Information for Schools

Willow Wood Hospice is based in Ashton-under-Lyne, and is for all the people living in Tameside and Glossop. We provide a co-ordinated, multi professional service with the aim of making a difference to the lives of those with a life-limiting illness.

There is a 12 bedded In-patient Unit, complete with all the latest innovations in patient care, together with the Day Hospice which provides facilities for up to 15 patients per day. These include symptom management, a hydrotherapy pool, a Lymphoedema clinic, blood transfusion service and complementary therapies such as reflexology.

All of Willow Wood's services are provided free-of-charge, however this year it will cost upwards of £2million to provide this much needed and valued care.

Willow Wood Hospice is awarded an annual grant from the Patient Care Trust, however the remainder of our running costs - over 75% - have to be raised from within our local community.

There are a number of ways in which this money is raised. Bequests and donations play their part, and the Hospice generates a substantial part of its income from our seven charity shops and our very successful lottery. We organise many events and activities to raise funds, such as the ladies-only Midnight Wander, which this year lowered the age limit to 12 and over, It's a Knockout and many more.

However, a very important area is where either individuals or local companies and organisations arrange their own fundraising event. As a school in our area you will have a wealth of enthusiastic, talented individuals in your classrooms who could rise to the challenge. This can either be incorporated into, for example, Citizenship lessons, or be used as an extra-curricular activity to foster team spirit. Some of your pupils will know of someone who has benefited from our services, and they may already be involved in some fundraising activity.

Many of the local schools have already been involved with the Hospice for some years now, selling our Christmas and Easter beanies, arranging for us to collect the school Christmas tree, circulating our "What's On" events listing and taking part in some of our organised events.

We would like to invite you to take this relationship to the next step, and ask both the teachers and pupils to get involved in organising their own events on behalf of Willow Wood Hospice.

First, decide what you want to do! You may want to involve your pupils at this stage, maybe asking for volunteers for a Charity Committee or incorporating some of the themes into a lesson plan.

There is a list of some fundraising ideas over the page - but we are sure that you will be able to come up with many more!

Once you've decided what to do - and remember, if it's fun, it can be fundraising - just follow these simple steps:

• Make a plan - how long will it take to organise? do you need a budget? set deadlines. Please register the event with us.
• Check all aspects of Health & Safety (we can provide a checklist) and your insurance cover. Make sure of parental/carer permission.
• Get a team involved. Make sure that everyone knows their own jobs.
• Is it a straightforward donation (e.g. pay £1 to come to school in fancy dress), or does the event need to raise sponsorship? We can help with template sponsor forms and tips how to raise money.
• Publicise it! Again, we can provide blank poster templates and a press release template if required. Have Fun! Enjoy the day.
• Count the money and thank everyone involved. A representative from the Hospice will be pleased to come to the school assembly to collect the money and present the school with a certificate of thanks.

Once you've chosen your activity, and registered the event with us by photocopying and completing the School Event Registration pack (see below), you need to decide if it's a straightforward donation to take part (e.g., £1 to come to school in fancy dress), or if sponsorship can be raised.

If it's a sponsored event, whether a jog around the playground, a sports day challenge or something related to your school's activities, we can provide a template to produce your own sponsor forms.

Please remind your pupils never to approach strangers, or to go door-to-door asking for sponsorship - not only is this illegal, it could be dangerous!

Always carry your sponsor form with you - you never know when you may meet someone.

Ask with a smile - it always helps.

Grandparents, aunts and uncles are always willing to put their names down.

Get the biggest sponsor at the top of the form - other contributors may put down the same amount.

Ask parents/carers to ask their friends.

If it's a team event, think of the silliest name you can - this promotes interest and enthusiasm.

Set up your own sponsor page online at www.justgiving.com. The online instructions are easy to follow and any relatives or friends living overseas can easily contribute.

After the event, don't forget to collect the money as soon as possible and send it back, together with the sponsor form to Willow Wood Hospice.

Inspire as much enthusiasm around the school as possible by downloading one of our colour poster templates, or request one on the registration form.

You can email us photos of the event - it may encourage others if we can use these on our website.

The local press are interested in this kind of news. Not only will this help you maximise your fundraising efforts, but it also keeps Willow Wood's name in the public eye and may inspire others to support us. Contact details for the local papers are listed below, and please follow the tips below to ensure your press release contains all relevant information. Press release templates are available on request.

• Keep it short - one page only, short paragraphs, double spaced.
• Remember the 5 Ws - Who, What, Why, Where and When.
• Put contact details for further information, with a mobile if possible.
• Use a quote to help the story come alive.
• Follow up with a phone call to arrange a photocall. If the press can't come on the day, take pictures yourself and mail a follow-up piece to the paper.

Tameside Advertiser: 0161 339 7611

Tameside Reporter: 0161 303 1910

Glossop Advertiser: 0161 339 7611

Glossop Chronicle: 01457 865474

Manchester Evening News: 0161 211 2323

Hattersley & Mottram Community News: 0161 368 5171

Tameside Radio 103.6FM: 0161 408 2036

High Peak Radio: 01298 813388

To Help You get Started

Information & Resources Pack

This Pack contains all the information above, along with a Checklist of points to remember, and a Registration Form so you can tell us about your Event(s).

Click on the picture on the left to download the Pack (zipped Microsoft Publisher/Word format).

Sample Posters to Publicise Your Event

Click on any of the images to download all 5 posters (zipped Microsoft Publisher format).