Words by Smiley Team
Providing charities with a financial buffer of £100K each, Barclays is helping frontline workers to support some of the most vulnerable people through the pandemic. Launched in April 2020, the bank invited 100 charities to its 100x100 UK Covid-19 Community Relief Fund. One of their latest beneficiaries is East Midlands end-of-life care service provider Treetops Hospice Care.
The funds will go partly towards the hospice’s team of roaming nurses and healthcare assistants. Every evening, these dedicated workers respond to calls from households with a relative in their care who is nearing the end of their life. The team carefully assists the family to administer medication, helps relieve pain and manages the patient’s symptoms.
Matt Ceiley, from Derby, is among those who’ve benefited from the hospice, who helped care for his late father. He said: “We couldn’t have managed without the Treetops nurses who were all so compassionate, professional and knowledgeable. It was so important and meant we could trust their night-time care, get some rest and be there with dad at the end.”
Treetops Hospice at Home Manager, Teresa Smith, added: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this significant funding for the roaming nurse service. Treetops is doing all it can to continue to support those in most need. The hospice welcomes donations to ensure the future of the hospice and its services.”
To help support those requiring end-of-life care donate to Treetops Hospice Care via their website.
Barclays created the Covid-19 Community Relief Fund to support 100 UK charity partners who help people in UK communities, including low-income families, people facing financial hardship, isolated elderly people and key workers.
Other charities to benefit from the package include Welsh anti-violence charity Bawso, homeless support charity Bethany Christian Trust, young people’s charity Break, and a selection of other organisations working to improve the lives of vulnerable people.
Barclays chairman Nigel Higgins said: “Covid-19 has created an unprecedented social and economic impact in the UK, with many experiencing greater hardship due to the crisis. Incredible charities, such as Treetops Hospice Care, have been playing a vital role in the UK’s response to the pandemic, ensuring urgent help reaches those most in need of support.
“As a bank, we have been doing all we can for our customers, clients and colleagues, and we hope that by partnering with Treetops and many other charities across the UK, collectively we can ensure that as many people as possible in the communities in which we live and work are supported through this crisis.”
Other companies wondering how to help charities throughout the pandemic can follow the example of others who have made similar commitments to Barclays, offering retail spaces to use as support centres, investing in the worst affected communities or by offering services for free.
