Publish date: 2 February 2026
A Tameside-based uniform supplier, local volunteers and a much-loved sweet maker have come together to bring comfort to people with cancer attending their first chemotherapy appointments at Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Tibard Uniforms, based on Globe Lane Industrial Estate in Dukinfield, has lovingly created 400 bespoke fabric support bags for patients undergoing cancer treatment. Made using rolls of unused and discontinued fabric, the support packages include 150 pamper bags, 150 cosmetic bags and 100 men’s bags – all bright, practical and thoughtfully designed to be reused long after treatment appointments.
Staff at Tibard volunteered their own time to design and sew the bags, adding special details such as love heart stitching to make each one feel personal. The women’s bags feature uplifting pastel colours and floral patterns with a matching zip pouch, while the men’s bags are finished in a simple grey and blue stripe for a more understated design.
The bags are being filled with essential comfort items thanks to months of fundraising by Mossley Cancer Committee. The group has worked hard to provide toiletries, hand creams and lip balms alongside other small but important items that can make a difficult day feel a little easier.
Adding a smile to each bag, New Mills-based company Swizzels has generously donated hundreds of packets of Love Hearts and Drumstick Squashies, giving each patient a sweet treat to help brighten up a tough time.
“We wanted to create something that felt kind, practical and respectful for people going through cancer treatment,” said Jennifer Hunt, Garment Technologist at Tibard Uniforms.
“From the first design ideas to our machinists adding the finishing touches, this has been a real team effort and we hope the bags bring a bit of comfort to those receiving them.” 
Emily Whelan, Charity Manager at Tameside & Glossop NHS Charity, praised the team spirit that made the project a success, saying, “We are incredibly proud to see local businesses and community groups coming together to make such a big impact for our patients living with cancer.
“This project is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when people work together with kindness at the heart of it and we know these bags will mean a great deal to patients at a very difficult time.”
The support bags will be given to cancer patients through Macmillan services at Tameside Hospital, helping replace traditional paper bags with something more private, comforting and reusable.
Sometimes it is the smallest gestures – a soft bag, a familiar sweet and a hand cream tucked inside – that can make the biggest difference.
