PEOPLE across a health trust and in the community staged a special celebration of NHS workers – and raised cash for charity at the same time.

Colleagues throughout many departments at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust organised activities to mark a national initiative, the NHS Big Tea.

Across the country the venture was led by NHS Charities Together, as the health service celebrated its 73rd birthday.

Locally it was hosted by the Airedale Hospital and Community Charity – and over £1,000 was raised.

At the Steeton hospital, the day nursery organised a takeaway tea and coffee service for parents dropping off their children.

The hospital’s catering department held an all-day event in the restaurant. There was a stand full of cakes, biscuits and chocolate for sale and a ‘guess the number of teabags’ challenge.

Members of the outpatients team held a bake sale, whilst colleagues in other departments – such as flow and pharmacy – arranged their own fundraising tea breaks.

Asda donated cakes and biscuits for the event and Morrisons, which was the official sponsor of the NHS Big Tea, contributed a large birthday cake and scones for staff in the outpatients' department and on the wards.

Activities in the community included a party in the gardens of Troutbeck Care Home at Ilkley, for residents and their families.

Jodie Hearnshaw, the Airedale Hospital and Community Charity manager, paid tribute to all those who supported the events.

“Thank-you to everyone who got involved in the NHS Big Tea to support the charity,” she said.

“It was lovely to see the Airedale community coming together to celebrate our amazing NHS people after such a tough year.”

Jennie Tennant, business support officer for the outpatients' department at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, said the team “really enjoyed” taking part in the venture.

“Members of staff came from all over the hospital to support our bake sale,” she added.

“It was a huge success and the money raised will go towards new soft furnishings in our outpatients’ quiet room.

“A big ‘thank you’ goes to the staff in outpatients that contributed by making or donating cakes and helping at the stall on the day.”

Airedale Hospital and Community Charity handles charitable donations on behalf of the health trust.

Bosses said that thanks to the public’s generosity, the charity – alongside NHS Charities Together – had been “able to be there” for staff during the pandemic to ensure they could continue with their lifesaving work and to support patients.

Items funded included iPads to enable virtual visiting to take place on all wards, additional water coolers in clinical areas and picnic benches.

The charity says a £25 donation could buy a radio for one of the waiting rooms, £50 could buy three sensory packs for patients with additional needs, £300 an environmentally-friendly picnic bench for employees and patients or £800 a new lounge chair for patients receiving chemotherapy.

To get involved and support Airedale Hospital and Community Charity, visit airedale-trust.nhs.uk/charity, email anhsft.charity@nhs.net or call 01535 294870.