Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity is encouraging anyone who would like to say thank you to staff at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) to consider supporting its Coronavirus (COVID-19) Staff Wellbeing Appeal.
The charity is reminding anyone who would like to say thank you that donating money or fundraising are the safest and most effective ways to show their gratitude. Anything raised through the appeal will then be used to safeguard the physical and emotional health of ESNEFT’s teams during the pandemic.
The charity is asking for financial support because it is currently unable to accept physical donations to prevent the spread of infection.
Mandy Jordan, Associate Director of Charity and Voluntary Services, said: “We are incredibly grateful for all of the fantastic support we have received so far, and would like to thank everyone who has donated so generously to our Coronavirus (COVID-19) Staff Wellbeing Appeal.
“We are continuing to receive lots of enquiries from people who would like to help our staff, while some are offering us items such as food, toiletries and PPE. Unfortunately, we are having to turn these kind offers down as we not able to accept physical donations at the moment because of infection control.
“We’re therefore reminding the public that the safest and most effective way to continue supporting our staff is by donating online or fundraising for us – which you can do from home while keeping yourself and your family safe.
“All of the donations we receive will be used to fund projects which will make a big difference to our hard-working staff so that they can continue to do their very best for the patients in our care.”
So far, money raised through the appeal has been spent training staff as mental health first aiders so that they can support others, and on heated and furnished marquees to give staff more space away from clinical areas to enjoy their breaks.
Comfortable chairs, fridges and microwaves for staff rooms have also been provided, while new outdoor seating areas have been created and artwork purchased to brighten the corridors.
Over the coming months, permanent indoor and outdoor oasis spaces will be created at both Colchester and Ipswich hospitals using money donated through the appeal, while new walking, cycling and running initiatives will also be launched in the spring.
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