It's an amazing show of public support – and funds donated to NHS Charities Together have made a big difference to the health and well-being of staff at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT).
Hampshire Hospitals Charity, the dedicated charity of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, is a member of NHS Charities Together – a national organisation representing, supporting and championing NHS Charities.
Generous support from the public – including the amazing fundraising of Captain Sir Tom Moore who attracted £33million of public support – means the NHS Charities Together COVID-19 appeal has so far raised more than £140m nationally.
Hampshire Hospitals Charity has been utilising its first tranche of donations from the NHS Charities Together COVID-19 appeal for initiatives that enhance the health and well-being of its 6,000-plus workforce.
Malcolm Ace, chief financial officer of HHFT, said: “Thank you to everyone who has donated to NHS Charities Together during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Hampshire Hospitals Charity is proud to be a member of this national organisation, and we are delighted that we have so far been able to put more than £100,000 of donations to good use to enhance the well-being of our hard-working staff.
“We have been able to fund staff welfare initiatives in a number of ways, including during our Staff Focus Week in September, and all our staff have been given a HHFT water-bottle as a thank you and a permanent reminder of the extraordinary months we have lived through.”
NHS Charities Together grant funding has also enabled HHFT to enhance its ongoing programme of support for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) colleagues.
Katie Prichard-Thomas, HHFT associate director of nursing, added: “Thank you to NHS Charities Together for providing HHFT with vital funding support for these important initiatives, and we are grateful to everyone who has donated to NHS Charities Together.
“These donations have enabled us to fund the creation of Staff Wellness centres, where our staff can take much-needed breaks and have downtime during what has been the most challenging of times for NHS workers.
“We were delighted to distribute more than 6,000 water bottles to staff. These thank-you gifts can be used on a daily basis, and in all seasons. As well as helping staff to keep hydrated, they are sustainable and environmentally-friendly.”
Ellie Orton, NHS Charities Together chief executive, said: “Since launching our Covid-19 Appeal we have been overwhelmed by the public’s generosity and it’s fantastic to see all the ways NHS charities, up and down the country, are putting these funds to use supporting NHS staff, volunteers and patients at the centre of the crisis.”
Picture caption: Members of the Wessex Ward team at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital with thank-you water bottles that were given out in one of the many NHS Charities Together-funded initiatives to enhance health and well-being support for HHFT staff.
