Page 3 - HGS Suburb News 143 - Summer 2020

HGSRA respond to Royal Free Charity

Covid-19 Emergency Fund Appeal SHELLEY-ANNE SALISBURY

any, many thanks to our Hospital staff which showed and spirit in wanting to help
M wonderful residents who graphically the massive logistical the workers: we had a massive
so generously supported the and personal challenges staff response to the appeal and,
HGS Residents Association’s faced in caring for patients together with the RA’s match
appeal to support workers at throughout the pandemic. We funding of £25,000 and gift
our local hospital and to help were constantly thanked for aid on many donations, we
them to cope with the huge our financial support and the are delighted to say that we
challenges of caring for Covid-19 difference it was making on raised around £65,000.
patients. Some of you may the ground. The volunteers who So, again, many thanks to
have seen the two-part BBC2 give their time to the RA were all those involved
documentary on the Royal Free staggered by the generosity EMMA HOWARD (CHAIR HGS RA)

The following has been written by
the Head of Community Fundraising ‘You Donate, We Deliver’ Suburb Hub
at the Royal Free Charity:
id your exercise walks during have time to cook for themselves, they were labelled and delivered
he Royal Free Charity supports
T staff and patients of the Royal D the Big Lockdown take you to eat properly during shift by volunteer drivers to hospitals
Free London NHS Foundation along Northway? If so, you will breaks or even to get food from throughout London. As the
their hospital canteens. These
surely have spotted a small white
weeks passed, local people
Trust which incorporates Barnet, marquee in front of one of the staff needed full meals, not just became aware of the project
Chase Farm and the Royal Free houses. This was the operations cakes and biscuits. Christina and the needs not only of
Hospitals.
Thanks to the generous hub of a truly remarkable volunteer and Debra started making and hospital staff but also of
packing meals but demand was
effort which ran throughout the
homeless people. So the hub
support of HGSRA supporting spring days of the Covid 19 crisis overwhelming and Debra started accepted donations of toiletries
the Emergency Fund Appeal in Many doctors and nurses supermarket for staff. This was into the first week of June – the looking for help from other local as well as food and Debra liaised
response to the Coronavirus were isolated from their loved filled with donated and bought
(Covid-19) pandemic, the Charity ones as they have vulnerable necessities and treats which saw HGS branch of ‘You Donate, We volunteers. She recruited friends with other local organisations
of friends and people who
such as food banks to ensure
Deliver’.
has been able to embrace the family members and so couldn’t 48,062 staff visits in the first Debra Goodman, the dynamic responded to an appeal on the that nothing was wasted.
huge challenge faced by The go home at the end of their shifts. seven weeks of operation. force behind the HGS initiative, Nextdoor site. She was over- Debra pays tribute to her
Royal Free NHS Heroes and to Donations from the HGSRA have The impact of all this support
help provide the support they enabled them to have respite was summed up by one nurse: had never volunteered before, whelmed by the positive response. family who tolerated the daily
let alone taken a key leadership ‘Everybody was frightened and
comings and goings in front of
said they needed. areas with internet access so “It makes me feel very special. We role in a major voluntary project. everybody wanted to help’, she their home as well as the
Working under extreme that they could see and speak to can’t tell you how much we appreciate
pressure in the most challenging their family. With the creation it. It feels like we are being Indeed, her original intentions says. The marquee in her front accumulation of food stuffs,
of circumstances, nurses and of 16 REST (Resilience and supported by the community.” were fairly modest: she just garden was donated by a local pallets and packaging.
couple who came round with it
wanted to do something to help
She also pays tribute to the
doctors on the wards and Emotional Support) areas along The Charity and Royal Free in the crisis. As the pandemic (and erected it) within half an broader ‘You Donate, We Deliver’
intensive care units, as well as with ‘wobble’ rooms, staff were NHS staff would like to extend a was developing in March and hour of Debra appealing for a volunteering network which
porters, cleaners and admin able to get one-to-one emotional huge “Thank you!” to all from
staff all played vital roles in the support. During the peak of HGSRA who donated so generously NHS staff were coming under gazebo to store donations. was established at speed in
intense pressure, Debra heard
Soon Debra found herself
March. At the height of the
fight against this deadly virus. Covid, 1,370 free hot meals were and supported Royal Free NHS that some friends of hers were engaged as a full time volunteer crisis the network had an army
To have the greatest impact, the provided every day helping staff in their hours of need. For the
Appeal focused on the areas of to keep up their energy levels NHS the journey continues as cooking and baking for their seven days a week; drawing up of amateur and professional
greatest immediate need: physical, and ensuring that they ate and they face an uncertain future own family members who are and managing cooking rotas and chefs, ten community hubs
ensuring donated or bought
(HGS was one) and 17 delivery
hospital staff. Debra promptly
emotional and psychological rested during long and intensive with this life-threatening disease ‘volunteered’ the help of her ingredients were available for drivers, and was delivering over
support for NHS staff to enable shifts caring for Covid patients. and the psychological effects daughter-in-law Christina who the volunteer cooks. 2,000 meals a day to front-line
them to cope and care in extreme For those who could go home which will be with many for
Debra also ensured that the
conditions wearing Personal the Royal Free recreation club years to come. is a Cordon Bleu chef. On a single cooks had guidance about hospital staff.
Debra is thinking now about
day, 130 muffins were made by
Protective Equipment (PPE). was transformed into a free DIANE RYAN
Christina, collected from Debra’s appropriate kitchen hygiene, how the good-will and expertise
home and distributed to portion sizes and the intricacies of her team of volunteers might
Making an from home hospitals for hard-pressed staff of cooking in large quantities. be used in the future. ‘People
on Covid wards.
Once prepared and packaged, love doing this and being part
As the crisis increased, more about 600 vegetarian meals a of a team’ she says with
ith care homes closing their More recently volunteers have
Wdoors and events being been entertaining disabled and more hospitals were asking day were delivered to the justifiable pride.
cancelled due to Covid, Project ImpACT volunteers wrote residents with online bingo and for help to feed staff who did not Northway hub, from where MARGARET HARRIS
ImpACT, an organisation set up vast amounts of letters to residents playing music for care homes.
to provide meaningful youth in care homes and isolated people, There were also interactive Combat Stress update
volunteering opportunities to with some writers even receiving sessions for each year group with
teenagers, had to adapt fast if it replies to their letters. A homework different speakers, whether it be ocal fundraising activities for brought on by the coronavirus till next year, but you can enjoy
was to continue engaging young support club was set up which on mental health for teens during L armed services veterans’ outbreak is making life even a virtual tour of the garden now
people to volunteer and support matched volunteers with primary Covid or hearing from doctors mental health charity Combat harder for the veterans. So, if by going to youtu.be/7iblsqf3_98,
those around them who needed school children who appreciated about the work they are doing. Stress are still on hold for the you would like to contribute to youtu.be/XJ2whXqJJuI and also
help during these difficult times. the focused attention on Zoom. It’s clearly been a busy few time being, but that doesn’t Combat Stress now (and they youtu.be/Dl-0Q8rMGGA.
As everyone was encouraged They also got involved in months at Project ImpACT and stop plans being made by Ruth really do need all the funding We have received some
to stay home, Project ImpACT’s numerous virtual bake-a-thons hopefully the volunteers will soon Smith and the Suburb’s Combat they can get asap to keep their wonderful clothes already, thank
slogan became ‘Making an which were particularly popular; be able to get back to doing Stress Committee for next year outreach programmes going), go you, but if you are clearing out
ImpACT from home’ as staff the delicious baked goodies were what they do best – volunteering to relieve you of your spare to combatstress.org.uk/emergency your cupboards and would like
thought creatively about keeping delivered to either NHS staff in in person. cash. Ideas in the pipeline for or call 01372 587151. Thank you. to give away your spare nearly-
GAD_Property_SuburbNews_137mm x 120mm_Layout 1 21/08/2020 00:18 Page 1
young people inspired. hospitals or workers in care homes. SHELLEY-ANNE SALISBURY 2021 are a clothes and book sale, Caroline and David Broome new clothes for Combat Stress,
catering for the 2021 HGS Art had planned an actual opening contact Ruth at ruthafsmith@
Fair, a screening of ‘The Military of their award-winning garden hotmail.com.
Wives Choir’ film and an open in Finchley in aid of Combat MARJORIE HARRIS
Press Officer, HGS Combat
Oliver Joseph, Solicitor garden. In the meantime, PTSD Stress on Sunday 2nd August. Stress Committee, 8455 6507
This will not now be possible
doesn’t stop and the isolation
Enticing portal to the Broome Garden
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