Tameside & Glossop NHS Charity has been named one of seven national winners of The Great Community Refresh, a UK-wide competition by British sweet maker Swizzels to mark 70 years of its Refreshers brand.
The initiative attracted more than 1,500 entries from charities, community groups and individuals seeking support to revitalise local spaces.
The charity, which supports staff, patients and families receiving care from Tameside Hospital and wider community services, has used the Swizzels grant to transform the garden at the Tameside Macmillan Unit. The much-valued outdoor space, used by patients undergoing cancer treatment and their loved ones, had long needed improvement.
The refresh includes new seating, vibrant flowers and sensory planting, creating a calm, uplifting sanctuary where patients and families can find comfort during the most difficult moments of their treatment journey.
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust serves around 250,000 people, and the charity works to enhance patient experience, support NHS staff wellbeing and fund projects beyond core NHS budgets – from care packages and specialist equipment to mental health initiatives and community outreach.
Emily Whelan, Charity Manager at Tameside & Glossop NHS Charity, said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to be one of the winners and so grateful to Swizzels for their support. For many of our patients, the Macmillan Unit garden is more than just an outdoor space – it’s somewhere to breathe, reflect and find calm during one of the hardest times of their lives.
This grant has allowed us to turn it into a beautiful, welcoming sanctuary. The difference it has made is lasting, and we’re incredibly thankful.”
Sarah-Louise Heslop, Head of Marketing at Swizzels, added:
“Tameside & Glossop NHS Charity’s entry really touched us. Their work to support patients and families is incredible, and their vision for the Macmillan Unit garden truly captures the spirit of The Great Community Refresh. As a business rooted in this community for nearly a century, we’re proud to support a project so close to home.”
Launched earlier this year to celebrate 70 years of Refreshers, The Great Community Refresh received thousands of submissions from across the UK, with the seven winning projects ranging from wellbeing gardens and social spaces to inclusive activity hubs – all focused on bringing communities together and improving local lives.