Rainbow Boxes light up the lives of Covid-19 patients with RBS’S help
The Royal Bank of Scotland has backed a campaign to supply “Rainbow Boxes” of clothes, toiletries and other supplies to all Covid-19 patients in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
The boxes were devised by Edinburgh Royal Infirmary nurse Alison Williams, who raised £24,000 in public donations for her Rainbow Box Foundation.
RBS has now thrown its support behind the project, donating £25,000 from its 300 Fund, which will ensure the boxes can be distributed until September. The bank is also working with catering company Baxterstorey and Social Bite to offer 1,500 free meals for frontline NHS staff each day. RBS is continuing to work with The Scotsman and Edinburgh Evening News to encourage businesses to donate to its Foodbank Distribution Centre in Gogarburn.
Alison Williams launched the Rainbow Box campaign after seeing many patients arrive at Covid-19 wards with no supplies or overnight bags, as admission is often an emergency measure after a sudden turn for the worse.
Many then find it difficult to communicate with family members to ask for supplies.
Ms Williams’ fund aims to buy pyjamas, toiletries, phone chargers and other essential supplies for patients, as well as ipads and mobile phones to allow patients to keep in contact with family members who are not allowed to visit.
Speaking in response to the RBS donation, Ms Williams said: “Our initial fundraising through Justgiving was incredible and really helped to get Rainbow Boxes off the ground and much needed items into wards quickly.
“However, this amazingly generous donation from Royal Bank of Scotland will help us to not only sustain this support for a longer period, but also to widen it to non-covid-19 wards throughout the Lothian region and potentially further afield.”
Malcolm Buchanan, chair of the Scotland Board at RBS, said: “The tragedy that coronavirus creates is sadly all too clear, but it is often the sideeffects which can feel as frightening as the condition itself.
“The Rainbow Box Foundation was born from the experience of those at the frontline helping those affected and as a bank which has seen customers, colleagues, friends and family affected, we wanted to help.
“Our 300 Fund was created to help support projects making a difference to people living in Scotland. The Rainbow Box Foundation and the NHS Lothian Covid-19 Appeal reflect those values and are offering help and support at a time when the most vulnerable people in Scotland need it most.”
The RBS 300 Fund was launched in January to mark the 300th anniversary of the bank in 2027, and will see the bank invest in several projects in Scotland over the next seven years.
Jane Ferguson, director of the Edinburgh Lothian Health Foundation, said: “The support of the general public and local businesses to NHS Lothian’s Covid-19 response has been incredible to witness.”