NHS Charities Together coronavirus appeal reaches £130m milestone

NHS Charities Together’s Covid-19 appeal has raised a total of £130m since it launched in March.

The total has been achieved due to a variety of creative fundraising initiatives by the organisation, including encouraging supporter-led donation appeals.

The funding announcement has been made ahead of the NHS’s birthday this Sunday. To mark the day NHS England and NHS Charities Together have linked up to ask people to clap for NHS workers at 5pm.

Among the most high profile fundraising initiatives for NHS Charities Together has been the appeal set up by Captain Tom Moore, who raised £32m after carrying out a sponsored walk around his garden to mark his 100th birthday.

On 5th July at 5pm we will be joining the whole country and ⁦@togethercoalit⁩ in saying #ThankYouTogether to all who have helped get us through the past few months. Together we can make it the biggest thank you ever!
👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/F2E358NQSC
— Captain Tom Moore (@captaintommoore) July 1, 2020

So far £30m has been distributed to NHS charities. The focus of further funding will be to support communities, NHS staff and patients recover from the long term effects of the pandemic.

“When we started the appeal, we never imagined we would hit a total like this in just a few months,” said NHS Charities Together chief executive Ellie Orton.

“On behalf of all our member charities and the NHS staff, volunteers and patients they support, I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has made that possible, your generosity is making such a difference.”

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevans added: “This year has been the most challenging in NHS history and our colleagues have gone to extraordinary lengths to care for all those who have needed it.

“But we haven’t done it alone, and the public’s support has been vital – whether raising money for added extras, volunteering in their local community, or simply staying home to stop infection spreading,” said Sir.

“So as we mark the NHS’s birthday this Sunday, I hope the nation will join health service staff in coming together to applaud the commitment, courage and sacrifice shown by so many people in so many ways over the last few months.”