As struggles to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 continue on a large scale, various charitable efforts are taking place as individuals and groups aim to alleviate the stress and pressure being felt in combating the pandemic.

Simon Wilson, owner of a West Midlands Digital Technology company Intouch Games, is one such example after making a £500,000 donation to his local NHS Trust to support staff.

Calling on other successful businesses to follow suit, the funds will be used to support frontline staff at Russells Hall Hospital, part of the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust. The grant will be spent on purchasing necessary equipment to aid staff in providing care to those affected by COVID-19. 

“Our company was founded on the values of; move fast, give back, be epic together and being a privately owned, Black Country based business we know how important it is to give back to our local community, especially in times of national crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the strain this is putting on our NHS and NHS staff, so we felt it was very important to step in and help with PPE to ensure our NHS staff are protected,” explained Matt Evans, head of recruitment at Intouch Games.

“We are a black country based business, with our director Simon Wilson growing up in Cradley Heath, he and his family have used the services of Russells Hall hospital over the years and have always received an exceptional level of service from all those associated with this hospital.

“So when we heard about the current strain on the NHS staff for things like PPE, we felt compelled to act to ensure that NHS staff who are putting their own lives at risk, were protected from COVID-19 with adequate PPE.”

Boasting an employee roster of more than 400 individuals from its headquarters in Halesowen, Intouch Games is aiming to continue to grow its national and international presence alongside its continuing charitable donations.

Calling on the wider industry to step up, Evans added: “I think it’s very important that we all do our bit, however small or large, as we are all in this together and now, more than ever, we need a community spirit to get through this.

“We have been involved in charitable work for a number of years and last year we set up the Intouch Global Foundation with operations locally in Sandwell, Dudley and Worcestershire and internationally in Taiwan, Cambodia, Nepal, Peru and The Gambia. The business itself has been founded in humble beginnings and giving back to those less fortunate is central to our ethos, values and founding principles.”

Expressing delight at the half a million pound donation Diane Wake, CEO of The Dudley Group, added “This is a fantastic donation and we will engage our clinical teams in deciding what equipment they need the most to ensure the money is put to best use for staff and patients. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of our local communities and this is a great addition to the kind fundraising, well wishes and donations we have received.”