Patron of NHS Charities Together, HRH The Duke of Cambridge has spoken with Cardiff & Vale Health Charity, the official charity of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board about how NHS Charities Together Covid-19 funds has helped make a difference to patients and staff across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge became joint patrons of NHS Charities Together in December 2020.
Prince William spoke on the phone (on Tuesday 09 March 2021) to Simone Joslyn, Head of Arts and Cardiff & Vale Health Charity, about the Health Board and the Health Charity’s response to the Covid-19 effort by utilising NHS Charities Together funds.
Cardiff & Vale Health Charity received direct funding and successfully submitted bids for grants from NHS Charities Together, which has been spent on a number of initiatives aimed at improving both patient experiences and staff working environments such as:
- Partnership work with health and social care groups to increase engagement with BAME, traveller and LGBT communities
- Black Lives Matter art project
- Specialist equipment for women giving birth to make them more comfortable and make labour more effective
Simone, a mental health nurse, who is now the Head of Cardiff & Vale Health Charity and Arts Programme, leads the Our Orchard project. Our Orchard is a green field project which will provide a wellbeing space at University Hospital Llandough, including a bee garden, sculpture park, therapeutic allotment space, edible gardens and tree planting and is one of many Health Board projects that builds on our community partnerships including volunteers, working with probation service and engagement with local schools.
Simone said: “I was honoured to receive this call on behalf of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and have the opportunity to talk to the Duke of Cambridge about the important projects that funding from NHS Charities Together has allowed us to progress.
“Funding from NHS Charities Together has made a huge difference to our patients and staff and has allowed us to engage with and support areas of our community which have been most significantly impacted by Covid-19. We have been able to support various hard to reach groups and make a difference to the care they receive and also improve their patient experience.
“One area that has received this NHS Charities Together funding is our Elan Team. Midwives in the Elan Team care for women who require additional social support. The funds will help provide essential items for pregnant asylum seekers who are often disadvantaged and from BAME backgrounds.”