Several societies in the UK’s independent retail movement have worked together to raise nearly £50,000 for NHS Charities Together.
The initiative saw sold festive bouquets sold from stores, with £1 from each sale donated to the campaign.
Proceeds will go to NHS charities across the UK to support staff, volunteers and patients.
This could include providing hot meals and a place to rest for staff working long hours or specialised psychological support for those struggling with stress, trauma and separation from their loved ones.
Southern Co-op raised £10,390 – with some additional funds to be confirmed from its Starbucks franchise stores. Scotmid raised £5,000; Heart of England £1,896; Central England £13,944; Midcounties £11,332 and East of England £5,551.
The current total stands at £48,113.
Hannah Gallimore, corporate responsibility manager at the Central England, said: “Christmas is the time of goodwill to all and therefore we were delighted to be part of a campaign that supports our amazing NHS workers.
“They, like all frontline key workers, have worked around the clock all year during the pandemic to make sure there has been continued access to a range of vital and essential services.
“We knew our kind-hearted customers would be more than willing to continue to support them by picking up products in their local shop, a belief that was backed up by us being able to handover a donation of nearly £15,000.”
The national campaign, led by NHS Charities Together, encouraged people across the UK to ‘give to those who’ve given us everything’ by buying presents for each other that support the NHS.
The funds raised by the campaign will also be used to help vital partnerships outside hospitals, such as hospices, community healthcare and social care so they can provide care to patients, volunteers and staff outside of hospital.
