FROM THE WEBSITE: NHS Charities Together is a collective experience representing, supporting and championing the work of the NHS’ official charities. NHS Charities give £1 million a day to the NHS, providing vital funds to help the NHS do more. Through NHS Charities Together member charities collaborate on nationwide fundraising and advocacy campaigns, such as celebrating the NHS Birthday every year on 5th July with the NHS Big Tea.
NHS Charities Together also provides specialist advice and guidance to our members through visits, and one to one support via email and phone calls. Our bespoke conferences and training days cover the most relevant issues and development needs for NHS Charities, as well as providing ample opportunities for networking and mutual support. Members also have access to online resources and support through the exclusive members area on our website.
NHS Charities Together also provide the National voice for NHS Charities, champion key projects and themes that best enhance patient care and experience, and the impact NHS Charity funds make.
INFORMATION:
– The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge became Patrons on December 07,2020.
– This is the Duke and Duchess’s first joint patronage since The Royal Foundation.
QUOTES:
“The involvement of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will inspire the public even more to support the amazing NHS staff and volunteers who have done so much to keep us safe and well this year. We can’t wait to start working with the Duke and Duchess, the potential is so exciting.” – Chair of NHS Charities Together Ian Lush
“It means so much to NHS staff that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge could visit the team in East Lancashire today (January 20, 2022) to hear their experiences and see first-hand how support from the public through NHS charities makes such a difference. Sadly the pressures facing the NHS aren’t going away any time soon, so it’s vital that we continue to be there to support the mental health and wellbeing of NHS, so they are able to face whatever challenges are ahead. We are so grateful to our Royal Patrons for helping to shine a light on this issue and supporting the incredible NHS workforce.” – Ellie Orton OBE, Chief Executive for NHS Charities Together
“I am delighted to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Clitheroe Community Hospital. The visit will provide a huge boost to the entire team at a time when colleagues are feeling exhausted from our ongoing and relentless response to Covid and indeed the very difficult challenges linked to the Omicron variant…” – Professor Eileen Fairhurst, Chairman of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, January 20, 2022
EFFORTS:
July 05, 2020 – Visiting Queen Elizabeth Hospital – The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge made a special visit to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn to mark the 72nd birthday of the NHS in Norfolk, England. During their visit, they attended a tea party to thank and celebrate frontline workers who have shown outstanding dedication and made personal sacrifices to care for patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Duke and Duchess had the opportunity to meet and speak with members of Team QEH, including Suzie Vaughan, an Operating Department Practitioner who spent nine weeks apart from her children. Suzie’s reunion video with her daughters became a social media phenomenon with over 2.5 million views. The Duke and Duchess also met with staff across the Trust who have cared for over 450 COVID-19 patients in the first few months of the pandemic, with 291 being discharged from QEH. Suzie expressed her gratitude for the recognition of the hard work and compassion that everyone has put in to keep patients safe during these trying times. “…the past three months have been exhausting physically and emotionally and The Duke and Duchess’s visit is a recognition of the hard work and compassion that everybody has put in to keep our patients safe…”
December 07, 2020 – Royal Train Tour – England – Scotland – Set 1 – Day 2 – On the day it was announced that The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would become joint patrons of the organization the couple visited The Scottish Ambulance Service who had received some funding during the COVID pandemic. The visit came during the couple’s Royal Train Tour which aimed to “celebrate community spirit and demonstrate the impact of the public’s generosity this year by showcasing organisations and initiatives that have been supported by community relief funds” During the visit William and Catherine spoke to paramedics and learned that the Scottish Ambulance Service spent their funds on indoor and outdoor wellbeing spaces for staff and wellbeing packs with information booklets and reusable water bottles.
December 08, 2020 – Royal Train Tour – England – Wales – Set 1 – Day 3 – The Royal Train Tour of the UK continued with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visiting the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. The hospital holds a special place in the Duchess of Cambridge’s heart, as she was born there. Graham Sims, Chairman of Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, welcomed the Royal couple, who greeted the Duchess by saying, “Welcome back.” Prince William had also been treated at the hospital when he was hurt at Ludgrove, a prep school, and was visited by Prince Charles and Princess Diana. During the visit, the Duke and Duchess met with nurses and midwives from the trust’s team. They were shown a special badge designed by lead nurse Rafael Fernandes and funded by NHS Charities Together to commemorate the 2020 Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Furthermore, the Duchess’s mother, Carole Middleton, had donated goody bags to children at the hospital earlier this year.
May 26, 2021 – Royal Visit: Scotland – Day 3 – Set 3 – Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, hosted a special screening of Disney’s Cruella at the Palace of Holyroodhouse to pay tribute to NHS staff in Scotland for their incredible efforts throughout the pandemic. The event was a drive-in cinema where guests from the NHS workforce in Scotland were invited to attend, nominated by NHS Charities Together’s member charities and their associated Health Boards. The Duchess delivered a speech to express her gratitude for their dedication, commitment, and personal sacrifice. The Duke and Duchess arrived in a 1966 2A Land Rover, which was loaned to them by Her Majesty The Queen for the evening, and was parked alongside NHS staff in the forecourt of the Palace of Holyroodhouse to meet several guests ahead of the screening. The NHS Charities Together shared a special film version of Rag’n’Bone Man and P! nk’s performance of ‘Anywhere Away From Here’ at the BRIT Awards to show the incredible journey traveled by NHS staff and the British public during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the support provided by the charity to NHS staff and patients.
December 08, 2021 – “Together At Christmas” Community Carol Service – The Duchess of Cambridge brings the nation together for carols performed by the world-renowned Westminster Abbey choir alongside readings and musical performances by a variety of guests, blending traditional elements with a modern and inclusive feel to encompass people of all faiths and none. The event brought together inspirational individuals from across the UK who have gone above and beyond to care for and protect those in need during the pandemic. They were joined by those working in some of the key areas that Her Royal Highness and The Royal Foundation continue to focus on, including promoting the importance of mental health, supporting families and driving awareness of and action on the extraordinary impact of the early years. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge invited guests and representatives from their 32 charities and patronages, including NHS Charities Together.
January 20, 2022 – The Cambridges Visit Clitheroe Community Hospital – In their role as Joint Patrons for NHS Charities Together, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge heard how a grant from NHS Charities Together supported the hospital. Their Royal Highnesses spoke to general practitioners, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who work across the community. The couple also spoke with patients soon to be discharged. The visit from the Duke and Duchess offered a morale boost as East Lancashire has been one of the areas worst affected by Covid-19. Two-thirds of the staff say the pandemic has harmed their mental health – and many report depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress. With the Covid-19 Urgent Appeal, NHS Charities Together was able to allocate over £300,000 to the Trust’s charity, EHLT&Me, to fund a range of staff wellbeing projects. Including a new therapy dog, Alfie, staff wellbeing rooms, and equipment and infrastructure for the Trust’s staff wellbeing team.
July 05, 2023 – NHS Big Tea Party – The Prince and Princess of Wales surprised NHS staff and patients from across the UK with a very special NHS Big Tea party. They even arrived early to help lay the tables and put the finishing touches on a beautiful birthday cake. The event actually took place in May, and it was truly wonderful. It’s heartwarming to see how much care and support the royal couple has for the NHS. They have been Patrons of the NHS since 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the event, The Prince and Princess had the chance to meet with guests, discuss current challenges, and personally thank staff for the amazing work they continue to do. It’s fantastic to see such a powerful and influential couple showing their support for the NHS and recognizing the invaluable contributions of the staff. You can view our page highlighting Catherine’s work with the charity.
