Your Trust Charity has been given a cash boost of £150,723 to help staff and patients recover from the effects of the pandemic.
The money will be used by the registered charity of Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust to run five pilot projects that will enhance the mental health, wellbeing and physical recovery of healthcare workers and the community.
The Trust runs Sandwell, City and Rowley Regis Hospitals as well as Leasowes Intermediate Care Centre and a number of GP surgeries.
The windfall has come from NHS Charities Together and will be used to create a new volunteer befriending scheme for patients living with and beyond cancer.
Funding will also be used for an outdoor gym facility at City Hospital for staff, patients and the local community.
For staff in particular there will be a number of pop-up wellbeing hubs across the sites and specialist support clinics for those with musculoskeletal conditions.
An e-bike loan scheme will also be developed to encourage cycling to work.
Johnny Shah, Head of Your Trust Charity, said: “These projects will really support not only our patients and the community, but also our staff.
“The pandemic has really affected everyone over the past 15 months and so it is only fair that the money is spent on ways to improve the health and wellbeing of the people within Sandwell and West Birmingham.
“We are very grateful to NHS Charities Together for this generous amount.”
Caption: Members of the Cancer Services team who will soon be supported by volunteers thanks to an NHS Charities Together cash boost. (NB: Photograph taken before face masks made compulsory indoors.)