago as it’s so rewarding.”

“I really enjoy it. I serve drinks when the patients have lunch, help them if they need assistance, have a chat with them and make their family a drink if required. I then clear up and log what they’ve eaten.  This all saves the time of the nurses and kitchen staff who’re always so busy.”

“I had very good training and there’s always someone to help if you need it. Everyone I’ve met at the Hospice has been kind and helpful because everyone is there because they want to be, not because they have to be.”

“The nursing staff are brilliant and make you feel valued and appreciated as a volunteer.

I know the Hospice are looking for men as well as women and it’d be nice for the male patients especially to hear and see another man on the ward volunteering.”

Volunteer Co-ordinator Helena Smith said: “We’re looking primarily, but not exclusively, for weekend and evening ward volunteers.”

Jackie Wayman with fellow volunteer David Black.

“Hopefully, people will think it’s a nice way to give something back at quieter times. The shifts can fit around people’s working lives and run from 9-11 am; 12-2 pm and 5-7 pm. It can be as little as once a month, or as much as once a week.”

“The role has a huge impact and we have volunteers from all backgrounds. We offer training and support and men and women are welcome to contact us.”

For more details contact Helena Smith (HSmith@echospice.org), go to the Hospice volunteers web page or Facebook page, or just turn up on Jan 22.