Publish date: 27 November 2025
Tameside and Glossop NHS Charity has been named one of seven national winners of The Great Community Refresh - a nationwide competition by British sweet maker Swizzels, launched to celebrate 70 years of its popular Refreshers brand.
The initiative attracted over 1,500 entries from individuals, charities, and organisations across the UK, all seeking funding to refresh community spaces and bring people together.
Tameside & Glossop NHS Charity supports staff, patients, and their families who receive care from Tameside Hospital and wider community services.
Thanks to the Swizzels grant, the charity has transformed the garden at ourTameside Macmillan Unit, a much-valued space used by patients undergoing cancer treatment and their loved ones. Previously in need of care and attention, the garden provides a place of reflection, comfort, and calm, and the funding has helped breathe new life into it.
The refresh includes new seating, vibrant flowers, and sensory planting to create a welcoming, uplifting sanctuary where patients and their families can relax and find peace during some of their most challenging moments.
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of around 250,000 people and is at the heart of this diverse and vibrant community. Our charity aims to enhance patient experiences, support NHS staff wellbeing, and fund initiatives that go above and beyond what NHS budgets alone can provide - from care packages and specialist equipment to mental health programmes and community outreach projects.
Emily Whelan, Charity Manager at Tameside & Glossop NHS Charity, said:
“We’re absolutely delighted to be one of the winners of The Great Community Refresh and so grateful to Swizzels for their support – this funding means so much to us and the people we 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 moments of calm during what is often one of the hardest times in their lives. Before the refresh, the garden wasn’t living up to its potential, but this grant has allowed us to transform it into a beautiful, welcoming sanctuary filled with vibrant flowers, sensory planting, and comfortable seating.
“For patients spending long hours here, for families waiting anxiously, and for staff supporting them every day, this change has made a real, lasting difference. We’re so grateful to Swizzels for helping us create a space that truly reflects the compassion and care at the heart of our community.”
Sarah-Louise Heslop, Head of Marketing at Swizzels, said:
“Tameside & Glossop NHS Charity’s entry really touched us. The work they do to support patients and families is incredible, and their vision to transform the Macmillan Unit garden into a brighter, more uplifting space truly embodies the spirit of The Great Community Refresh.
“As a business rooted in this community for nearly 100 years, we’re especially proud to support a project so close to home and to help create a sanctuary that will bring comfort and positivity to people during such difficult times.”
Launched earlier this year to celebrate 70 years of Refreshers, The Great Community Refresh attracted thousands of entries from across the UK. From Belfast to Dorset, communities came forward with inspiring ideas to refresh local spaces and projects. The seven winning projects range from wellbeing gardens and social spaces to inclusive activity hubs, all designed to bring people together and improve local lives.
