• Rapid Relief Team launches Nurses Community Connect to give nurses across the UK a dedicated moment of recognition

• 4,000 meals served to nurses, patients and family members at the inaugural event held at Springfield Park, next to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, in Liverpool

• Hospitals nationwide are invited to register their interest in hosting a future event

A new national initiative celebrating nurses and the vital contribution they make to patients and families has been launched for the hospital community at Springfield Park, next to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.

Nurses Community Connect, created by charity the Rapid Relief Team UK (RRT), brought together nurses, patients and family members for a day of recognition, connection and celebration.

Following the inaugural event, hospitals across the UK are now being invited to register their interest in working with RRT to host a Nurses Community Connect event of their own.

Over the course of the day, 100 RRT volunteers served 4,000 hot meals from the charity’s Red Tents and handed out specially prepared gift packs to nurses, children and families. These included items such as wireless earbuds, a wash bag and overnight travel set, and high energy snack packs.

Other charities, including ANDYSMANCLUB, the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund (RMBF), The Grace Trust, and Alder Hey Children's Charity, joined the event’s Help Hub to share information about their services and speak to families. Additional stands from Jumping Jacks offered balloon animals to children, and Liverpool City Council also shared health and wellbeing information with the attendees.

Nurses, patients and families also spent time with Police Wellbeing Dogs and enjoyed ice creams, relaxation spaces, Alder Hey’s human fruit machine and had the chance to meet the hospital’s elephant mascot, giving them a welcome break from the pressure of hospital life.

RRT launched Nurses Community Connect as nursing teams across the country continue to face intense pressure. Recent Royal College of Nursing research found that more than three-quarters of nursing staff felt emotionally exhausted at the end of their last shift.

The initiative follows the success of RRT’s A&E Appreciation Week last year, when the charity hosted over 100 coffee and cake events at hospitals across the country. Made up of volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, the RRT also regularly recognises healthcare workers on occasions such as International Nurses Day and provides practical support following major incidents, including the Southport tragedy.

The RRT now hopes to work with hospitals in other parts of the UK to develop Nurses Community Connect into a national programme that recognises the contribution nurses make to their communities.

Hospitals interested in hosting a future Nurses Community Connect event can register their interest at https://rrtglobal.org/operations-appeals/ncc.

Ian Thewlis, RRT Liverpool Team Leader, said:

“Nurses care for people at some of the most difficult moments in their lives, while also working under enormous pressure. Nurses Community Connect gives us an opportunity to return some of that care and show nurses how much people value everything they do.

“It was wonderful to see nurses come together with patients and families at Alder Hey and take some time away from their usual routines. A hot meal or a small gift may seem simple, but we hope it showed every nurse who attended that their hard work and compassion do not go unnoticed.

“We would love to scale this initiative and are keen to hear from other hospitals that want to work with us to bring Nurses Community Connect to their own staff, patients and families.”

John Grinnell, CEO at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“Our heartfelt thanks go to RRT and everyone whose generosity and support have made this wonderful event possible. Bringing together staff, families and the community in this way is incredibly meaningful.

“It provides a unique opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding commitment of our staff, whose hard work and dedication make a difference every single day. Seeing them appreciated in this way is truly special.”

ENDS.

Notes to editor:

• For more information, contact Mara Antoce at mara.antoce@plmr.co.uk or 0785 284 4323.

• RRT is a global network of volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. It offers practical support to charities, emergency services, and Governments on the frontline of emergencies and critical situations. In the UK, RRT volunteers have supported the emergency services during major incidents such as the Aberdeen train derailment, the London Bridge terror attacks, and the Grenfell tragedy. The charity also works with other organizations and services to help tackle homelessness and engage with youth and disability charities.

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