Donations made to support the NHS during the COVID 19 pandemic are reaching local communities across the county.

Eight local organisations are receiving a share of £534,639 allocated to Devon as part of the NHS Charities Together Community Partnership Grants Programme - formed as a result of NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Urgent Appeal launched in March 2020.

The Appeal has raised over £140 million, supported by the inspirational Captain Sir Tom Moore and thousands of others.

Grants issued to NHS charities throughout the pandemic have provided vital help to patients, staff and volunteers on the frontline at the most critical of times, including bereavement support for patients, counselling for staff, research into Long COVID, specialist equipment, and funding for thousands of emergency response volunteers.

£30 million has been set aside to fund projects that support effective partnerships between the NHS and its community partners. The aim of these grants is to improve the health for communities adversely affected by COVID-19 and to help alleviate pressure on frontline NHS services whilst it responds to the pandemic both now and as we recover.

Plymouth Hospitals Charity was nominated as lead charity for Devon and has been working closely with NHS Charities across the county to identify community partners. Eight community organisations have been successful in becoming Delivery Partners and will deliver a range of projects from September. The funding will support these projects for two years.

The Delivery Partners are Step One Charity, Living Options Devon, Torbay Community Development Trust, BASICS Devon, Devon Community Foundation, One Northern Devon, Rowcroft Hospice and Healthwatch Torbay & Engaging Communities South West. Volunteers will be a key part of delivering the projects and ensure support is available for people within their own communities.

Kevin Baber, Director of Strategy said: “It has been a privilege for our NHS charity to lead on this work with NHS Charities Together and the other five NHS Charities in Devon, to develop initiatives with the voluntary sector. The organisations chosen as Delivery Partners to receive this funding, are all supporting patients with projects ranging from improved hospital discharge pathways, expansion to the Hospice at Home service, emergency frontline community interventions and vaccination initiatives for isolated or vulnerable people or those disproportionally affected by Covid-19. We also wanted to offer support for mental health and well-being. We look forward to working collaboratively with all our partners over the next two years to develop long-lasting partnerships that will support the wider NHS and voluntary and community organisations in dealing with the impact of Covid-19”

For more information please visit: https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/nhsct-community-partnership-grants or email phcharityteam@nhs.net