You may remember in 2020 we raised over £100,000 for NHS Charities Together. We wanted to do our bit to show support to the amazing NHS who work tirelessly to save lives. Here, we chat with Pam Green on how our donation benefited the health team across North Essex and Suffolk.
How we raised £100,000 for the NHS
In order to achieve our rather ambitious target, we donated £25 for every booking made with us from the beginning of April until the end of June 2020. We were absolutely delighted to reach our target in such a short amount of time and even more pleased that we were able to thank the NHS for their extraordinary work during such an incredibly tough time.
How the NHS benefited
“When the very generous donation from ROL Cruise was received, we wanted to use it to thank our staff for all the hard work and dedication they have shown during the very difficult times of the pandemic,” Pam Green, NEECCG Chief Operating Officer told us. “We were also aware that many staff may be working from home and missing that sense of connection with the organisation and we wanted to remind staff that they are our most valuable asset and help them to feel appreciated.
“You will remember that the intention of the donation was to reach out to the health and social care workers within the North East Essex Alliance (a collection of health, voluntary sector and social care providers and commissioners working in partnership to improve the health and wellbeing of the local population). The pandemic shined a light on the isolation of some residential care home staff from the rest of the system and the Wellbeing Boxes served to support the connection and inclusion of the care home staff with the wider system staff which was invaluable at such a stressful and demanding time.
“We chose to focus on the theme of well-being and self-care for the boxes, recognising that when we are busy, this is one element that can’t be overlooked. So, using local suppliers, we sourced gifts that encouraged staff to take a break and reconnect. The Alliance Wellbeing Boxes arriving at employees' homes allowed a physical and ongoing connection in a time when there was a lot of disconnection. The staff were grateful for these gifts and the recognition they received.
“We would like to take this opportunity to pass on our sincere thanks to ROL Cruise again for their generosity. Your donation came at a time when many felt so tired and exhausted it made such a difference.”
What the recipients thought
“We were delighted to get these little bundles! At a time when all the focus (rightly) was on our residents, it was heartwarming to know that there were outside organisations and individuals who cared about us, both as people and as front-line workers.” - Margaret Brodie, Activities Co-Ordinator, The Oaks Care Home
“A lovely surprise and so uplifting! The wellness tips were sent, and continue to be sent, to the team as well as family and friends. A very big thank you to the CCG for their thoughtfulness and to the sponsor for their kind generosity. This helped us to feel appreciated at such a difficult time in the NHS.” - Dr Soares, GP
“We’re a small home in a big town, so to receive these lovely items made such a difference. To know that we hadn’t been forgotten meant so much to us all. Feeling inclusive in any community is a vital part of care home living and this certainly made us feel a part of something bigger.” - Trudi Snee, Registered Manager, Milton Lodge Care Home
But really, the thanks lie with us. We are so proud to support the NHS and would like to thank every staff member and volunteer wholeheartedly for working tirelessly every single day.
#ThankYouNHS
