Helping the “hug your hospital” appeal
Golding Homes has provided funding to the Citizens Advice Medway Bureau’s ‘hug your hospital’ appeal which aims to provide support and special treats to NHS staff from Medway Foundation Trust.
The appeal focuses its efforts on supporting the health and wellbeing of clinical and non-clinical staff being hailed by the local community as “hospital heroes”. The NHS celebrated its 72nd birthday over the weekend, with buildings being lit up blue and people lining the streets to clap for NHS heroes.
Dan McDonald, Chief Executive Officer for Citizens Advice Medway, said: “These are difficult times for us all but none more so than for those NHS Nursing heroes on the frontline saving people’s lives. This appeal is not about money, it is about support, a virtual hug. A chance for the whole community to wrap their arms around our local hospital and react with goodwill and kindness when a request for help comes in. This could start with little things like pizzas, drinks and snacks to provide quick and easy refreshment for teams working in extraordinary circumstances.
It could be pamper and comfort packs to help nurses on a daily basis whilst on duties in their wards. Just imagine how great it would be to have a list of residents and companies willing to donate their time, expertise, services or items whenever needed.”
Speaking about the donation, Sue Chalkley, Interim Chief Executive of Golding Homes, said: “We are delighted that Golding Homes has been able to help by providing some funding for the Hug your Hospital appeal to use to support the amazing NHS heroes working at Medway Foundation Trust. During these challenging times it’s important we all work together to support those going the extra mile and we are pleased to have made a total of 11 grants from our community chest fund to really worthwhile local community projects and charities.”
Some of the treats delivered to frontline NHS staff over the past months include cakes, Easter eggs and food hampers.
On behalf of Medway Foundation Trust, Chief Executive, James Devine said: “We are so proud of our dedicated staff who are showing real resilience in helping us to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. Not only are they providing the best of care to those who most need it at this time, but many staff are away from their own families and working long hours in difficult circumstances, so they can be there for us all. The ‘HUG YOUR HOSPITAL’ appeal is a fantastic idea – support like this means a huge amount to our amazing staff.”