East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) has thanked local people for their generosity after an appeal to raise funds to support its 10,000 staff and volunteers during COVID-19 topped £650,000.
Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity has received the money from both the public and from NHS Charities Together, while more than £200,000 worth of gifts in kind have also been donated since the pandemic began in March.
It has been spent on initiatives to boost emotional wellbeing, such as training staff as mental health first aiders so that they can support others and the roll out of ESNEFT’s new wellbeing hub, which offers a wide range of services to safeguard physical and mental health.
Heated and furnished marquees have also been installed at both Colchester and Ipswich hospitals to give staff more space away from clinical areas to enjoy their breaks. Further rest areas will be created at both sites in the new year.
Money has also been spent on around 80 individual projects, such as providing comfortable chairs, fridges and microwaves for staff rooms, creating new outdoor seating areas and purchasing artwork to brighten the corridors. The funding has been spread between all of ESNEFT’s sites, which includes its bases within the community.
In addition, all 10,000 members of staff, as well as everyone who volunteers at the Trust, has also been offered a festive voucher to spend in the hospital canteens or in local cafes as a thank you for their hard work and dedication during the past nine months.
Mandy Jordan, Associate Director of Charity and Voluntary Services, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated so generously to our COVID-19 staff wellbeing appeal, as well as to NHS Charities Together.
“We have been able to do a huge amount with the money, including funding lots of little projects which will make a big difference to our hard-working staff every single day.
“Helping to safeguard the emotional and physical wellbeing of everyone who works or volunteers at ESNEFT is also good news for those who rely on our services, as it means our staff can continue to do their very best for the patients in their care.”
Back to top