News story Archives - St Ann's Hospice

Clarins to host skincare evening at Heald Green and Little Hulton hospices

June 26, 2025 | 12:07pm

St Ann’s Hospice is teaming up with Clarins to bring an exclusive evening of fundraising for the Build it Together appeal at the hospice and ongoing care.

Clarins skincare professionals will be on site at Heald Green on July 24th and in Little Hulton on August 14th to host a demonstration, give advice and answer questions from the audience.

Funds raised at the Heald Green event will go towards the Build it Together appeal while the Little Hulton event will be towards ongoing care at the hospice.

Those in attendance will be treated to a glass of fizz and a Clarins sample goody bag.

There will also be the opportunity to shop Clarins products on the night, with a gift included with any two purchases. Anything you order on the night will be available to pick up from the hospice from the next day.

Try your luck at winning one of the fabulous raffle prizes on the night, including a Clarins gift worth over £250!

Community Fundraiser at St Ann’s Hospice, Sam Lanigan commented.

We cannot wait to host an evening with Clarins at both our Heald Green and Little Hulton hospice. It is a terrific evening for all to learn about the best skincare practices, all for a great cause.

Sam Lanigan, Community Fundraiser at St Ann’s Hospice

“I look forward to seeing everyone in attendance on both nights,” Sam said.

Tickets cost £10 and can be purchased on the St Ann’s Hospice events page, here.

If you have any questions, get in touch at supporter@sah.org.uk or 0161 498 3631.

Hospice ambassador Lee Boardman visits new build site

June 23, 2025 | 3:12pm

St Ann’s Hospice ambassador, Lee Boardman visited the new hospice site in Heald Green for an update on the construction progress.

He was truly amazed by the incredible progress, especially remembering the overgrown land we started with.

Lee deeply understands the vital care St Ann’s provides. Having experienced it firsthand with his sister, Suzy, who died at the Heald Green hospice.

He knows just how crucial the new, purpose-built hospice will be. It will make a profound positive impact, helping patients and their loved ones navigate some of the most challenging periods of their lives.

“I’m just so shocked...” Lee said following his visit to the new hospice. “It was just overgrown sort of land. It was full of spiders, I remember the first day coming to put the spade in the ground and having to avoid like a million spider webs and it was so uneven under foot, just falling all over the place and it was really hard to envision what it would be like even when the build started.

I’m just so taken with the plastering that’s been done in there, it’s all so bespoke. It’s incredible compared to the old building. When I think about the generations that have gone through that [building] and the thousands of people that St Ann’s has helped, including my own family, that building has got a very special place in people’s hearts but it’s falling down.

Lee Boardman, St Ann’s Hospice Ambassador

See what Lee has to say in the video, below.

“So what St Ann’s needed was this. I mean this will be here for the next few hundred years by the look of it and all I can think of is my experience coming to St Ann’s Hospice and the families in the future that will all benefit from what is just the most unbelievable hospice building that I’ve ever seen in my life,” he added.

Anna-Clare seeks to raise hospice funds through Bramhall concert

June 18, 2025 | 11:44am

Anna-Clare Monk’s is amping up support for her upcoming charity concert which returns for its fourth year to Bramhall in aid of St Ann’s Hospice.

The concert will be held in St Michael all Angels’ Church in Bramhall on Wednesday, June 25 at 7.30pm.

International opera singer Anna-Clare initially started fundraising for St Ann’s Hospice over 12 years ago. Her dad, Alistair, was cared for at the hospice over a period of three months the year prior, and she saw this as a way of giving something back to the hospice.

We held our first concert at Bramhall High School. It was a big event, we did a Last Night at the Proms Celebration and had three local primary school choirs involved and the Bramhall High School choir. We raised about £6,500 that night

Anna-Clare Monk, St Ann’s Hospice Supporter

“I was performing more back then but over the years my teaching has taken over. As my student numbers increased I thought it would be nice to give these talented singers an opportunity to perform. It made perfect sense to fundraise for St Ann’s at the same time.

“In the concert I perform with my students, singing popular musical theatre songs with a little bit of opera. The event is growing every year and last year we were fortunate to have a trustee from the hospice in attendance. It’s a truly special evening!”

Preparations for the concert are going well, having with weekly rehearsals with her students. As part of the concert this year she and her students will be performing a medley of songs from the Sound of Music- audience participation is optional but encouraged!!

There will also be wine, beer, soft drinks and refreshments on the night and the concert will run from 7.30- 9pm.

We’re so fortunate to have the hospice in our local area. We are so lucky that the angels at St Ann’s are there for people that need them at a time that is extremely difficult . We are incredibly grateful and this is our way of saying thanks

Anna-Clare Monk, St Ann’s Hospice Supporter

Tickets are £10 and are available on the door. Doors open 7pm. All profits from the evening will be donated to the Hospice.

COMPETITION CLOSED: Win Two Oasis Tickets and Support St Ann’s Hospice!

June 13, 2025 | 2:00pm

Get ready, music fans!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Manchester Central, we are thrilled to be able to offer you this amazing opportunity to win two tickets to see Oasis this July.

Imagine being there, experiencing the magic live at Heaton Park. This is your chance!

Entry to this exclusive raffle opens on Friday 13th June and closes sharply on Monday 23rd June at 11:55pm. Don’t miss out!

How to Enter

Text OASISWIN to 70215

It’s super easy to enter this fantastic prize draw! Simply text OASISWIN to 70215.

Your text message will cost your standard network message charge.

After sending, you’ll receive a free bounce-back message from 70215 with clear instructions on how to complete your entry and the option to make a donation to support St Ann’s Hospice. Texts cost the chosen donation amount plus one standard network rate message. Every donation helps us continue our vital work!

Important Information

Please ensure you spell the keyword correctly and send your text message to the correct short code within the specified prize draw period. If your short code is invalid, or if your text message is received outside the open period, you will not receive a bounce-back message.

This prize draw is open to all residents of the UK. (Please note: the text service to enter the prize draw does not include Channel Islands or Isle of Man mobile networks.) Participants must be 18 or over.

The lucky winner will be selected at random and contacted directly by St Ann’s Hospice via telephone on June 24th.

This prize draw is in no way affiliated with SJM Concerts.

Terms and Conditions
OASIS Heaton Park Tickets terms and conditions

Good luck! We’re rooting for you!

Legs Matter Awareness Week

June 11, 2025 | 2:34pm

St Ann’s Hospice’s Lymphoedema Team

Legs Matter Awareness Week was created to challenge poor leg and foot care, which can often go unseen, unspoken, and unchallenged.

The awareness week takes place until Friday, June 13 and encourages those with leg and foot conditions to speak up, while shining a light on what needs to change.

Lymphoedema is one such condition that can affect a person’s legs and feet. It is a chronic condition that causes swelling in the body. Typically, it affects the arms and legs, leading to a build up of lymph fluid.

There are two types of lymphoedema, primary and secondary. Primary lymphoedema can be congenital or heredity, causing problems with the development of a person’s lymphatic system.

Secondary lymphoedema can result from many factors such as cancer and its treatments, trauma, vascular problems, repeated infections and immobility to name but a few.

Lymphoedema can make it difficult for an individual to go about their daily lives. When lymph fluid builds up in the legs, it can cause mobility issues, making it difficult for those affected to walk, leaving them struggling to go about their daily lives.

St Ann’s Hospice runs a dedicated outpatient Lymphoedema Clinic out of both its Little Hulton and Heald Green sites to help those afflicted to manage their lymphoedema symptoms.

The Lymphoedema team is made up of three St Ann’s staff members: Fiona Sanderson, Lucie Casserley, and Lisa Wong.

Though the clinic is based in a hospice, most of their patients do not have a palliative condition.

Some patients have been coming to the clinic for many years for advice and support to help manage their lymphoedema. Other patients can be discharged once their condition is stable and well managed, but they have the option to self-refer back if needed.

Bessie from Bolton, who is the Lymphoedema Clinic’s oldest patient at 101, has been using the service to manage her lower leg swelling.

Bessie’s daughter Carolyn has praised the work of St Ann’s.

“First of all, when we went there, mum’s legs were really bad. They helped treat the lymphoedema in the legs with bandages and they prescribed mum with different levels of compression stockings,” Carolyn said.

“They were wonderful. They were very patient, very kind, explained everything that they were doing, and gave mum lots of advice,” she added.

To learn more about Legs Matter Awareness Week, click here.

St Ann’s staff member discusses the importance of the hospice’s Forget-me-not appeal

June 9, 2025 | 1:00pm

The St Ann’s Hospice Forget-me-not services held each summer provide an opportunity for both families and patients to come together and reflect. 

Rehab Assistant Practitioner at St Ann’s Hospice in Little Hulton, Rachel Bridge attended one of the Forget Me Not services last year. 

Losing a loved one is a significant event in someone’s life. I know what it feels like losing a loved one. Every family requires individualised support, and I feel that the Forget-me-not services are one of the ways in which we here at St Ann’s can support these families

Rachel Bridge, Rehab Assistant Practitioner, St Ann’s Hospice

Rachel says as a staff member at St Ann’s Hospice, supporting families is “a crucial part of our role day to day”. 

“It’s about building relationships with patients and their families, and the families knowing that if they need anything, they can just ask with ease

“It’s about consistency and being able to be there for families and gauging what kind of support they need. It could be offering someone a cup of tea and a chat or offering time to talk about their loved ones or how they are feeling.

It’s important that people know that it’s okay not to be okay and that there are areas within St Ann’s where they can have some privacy and time away from their loved ones

Rachel Bridge, Rehab Assistant Practitioner, St Ann’s Hospice

According to Rachel, the Forget-me-not services are needed to allow families to reconnect with St Ann’s following the passing of a loved one. 

“These services are often part of the grieving process for families. Having gone through that grieving process myself, it was important to be able to have a place to reflect. I still go to a remembrance service every year, and it’s a time to remember and reconnect with those who looked after my mum.

When I attended the Forget-me-not service at St Ann’s last year, I spoke to quite a few families that I had contact with on the Inpatient Unit. I could see how important the event was to them. It was lovely to see them and chat about where they are on their grieving journey

Rachel Bridge, Rehab Assistant Practitioner, St Ann’s Hospice

St Ann’s Hospice has launched its Forget-me-not appeal where individuals can dedicate a forget-me-not to a loved one in the Memory Meadow via the St Ann’s website. 

The two St Ann’s Hospice Forget Me Not services will take place at the Heald Green and Little Hulton hospices on Saturday, June 14. The first will take place at Little Hulton at 10am with the Heald Green service commencing at 2pm.

To learn more about the appeal or to dedicate a flower in memory of a loved one in our online Memory Meadow, click here.

Join Sam in supporting the St Ann’s Hospice Forget-me-not appeal

June 9, 2025 | 9:52am

St Ann’s Forget Me Not services return this Saturday, June 14 and offer an opportunity for reflection and celebration of the lives of loved ones.

My name is Sam, and I have been supporting St Ann’s Hospice since 2023, when my mum, Denise died here following a diagnosis of terminal cancer.

My mum knew she didn’t want to die at home, she knew she wanted to go to a hospice, and in the end and she chose St Ann’s, a charity she had placed in her Will.

Mum didn’t last long at St Ann’s, only around six days. Her symptoms got so bad that she had to have a nurse with her around the clock to help manage them.

The thing that stood out to me at that time was the nurses wanted to know all about her, they wanted to see photos of her. It just made such a difference that they really cared about her.

When I was with mum at her bedside, I promised her that I would do whatever I could to raise money for St Ann’s to make sure that other people got the same care that we received.

Even after she passed, St Ann’s helped me. They provided me with bereavement support and further counselling.

I ran into a doctor from the Heald Green hospice who cared for her earlier this year. It’s been two years and he remembered her name, and which room she was in. I think that just shows the kind of place St Ann’s is.

Having that support at the end of your life is so necessary. It takes stress off your shoulders knowing there are medical professionals there when you feel panicked.

Knowing someone is always there, day and night to help you, having the space to be with mum when she died was everything.

Please join me in supporting this year’s St Ann’s Forget Me Not appeal, every donation makes such a difference in the lives of families such as mine and it helps ensure patients will continue to receive the very best care at St Ann’s for years to come.

To learn more about the appeal or to dedicate a flower in memory of a loved one in our online Memory Meadow, click here.

St Ann’s Hospice marks Volunteers Week 2025

June 2, 2025 | 9:00am

This week marks Volunteers’ Week, a UK-wide campaign to celebrate and recognise the contributions of volunteers.

St Ann’s Hospice wouldn’t be able to operate without the hard work and dedication from its volunteers.

Volunteers contribute to St Ann’s Hospice in a wide variety of ways. Some volunteer by managing the reception desk after hours, some volunteer in the local charity shops, in the cafés on the hospice sites, some work in various offices throughout the hospice and some volunteer their time to help out at various fundraising events throughout the calendar year.

Rekha Senapati was honoured in the Popular Choice category of the Inspiring Indian Women awards largely due to her volunteering efforts with St Ann’s.

She initially began volunteering by helping arrange flowers for patients in the Little Hulton hospice before dedicating her time to help out the Little Hulton Volunteer Fundraising Committee.

Susan Conlan is one of the volunteering team at St Ann’s shop in Edgeley, having previously volunteered on the ward at the Heald Green hospice.

I enjoy meeting people. It keeps my brain active too. I’d recommend volunteering to anyone – it’s quite rewarding. For me, because I worked at the hospice before the shop, I saw first-hand how important it was to raise the money for the hospice.

Susan Conlan, Shop Volunteer

Chief Executive of St Ann’s Hospice Rachel McMillan commented:

St Ann’s would not be able to function without the dedication of our wonderful volunteers. This week marks a way of celebrating their constant support of St Ann’s. I would like to formally thank all of our volunteers and we look forward to progressing our relationship with our volunteers for many years to come

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive at St Ann’s Hospice

Volunteers’ Week was launched in 1984, and the initiative provides organisations and communities with a platform to thank current and past volunteers for their invaluable efforts.

This year’s celebrations run from Monday, June 2 to Sunday, June 8.

Check back on our website throughout the week as we spotlight some of our amazing volunteers.

Theme: News story