Patients and carers across the North East are benefiting from funding to improve services.
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust (CNTW), a leading provider of mental health and disability services, was awarded a grant from NHS Charities Together.
This grant is one of many thousands of awards made by NHS Charities Together thanks to its COVID-19 Urgent Appeal, which raised a massive £162 million.
The funding has been awarded to CNTW’s charity, which helps support people accessing mental health, learning disabilities and neuro-rehabilitation services by providing the extra things that can make a real difference.
The funding went towards eight different projects across the Trust, including Children and Young People’s Services.
Young people on Ferndene and Lotus wards were asked what they would like the money to be spent on.
Funding has gone towards a range of things from sports equipment and family fun days to gardening tools and improved dining areas.
One thing that has made a big impact on the service are sessional workers. A range of people have come in for sessions based on the young people’s interests. These have included pottery, bike mechanics and animal therapy.
Occupational Therapist Yvette Redwood said: “It’s been a real collaborative approach. The teams across Ferndene and Lotus have worked together to make the most of the funding.
“During the summer holidays our young people need to fill their time with meaningful activities. Having that structure helps them thrive.
“The range of activities has helped people express themselves and bring out their personalities. It has improved their self-worth, as well as their social skills and creativity.
“The funding has been fundamental to the service, the young people and their families.”
Sharon Brennan, Charity Communications and Marketing Manager said:” We’re delighted that this funding is helping our young people and their families thrive. The creative activities to sports and outdoor projects are making a real difference—boosting confidence, creativity, and wellbeing. We’re incredibly grateful to NHS Charities Together for making this possible.”
Feedback from patients has been positive.
One said: “I like that the gym has a lot of different equipment to help me reach my goals.”
Another said: “I really enjoyed the planetarium sessions.”
Another said: “It’s great to get new resources, especially for evenings and weekends.”
NHS Charities Together is the national independent charity caring for the NHS. It works with a network of NHS charities across the UK to help the NHS go further for staff and patients.