WISHH Charity pays tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore

Communications TeamNews

The nation said a very fond farewell to Captain Sir Tom Moore on Saturday, who raised £32.8m for NHS Charities Together.

In tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore, and all those who donated or fundraised themselves as part of NHS Charities Together’s COVID Appeal, Hull Hospitals official charity WISHH, shares how grants have supported NHS patients, staff and volunteers at both Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital.

  • The WISHH Charity has received £200,000 to date from NHS Charities Together’s COVID-19 Appeal. These grants have already and will continue to provide a range of staff welfare projects.
  • Captain Sir Tom Moore became a Guinness World Record holder after raising £32.8m (£39.3m with Gift Aid) for NHS Charities Together’s Covid-19 Appeal.  The most money raised by an individual by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday and inspiring a nation.

The funding WISHH has received has meant the Charity has been able to support the health and wellbeing of hospital staff across the Trust enhancing staffrooms with new furniture, fridges and microwaves.  Sanctuary rooms have been introduced, and boxes containing distraction and relaxation items as well as support information for ward staff.

One of the Charity’s largest legacy projects has been part funded by NHS Charities Together; a long term Health Wellbeing Facility at Castle Hill Hospital, which is due to open late spring 2021.  The facility will provide hospital staff and volunteers, both during and outside working hours, dedicated areas for staff to unwind and relax. The area will also contain space for activities such as Pilates or yoga which aid staff in their recuperation and recovery.

Hospital staff and volunteers will be able to use the space in any formal or informal way to help them cope with their experiences of Covid-19, to maintain their physical and psychological wellbeing and for general relaxation purposes.   The physical and emotional strain of working through the Covid-19 pandemic reinforced the need for this a facility.

Numerous outdoor areas have also been created enabling staff to stay safe and take socially distanced breaks.

To support patients’ and help them keep in touch with loved ones during the pandemic, additional iPads have been provided.  Wards are being brightened with artworks, and furniture for a complex disability ward to provide furniture for an assessment flat and dining room.

Funding provided has also enabled enhanced bereavement support services to be provided.

Sue Lockwood, Chair of the WISHH Charity said, “As the nation said a fond farewell to Captain Sir Tom Moore, his remarkable achievements and that of our supporting fundraisers have helped WISHH create a local legacy across Hull Hospitals.  Our community has relied heavily on NHS staff and never more so than throughout this pandemic. We have worked closely with Hull Royal Infirmary and Castle Hill Hospital to identify how WISHH could help support staff and patients with funds raised during and beyond the COVID 19 crisis.

“We are immensely grateful to Captain Sir Tom Moore, NHS Charities Together for this support and to our local fundraisers helping us to make a difference to the outstanding people who provide our care.”

Ellie Orton, Chief Executive for NHS Charities Together, said:
“Captain Sir Tom Moore was a complete inspiration to us all and his memory lives on through the incredible programmes NHS charities have been able to fund. Thanks to his efforts, funds have reached the length and breadth of the UK through every one of our 241 member charities, and they have made a huge difference on the ground, both to address the immediate needs of patients and staff and to support the longer-term recovery of the NHS. His legacy will live on through the work of the Captain Tom Foundation.”

The support of NHS charities will be crucial in the years ahead as the health service recovers from the most challenging period in its history.

NHS Charities Together is the national charity caring for the NHS. It helps provide additional support to patients, NHS staff and volunteers, working through its 241 member charities based with hospitals, ambulance trusts, community health trusts, mental health trusts and health boards across the UK.

In total NHS Charities Together’s COVID-19 Appeal raised £150 million thanks to the support from Captain Sir Tom and others. Over £118 million has already been made available to our 241 member charities to help patients, staff and volunteers on the ground.

For further information on the WISHH Charity;

For more information about NHS Charities Together visit www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk

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