Neighbourly activities

The Trust is a large employer in Derby and we are aware our staff are already actively taking part in initiatives and projects, which demonstrate our commitment to corporate social responsibility.

Current projects include:

• ‘Pen Pals’, which saw nurses from Derby Hospitals acting as ‘pen pals’ for school children as part of a Florence-Nightingale-inspired literacy project. During the six-week project Key Stage One and Two pupils from local Derbyshire schools wrote to our nurses in order to learn about health, hospitals and nursing in the 21^st Century. The project was run in partnership with Living Derby, who use creative projects and engagement activities to connect people with place.

• Tours to schools, colleges and local groups. Recently Cub Scouts from the 175^th Derby (1^st Breadshall and Oakwood) Scout Group spent a morning volunteering at the Royal Derby Hospital. The youngsters helped ‘meet and greet’ patients and visitors and assisted with the patient buggy. The morning was part of efforts by the Cubs to earn their Community Challenge Award.

• Medicine for Members talks. These are run once a month and the talks are a great way for members to meet up and see first hand what is happening in the hospitals. They are led by our own medical staff and managers to cover specific medical conditions and other hospital related matters.

• Derby City Partnership’s 'Be Inspiring' campaign, which involves iindividuals and organisations setting up a challenge, or making a pledge, that would make a real difference in Derby and helping to raise people's aspirations. Staff from the Trust have made pledges in this campaign.