Staff and volunteers Archives

Striking a pose for the new hospice

November 3, 2023 | 1:10pm

St Ann’s Hospice are delighted to announce that £3660 was raised from our night of fashion and fun at John Lewis Cheadle.

The catwalk show featured doctors, nurses, volunteers and other members of the St Ann’s team modelling festive fashions from across John Lewis’s women’s, men’s and children’s wear ranges.

Funds raised at the event will be going towards our Build it Together campaign, which is raising the final £2 million that we need to build a much-needed new hospice in Heald Green, Stockport.

Lesley Jackson, Outpatient Clinical Services Secretary, took part as a model for the Fashion Show.

I’ve worked for 20 years at the Heald Green site, so I see every day how our current building is deteriorating and how essential it is that we get a new hospice built for our local communities. I jumped at the chance to model at the John Lewis Fashion Show – what a treat to do something different, raise vital funds and get my hair and make up done!

Lesley Jackson, Outpatient Clinical Services Secretary

The models were glammed up on the night by John Lewis’s premium makeup concessions in store, before having a drinks reception and getting dressed in their outfits for the two shows – Autumn/Winter Fashion and Party Wear.

Attendees enjoyed entertainment from the Crystal Chords Barbershop Chorus during a drinks reception and the interval, as well as hand massages provided by the St Ann’s Complementary Therapy Team and Clarins.

We’re so grateful to John Lewis Cheadle for supporting us to raise funds for our much-needed new building. We’d also like to thank our St Ann’s colleagues, Celine and Beverly at Glossy, Crystal Chords, and everyone who came to the event for their help and support in ensuring we will be here providing specialist support and care for generations. What an amazing show!

Anne-Marie Wynne, Head of Fundraising and Capital Campaign

The Build It Together campaign, which launched in June 2022, has already raised more than £800,000 and we’re urging people across Greater Manchester to get involved. To find more information on how you can help, see here.

Nurses and doctors modelling at John Lewis fashion show in aid of Build it Together appeal

October 11, 2023 | 6:06pm

We’re so excited to be partnering with John Lewis Cheadle for a Fashion Show tomorrow evening (Thursday 12^th October) in aid of our Build it Together appeal. The appeal is raising the final £2 million that we need to build a much-needed new hospice in Heald Green, Stockport.

The catwalk show will feature doctors, nurses, volunteers and other members of the St Ann’s team modelling festive fashions from across John Lewis’s women’s, men’s and children’s wear ranges.

Our fabulous models have been attending their appointments over the last week with John Lewis Cheadle’s stylists, who have specially chosen outfits for each person based on their colouring and body shape.

The models will be glammed up on the night by one of John Lewis’s premium makeup concessions in store, before having a drinks reception and getting dressed in their outfits for one of the two shows – Autumn/Winter Fashion and Partywear.

Here our models tell us about what they do at St Ann’s and being part of the John Lewis fashion show.

I started at the hospice two and a half years ago. My friend and I really enjoyed doing the Midnight Walk this year and I raised just over £300. I decided to do the fashion show because I did one aged seven and it was loads of fun! I thought this would be fun too and nice to do something with colleagues. I think one thing you learn at the hospice is that life is too short, so why not?!
I’m looking forward to having some of my friends and family come along to the fashion show to support me – I’ve told them I’m doing it so it’s too late to back out now!

Roisin, Specialty Doctor

I’ve been at St Ann’s for three years now. I have done fundraising for St Ann’s before – I raised just over £300 for illustrating windows and doors in the hospice in Christmas 2020 and we couldn’t have Christmas decorations on the ward.
I got involved in the fashion show because I thought it was a good opportunity to push myself out of my comfort zone. I have also returned back from maternity leave in the last six months and thought it would be a way to boost my self-confidence after having a baby. I also really believe in celebrating real bodies of all shapes and sizes.
I’m most looking forward to getting glammed up – and a break away from my two small children for the evening (who I love immensely by the way!)

Jodie, Staff Nurse, Heald Green Inpatient Unit

I’ve worked for 20 years at the Heald Green site, so I see every day how our current building is deteriorating and how essential it is that we get a new hospice built for our local communities. I jumped at the chance to model at the John Lewis Fashion Show – what a treat to do something different, raise vital funds and get my makeup done!

Lesley, Outpatient Clinical Services Secretary

I’ve been at the hospice for 23 years, since March 2000. I was on the ward until 2016 then moved to what’s now The Being You Centre.
I ended up working for the hospice after working at a hospital as a link nurse and going on a course where I spent a week at St Ann’s. I had had several bad experiences with people dying in hospital and not having the deaths they wanted or their wishes not being fulfilled. After spending the week at St Ann’s I realised that’s where I wanted to be.
I modelled at a previous St Ann’s fashion show with Lesley and another colleague in 2015, and we loved it!
I’ve fundraised and been involved in things at St Ann’s before. I did Born Survivor a few years ago with colleagues. It’s really nice to do something for someone you work for when it’s a charity.

Jo, Staff Nurse, Heald Green Being You Centre

I’ve been at St Ann’s for almost five years. I love my job for so many reasons! But, particularly because it gives me a unique and humbling opportunity to support patients and their loved ones at such a challenging season in their lives.
I don’t know why I said yes to walking in the fashion show as it’s really out of my comfort zone! I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve bene involved with hospice events like Light up a Life, and my husband has also done some fundraising for the hospice.
I’m just looking forward to having a bit of fun with my colleagues on the night!

Lucy, Senior Staff Nurse, Heald Green Inpatient Unit

Tickets for the fashion show are £15 per person and include a glass of fizz on arrival, a hand massage from the St Ann’s Complementary Therapy Team and Clarins, entertainment from the Crystal Chords Barbershop Chorus and a £5 voucher to spend at John Lewis.

They will be on sale right up to the start of tomorrow’s event at 5:30pm. To purchase a ticket, click here.

Why you should take on St Ann’s Hospice’s Firewalk this November

October 3, 2023 | 9:44am

I’ve worked for St Ann’s Hospice as the Innovation and Digital Fundraiser for the last five years. I took on the Firewalk – walking across 20ft of burning wood embers with bare feet – to prove to myself I could do it, and absolutely loved the challenge!

A few years ago my sister raised money for another charity and did a Firewalk, so I wanted to prove to myself that if she could do it, I could too.

I did the Firewalk in 2021 and was very nervous in the lead up to the challenge, but it really was amazing.

This year’s Firewalk will take place on 5th November 2023 at our Little Hulton hospice and is open to anyone over the age of 14 (accompanied by an adult). We are looking for some brave “soles” to take on the challenge!

Everyone who takes part will be in the safe hands of a Blaze ‘Fire Master’ instructor who will take you through a motivational Fear Buster session prior to the Firewalk, helping you to leap into this challenge feet first.

The motivational exercises you do before the walk get you and the group you’re with really excited. There’s a lot of ‘mind over matter’ exercises that help you prepare.

Whenever I tell people I took part in this challenge they always ask me whether it hurts, and it honestly doesn’t – but there’s no doubt that it’s very hot!

You get to see the fire being lit which makes the challenge very real very quickly, but it’s great to be involved in all aspects of the event.

All of us that took on the Firewalk in 2021 enjoyed it. I did it with a friend and we definitely got an extra buzz from doing it together.

I wanted to take on a challenge for St Ann’s Hospice to raise money for a charity close to my heart, and enjoyed doing this with my friend as it was a shared experience between us.

I had a lot of comments from people saying I was mad to be doing such a crazy challenge, but I’d recommend it to everyone!

Each person who takes part has a sponsorship target of £150, with a registration fee of £30.

I was so pleased to raise £385 when I did this challenge, as all money raised helps us to continue our work supporting patients with life-limiting illnesses, and their families.

For more information click here or contact the Events Team on 0161 498 3631 or events@sah.org.uk.

Celebrating our staff and volunteers

September 28, 2023 | 11:57am

Our annual celebration event is an opportunity to recognise the hard work and commitment of our teams, and to celebrate the milestones of long-service staff and volunteers.

This year we were delighted that the event could take place in person, for the first time since the pandemic, at our Little Hulton hospice.

As well as celebrating the dedication of our long-serving staff and volunteers, we announced the exceptional winners of this year’s Chair awards yesterday. Jackie Oldham and Rachel McMillan co-hosted the event.

I’m really excited that it’s the first time in three years we’re been able to do this face to face. This is a true celebration of everything our staff and volunteers do, and it makes me so proud to be part of that team. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

We’ve been here 52 for years, and it’s important to celebrate our history. I look back and think about the people who made St Ann’s happen, like our founder Dr Moya Cole. I’m thankful for our pioneers, all of the people in this room and all of our all colleagues – we can set the direction for the future and help St Ann’s to thrive for another 52 years.

Rachel McMillan, Chief Executive

It’s humbling to see everyone here today and hear about the fantastic contributions to the hospice. I’m here on behalf of the Board of Trustees. It was extremely difficult to decide who the awards should go to; the contributions throughout have been phenomenal. On behalf of board, we want to thank you all for your major contribution to the hospice; we couldn’t do it without you. By working together, we achieve really great things.

Jackie Oldham, Chair of the Board of Trustees

And the winners are…

Jackie Oldham, Chair of the Board of Trustees, awarded the following staff members and teams with the Chair Awards for their amazing achievements and exemplifying the Values of St Ann’s Hospice in their work every day.

People matter

This award recognises an individual who consistently puts people at the centre of everything they do. They treat everyone with kindness and compassion, they value and celebrate diversity; recognising everyone as an individual.

Lisa Wong, Lymphoedema Assistant Practitioner

Deborah Connolly, Housekeeping (Heald Green)

Lead and learn

This award recognises someone who is always learning to inform and shape the hospice or hospice sector. This might be through education, training or research. They lead by example, share best practice, making advances and pioneering new approaches.

Rebecca Sarbutts, Data Protection Officer and Data Systems Manager

Dr Lesley Henson and Kath Lamb – Quality Improvement project

Bold and brave

The winner of this award recognises the need to grow for the future, not settle. They’re not afraid to do things differently, get creative, challenge themselves and the status quo. They’re ambitious in their aims, accountable for their actions and learn from their experiences and successes.

Gayle Shaw, Corporate Fundraiser

Together we are stronger

This award is for an individual or collection of individuals who work collaboratively with supporters, partners or the community. They have a bigger impact working together than they could do alone. They think beyond traditional boundaries to make sure we’re here for our communities in years to come.

The Trading Company – Events organisation

Inpatient Unit Ward Sisters Lynsey Ayers, Hayley Beswick, Jen Andrusjak, Suzy Vale and Nic Erhardt

Volunteer Special Recognition Award

This award recognises and celebrates the outstanding contribution volunteers make to the hospice. Every day volunteers help us achieve our purpose of providing excellent care. This award is one of the ways we recognise volunteers who go above and beyond to create even better services.

Jenny Caunt, volunteer in the Practice Development Centre

Long service awards – Staff

30 years

Diane Smallman, Little Hulton Inpatient Unit

20 years

Lesley Jackson, Clinical Services Administration (HG)

10 years

Joanne Laidlaw, Hospice at Home
Donna Riva Burdaky, LH Housekeeping
Rachel Billson, Clinical Specialist Palliative Care Team
Gill Turnpenney , Executive Office

Long service awards – Volunteers

40 years

Ann Farthing

35 years

Gill Lyon and Fran Nelson

25 years

Margaret Tait

20 years

Marion Ball, Christine Da Forno and Anne McFarlane

15 years

Alan Bowker, Sylvia Grant, Anne Hannah, Ian Hayes, Beryl Hilton, Sandra Kirk, Pamela Lilker, Barbara Mellish, Rebekah Mottershead, Nicola Norris, Catherine Stephenson, Sue Sutton

10 years

Gail Abedi, Christine Barlow, Alison Bettles, Clive Douglas Bettles, Susan Conlon, Ann Cox, Janet Ellis, Jill Fitzgerald, Breda Johnson, Lorraine Livesey, Steve Lloyd, Patricia Anne Lockey, Joe Madden, Nuala McNorton, Jackie Rogers, Pat Rudge, Peter Charles Sant, Ruth Satinoff, Jennifer Vaughan, Gwyneth Viney, Mike Viney, Gaynor Whiteside, Valerie Wilson, Pamela Wolstenholme

5 years

Frances Ansell, Judith Anthony, Jennifer Armshaw, Mariam Azhar, Lynne Barratt, Maria Bartley, Paul Bate, Lucy Blackburn, Jean Coles, Mary Connery, Beth Crowcroft, Ryan Darcy, Catherine Davies, Lea Anne Done-Jackson, Nicola Done-Orrell, Donna Eastwood, Brenda Entwistle, Yvonne Fitzgerald, Marjorie Fletcher, Peter Frank, Robert Gregg, Tina Hamby, Joan Hargreaves, Joyce Lynda Lawrence, Shelagh Lochery, Jeffrey Longson, John Moss, Pamela Mottershead, Barbara Murray, Jamie Murray, Melanie Oliver, Elaine Pratt, Caroline Pressman, Christine Reed, Eileen Richards, Gwyneth Roper, Jeanette Sayle, Marilyn Snell, Susan Margaret Thomas, Chloe Tsang, Frances Walker, Irene Wilczynska

Our Autumn Fair will raise money for the new hospice

September 22, 2023 | 4:40pm

We are hosting an Autumn Fair on Saturday 30^th September to raise money for our Build It Together campaign.

Bring along your friends and family to St Ann’s Hospice’s Heald Green site between 12-3pm for all the fun of the fair!

Organised by our volunteer committee on behalf of St Ann’s, the Autumn Fair is helping to raise vital funds towards our Build It Together new hospice appeal.

We’ve all laughed so much on the committee as the weeks have gone by and made a great team. Everyone has been so accommodating and each person seems to have certain things they bring to the table.

Lisa Cartlitch, Volunteer Treasurer

The fair will be a family fun afternoon with stalls, plants, refreshments and licensed bar, games and bouncy castle and fire brigade.

Tracey Yarwood is the Secretary of the committee and has been volunteering for six years at the hospice.

I’ve really enjoyed helping at the previous summer and Christmas fairs, so I was excited to be working with the other volunteers on this fair. I enjoy being part of a team on the committee that’s going to raise money to help the hospice’s new build. We hope this fair will be a great success and we can start planning our next one!

Tracey Yarwood, Volunteer Secretary

Another volunteer on the committee, Dushyant Mehta, speaks highly of St Ann’s, which is a charity close to his heart.

I have been a volunteer for St Ann’s Hospice for more than 12 years. The connection I have with the hospice grew much stronger since the last two years when my wife was at Heald Green for end-of-life care. Over that period, I found along with my family that the care and support of the staff was extraordinary, they have treated my family and myself as one family which I’ll never forget and continue to do so even now. I enjoy being on the committee as everyone is like-minded who are focussed on the project ahead of them. I’m glad I am able to give back and help St Ann’s Hospice raise as much money as they can for the welfare and care of all its patients.

Dushyant Mehta, Committee Volunteer

Entry to the Autumn Fair is free, so bring as many of your friends and family along to see what’s on offer!

St Ann’s Hospice excited to join Manchester Pride Parade for first time

August 18, 2023 | 1:49pm

St Ann’s Hospice are delighted to announce that they will participating in the Manchester Pride Parade for the first time this year on Saturday 26th August.

We have a walking entry in the iconic parade, which follows a route from Castlefield through Manchester city centre, ending near Piccadilly. Staff and volunteers from across the hospice will be taking part to represent St Ann’s, alongside supporters of the hospice and some representatives from partner organisations.

At St Ann’s Hospice we believe in pride and dignity in life and death. No matter who you are or who you love, we care for everyone in our communities right across Greater Manchester.

We firmly believe that love knows no boundaries, and we are resolute in our promise to provide unwavering support, if you ever need us.

Paul Jarvis, Director of Business Development, St Ann’s Hospice

St Ann’s walkers will be wearing t-shirts and holding banners bearing their message, and their entry will pumping out some classic pride hits along the route.

There are many events that are taking place in the Gay Village across the weekend, with the Parade happening on Saturday 26th August. The Parade encompasses thousands of LGBTQ+ people and their allies who all march together through the city centre.

St Ann’s Hospice will also have a stall on Monday 28th August in the Community Lane area of the Manchester Pride festival. Resources will be available that St Ann’s have developed, giving advice on palliative care for the LGBTQ+ community and how to reduce the specific barriers they face.

Manchester Pride is the latest Pride event in the calendar for St Ann’s Hospice, who this year have also had a presence at Stockport Pride, Salford Pride and Trans Pride Manchester.

Heidi McIntyre, Palliative Care Coordinator at St Ann’s, spoke on a panel at one of Trans Pride Manchester’s events on Saturday 12th August. She said: “Over the last 18 months I’ve been co-delivering St Ann’s Hospice’s Inequalities Workshop to St Ann’s staff and external health and social care colleagues, which includes a focus on the experiences of LGBTQ+ communities within palliative and end-of-life care.”

Services often focus on LGBTQ+ communities as a collective, however each community experiences quite specific barriers. For trans and gender-diverse people this is especially true, so having a presence at the first Trans Pride in Manchester felt particularly important for us and what we’re trying to achieve.

Heidi McIntyre, Palliative Care Coordinator, St Ann’s Hospice

The presence at local Pride events is the latest step in St Ann’s journey in building relationships with groups that have traditionally faced inequity in palliative care, to ensure that they are a fully inclusive organisation. Over the last year, this work has also encompassed delivering the Inequalities training workshops, working with the homeless community, and working with the LGBT Foundation on projects including the development of LGBTQ+-specific palliative care resources and Advance Care Planning workshops.

Suzanne Willians is one of the staff members taking part in the Manchester Pride Parade this year. She works in the hospice’s inpatient unit at its site in Heald Green.

I’ve worked at St Ann’s Hospice for nearly 30 years and feel privileged to represent the inclusive care we give to all our patients. It’s important to reach out to LGBTQ+ community to show that St Ann’s Hospice cares. I’m looking forward to being part of this important day in Manchester.

Suzanne Willians, Heald Green Inpatient Unit, St Ann’s Hospice

If you would like to walk with St Ann’s Hospice at the Manchester Pride Parade, or if you have any feedback or ideas to share about how St Ann’s could support the LGBTQ+ community further, please email communications@sah.org.uk.

First Audit and QI Seminar at St Ann’s a great success

June 27, 2023 | 1:39pm

The first annual Audit and Quality Improvement Seminar was held at St Ann’s Heald Green Hospice on Wednesday 21^st June.

The event was organised by Katherine Lamb, Quality and Governance Lead, and Consultant Dr Lesley Henson. There were five presentations and 12 posters showcasing the clinical audit and QI work at the hospice over the last 12 months.

The presentations were from Dr Sarah Clelland, Fran Brown, Dr Ben Anderson, Jennifer Forsyth and Dr Roisin Porteous.

The posters and presentations were judged by a panel made up of Medical Director Dr Dave Waterman, Heald Green Ward Manager Louise Pinney, and Trustee Melanie Ogden.

The winners of the Best Poster were Fran Brown, Emma Barclay and Emma Dixon for their poster ‘How a rehabilitative approach helped us to transform patient outcomes and our hospice culture.’

The winner of the Best Oral Presentation was Dr Ben Anderson for his presentation ‘Using simulation training to improve management of opioid induced respiratory depression in the hospice setting: a quality improvement project’.

Katherine said: “We are always looking for ways to improve and develop our services and strive to provide the best possible care for our patients. The seminar was a great opportunity for clinicians and other colleagues from across the hospice to come together, review some of the amazing quality improvement projects carried out over the last 12 months and share best practice and ideas.”

Feedback after the event was very positive with one attendee saying: “Really motivating and inspiring to see what has been done.” Other feedback praised the session for being “educational and forward thinking.”

Volunteers’ Week 2023

June 7, 2023 | 9:10pm

Volunteers’ Week runs 1st-7th June, and this annual celebration is a chance to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers make to our communities.

St Ann’s Hospice would like to take this opportunity to thank our amazing volunteers who support us in so many ways. We simply could not continue to provide our care without their help and we are extremely grateful to each and every one of them for their support.

We’re shining a spotlight on just a few of our team of incredible volunteers to celebrate them this Volunteers’ Week.

My favourite thing about volunteering is seeing the variety of items people donate – it’s really interesting. I would recommend volunteering at St Ann’s to anyone, and I have done! My husband is going to start at the shop as well.

Sheena, Volunteer, Distribution Centre

At the time I signed up I was suffering from chronic fatigue and needed purpose. I wanted to give something back to the community.

Tracey, Volunteer, Distribution Centre

Read Sheena & Tracey’s story here.

I volunteer to help the hospice and also increase my knowledge and learn about eBay, so it’s two-fold. I would really recommend volunteering to meet people. It’s better than staying in! Plus you get the knowledge and new skills – you might become an eBay millionaire through learning at St Ann’s!

Jeff, Volunteer, Online Sales Team

Read Jeff’s story here.

Early retirement has given me the time and opportunity to volunteer, including supporting the Fundraising Team in their ongoing Build It Together campaign, as well as being a volunteer driver for the Being You Centre. I hope that supportive role can further evolve as building works for the new hospice begin, allowing me to share in the St Ann’s journey at this most exciting time.

Graham, Volunteer

Read Graham’s story here.

I needed to do something moving forward and decided to give back to St Ann’s after they cared for my mum. I’d never worked in a shop before, but I like meeting people, talking to them and having a joke with them. I get on with the team and get a real reward out of doing it.

Ian, Volunteer, Sale shop

Could you volunteer at St Ann’s?

You’ll be challenged, inspired, and empowered to help us achieve our purpose and to play your part in making a difference.

We’re currently looking for volunteers across the organisation in our shops, Online Sales Team, Fundraising Team and in our hospices. Find out more here.

Volunteering at St Ann’s

Find out more information about all of our current volunteering opportunities.

Find out more

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