Blogs Archives - Page 19 of 30

Donation Drive Thru success!

November 12, 2019 | 5:15pm

One of the biggest risks and challenges within charity retail is donations. Unlike other high street retailers, we have very little control over what we sell in our shops as we never know what will come in through the doors and in what quantities.

It’s especially difficult when we have a number of specialist shops, which include two furniture shops, bridal shop, children’s shop and our vintage shop and its challenges such as this that make Charity retail such an exciting sector to be involved in.

The donation drive-thru idea, like all good ideas, came from a conversation over a cup of tea with a colleague. As much as I’d like to take the credit for it, it was them who suggested the idea. The idea being that we have a donation day at our warehouse so that people could drop off their bags of clothing, boxes of books and other items without running the gauntlet of parking in town centres.

We already offer a collection service to collect furniture and bags of donations from people’s homes but the reality is that nearly all our donated stock is brought into our shops by donors themselves and we are aware that shops with parking outside or nearby receive far more donations than those in town centre locations.

The first donation drive-thru day happened in June and it was a runaway success. We had 48 vehicles drop off over 180 bags and boxes of donations. We were overwhelmed by the positive response it received and how far some donors had travelled to be able to unload large amounts of donations.

To date, we have held five donation drive-thru days and the idea continues to develop. We have a team of five volunteers to unload vehicles so donors don’t need to leave their vehicles which also allows people with disabilities to donate items and support the hospice.

It’s just off the M60, so really convenient, and an easy solution for people who want to recycle or declutter, but aren’t able to head to a charity shop, park up, and carry lots of bulky items, bags or boxes.

We’re also able to Gift Aid donations meaning the donated items can raise an additional 25% for the hospice if the donor is a UK taxpayer.

It has also allowed us to begin sorting the items as they are donated so that shops can request specific stock they are short of, such as children’s clothes, ladies wear, electrical items etc. this allows us to free up staff and volunteer time in the shops to focus on serving our customers.

We also use the opportunity to sell a range of new goods and donated items on the day and promote our other services such as house clearances and our online shops.

The generosity of our supporters never fails to amaze me and to date, we have taken over 746 bags of clothing and also multi gyms, wardrobes, TV’s plus so much more.

The drive-thru days are now a monthly occurrence and it helps us guarantee stock whilst allowing us a degree of control over when we receive donations and how these are distributed through our network of shops.

The drive-thru donations days take place at St Ann’s Hospice Distribution Centre, Bankfield Industrial Estate, Unit A1, Coronation Street, Reddish, SK5 7SE. The next one is on Saturday 16th November and drivers can drop by any time between 10am and 3pm.

A selection of some of the items we received from one of our donation drive-thru’s.

Find out more about donating your items to St Ann’s

click here

The Running Nurse

October 31, 2019 | 3:47pm

Kelly Foster is a Ward Manager at our hospice in Heald Green. It’s a demanding job and Kelly works hard to ensure that all her patients have everything they need and are being looked after as well as possible.

But that’s not all Kelly has done for our patients, her dedication has gone far beyond what is expected of her.

Over the last few years, Kelly has taken part in the Great North Run and the London Marathon twice, each time running in her navy nurse’s uniform, to raise money for St Ann’s.

Kelly has been inspired to take on these challenges by the patients she cares for each day.

It’s really awe-inspiring to see the strength and positivity of the patients that come
to St Ann’s. Until I worked here I thought I had an understanding of what a hospice was, but even I, as a nurse, was surprised by what an amazing – and often incredibly happy – place it is.

I see the real, tangible difference that the money raised for our charity by supporters makes. Whether that’s in helping us care for a family as a loved one approaches the end of their life, providing valuable support for people who have recently been diagnosed, or giving rehabilitative treatments to someone who wants nothing more than to go back to their own home, every penny actually does impact real people’s lives.

Each event was a really hard challenge, especially as I suffer from a condition called Ehlers Danloss Syndrome which means my joints really hurt when I do physical exercise. But when
the training got tough, I just thought about our patients and that really spurred me on to push that extra mile.

To help reach her fundraising target, Kelly also organised a charity ball. In total she has raised more than an incredible £16,000 for St Ann’s, and we couldn’t be prouder to have her as part of Team St Ann’s.

Has Kelly’s story inspired you?

If you’d like to join Team St Ann’s and take part in a similar challenge, please click on the link below or call the events team on 0161 498 3631.

Our Snowdon challenge!

October 18, 2019 | 10:39am

Three guides, 17 trekkers and one dog took on the challenge of conquering Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales, for St Ann’s on Saturday 28th September.

We started at 10am and battled atrocious weather for the ascent, being blown around and rained on pretty much constantly; making us a pretty tired and cold bunch when we stopped for lunch at the summit. Thankfully, on the way down the clouds started to roll over and we could reflect on the enormity of the challenge we’d just completed.

For some, it was their first time, not just climbing Snowdon, but any serious walking and even for repeat walkers the conditions made this a tough physical challenge.

On the descent we could relax and enjoy the scenery and each other’s company and talk about what it meant to each of us; with some really heartfelt stories about what it meant to take part and support St Ann’s.

Thank you to every member of the group, collectively they have currently raised almost £5,000 and some are still fundraising. Every penny and every pound they raise is making a difference to all those we support who are living with a life-limiting illness.

We’re already planning the challenge again for September 2020 so watch this space and email events@sah.org.uk to register your interest.

Swapping heels for wheels

September 24, 2019 | 9:56am

I’m not a cyclist. I know this because I happen to be pals with plenty of people who are and if I ever go out for a bike ride with them, I can only keep up if they have already done a 60 mile training ride and my little bit, the part where I am absolutely on my limit, is their cool-down-free-peddling bit. Often rolling downhill towards a handy pub.

My normal territory is clomping around St Ann’s in un-sensible shoes that lets everyone else know that I am on my way.

So why on earth, did I sign up for a London to Paris challenge? Okay, I did this because it was day one of my time here as a fundraiser at St Ann’s and two things struck me.

First of all, I was overwhelmed by the care, support and positive atmosphere shared by everyone associated with the hospice. This upbeat positivity is directed at patients and their families but is also between staff and volunteers. I’ve honestly never worked in such a genuinely nurturing and empathetic environment.

The second reason? I wanted to make friends with these wonderful people, and contribute to my new workplace by putting money where my mouth is and actually fundraise, personally. I know that this is two reasons rolled into one and I haven’t massively succeeded on either front yet. So far I’m the only one taking on this challenge, so my friends are my supporters an in terms of meeting my target, I’ve got a hefty fundraising feat to go. But I’m determined.

I’ve been training. I’ve become familiar with the expression, ‘ewh, I’m a bit saddle sore,’ and my legs have a cycling shorts tan line, one I’m pretty proud of. I think I might be able to make it through the mile to Paris, every turn of the way thinking how lucky I am to represent St Ann’s.

I do need a sponsorship boost. Could you help by donating just the equivalent of a cup of coffee or cinema treat and help me raise vital funds to allow the warm embrace of St Ann’s to extend its reach to all the people with life-limiting illnesses in our local area that really need hospice care?

Please sponsor me here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/clarersweeney

Food, glorious food!

September 5, 2019 | 9:22am

Food is very important to us here at St Ann’s. Whether that’s a biscuit with a brew, or a cake to celebrate a birthday, or a hearty lunch to see us through the afternoon, you can’t get very far in our hospices without coming across something delicious.

We know food is very important to the people we care for too – on one of our feedback forms, a family member once wrote “My dad said you make the best poached eggs ever.” That’s why we do all we can to ensure we provide the very best food for our patients.

We have a dietitian who helps to ensure that patients are getting the nutrition they need. Different illnesses and treatments can impact on a person’s ability to eat or swallow, and food may taste different. We can help create plans and develop solutions to ensure our patients are getting the nutrition they need.

We’ve refreshed our food and drink offerings in the coffee shops in our hospices, to provide a wider choice and healthier options.

We’ve also looked at how we can be as kind to the environment as possible, moving to glass instead of plastic milk bottles and introducing new packaging which is compostable and made from renewable or recycled materials.

Our incredible catering team are often called upon to create treats for our patients. Whether it’s an extra special birthday cake, or a buffet to celebrate a national holiday, or a wonderful Christmas dinner, we never fail to be amazed by what they come up with.

We believe in taking care of the whole person, and to us, that certainly includes ensuring everyone is well fed!

Crossing over from the corporate world to the charity sector

September 5, 2019 | 8:58am

I’ve been working at St Ann’s since the end of October last year. After over 30 years in corporate roles, almost 22 years with the same company, my role was made redundant in 2018. I took some time out to consider my options then found an exciting new role as Innovation and Digital Fundraiser here at St Ann’s.

It’s a brand new role and it’s my job to look for new fundraising innovations and opportunities and bring them to life for the hospice.

Since I’ve been here I’ve implemented a number of new initiatives. One example is the roll-out of two different types of contactless collection devices. As fewer people are carrying cash these days we needed to look at new ways to allow supporters to continue to donate.

The first project I worked on was re-branding the wrappers for our collection tins and buckets, these now include NFC chips and QR codes enabling supporters to donate with their smartphones. I then went on to roll-out some contactless devices which accept card and smartphone payments. These are proving popular on our receptions and at events, as well as with corporate supporters for fundraising.

Thinking about the crossover from the corporate world to the charity sector, obviously working in a hospice is totally different to going into a normal office environment – I wondered what it would be like working somewhere where I would see patients and families during difficult times. However, I find the hospice is a really positive place to work.

As with any job, there’s lots of new stuff to learn but the skills I use day-to-day at the hospice are the same as previous roles. As in the corporate world, work is all about relationship building and collaboration. We have targets to achieve here, which can be tough in the current climate, but we are a great team and work to get the best out of each other. There is no shortage of support from my colleagues.

I now have a real sense of fulfilment and achievement knowing that what I do here, contributes to how we support our patients and their families. I love the feeling that every day I come to work, really does make a difference.

Sustainable fashion – A blog from our Trading Company Manager

September 4, 2019 | 11:05am

My daughter came in from school the other day announcing that she is doing a school project on “going green and eco fashion“ and she wanted me to help her with it. I shifted uncomfortably as I realised that, despite working within the fashion industry for many years, my knowledge of eco fashion wasn’t just lacking, but non-existent.

So, with curiosity, enthusiasm and the pressure of a Year 8 project to complete, I began my mission to find out all I could about sustainable fashion.

I thought going green in a fashion sense meant wearing a hemp sack and not washing your hair for weeks, but after hitting the google search button I quickly realised that there’s more to it than that.

Initially I surprised myself with how familiar I was with terms like sustainability and carbon-footprint but I hadn’t realised how many eco-friendly clothing retailers there are (even here in Manchester) and how small changes in buying habits can make a big difference.

It’s well known that consumers in all industries, whether it’s food or fashion, are more and more environmentally aware, and their buying choices are reflecting this. Style, price and quality aren’t the only questions shoppers are asking. Now they want to know about production, shipping and the use of natural fibres.

Rightfully so, the fashion industry has responded to the need for green fashion and sustainability. Designers and high street shops are more conscious in their designs and materials. So having a greener wardrobe is now both achievable and stylish.

Of course buying clothes made in the UK reduces your carbon footprint, but have you considered that buying from charity shops makes you an eco-friendly shopper?

Admittedly, I’m sometimes hesitant to buy second-hand clothing. I still want that satisfying ‘fresh’ feeling when I put on a new dress and I know I’m not alone. There is still a stigma attached to buying and wearing used clothing, but if you can find an item of clothing in mint condition, on trend and within your budget, then why shouldn’t you buy it?

Charity shops are the hidden gems of the high street with many products donated nearly new or even brand new. I think it’s fair to say that we’re all guilty of doing some comfort shopping and putting our guilty purchases in the charity shop pile during the annual clear out. Rather than hesitating to buy from a charity shop I have to remind myself of the good quality items I have donated.

Although the challenge to be more eco-friendly in our everyday wardrobe sounds like one we might instantly opt-out of, with small changes to our buying habits, it is achievable and I will definitely be trying.

We have fourteen charity shops all over Greater Manchester

Our shops stock a wide range of quality pre-loved clothes, accessories, books, toys, furniture and homeware as well as new goods, at very reasonable prices.

Click here to find a shop near you

A blog from Chelsea Norris – Chelsea’s Ladies Lunch with special guest

August 27, 2019 | 11:24am

I can’t believe this will be my 13th Ladies Lunch! It started as such a small idea when I hosted the breakfast show on Key103 and has since grown into its own huge event which I now hold every single year.

This year it’s back on Thursday 7^th November 2019 at the Hilton, Deansgate, Manchester.

Arrival time is approximately 11am with a glass of fizz on arrival. Doors will be open into the main room to reveal a shopping village with pop up stalls including jewellery, handbags, clothing, candles and home interiors all on display and available for you to buy on the day. After a short welcome from me on stage, guests will be treated to a two-course lunch of a starter and a main followed by afternoon tea cakes served on each table. There will also be a fashion show, auction and live entertainment.

And the most exciting part, Gino D’Acampo will be joining us! He is the busiest guy I know, so I’m super pleased that he’s taken the time to come and say hello on the day.

This year, as like the previous two years, I am raising money for St Ann’s. It’s a charity close to my heart as they cared for my Nan until she passed away. I’ve also been a patron for the charity for about 15 years hosting various events to try and raise money to keep the doors of the three sites across Greater Manchester open.

The other charity I will be helping is Once Upon a Smile. When I had my daughter Minnie three years ago it was incredibly close to my heart to donate money back to a children’s charity. This charity is also incredible, they’ve helped friends of mine and also families of the Manchester Arena bombing.

Huge thanks to our sponsors as without them we could simply make an event like this happen.

Get your tickets for this event now, treat your friends or family, or just yourself and come along to support.

Discounted tables of 10 are available at £600 and tickets are individually priced at £65.

Any enquiries to chelsea@chelseanorris.co.uk and you can buy tickets on the website chelseanorris.co.uk/events where you can pay using a credit or debit card and PayPal.

Tickets are selling incredibly fast, so be quick!

I would love you to come – and if you’ve been to any of my previous Ladies Lunches, you’ll know how fun they are!

Hope to see you there, Chelsea xx

Thanks to Chelsea for all of her ongoing support. You can hear her on BBC Radio Manchester, Monday to Thursday, 3-6pm, on 95.1FM.

Buy your tickets here

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