Corporate Archives - East Cheshire Hospice

Review of the Year 2019

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Amy Chatwood

Fun and fundraising brought lots of smiles for East Cheshire Hospice supporters over the last 12 months.

Another packed colourful calendar of events meant the charity benefitted in many different ways.

Music, art, sport, fashion, travel, leisure and business were all thrown into the mix by generous donors.

Families were out in force at Light Up The Night at Capesthorne Hall, a poignant occasion which saw many walkers remember loved ones.

Community events included Splash Out! when young and old faced a series of water challenges, while dogs and owners tackled a testing obstacle course at Tough Woofer.

Taking a dip at Splash Out.

Mayor Janet Jackson in her charity shop outfit which she wore at Buckingham Palace.

Mayor of Macclesfield Coun Janet Jackson is a regular customer at the Hospice charity shop at Thornton Square where she picked up a bargain for a Royal appointment.

When she received the MBE from Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, she wore a dress and matching jacket she had bought from there for £25. Her hat cost £10.

Nick Robinson gives his speech at the Hospice’s Business Briefing

BBC journalist Nick Robinson gave a keynote speech at the Hospice’s annual Business Briefing at Alderley Park. Nick’s late father Robbie was cared for by the Hospice.

Round-the-world sailor Heather Broadbent.

Hospice supporter Heather Broadbent starts 2020 sailing off the coast of Australia.

She is aboard GoToBermuda competing in the Clipper 2019-20 Round the World Yacht Race.

Heather is going from Freemantle to the Whitsunday Islands on the latest leg of her 11-month voyage.

She is raising £40,000 for the Hospice where her late husband Adam was a patient. To donate go to dreamitnowdoit.com

Heather said: “I’m loving every minute and wouldn’t change it for the world. At sea I’m making memories and friends for life.”

Mother and daughter Kim and Nina Bennett with cockapoo Elsie at Tough Woofer.

Co-op Local Community Fund

Posted on 16th January 202016th January 2020 by Amy Chatwood

Co-op customers can now help people in Macclesfield with dementia every time they shop.

East Cheshire Hospice is putting proceeds from its Co-op Local Community Funding towards its dementia services.

It means that that one per cent of what Co-op customers, who are also members, spend on own brand products goes straight to the charity.

The latest partnership between the store and the charity runs until next October. The Hospice is hoping supporters become members before their Christmas food shop.

The Hospice has already received almost £8,000 from Co-op shoppers since the scheme was introduced more than three years ago.

The most recent round of funding generated £3,763 which was allocated to its Childhood Bereavement Service.

Co-op stores at West Park Drive and Westmorland Close are supporting the Hospice as their nominated charity, although individual members can choose which charity benefits from their one per cent donation regardless of where they shop.

The Hospice has received widespread praise for its approach towards dementia and operates a Companion Service and Carers Programme.

Admiral Nurse Debbie Callow said: “We’re delighted the Co-op funds will support such a vital service. The aim of the fund is to help pay for local projects Co-op members care about and through their support at the tills we can continue to address the growing needs for those living with dementia and their families.”

“Our dementia services offer a safe, relaxed environment where carers in East Cheshire can come together in a group setting to share problems, concerns or experiences with others who are going through a similar experience.

“Our services also provide people affected by dementia with a regular volunteer companion to support social activities in order to give the person they live with some respite.”

* Any Co-op member can support the Hospice through their shopping providing they have chosen to support it through their membership account. (www.coop.co.uk/membership).

East Cheshire Hospice Trustee Alistair Kennedy with Co-op staff (from left) Romi Adragna, Stacey Mountford and Gabi Smith.

Ecclesiastical – 12 Days of Christmas

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Amy Chatwood

East Cheshire Hospice is asking supporters to help it earn £1,000 as part of a 12 days of giving campaign.

Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical is making a £1,000 donation to 120 different charities as an early Christmas gift.

To vote for the Hospice go to www.ecclesiastical.com/12days. Nominations close on Thursday, Dec 19.

Winners are drawn at random and the more times each charity is nominated the more chance of being selected. The 10 daily winners are announced on the 12 week days from Dec 5-20.

Kate Bowmar, Corporate Fundraiser at the Hospice, said: “The Hospice received £1,000 from Ecclesiastical earlier this year thanks to votes from supporters and the local community and it’d be wonderful if we can attract enough votes again.

“Such a gift would fund a day’s catering, laundry and housekeeping services, or three overnight stays on our inpatient unit so it means a lot to us.”

Mark Hews, Group CEO of Ecclesiastical, said: “Our annual 12 days of giving Christmas campaign will help charities change lives for the better and we know that for many charities, £1,000 can make a real difference.

“We’re encouraging everyone to nominate a cause close to their hearts this Christmas to be in for a chance to win a festive financial boost.”

Will Week – Home Appointments

Posted on 16th September 201916th September 2019 by Amy Chatwood

Home visits by solicitors during Will Week are still available, even though office appointments are now fully booked up in Macclesfield.

Blunts Solicitors and SAS Daniels no longer have vacancies during Will Week which runs from October 7-11 and is in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

The solicitors are among 15 firms offering to write a single, or mirror will, in return for a donation to the Hospice.

Among them is Estate Planning Solutions who will visit people in the comfort of their own homes and provide the same service.

Kate Bowmar, the Hospice’s Corporate Fundraiser, said: “We’re on course for another highly successful Will Week and want to thank those who’ve already booked an appointment.

“We’d also like to stress that these home appointments are available to anyone in the community, not just those who may struggle to travel to their local solicitor.”

Estates Planning Solutions (tel: 01625 540033) has been nominated for a prestigious award at next month’s British Wills and Probate Awards.

Director Paul Dodsworth said: “We are very pleased to support East Cheshire Hospice during Will Week and are happy to offer home visits in Macclesfield and the surrounding areas.”

A full list of participating solicitors is available at eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/willweek19.

Solicitors will outline their usual fees and encourage supporters to donate a similar amount to the Hospice via a donation envelope for cash or cheques.

* For more details contact the fundraising team on 01625 433477.

7i Group generous donations

Posted on 16th September 201916th September 2019 by Amy Chatwood

A flourishing new business is sharing its success with East Cheshire Hospice by making a £500 donation to the charity.

7i Group was set up 18 months ago by managing director Andrew Sellick who has many years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

The company is sharing at least one per cent of its first-year pre-tax profits with the Hospice and Rainbow Trust.

7i Group, which is about to move to larger offices at Alderley Park due to rapid expansion, provides advanced commercial and scientific insights research for pharmaceutical companies and other healthcare organisations.

The group’s insight and analysis, gained through its scientific and market expertise, is also of valuable assistance to health care providers such as the NHS.

Andrew, from Knutsford, said: “I’d always wanted to set up my own business but family and career took precedence until the opportunity presented itself a couple of years ago.

“It’s now all come together, and I wish I’d done it 20 years ago. It’s hard work but 7i Group is going really well and Alderley Park is a great place to work.

“When 7i Group started we wanted to give something back and are proud to be associated with East Cheshire Hospice, a charity where dedicated and caring people are delivering incredibly important services to patients and their families.”

7i Group is part of the Hospice 500 Club in which members raise £500 minimum each year over a three-year period.

Why we are updating our Will this year…

Posted on 21st August 2019 by Amy Chatwood

Daughter Gwen was not born the last time Rachel and Graham Allcock wrote a Will.

Now she is 10, the couple have decided it is about time they did something to reflect their change in circumstances.

They have booked an appointment with Blunts Solicitors as part of Will Week (Oct 7-11) in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

Rachel, from Broken Cross, said: “Our Will is completely out of date so we’re going to start again with a new Will. We’ve both chosen a mirror Will where we leave our estate to each other.

“The main reason we’re doing the Will is to make sure we look after Gwen. It’s not so much what happens to our possessions, but to ensure her future is secure.”

Rachel will happily make a donation to the Hospice, where she is Income Generation Director, in exchange for Blunts waiving their usual fees during Will Week.

The Macclesfield solicitors are among 15 firms donating their time and expertise to support the Hospice during Will Week.

Rachel added: “Making a new Will is something we’ve been thinking about for a while and we kept putting it off, but it’ll provide us with peace of mind.

“We’ve also decided to leave a legacy to the Hospice in our Will. Legacies are such an important part of the Hospice’s income and I see on a daily basis the difference they make to the care of our patients.”

Will Week 2019

Posted on 21st August 201921st August 2019 by Amy Chatwood

Solicitors are offering to make home visits this year as part of Will Week in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

Supporters of Will Week, which runs from Oct 7-11, can still also choose the option of making an appointment at the offices of their local solicitor as previously.

The new at-home service is offered by Estates Planning Solutions and Port Worth Law Ltd who are among 15 firms of solicitors taking part in the charity’s Will Week.

Blunts Solicitors and SAS Daniels, from Macclesfield, have again subscribed to the popular scheme in which solicitors waive their fees in return for a donation to the Hospice.

A full list of participating solicitors is available on the Hospice website eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/willweek19 and is shown on leaflets to promote Will Week.

The Hospice is urging people to book appointments as quickly as possible.

Kate Bowmar, the Hospice’s Corporate Fundraiser, said: “Will Week is still a few weeks away but places are usually booked up quickly and people run the risk of not getting an appointment if they

don’t contact their solicitors.

“Estates Planning Solutions and Port Worth Law Ltd have kindly agreed to visit people in the comfort of their own homes at a mutually agreed time and we’re keen to stress that people can also visit their local solicitors as in past years.”

Participating solicitors will be able to write a single or mirror will, or update an existing will, in return for a donation to the Hospice. Any services above and beyond this will be chargeable at the solicitor’s usual cost.

Kate added: “When booking an appointment, your solicitor will outline their usual fees and encourage you to donate a similar amount to the Hospice in return for the service.

“Please bring the amount you’d like to donate in cash, or cheque, to the appointment and the solicitor will give you a donation envelope which is then collected by the Hospice.”

Last year’s Will Week raised over £8,000 for the Hospice which also relies on legacy gifts in Wills as vital source of funding. Legacies provide care for one in three of its patients.

* For more details contact the fundraising team on 01625 433477. They will also provide help on alternatives if a solicitor is already fully booked.

Lifestyle Fitness Charity Spinathon

Posted on 8th August 2019 by Amy Chatwood

Cyclists were made to sweat during a Charity Spinathon which raised almost £1,300 for the Hospice.

Some 30 members of Lifestyle Fitness, based at Macclesfield College, took part in the three-hour marathon.

Over half the donation came from sponsorship raised by fitness enthusiasts through JustGiving pages.

Lifestyle Fitness has 1,000 members in Macclesfield where classes run from 6.30 am to 9.30 pm.

The company is part of the Hospice’s popular 500 Club in which members raise at least £500 each year over a three-year period.

Club Manager Jake McKie said: “East Cheshire Hospice was the charity chosen by our members to support last year. It’s a wonderful cause which we’re delighted to help and want to thank our members for their generous fundraising.”

The next challenge is to raise £1,000 from National Fitness Day on Wed, Sept 25, when the target is to get 100 members to join a one-hour circuit class.

If you would like to be part of our 500 Club, get in touch today kbowmar@echospice.org.uk or click here to find out more!

M-Fest made impact

Posted on 17th July 2019 by Amy Chatwood

A mortgage business brought the music festival scene to Pott Shrigley, raising £1,511.47 for East Cheshire Hospice.

Visitors to M-Fest, organised by Mortgage Advice Bureau, enjoyed a distinct local flavour at the one-day bash held in a field.

The BBQ food and drink was free, having been supplied by butcher Jeremy Heathcote and the mortgage company, in return for a donation to charity.

Singer songwriter Ellie Grice, soul and funk band Treme and Cheshire-based band Taylor and Co provided musical entertainment.

Carly Green, Senior Mortgage Adviser at Mortgage Advice Bureau in Bollington, had the idea of M-Fest and directors Tom Barrass and Ian Pollock quickly backed the project.

Carly said: “We couldn’t have hoped for a more successful event. Our aim was to bring the local community together and raise money for a brilliant cause and I think we achieved that.

“More than 300 people registered to attend and many more turned up on the day. We’d like to thank the local community for making the day special, but most of all our staff and business partners for getting behind the festival.

“We also made a small donation to St Christopher’s Church in Pott Shrigley for their support in helping organise it.”

Corporate Challenge 2019 was a brilliant success!

Posted on 17th July 2019 by Amy Chatwood

East Cheshire businesses have gone head to head in a corporate challenge which tested their money-making abilities.

The challenge was to turn £100 into as much profit as possible over a month by devising and taking part in fundraising activities to raise funds for East Cheshire Hospice.

The winning company, McCann Health Medical, rose to the challenge with a flurry of fundraising activity with employees throughout the company supporting their King Edward Street colleagues to raise £3,240.

Their Global President, Charlie Buckwell, said the company was delighted to win the challenge.

“We are very proud to support such an important cause as East Cheshire Hospice, and the incredible work they do,” he said.

Amongst the employees who took part were Account Co-Ordinator, Lucy Hall and Senior Medical Writer, Chris Whittle.

Lucy said: “It was a really fun way to ignite some friendly competition and be creative, all in honour of raising money for an amazing cause.”

And Chris, who took part in a 10K run to raise money said: “Winning the corporate challenge collectively as a company seems to have been a win-win for everyone, as we raised money for an incredibly crucial and worthwhile cause.”

And Melanie Garfitt from the company’s social events team echoed the sentiments. “From start to finish, we found the challenge very rewarding as a company. We tried to make sure the real winners were East Cheshire Hospice.”

The team award for the most creative ideas went to Pan European Networks, a digital publishing company from Congleton where all 26 members of staff took part in a host of fundraising events from cycling the equivalent of Land’s End to John O’Groats at a gym, to dressing up in Game of Thrones outfits for the day.

Their general manager, Stephanie Davies, helped organise the company challenge which raised almost £1500 for the Hospice.

“By far, I think our most popular fundraiser was the raffle for three-days holiday!”, she said. “As a cancer survivor, I was lucky enough to access the facilities at the Hospice 13 years ago, and many of us in the company were keen to support their work.”

Other businesses that took part in the challenge were Context Public Relations; Bioscript; Chess ICT and Ashfield Healthcare Communications and together all the businesses raised almost £8500.