Thumbs up for the Staff Wellbeing store!

23rd November 2020

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Submitted by Danielle Kimberley, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust

The Staff Wellbeing store supported staff throughout the peak of the pandemic and had over 20,000 visits from staff during this time (14th April – 31st May). It was a way for the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust charity to distribute donations during this time, whether that was donations of Kit Kats from Mars or financial support funnelled into purchasing drinks and pot noodles to help provide staff with snacks during their long shifts.

This was managed by the volunteer manager Alison Davis but it was the team of additional members of staff including Nicky Gallagher and Viv Padfield that made the store a success. The store was opened seven days a week and each shift was supported by Trust volunteers who had been redeployed from their usual duties and new ‘Covid’ volunteers; to help restock, take names and oversee the operation of the store to ensure each shift runs as smoothly as possible. The store would average around 300 visits from staff a day.

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This team of volunteers demonstrated excellence and made a difference throughout the pandemic as they provided light relief and a nice treat for staff during some of their darkest days.

Providing a friendly face, a light hearted conversation and fundamental support, this store and the volunteers within it became something staff would look forward to day in, day out throughout the peak of the first wave.

In the absence of the RVS shop in the hospital and with the shortage of food, coupling with long queues across UK support markets, the store opened to support hard working staff so that they had one less worry, knowing they would be able to refuel each day at our store.

Staff told us that the store made them feel valued and appreciated and quite often they felt overwhelmed at the kindness of the local community. Whilst our volunteers and staff simply provided a fair and equal way to distribute donations, this initiative ensured that staff were able to get their fair share and that everyone had the opportunity to feel appreciated by national and local businesses and individual donations of support.


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