Last month the UK mourned the loss of Captain Sir Tom Moore, who raised £32.8m for NHS Charities Together by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday – breaking the Guinness World Record for an individual’s charity walk and inspiring a nation.  

In tribute to Captain Sir Tom Moore, and all those who donated or fundraised themselves as part of NHS Charities Together’s COVID Appeal, Fife Health Charity is sharing news of how funds have supported NHS patients, staff and volunteers in Fife.  

Fife Health Charity received £361,000 in grant funding    and this has enabled additional support for patients when families have not been able to visit, whilst also supporting healthcare staff working in the most challenging of circumstances.   

Locally in Fife, monies from the NHS Charities Together’s COVID-19 Appeal has part-funded range of initiatives including toiletries and home comforts for patients in hospitals, an outdoor gym for patients at Lynebank Hospital in Dunfermline, and wellbeing packs for healthcare staff across Fife. The funding will shortly also be used alongside existing funds to support the creation of permanent staff wellbeing hubs in community hospital sites across Fife. 

Rt Hon Tricia Marwick is the chair of the Fife Health Charity’s Board of Trustees in addition to chairing Fife Health Board. She said of the funding from NHS Charities Together: 

“The generosity shown by the public, both here in Fife and elsewhere in the country, has been quite extraordinary and has helped patients and healthcare staff through the most challenging of times. 

“With the recent passing of Captain Sir Tom Moore, we can reflect that the legacy of his efforts will be that the funds raised have made a real difference both to patients and those working tirelessly to care for them, enhancing the level of support available when it was needed most. 

As a result of overwhelming support from the public, across the UK NHS Charities Together has been able to provide much needed bereavement support for those who have tragically lost loved ones to COVID-19, though its member charities. Other projects have helped isolated patients in hospital, using technology to enable them to stay connected to loved ones at one of their most difficult moments.  

And thanks to the funds raised the charity has supported the emotional and practical needs of staff, including counselling programmes and helplines, so that they can focus on their life saving work at a time of immense pressure. 

In total NHS Charities Together’s COVID-19 Appeal raised £150 million thanks to the support from Captain Sir Tom and others. Over £118 million has already been made available to our 241 member charities to help patients, staff and volunteers on the ground. 

The support of NHS charities will be crucial in the years ahead as the health service recovers from the most challenging period in its history. NHS Charities Together is continuing to work with member charities to ensure funds are used where they are most needed, now and in future. 

Ellie Orton, Chief Executive for NHS Charities Together, said: 

“Captain Sir Tom Moore was a complete inspiration to us all and his memory lives on through the incredible programmes NHS charities have been able to fund. Thanks to his efforts, funds have reached the length and breadth of the UK through every one of our 241 member charities, and they have made a huge difference on the ground, both to address the immediate needs of patients and staff and to support the longer-term recovery of the NHS. His legacy will live on through the work of the Captain Tom Foundation.” 

Find out more about some of the other projects funded by the Fife Health Charity at: https://www.nhsfife.org/get-involved/fife-health-charity/  

For more information about NHS Charities Together visit www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk 

For more information about The Captain Tom Foundation – an independent organisation that works with charity partners to support causes close to Captain Sir Tom and his family’s hearts - visit www.captaintom.org