This weekend marks the 72nd anniversary of the NHS. Last night we lit up Scottish Government buildings in blue to mark the occasion. Join us in clapping to show our support for our staff across health and social care at 5pm today #NHSScot72
PM Boris Johnson said: This year has seen the NHS gallantly respond to the greatest challenge it has ever faced and rightly receive unprecedented support.
Week after week, we saw people take to their doorsteps, line the streets, lean precariously out of rainbow-bedecked windows to clap their hands and bang their saucepans to show their appreciation.
I am proud to be once again clapping for our heroic NHS staff, alongside Anne-Marie Plas who launched this inspirational initiative.
I am also celebrating today with staff from St Thomas’ Hospital who, quite simply, saved my life.
As we mark seventy-two years of the NHS, I want to say how thankful I am of this world leading institution.
As Prime Minister, I have given the NHS a £34 billion funding increase, the biggest in decades, and made sure it has every penny it needs to cope with coronavirus.
I’m immensely proud that the organisation built by Beveridge, Bevan, Willink, Godber, and so many others, has grown into the spritely seventy-two year old we see today.
And Royal approval:
Happy 72nd Bithday, NHS: you’ve never been more needed.
During this pandemic, children are more at risk of sexual harm than ever. They may be isolated from traditional support networks, and exposed to greater risks online or in their own homes meaning that abuse could go undetected.
Generous customers at the stores in Edinburgh have already raised over £42,000** for NHS Charities Together during this unprecedented time through a range of fundraising activity
A new in-store rainbow display will update customers on their fundraising total each week throughout the summer
This weekend, colleagues and customers at M&S stores in Edinburgh will be taking part in the one-off Clap for Carers to mark the 72nd birthday of the NHS, supported by the founder of the initiative and NHS England boss Sir Simon Stevens.
Ahead of the weekend, teams at stores in Edinburgh have installed a new display to share with customers just how generous the local community has been during this unprecedented time.
The in-store display (above) shows how much M&S customers at stores in Edinburgh have donated through a range of activity including shopping M&S’s Rainbow sale (where 10% of each purchase is donated to NHS Charities Together), buying the limited edition NHS Charities Together Bag for Life in the Edinburgh Foodhalls, purchasing M&S’s All in This Together T-shirts (pictured on Holly Willoughby and son below) and making one-off donations at the till points.
This fundraising total is already over £42,000.
Customers can continue to get involved in lots of ways including selecting NHS Charities Together as their Sparks charity (M&S’s loyalty scheme) meaning M&S donates on their behalf every time they shop in any store or online.
M&S Edinburgh Princes Street Store Manager, Jenny Mcpartlin and her team will be updating the accumulator each Monday.
Jenny said: “The past few months have been challenging for all of us, but one thing that’s been amazing is seeing people rally together. We’re very proud that our community has already helped raise over £42,000 for a really important cause that will provide vital support to NHS staff, volunteers, and patients.
“Clothes shopping is different now and as customers are coming back and starting to shop with confidence it’s really lovely that the first thing they’ll see when they enter our stop is a display that shows the generosity and kindness of the local community.”
Ellie Orton, CEO, NHS Charities Together said,““I can’t thank M&S customers enough, the money you have raised is making a huge difference for the NHS staff and volunteers who have been there for all of us during the Covid crisis.
“I’d urge all of you to come together with friends, family and neighbours for a moment of thanks on 5 July, so we can show appreciation for everyone who has been there for others over the last few challenging months.”
Environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful has joined forces with Costa and McDonald’s to encourage their customers to help prevent lockdown litter by doing the right thing and putting takeaway rubbish in a bin or taking it home.
With a wave of non-food retailers going into administration and announcing significant job losses the government needs to act quickly and strategically to shore up the long-term prospects of the sector, say leading tax and advisory firm Blick Rothenberg.
