People across the country have been showing their support for our NHS staff and key workers by applauding them from their windows, doorsteps and gardens at 8pm on Thursday evenings since the UK lockdown began.
Now, charities are getting behind the vital work of NHS staff and volunteers and are asking for a million people to turn their applause into cash donations to support healthcare workers.
The NHS Charities Together group incorporates 150 NHS charities and has appealed to the nation to make cash donations to help frontline workers in the fight against coronavirus. They are calling for at least 1m UK residents to follow their applause with a text to 70507, providing a message of support and a £5 donation.
The money raised will be used to provide practical support in the form of accommodation, travel and food to staff and volunteers of the NHS. Emotional support services, such as counselling, will also benefit from any donations to the appeal, and all individual supportive messages will be sent to local NHS charities and shared with the donor’s local hospital.
Ellie Orton, chief executive of NHS Charities Together, said: “Like everyone else I’ve been incredibly moved by the millions of us showing our public support for our health service over the last two Thursday evenings. I really hope #OneMillionClaps inspires those who can to give a donation that will make a real difference to the amazing staff and volunteers who are daily saving lives and battling against this horribly virus on our behalf.”
Orton continued: “Thousands of staff are risking their lives every day for us and many of them are now sick themselves or at breaking point. If we can raise £5 million tonight, it will go a long way to providing them and their families with the support they so desperately need.”
The campaign has the backing of celebrities including comedian and children’s author David Walliams, who has voiced a video alongside NHS staff to promote the appeal. The short film also features a version of the Queen hit ‘We Will Rock You’ with new lyrics ‘we say thank you’.
For the last three Thursdays, UK citizens, have participated in the ‘clap for our carers’ campaign in order to thank NHS staff for their dedicated service on the coronavirus frontline.
