NHS staff asked to ‘take chance’ on new lottery to boost charitable funds
Staff at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust are being encouraged to sign up to a new staff lottery as a New Year’s resolution to help boost the Trust’s charitable funds at the same time as being in with a chance to win some cash.
The Trust, which provides mental health and learning disability services to people in Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield, has a charitable fund which exists to support services across these areas. The fund is not used to fund NHS services, but enables the organisation to provide extras like lunches for carers and equipment for football teams.
In an attempt to boost the Trust’s charitable funds and to give staff the chance to win a bit of extra money the Trust is setting up its own staff lottery. The lottery enables staff to buy a chance to enter a draw and win a cash prize at the same time as boosting the amount of money accessible to the Trust’s charity.
One project which has benefitted from the Trust’s charitable funds is the Talking Together group for South Asian people with a learning disability. The group applied for funding to hold a lunch time treat to enable members to enjoy lunch catered for by an outside company. The bid was approved and the group was able to enjoy a well earned break in a relaxed atmosphere which encouraged social interaction.
The lottery is open to any member of staff employed by South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and each chance costs just £1 per month (23p per week). Draws will be made monthly and staff can buy up to 10 chances per month.
While staff are given the chance to win a few extra pounds each month, the charitable fund wins every time. So even if their number isn’t drawn staff can be pleased to know their money is being put to excellent use and helping people live life to the full.
Steve Uttley, the Trust’s associate director of finance, said: “The charitable fund enables the Trust to support many projects big and small. It could be something straight forward such as badminton or art equipment, but these things have a massive impact for service users and can have a positive effect on their lives. The staff lottery is a great opportunity to boost the fund for the benefit of people who use our services. But staff have to remember they’ve got to be in it to win it, so we’re encouraging staff across the Trust to sign up!”