West Ham United has joined forces with a London healthcare charity to launch a campaign in support of the NHS.
Hammers captain Mark Noble is one of the prominent faces of the campaign and will be appearing across giant advertising billboards, bus shelters, and double decker buses as they drive across London.
The campaign will run until September, and will also feature a wide range of hospital staff and patients. As well as on billboards and buses, the campaign will appear on Tube ticket gates and bus shelters across East London.
To date, West Ham United has helped to deliver £1.4m of annual savings to the NHS through diabetes prevention, including via their award-winning ‘150 Club’ as part of the Club’s innovative Players’ Project.
By continuing to work together, West Ham and Barts Charity hope to further increase awareness and support for East London’s NHS, and encourage members of the local community to wear a specially commissioned badge to show their appreciation.
Supporting our local community and NHS trusts is something that means a lot to the Club and, of course, me personally and the rest of the squad
Mark Noble
Noble said: “Having grown up in East London, it’s even more of a privilege for me to be part of this campaign. NHS workers across the country are on the frontline every day of the year and it’s important we continue to show our gratitude for their incredible efforts, particularly after what has been extremely tough time with the pandemic.
“Supporting our local community and NHS trusts is something that means a lot to the Club and, of course, me personally and the rest of the squad. West Ham United pledged further support to the local NHS trusts across East London and Essex at the start of the pandemic, based on their views on how the Club can best support them in dealing with COVID-19.
“This included promoting their critically important charitable appeals, fundraising initiatives for equipment and staff wellbeing, a donation of shirts for West Ham-supporting patients and NHS staff, staff volunteering, special experiences for patients and their families, and NHS workers, to raise the spirits of those who have been through so much during the pandemic and continued morale-boosting messages for patients and staff.
“I hope this campaign will further develop our ever-growing relationship, and provide some much-needed support after a challenging time for our incredible NHS.”
Fiona Miller Smith, chief executive of Barts Charity, said that she was delighted to have West Ham as a partner.
“West Ham United is such an integral part of the East London community and we are extremely grateful to have the club’s ongoing backing," she explained. "Throughout the pandemic, the club and its fans have always gone the extra mile to help us provide additional support to our local hospitals and patients.
“By working together during this upcoming campaign, we will be able to amplify our messages in support of the NHS and reach more fans and members of the wider community as a result. I will be wearing my badge as a mark of appreciation for all that the NHS has achieved in the most challenging of circumstances, and as a sign of hope for the future. I urge all Hammers fans to join me in getting their own badge, and wearing it with similar pride.”
Every year, Barts Charity spends millions of pounds supporting staff and patients at five London hospitals – St Bartholomew’s, Royal London, Whipps Cross, Mile End, and Newham. During the Covid-19 pandemic the charity invested more than £7m to help hospital staff and patients, with more than £4.5m spent on supporting staff wellbeing.
To sign up for a free Barts Charity badge go to bartscharity.org.uk/badge