One of the region’s most prominent social media personalities has raised more than £14,000 to support staff at Liverpool’s biggest hospitals.
The money will go towards relaxation rooms for frontline NHS staff as well as providing essential items for workers who are living away from their families while they respond to the coronavirus pandemic.
Stephanie Johnson, 34, who found fame online as “ScouseBirdProblems” back in 2012, used her social media following of almost half a million people to raise money for Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Support Our Staff appeal.
Funds raised by the appeal will allow the Trust – which runs Aintree, Broadgreen, the Royal and the Dental Hospital – to kit out relaxation rooms for staff working on the frontline against coronavirus.
The rooms, which are designed to provide respite for staff and have been made possible thanks to donations to the Support Our Staff appeal, will include reclining chairs, mini fridges with healthy snacks, relaxing music and comfort packs.
Stephanie, who lives in Crosby with her daughter Cora, now runs the Scouse Bird Shop, where she sells her own products, and hosts regular quiz nights as well as maintaining her social media presence.
She said: “I was born in Aintree Hospital and I wanted to use my platform to give something back to the incredible NHS staff in our city, who are all doing an amazing job.
“When people started applauding the NHS from their doorsteps each Thursday, I posted online asking what more we could do and it grew from there. People have been so generous – it’s such a difficult time for everyone at the moment but a real sense of community has emerged, which is one good thing to come out of all this.”
Dianne Brown, Chief Nurse at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I’d like to thank Stephanie and everyone who contributed towards this donation. It means so much to our staff, who are working in very challenging circumstances at the moment. The funds raised by the Support Our Staff appeal have enabled us to create spaces where our staff can take a moment for themselves and have a properly relaxing break. Funds from the appeal are also helping us buy essential supplies for those staff who find themselves living in accommodation away from their families so they can support our response to coronavirus.”
Lauren Davies, Head of Fundraising at Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is an incredibly generous donation and I’d like to thank Stephanie and everyone who contributed to her fundraising efforts. It just goes to show the power of social media!”
If you would like to make a donation to the Support Our Staff appeal, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/NHSLiverpoolCovid
For more information about the Scouse Bird Shop, visit www.scousebirdshop.com
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