Words by Smiley Team
Since the start of the pandemic, NHS staff have saved the lives of thousands of people, working on the frontline while many of us were told to stay home. It’s been an incredibly tough time for them – and one woman was determined to support them in any way she could.
Rebecca Broad set up a community project called PamperAid in early 2020, when she was put on furlough from her full-time job and felt the need to give back to the NHS in some way. She came up with the idea of ‘NHS pamper boxes’ – boxes full of treats to support the wellbeing and self-care of people working on the frontline.
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“Like many people, I couldn’t quite believe what was unfolding with the pandemic, I saw how brave our NHS were all being by taking on Covid-19 and I just wanted to help in some way,” Rebecca tells Smiley News.
She reached out to businesses across the UK asking for their support in pampering the NHS and was overwhelmed with the response. Businesses donated thousands of items that Rebecca was able to put together into boxes and distribute to local NHS hospitals. 100 local pamper boxes turned into 1000 for NHS hospitals, hospices, GP surgeries and walk-in centres across the UK, from London to Ireland.
“It just grew and grew which was incredible and we ended up with around £60,000 worth of product donations from brands and businesses across the UK,” says Rebecca. “We were able to pamper NHS teams across the UK.”
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Rebecca says they’ll continue to support the NHS as pressures still remain, with some workers struggling with trauma and mental health issues from working on the front line in the height of the pandemic.
Their next project is in September, where they’ll be doing another incredible NHS Pamperaid box drop to hospitals in Kent, London and Essex.
“We are so lucky to have some volunteers on the day delivering these boxes to hospitals,” says Rebecca. “If you wanted to be apart of this project in September with donations in boxes do let me know and we can have a chin wag! If you also have any questions about the project please ask away.”
