volunteering Archives - East Cheshire Hospice

News Round up – Christmas Tree Eco-friendly Collection, Nepal Trek Success & Santa Dash

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

East Cheshire Hospice is having an even greener Christmas with its tree collection at the heart of its eco-friendly plans.

All trees collected on Saturday, January 11, and Sunday, January, 12, will be recycled by Ansa Environmental Services, a subsidiary of Cheshire East Council, at its West Park site.

The donations received from owners for removing their trees funds the care of Hospice patients, their families and carers.

The recycled trees are turned into mulch which is either turned into compost for parks and gardens or used in biomass boilers.

The green push has continued this year with the introduction of flyers printed on recycled paper which can then be re-used. Cardboard leaflet holders have also replaced plastic versions.

Visit www.echtrees.org.uk, or call the customer care hotline 01625 708939, to register a tree for collection.

The scheme run by volunteers has raised more than £1m for the Hospice since it began 20 years ago.

The collection covers Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Bollington, Prestbury, Poynton, Congleton and Knutsford. The post codes are CW12, SK9, SK10, SK11, SK12 and WA16.

An environmental study showed that an artificial tree would need to be kept for more than 20 years before it would be more carbon efficient than a real one.

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FIVE intrepid trekkers raised more than £18,000 for the Hospice from a trip to Nepal last month.

Staff members Sarah Dale and Louise Delany were joined by medical writer Jonathan Edwards, Helen Connolly and Sherry Daniels.

The group helped paint a hospice in Kathmandu before an arduous five-day walk which boasted stunning views of the Annapurna mountain range.

Louise said: “It was tiring and hard work, especially as we had to climb 3,500 metres, but it was a rewarding and enjoyable experience.

“The people we met were lovely and on behalf of us all I’d like to everyone for their wonderful generosity donating much-needed funds for the Hospice.”

The next adventure is a trip to the Great Wall of China (March 19-27) in 2021.

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ALMOST 7,000 schoolchildren and teachers took part in the Santa Dash, one of East Cheshire Hospice’s biggest community events of the year.

Pupils undertook a sponsored walk or run either in their school hall or playground, marking the 11th year of the festive event.

The Reindeer Rush is back next year, with Elf Runs and Snowman Sprints in subsequent years.

Disco Bingo with What Women Want

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Disco Bingo fun at Tytherington School.

It was eyes down for 300 bingo players who danced the night away in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

The girls took part in Disco Bingo organised by the What Women Want (WWW) fundraising group at Tytherington School.

The game sees players waiting with bated breath for numbers which trigger a disco classic to get them on their feet and earn them a prize in the process.

All brought bottles which filled a wheelbarrow and buckets of booze and by entering into the party spirit they raised a staggering £6,000.

Jayne Carter, chair of WWW, said: “A special night showed once again how we put the fun into fundraising. The place was bouncing, everyone had a wonderful time and we’d like to thank everyone for their generosity.

“Special thanks must go to our sponsors Arighi Bianchi, The Beauty Bar, Pam Hulme Accountants, Anna Carey and Alice Cartwright.”

Jayne and pals Julie Barnes, Jo Millward, Elaine Burgess and Jill Harding make up WWW who have raised almost £300,000 for the Hospice.

The proceeds most recently funded a car supplied by Ford dealers Sidney Jackson which will maintain the vehicle for its lifetime. It provides vital travel for the Hospice @Home service.

Highlights of the WWW calendar include fashion shows featuring models who have faced cancer and a glitzy Ball which returns in late 2020 after a year’s break.

Events have been sponsored by Adlington-based packaging firm Proseal which earlier this year donated £1m to the Hospice.

What Women Want group members (from left) Elaine Burgess, Jo Millward, Jayne Carter, Jill Harding and Julie Barnes with the car used for East Cheshire Hospice @Home.

Rob Barrow MBE

Posted on 16th January 202016th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Rob Barrow DL, a former Chair of Trustees at East Cheshire Hospice, has been awarded the MBE for his services to the community.

Wife Pam, daughter Fiona Hobbs and grandson Kit Hobbs joined him at Buckingham Palace where he received the honour from the Queen.

Rob, from Macclesfield, helped set up the Hospice @Home service at East Cheshire where he also strengthened the charity’s governance during his three years at the helm.

The MBE was awarded for services to education, charity and various philanthropic activities.

Rob and his wife have devoted much of their energies towards helping good causes since he retired from business 16 years ago.

Charities supported include Cre8, Cheshire Community Foundation and the National Trust. Rob is a former governor of The King’s School, Macclesfield.

Rob founded a computer software company which employed more than 600 people worldwide and his work took him to Silicon Valley, California, at a time when the internet was in its infancy.

Rob said: “I was humbled, honoured and flattered to receive the MBE and we were nervous when we found out the Queen was issuing the awards.”

Christmas Tree Collection 2020 is live!!

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Plans to dispose of Christmas trees are already in place, even though the lights may have only just been switched on!

The East Cheshire Hospice Christmas Tree Collection service is already accepting registrations for its January operation.

Visit www.echtrees.org.uk, or call the customer care hotline 01625 708939, to arrange to have trees collected on the weekend of Saturday, January 11, and Sunday, January 12.

Next year marks the 20th year of the service which has raised more than £1m for the Hospice.

The organisers are encouraging the public to buy real Christmas trees due to their environmental credentials.

More than 700 trees were registered in the first week after applications opened on November 18 and the figure has risen to well over 1,000.

Hospice Marketing Manager Amy Chatwood said: “The Christmas Tree Collection has always been a huge success thanks to the generosity of our supporters and we’re confident the anniversary collection will be just as popular.”

Co-founder Richard Raymond said: “I’m humbled and amazed by the scale of the operation and once again Pete Chapman and I want to thank everyone for their support in so many different ways.

“A Christmas tree from a sustainable source is known to be the eco-friendly alternative to a plastic version. We recycle all the trees enhancing the environmental credentials of buying a real tree.”

Around 300 volunteers will be out in force covering Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Bollington, Prestbury, Poynton, Congleton and Knutsford. The post codes are CW12, SK9, SK10, SK11, SK12 and WA16.

The collection, sponsored by AstraZeneca, will see a fleet of around 40 vans, half of them supplied by Cheshire Vehicle Rental, picking up trees for recycling at the Ansa Park depot.

Transport technology company TRU will provide route-mapping software to simplify the logistical challenge.

£30k raised by Quiz Night

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

A quiz group have raised more than £30,000 on behalf of East Cheshire Hospice since they asked their first question six years ago.

The latest contest at Marlborough Primary School saw Doug the Rug and Friends come out on top, enjoying a narrow victory over perennial winners Ageing Athletes, previously known as The Magnificent Seven.

The organisers, including Alison Brammer, Nik Kalka and question masters Paul Morrissey and Mark Watson, raised £2,021 on the night.

The quiz is held three times a year and Storm Brewing once again donated the beer. Owner Dave Stebbings and now retired partner Hugh Thompson have been loyal supporters.

Nik, who organises the bar, said: “The quiz nights are a regular fixture in the fundraising calendar for the Hospice and we had another great turn out.

“We’d all like to thank Julie Mierzejewski and the team at Marlborough School who let us use the hall for free, Storm Brewing for the generous donation of beer, the Hospice staff and volunteers for helping with organisation and Neil Drummond for running the stand-up bingo each time.

“All those who’ve attended the quizzes over the last few years also deserve thanks, along with donors of raffle prizes.”

Fred Slater & the Dementia Companions

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Cricket coach Fred Slater is completely bowled over by the way he has been welcomed into the fold at East Cheshire Hospice.

He became a volunteer in the Sunflower Centre a year ago and enjoys the company of people with dementia and their carers.

His next role as one of the charity’s Community Champions is a similar ‘buddy’ role in someone’s home, giving their carer vital respite for a few hours each week.

Fred, from Tytherington, said: “I’ve really enjoyed helping the Hospice. It’s so inspiring and I’ve learned so much from chatting to people within a group.

“It’s about finding out what makes individuals tick. You might get someone who doesn’t want to engage particularly, but you get a jigsaw out and suddenly they spring to life and they see the picture far better than me.

“The staff there are fabulous and I’ve learned so much. They’re so professional with their patience and caring approach and are the real unsung heroes of the service.

“We get a thorough background about who we’re looking after and in some ways I just fill around the edges.”

Fred, aged 66, worked for the English Cricket Board before retiring, but still coaches at King’s School, Macclesfield, and helps juniors at Macclesfield, Bollington and Ashley cricket clubs.

He regrets not taking his late father Fred to the Hospice for the sessions. “I didn’t know about the Sunflower Centre otherwise I’d have taken him there. He was an inspiration to me and now I’m retired this voluntary work is his legacy.

“Being matched with someone is an important small step for me on my journey and I’m looking forward to it.

“More than a dozen Community Champions visit homes but they don’t provide nursing care. They enjoy the company of individuals while their carers may go for a walk, shop or perhaps visit a library.

“The Sunflower Centre provides wonderful support and it’s re-assuring to know that expert staff are there as a safety net.”

Fred and fellow volunteers were finalists in the Volunteer Team of the Year at the 2019 North West Charity Awards.

Award Nominated Dementia Community Companions

Posted on 8th August 20198th August 2019 by Luke Brightmore

Some of our volunteers have been short-listed for a prestigious charity award.

The 12-strong team of Dementia Community Companions could become the Volunteer Team of the Year at the 2019 North West Charity Awards.

Each member of the group spends at least two hours a week as a companion to someone with the early stages of dementia.

Their work has earned the admiration of everyone connected with the Hospice and now their selfless dedication has been recognised through a nomination for this award.

We will find out whether they have won at a special ceremony in Manchester on Friday, September 27.

Volunteer Co-ordinator Helena Smith is extremely proud of the project and those who have made it such a success.

Helena said: “It’s a wonderful service, set up as part of our carers’ well-being programme, and I’m delighted that our committed volunteers have received this deserved recognition.

“It may not be a medical or clinical role, but in its own way is just as important.

“The volunteers’ role is to give the person living with dementia an opportunity to do normal activities in a safe environment.

“Our team enjoy the company of others and are caring and compassionate. As well as resilience, they have a good sense of humour and not all of them have previous experience of working with people with dementia.

“Our volunteers are from all walks of life and I’m proud to say that some manage to work with people with dementia while working full time.”

Helena would like to add to the team if more volunteers feel they can help.

She added: “The role is one of friendship. The volunteer doesn’t provide personal care but concentrates on making a real difference to the life of their companion.

“Knowing that their loved one is in the care of someone who is well-trained and supported, and who wants to be with them, helps the carer to concentrate on their needs and to get back to being themselves again for two or three hours a week.

“The responsibility for care often falls on the husband, wife or children and this led us to our goal of making a real impact on the education and support of the carers, allowing them to look after themselves so the person with dementia can ‘live well with dementia.’”

* Contact Helena on 01625 664984 or email hsmith@echospice.org.uk or complete the online application form

Guy Rigby’s Award

Posted on 26th March 2019 by Luke Brightmore

An East Cheshire Hospice charity shop volunteer, who “lights up the room with his personality” has been given a special award.

Guy Rigby, who has cerebral palsy, has been presented by the Macclesfield-based charity with a Customer Champion Certificate to mark his great commitment and enthusiasm.

His working journey began 18 months ago when Guy, who lives in supported living accommodation, told his carer Sue Selby that he’d like to do something purposeful. Within weeks, Guy was welcomed on a part-time volunteer basis into the Hospice charity shop fellow volunteer Anthea Lee.

Sue says: “Guy began with some pretty basic jobs like stacking and tidying the CDs but soon he developed a great rapport with the customers and now he works mostly on the main till engaging with everyone who comes in.”

“Guy sometimes needs to take it slower than other people, but he’s always been able to light up a room with his personality and the customers in the shop have really taken to him”.

Hospice Volunteer Co-Ordinator, Helena Smith, says Guy is a real asset to the shop.

“He has grown massively in confidence and ability and is so good with people in the shop – both customers and other volunteers,” says Helena.

“Within the Hospice, we constantly work to adjust and adapt to peoples needs and its good that we can also take this into the community. Our charity shops act as little community hubs and Guy’s contribution is a part of that.”

The Hospice has three charity shops – in Thornton Square, Handforth and Wilmslow – which all run mainly with the help of volunteers. Full training is given and anyone who would like to commit some time as a shop volunteer can contact Helena on 01625 664984.