As we approach Remembrance Day, hundreds of staff within West Midlands Ambulance Service will have somewhere that they can pay their respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, but also remember their own colleagues who have passed away.

Thanks to a donation from NHS Charities Together, every site that can is developing or upgrading a remembrance garden.

The idea is to provide each one with an outdoor area which is away from the hustle and bustle of everyday work; somewhere where colleagues can take time for quiet reflection. To date, NHS Charities Together has donated £127,000 to the Trust to enhance the well-being of NHS staff, volunteers and patients impacted by COVID-19.

The board and trustees and management of the charity has agreed to spend the funding for a remembrance garden at each site and also purchase benches for these sites so that staff can socially distance more easily during their downtime. Trust Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said:

“We are tremendously grateful to NHS Charities Together for such a generous donation which I know has been welcomed by our staff. The development of the gardens is being led by the staff at each site to look at what they would like to achieve so that it is personal to them.  

"A number of sites such as those at Dudley, Erdington and Willenhall have already made excellent progress, often with the support of local suppliers who have provided services free of charge.

“This has been a year like no other due to COVID-19, but I have no doubt that the development of these gardens will make a difference to our staff and allow them time to reflect, remember and reminisce.”

NHS Charities Together is membership organisation representing, supporting and championing NHS Charities. It provides a forum for nationwide fundraising and advocacy campaigns and gives over £1 million every day to support the NHS and it’s staff so that they can enhance patient experience and care.  

You can find out more about NHS Charities Together at nhscharitiestogether.co.uk