Schools urged to celebrate 70 years of the NHS

Bradford Hospitals’ Charity is calling on all schools to celebrate the NHS turning 70 this July.

Educational packs and toolkits are available for teachers to help educate and inspire students, while raising valuable funds for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity.

Thursday 5 July is the anniversary of the day the NHS was launched by Aneurin Bevan. To help commemorate this occasion, Bradford Hospitals’ Charity is asking schools to hold a special ‘NHS 70 Day’ by organising the following:

  • Primary schools hold a fancy dress day, encouraging children to dress as their heroes and make a small voluntary donation to Bradford Hospitals’ Charity. Our heroes are our doctors and nurses! Posters and bunting are available on request at https://bradfordhospitalscharity.org/events/nhs70/
  • Primary and secondary schools can learn all about the NHS, its many services and take part in fun activities and quizzes. Educational toolkits to support the delivery of PSHE at Key Stage 3 are available at https://bradfordhospitalscharity.org/events/nhs70/
  • College students can learn about NHS careers (there are more than 350!) and teachers can go through the many resources available at www.stepintothenhs.nhs.uk

Older students can wear blue for a small voluntary donation, in recognition of the iconic NHS blue!

Alam Khan, of Undercliffe, Bradford, backed Bradford Hospitals’ Charity’s call to celebrate the NHS turning 70. Alam attends the Bradford Royal Infirmary with his daughters, Zara, seven, and Zainab, 10, (pictured) every month for a blood transfusion. Both his daughters suffer from the blood condition, Thalassaemia Major.

Alam said: “The NHS is a lifeline for our family. The work the doctors and nurses do is just amazing. My daughters have been coming to the Bradford Royal Infirmary since they were three months old for blood transfusions, so I cannot praise the service enough.

“You only truly appreciate the NHS, and realise just how valuable it is, when you need it.”

Hayley Collis, Head of Fundraising for Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, said: “We are extremely proud of our NHS and we know the public is too. This is an ideal opportunity to stand up and applaud our health service, staff and support them by raising money for their charity.

“Bradford Hospitals’ Charity provides vital funds to support equipment and research, as well as enhancing the hospital environment. We want the best for Bradford and our funds provide this.”

The charity is also urging workplaces and community groups to raise a cuppa for NHS 70 by holding a tea party (www.nhsbig7tea.co.uk). To request a tea party pack, visit https://bradfordhospitalscharity.org/events/nhs70/

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (BTHFT) will officially mark the occasion on 5 July with a series of events, including parties for people born in July 1948 and for former members of staff who started their training 70 years ago. They will also have old photos and memorabilia on display.

To make a donation to Bradford Hospitals’ Charity’s NHS Big 7Tea campaign, visit:

https://www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/bradfordteachinghospital/nhsbig7tea or text NHSB22 and the amount you want to donate to 70070.

To find out more about Bradford Hospitals’ Charity and how you can support your local hospitals, visit www.bradfordhospitalscharity.org. Alternatively, contact Hayley Collis or Elaine Drake on 01274 274809 or email [email protected]

ENDS…

Note to Editors:

  • Bradford Hospitals’ Charity is one of more than 250 NHS charities based around the UK. It supports the strategic direction of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust by funding projects which go over and above what he NHS provides. The charity aims to provide the #bestforbradford.
  • Last year, a new £28million wing opened at Bradford Royal Infirmary, which was part of a £75m investment to improve patient care across our hospitals. It provides world-class facilities for the elderly, children and a brand new intensive care unit. Bradford Hospitals’ Charity donations enabled the Trust to create family friendly environments, state-of-the-art equipment and innovative distraction toys and games for young people.
  • With the support of Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, BTHFT was also able to provide more cots, including intensive care and high dependency cots, new family accommodation, a revamped counselling suite and a dedicated room for mothers to express milk for pre-term babies when the new neonatal unit opened in 2015.

For further media information, please contact Kelly Thornham, Communications Officer, at [email protected] or call 01274 382265

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