Easter cheer delivered to young patients at Tameside Hospital

Young patients at Tameside Hospital were given a welcome boost this Easter, as Stagecoach Oldham partnered with Tesco to deliver hundreds of Easter eggs - accompanied by a special visit from the Easter Bunny.

The annual Easter egg drop-off, which took place on Thursday 2nd April, saw a brightly decorated Stagecoach bus pull up outside the hospital’s children’s ward, packed with chocolate donations. Staff from both organisations were joined by the Easter Bunny, who went from ward to ward meeting children and personally handing out eggs, creating a moment of joy for families spending the holiday in hospital.

A community effort led by Stagecoach

At the heart of the initiative is Chris Liddle, inspector at the Stagecoach Oldham depot, who has helped organise the event year after year. Speaking during the visit, he explained the motivation behind the tradition.

“We do this every year for all the children in Tameside and Royal Oldham hospitals, making sure that they all get plenty of Easter eggs, especially the children who are not able to go home during the Easter period.

“It’s so sad at some points, so we step in at Stagecoach, and I think we do a great job in making sure everybody gets the Easter treats.”

Chris also highlighted the extra effort that goes into making the day a success, often outside of working hours.

“I’ll do a 12-hour shift and then off I go, popping about getting Easter eggs, making sure the community all stick together. We just bring Stagecoach and the community together, I think.”

The event even has an extra touch of magic with the Easter Bunny making an appearance, something Chris says makes all the difference.

“And obviously, the Easter Bunny was on board as well, so you can’t beat that one,” he added.

When asked what he would like to see improved in the community, Chris kept his answer simple and heartfelt: “Just make sure everybody comes together. It’s all about community, making sure we do our thing, they do their thing, and that the children are all happy and have a good time at Easter.”

Tesco and customers step up

A major part of the initiative’s success comes from the generosity of Tesco stores and their customers.

Chris was quick to praise their contribution: “Stagecoach and Tesco have joined to do a joint operation. The drivers help as well, but mainly it’s Tesco. They’ve donated just short of 600 eggs this year, which is an absolutely amazing amount.”

Community champions Liz and Emma, representing Tesco Gorton and Droylsden, were present on the day to help deliver the donations and share in the experience.

Liz explained how the collections are organised: “We support Chris with Easter and Christmas at Tameside Hospital with a trolley at the front of store. Customers donate into the trolley, and we’re happy to come along and support Chris on the Easter bus and be part of today. We’re proud to do that.”

Emma reflected on what makes the event so meaningful: “It’ll be nice when we go in and see the children’s faces. When we’ve done it previously, they’ve really enjoyed it, so that’s probably the best thing.”

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Brightening a difficult time for patients

For the children receiving the Easter eggs, the visit offers a moment of happiness during what can be a challenging time. Hospital play specialist Vicky spoke about the importance of these gestures.

“Children are so poorly at the minute, and it’s nice for them to experience something positive,” she said. “With Chris coming in with Stagecoach, Tesco being involved, and the Easter Bunny coming, it’s going to make all the children’s day better. It’s going to make them so happy.”

She added that while being in hospital over Easter is far from ideal, events like this can make a real difference.

“Obviously, it’s not nice being in hospital, but it will hopefully make their experience a little bit better. They bring in lots of chocolate eggs for the children, which is going to cheer them up over the weekend.”

Play specialists like Vicky play a crucial role in supporting young patients and their families, helping them feel more at ease with treatments and creating a more welcoming, child-friendly environment within the hospital.

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A tradition that continues to grow

The Easter egg drop-off has become a much-anticipated annual tradition, not only for the children and families at Tameside Hospital but also for the staff and volunteers who make it happen.

From long shifts followed by late-night collections to supermarket trolleys filled by generous customers, the initiative represents the very best of community spirit. The sight of a bus full of Easter eggs arriving at the hospital, complete with a visit from the Easter Bunny, serves as a reminder that even small acts of kindness can have a big impact.