Warwickshire businesses have come together to support frontline NHS workers and provide crucial necessities for their communities.
Members of Shakespeare’s England, the DMO for South Warwickshire, have been working to support key workers, NHS staff and vulnerable people with donations of surplus food, drinks and free treats.
Johnsons Coaches have donated all Easter eggs from their cancelled spring tours to local schools and medical centres for children and staff to enjoy, while the company offers free travel for NHS staff to keep critical workers moving.
There have also been donations of food from Coombe Abbey Hotel to University Hospital in Coventry, while Warwick Castle has donated surplus food to Warwick Food Bank. Coombe Abbey Hotel has also donated over 100 bottles of shampoo and shower gel to NHS staff.
More than 800 aprons, 2,600 gloves and 120 hair nets have been donated to NHS staff by Cotswold Farm Park to help boost medical supplies, and staff at the Royal Fusiliers Museum in Warwick have dedicated time to help local people in their area with food deliveries.
A community support group has been set up by Shipston Town Council to support vulnerable local people, with volunteers delivering groceries and prescriptions across the village and more than 200 meals supplied by Peach Pubs have been handed out to community groups.
Personal protection equipment has been donated to frontline NHS staff by Solihull College & University Centre by the Health & Social Care, Health & Beauty, and Science departments, including gloves, aprons, anti-bacterial wipes and hand sanitisers, while Stratford Butterfly Farm has donated 1,400 pairs of gloves and 100 surgical masks. Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has also donated gloves, masks and goggles that are normally used by the museum and archive teams.
NHS staff are being offered discounted rates on Stratford Central Apartments and at Mercure Shakespeare Hotel and Mercure Walton Hall for those needing somewhere to stay, while self-employed musicians are being offered support from a fund set up by Orchestra of the Swan in Stratford-upon-Avon with donations from generous ticket purchasers donating their refunded ticket money.
Compton Verney will also be offering a Blue Light discount for all emergency service workers once it is safe to reopen.
Shakepeare’s England CEO, Helen Peters, has praised companies for coming together during these difficult times. “Amongst all this chaos and these worrying times, it’s great to see some positive stories from Shakespeare’s England members coming together to support key workers and communities in any way they can.
“I would urge all companies at a time like this to support the most vulnerable and despite businesses facing difficult and uncertain times, it’s wonderful to see our members coming together to provide support in whatever way they can.
“I would like to ask all companies to get in touch with us if you think you have support you can offer, and also I would like to say a massive thank you to those who have stepped up so far during this global crisis.”
