NHS Charities Together
NHS Charities Together are the national independent charity caring for the NHS and acts as collective voice for NHS charities as well as coordinating national fundraising efforts. Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, and thanks to the national outpouring of generosity and gratitude to our NHS across the country, NHS Charities Together received millions of pounds in donations, including the famous fundraising campaign of Captain Sir Tom Moore which alone raised over £30 million to support the NHS.
Cardiff & Vale Health Charity are one of over 230 NHS charities across the UK, who have since applied for and received grants from NHS Charities together to help us provide the extra support needed to care for our NHS staff, patients and community across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
As a result of receiving these grants, below is just an example of the many and varied projects Cardiff & Vale Health Charity have been able to support, some of which are still ongoing.
Ward Based Gyms Installed at Hafan Y Coed
During the Covid-19 pandemic, staff at Hafan Y Coed, a specialist mental health unit, at University Hospital Llandough, applied for funding from NHS Charities Together through Cardiff & Vale Health Charity to purchase ward based gym equipment.
Birthing Aids Purchased for the Midwifery Led Unit
Funding from NHS Charities Together supported Cardiff & Vale Health Charity to purchase birthing aids for the Midwifery Led Unit during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The items purchased included two Multitrac Birthing Systems and five Birthing Stools, both of which are designed to support and encourage women to adopt upright, mobile positions for labour and birth.
The Post of a Digital Inclusion Lead at the Recovery and Wellbeing College Extended
Cardiff & Vale Health Charity are delighted to be able to extend the funding to support this role by a further 2 years so that its positive impact can continue to support the staff and students at the Recovery and Wellbeing College.
Items Gifted to the Lung Function and Sleep Apnoea Department to Support their Drive through Service
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Lung Function and Sleep Apnoea Department’s Sleep Service was adapted to become a drive through service to reduce patient footfall in the hospital. Funding from NHS Charities Together provided several new items to support the comfort of staff and patients using the outdoor clinic.
Much Appreciated Items Funded to Multiple Departments through NHS Charities Together
A number of kitchen and wellbeing items were granted to departments across Cardiff and Vale UHB during the COVID-19 Pandemic through funding from NHS Charities Together to improve staff and patient experience.
Furnishing a Skype Room for Willow Ward during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Funding from NHS Charities Together made it possible for Cardiff & Vale Health Charity to support Willow Ward with their request to furnish a room that staff could use to make Skype calls, when appointments were adapted to take place online.
Items Provided to Improve Patient and Staff Wellbeing in the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Department
Funding from NHS Charities Together was granted through Cardiff & Vale Health Charity to fulfil a request from the Adult Speech and Language Therapy Department, to provide them with a number of items to support patient and staff wellbeing during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Six Fold Away Z-Beds Gifted to the Palliative Care Department
During the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Palliative Care Department requested six fold away z-beds through Cardiff & Vale Health Charity with funding from NHS Charities Together.
Refurbished Courtyard for the Community Nutrition and Dietetic Service
With funding from NHS Charities Together, Cardiff & Vale Health Charity have supported the refurbishment of the courtyard for the Community Nutrition and Dietetic Service at Riverside Health Centre.
Activity and Care Items Introduced to Multiple Wards by Natalie McCulloch through Funding from NHS Charities Together
Activities Co-Ordinator, Natalie McCulloch applied for funds through Cardiff & Vale Health Charity to introduce a range of care and activity items to improve the wellbeing of patients on East 8 and additional wards during the Covid-19 pandemic. Through monies from NHS Charities Together, Cardiff & Vale Health Charity were able to gift multiple new items to a number of wards, many of which are still being used and maintained now.
Purchases Across the Health Board to Allow Patients to Have a More Comfortable and Efficient Experience
Funding from NHS Charities Together has supported Cardiff & Vale Health Charity to purchase several new items across multiple Health Board Departments to contribute to a more comfortable and efficient experience for patients throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Wall Vinyl to Reflect our Superhero Health Board Staff
With funding from NHS Charities Together, the Arts for Health and Wellbeing Team at Cardiff & Vale Health Charity are delighted to commission a new wall vinyl with Grosvenor Interiors.
Ophelia Dos Santos Creates the Piece, My Grampy Mike
The Arts for Health and Wellbeing team commissioned Ophelia Dos Santos to produce a piece of art that celebrates diversity and inclusion within Cardiff, The Vale of Glamorgan and across Wales.
Colours of the NHS, Artwork by Clare Williams
This piece was commissioned as a result of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board inviting applications from artists and creative collaborators to work on projects that provide messages of support, respect and to reaffirm their commitment to continue to work with patients, staff and colleagues and provide support as part of their collective commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion for all.
Inclusion Artwork by Adele Pask
The Arts for Health and Wellbeing Programme, with funding from NHS Charities Together, is delighted to commission Artist Adele Pask to create artwork as a response to the Black Lives Matter Movement and as part of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board’s Inclusion Agenda.
Cardiff and Vale Health Inclusion Service is Adorned with Art
To improve the environment for patients visiting Cardiff and Vale Health Inclusion Service (CAVHIS) at Cardiff Royal Infirmary, the Arts for Health and Wellbeing Programme commissioned an array of artwork, some of which were kindly supported by monies provided by NHS Charities Together, to be put on display for all to see.
Dental Sterilisation and Disinfection Unit Staff Room Refurbished
The Dental Sterilisation and Disinfection Unit were granted a section of new furniture through funding from NHS Charities together to enhance the unit’s staff room.
Grow Well Furthers its Programme to Offer Patients Therapeutic Community Gardening Sessions
With funding from NHS Charities Together through Cardiff & Vale Health Charity, Grow Well was able to implement a two-year strategy to increase project capacity to support more local patients, further expand the garden sites and employ facilitators.
Supporting Staff to Make Better Working Environments
Cardiff & Vale Health Charity has recently supported Phoenix Community, an adult mental health rehabilitation unit in Cardiff, by providing new furniture for their staff room, helping to make a better working environment for staff.
Employment of a Digital Inclusion Lead at the Recovery and Wellbeing College
With the majority of courses unexpectedly having to be delivered online during the Covid-19 Pandemic, Cardiff & Vale Health Charity were able to grant the funds through NHS Charities Together for the collage to employ a Digital Inclusion Lead with a specific remit to co-produce training with Digital Community Wales for 6 Digital Peers to support people with mental health challenges who were digitally excluded at this time.
Outdoor Staff Havens for Cardiff and Vale UHB Staff
With funding from NHS Charities Together, Cardiff & Vale Health Charity have now been able to progress a project to create outdoor staff haven spaces at University Hospital of Wales, University Hospital Llandough, Cardiff Royal Infirmary, St David’s Hospital and Barry Hospital all with the purpose of enabling staff to access an outdoor environment to rest and reflect.
New Patient Experience Support Workers Recruited During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The Patient Experience Team were able to recruit more Patient Experience Support Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic to assist with facilitating virtual visiting, providing necessities and positive social interactions with patients.
Children Can Now Play Outside at Teddy Bear Nursery Thanks to Support From Cardiff & Vale Health Charity
Cardiff & Vale Health Charity has recently supported a bid for funds to help the Teddy Bear Nursery at University Hospital Llandough (UHL) with their garden project, linked with bringing the inside activities outside.
Drinking Water Bottle Refill Stations Installed Across 6 Locations
Water refill stations are now available at six locations across Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. St David’s Hospital and Barry Hospital were the first two locations to have the refill stations installed and have already refilled over 25,000 bottles between them!
Environment Improved for CAMHS Service Users
New decoration, furniture and accessories have been provided to CAMHS for their communal areas and therapy rooms to help facilitate a more relaxed, modern, safe and welcoming environment for all service users, their families and staff.
Making a Difference to Patients at St David’s Hospital with Funding for Garden Project
Elizabeth Ward, St David’s Hospital, made an application to Cardiff & Vale Health Charity for funding to help buy garden furniture, a storage shed and a gazebo for their garden, which they felt had the potential to be a wonderful space for their patients to go for some fresh air and to spend time with relatives/visitors.
Palliative Care Team Receive Funds to Make a Difference to End of Life Care
Through the Covid-19 Charitable Funds Application process, Cardiff & Vale Health Charity has recently supported several bids for the hospital palliative care team who requested equipment to help palliative patients who are in hospital.
Updated Tearoom Gives Time-Out for Staff Thanks to Cardiff & Vale Health Charity
Cardiff & Vale Health Charity supported a bid for funds from St. Mary’s Pharmaceutical Unit and Clinical Engineering for new furniture to improve their break/tearoom area that had not been re-decorated since they occupied the building 12 years ago.
Proudly Supporting Children’s Rights on Children’s Mental Health Week
Cardiff & Vale Health Charity was delighted to support, from Covid-19 funds, an animation specifically aimed at training staff about their legal and professional obligation of embedding Children’s Rights in to their practice. This will ensure children and young people are heard and treated as individuals.
Physiotherapy Equipment Loaned to Patients with Neurological Conditions
Cardiff & Vale Health Charity, supported by NHS Charities Together, has awarded funding to the Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Community Neurology Rehabilitation Services and Physiotherapy Neurology Outpatient Service, to deliver exercise equipment to patients with neurological conditions.
Funds to Help Those Adversely Affected by Covid-19
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 underrepresented backgrounds.