12:00, 12 January 2021
Words by Smiley Team, Staff Writer, London
With Covid-19 spreading in the UK and the numbers of hospital cases still rising, companies are stepping forward to assist in the struggle to contain the virus. A recent example is the John Lewis Partnership, which is offering their unused stores and facilities as vaccination centres to help carry out the largest national vaccination programme ever undertaken by the NHS to defend the population from Covid-19.
The company’s first offer of space comes from its supermarket chain, Waitrose, who joined forces with Bracknell and Ascot health services to open up extra space for the vaccination programme.
For the next six months, Waitrose has donated the use of its sports and leisure centre at its head office in Willoughby Road, Bracknell, to vaccinate the local community.
The leisure centre is normally used by Waitrose workers in their free time but has been closed since the start of the pandemic to meet the lockdown regulations and ensure employees keep to social distancing measures.
Fiona Slevin Brown, managing director for Bracknell Forest and Covid-19 vaccinator, said: “On behalf of my colleagues in the NHS, I would like to personally thank Waitrose for their kind donation which has allowed us to kick-start the roll-out of our Covid-19 vaccination programme in the community.”
This isn’t the first move from The John Lewis Partnership to help tackle the pandemic. Their Christmas advertising campaign raised millions of pounds for charities helping those hit hardest by the lockdown.
Andrew Murphy, their executive director for operations, said: “The John Lewis Partnership was founded on kindness and equality for all and this is just a small example of us helping the national effort against Covid-19.”
The chain of clothing and food stores is only one of many companies stepping up to help in the struggle against Covid-19. Other businesses are assisting by offering their service for free or donating to charities working to support people who are struggling financially or vulnerable to the virus.
Any businesses that have survived or even profited throughout the pandemic can also make a difference by aiding the teams of people across the country working hard to stop Covid-19 and lessen its toll.
