The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall today give their enthusiastic backing to the Daily Mail’s hospital volunteering campaign.
In a rare joint statement, Charles and Camilla hail the initiative as an outstanding example of the British ‘spirit’ that will make a ‘real difference’ to people’s lives.
The royal endorsement came as the number of readers who have signed up to the volunteer drive last night passed the 25,000 mark.
This means that the time pledged so far will give the health service more than 1.4million hours of additional, voluntary support from ordinary people next year.
Tribute: Charles and Camilla spoke of the ‘incredible impact of volunteers’
Paying tribute to the UK’s ‘long and proud history of volunteering’, Charles and Camilla praise the ‘many wonderful, selfless people’ willing to give their time to help others.
And they say volunteers have an ‘incredible impact’ on the NHS, providing vital support to ‘one of our most cherished institutions’.
The Mail’s campaign, in conjunction with the charity Helpforce, has generated an extraordinary public response since its launch earlier this month. Readers have been asked to volunteer to help at a hospital for either three hours a week, or one eight-hour day a month, for a minimum of six months. Those who pledge their time are being matched with a local NHS trust to fulfil one of hundreds of possible volunteer roles, from patient befrienders to hospital guides. The placements are due to start in the spring.
In their statement, Charles and Camilla predict the Mail’s campaign will make a difference for ‘years to come’. Charles has long supported volunteering, even personally helping with Her Majesty’s coastguard while at school in Scotland.
In their statement, Charles and Camilla predict the Mail’s campaign will make a difference for ‘years to come’
As well as his work with the Prince’s Trust, Charles is also patron of the youth charities Step Up To Serve and Youth United.
Charles and Camilla say today: ‘The National Health Service is one of our most cherished institutions, providing care and support for those who need it whatever their circumstances and wherever they may be.
‘As my wife and I travel around the country, we often have the opportunity to visit hospitals and to meet the dedicated staff who make this great institution what it is.
The Mail’s campaign, in conjunction with the charity Helpforce, has generated an extraordinary public response since its launch earlier this month
‘We also hear, at first hand, of the incredible impact that volunteers have on the organisation through the support that they give to front line staff. Indeed my own organisations, Step Up To Serve and Youth United, are both already involved in NHS volunteering programmes so I am well aware of the difference such work can make.’
The statement continues: ‘We are a nation that has a long and proud history of volunteering, and my wife and I are constantly struck by the dedication of so many wonderful, selfless people who are giving such service in this country. This newspaper’s Helpforce campaign is another example of that spirit and that service to the people of the United Kingdom.
‘Its success will make a real difference to so many people’s lives in the months and years to come.’
Experts have warned that Britain’s ageing population, and the growing complexities in healthcare, mean volunteering has an increasingly vital role to play in supporting the NHS and freeing up professional staff to do the work they need to do.
The initiative has been backed by healthcare leaders, unions and politicians since its launch on December 1. Officials have confirmed it will form a key part of NHS England’s imminent Long Term Plan, with proposals to double the current helpforce over the next three years.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has also announced plans to make it easier for the public to get involved in volunteering. He is championing a scheme to bring in ‘volunteer passports’ to slash bureaucracy and speed up the process of registering as a helper, which currently takes between three and six months.
The passports, being built as a smartphone app, aim to condense this down to a month.
It will also enable those helping in hospitals to work in another part of the NHS without having to register again. Theresa May lauded the campaign as ‘fantastic’ while Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby praised volunteers for providing a ‘shoulder to cry on’ during times of need.
The campaign has also won the hearts of stars such as JK Rowling, Sir Tom Jones, Sir Cliff Richard, Joanna Lumley, Kate Garraway, Simon Cowell, Spice Girl Geri Horner and Davina McCall. So far, volunteer numbers in the NHS have swelled by a third, to more than 100,000. Helpers will be asked to perform a huge variety of hospital roles, from playing games with children with cancer or ferrying patients to appointments.
Last night, 25,409 readers had signed up to help patients in their area in just three weeks since the campaign was launched.
Sir Thomas Hughes-Hallett, founder of Helpforce, hailed the total as ‘another incredible milestone’.
He said it would be some comfort to the thousands of NHS staff working tirelessly over the festive period.
He added: ‘As many of us break for Christmas, we should reflect on how many NHS staff will be working to keep our friends and our families safe. Let’s all make a resolution to help them next year by joining the incredible 25,000 who have already pledged to the Daily Mail’s wonderful Hospital Helpforce campaign.
‘A huge thank you and season’s greetings to everyone who has already joined already. May the force be with you.’
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/22/prince-charles-and-camilla-back-the-daily-mails-volunteering-campaign/
Main photo article The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall today give their enthusiastic backing to the Daily Mail’s hospital volunteering campaign.
In a rare joint statement, Charles and Camilla hail the initiative as an outstanding example of the British ‘spirit’ that will make a ‘real difference’ to people’s...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/21/21/7717636-6521435-image-m-6_1545426744871.jpg
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