UHCW CHARITY is urging people in Coventry and Warwickshire to join the nation’s biggest tea break, the ‘NHS Big Tea’ on 5th July to help raise money for our incredible hospitals: University Hospital Coventry and Rugby St Cross.

Following a year like no other, UHCW Charity wants as many people as possible to get involved in an outpouring of love and thanks for all staff and volunteers by hosting or taking part in the nation’s biggest tea break on 5 July, the NHS’ birthday.

 Each tea break can be in person (socially distanced if regulations still require it at this time) or virtual. It can be with work colleagues, friends, family or community groups. It is a chance to reflect on and say thank you for everything that our NHS staff and volunteers have done, and continue to do, during these unprecedented times.

 Participants can host their own ‘Big Tea’, join in with an organised event or simply show their support by taking five minutes wherever they are to enjoy a quick tea break with a slice of cake!

Donations can be made by texting UHCWTEA 5 to 70490 to donate £5 (Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message) to support UHCW Charity. To raise even more money, you could also tag five friends on social media and ask them to text the same.

Jo O’Sullivan, Director of UHCW Charity said;

“Having seen, first hand, the courage, incredible commitment and hard work that our staff at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire have put in, over and over again during each shift over this hardest of years, I am looking forward to taking 5 minutes’ break with them with a welcome cuppa and a cake!  Please join Matron May Parsons and our staff and support your local University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, the home of the world’s first vaccination, by having your own celebratory tea party and make things better for our staff, our patients and their families.”

Ellie Orton, CEO of NHS Charities Together, which is behind the NHS Big Tea, said:

“Many of us have a lot to be grateful to NHS staff and volunteers for following the year we have had. They have been at the forefront of the response to one of the biggest challenges our country has ever faced. NHS Big Tea is chance to show our support for them by joining a national outpouring of thanks this July. For many, this will be an outpouring of joy, celebrating the vaccine and all that it is allowing us to do again. For others, it will be an outpouring of thanks, for everything that our NHS champions have done for us. For some, sadly, it will be a moment of reflection for the loss of loved ones. Whatever the emotion, please join the nation’s biggest tea break to raise money for the incredible people in our NHS.”

Thanks to generous public support over the last year, UHCW Charity has been able to be there for our staff, ensuring that they can continue with their vital life-saving work at the most difficult of times.  We have funded counselling and mental health support; supplied food, drink and toiletries; provided a place to enjoy a well-earned rest or even to just ‘take a moment’ when things have become too much.

All funds raised will enable the charity to continue supporting our patients and our amazing staff and volunteers.

Thousands of people and many local businesses are expected to host events and NHS Charities Together has produced a pack to help those events go with a swing.

To take part, please visit www.uhcwcharity.org/event/nhs-big-tea-2021/