NHS fundraising success!

Patients and staff at NHS hospitals will benefit from a £17,808 funding boost, thanks to Lincolnshire Co-op colleagues and customers.

Lincolnshire Co-op started the fundraising campaign in May with a £3,000 donation to kickstart a weekend of rainbow-themed dressing up in its outlets and workplaces.

Customers were able to give at the till during the campaign and members of Lincolnshire Co-op were able to donate their dividend.

An online Virgin Money Giving page was also set up and contributors were entered into a prize draw to thank them.

The Society held a virtual fundraising quiz on YouTube in partnership with Lincs FM and The Lincolnite. It was hosted by Lincolnshire Co-op colleagues from food stores, pharmacies, funeral homes, post offices, travel branches and support services who’d volunteered to act as quizmasters.

Money raised for the charities will go towards extras that aren’t including in main NHS budgets, like research, staff and patient wellbeing, training and improving the hospital environment.

Here’s what each group will receive:

• United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Charitable Funds - £13,108.19
• The Health Tree Foundation (Northern Lincolnshire & Goole) - £2,866.88
• Sherwood Forest Hospitals Charity - £1,546.27
• Queen Elizabeth Hospital Trust (Kings Lynn), York Teaching Hospital Charity and WISHH Charity will benefit from the rest of the money raised.

And the charities are really grateful.

ULHT Director of Digital and Finance Paul Matthew said: “A massive thank you to Lincolnshire Co-op and everyone who has supported the Society.

"The United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust Charitable Funds has recently funded iPads so patients can keep in touch with their families, as well as other items to keep them entertained such as puzzle and colouring books. It has also supported NHS teams with wellbeing packages.

"Having such amazing support from our local community really does made a huge difference to morale."

The Health Tree Foundation works in partnership with the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Trust. The money raised will go towards buying interactive touch screen devices for dementia patients.

Foundation Community Champion Katie Hubbert said: “I can’t thank Lincolnshire Co-op and its customers enough, it really is amazing how communities come together to support each other.

“The money will help make a positive difference to our patients. The screens we will buy help in recalling and sharing events from the patient’s past, from listening to music, watching news reports of historical events or even playing games with our nursing staff."

Community Involvement Co-ordinator Joy Wilson said the team at Sherwood Forest Hospitals had been “overwhelmed by the kindness shown from individuals, groups and business at this a particularly difficult time for our organisation and the NHS.”