Jam for a Cause: Staff Member’s Sweet Initiative to Support Mersey Cares
8 November 2024
Associate Director of Nursing and Patient Experience has been making jam using fruit from her garden to support Mersey Cares
Charity Champion Spotlight
We're always inspired by the incredible ways our staff across the Trust support our charity—whether through bake sales, raffles, fundraising challenges, or generous donations. It’s truly heartwarming to see the care and dedication our team has for supporting our service users, patients, and colleagues.
As Autumn is in full swing, we were thrilled to hear that Lynda Taylor, Associate Director of Nursing and Patient Experience, has been making jam using fruit from her garden, which she has been sharing with staff for a small donation to our charity.
"I just thought it would be a nice way to use up some of the lovely damsons and blackberries from my garden," she said, sharing that she'd put out a request for more jars so she could make another batch.
"I enjoy making jam but there is only so much friends and family can eat and had quite a lot of fruit in the freezer. I didn’t have enough jam jars so to keep costs down I asked for unwanted jam jars to be brought in and I have recycled them so I have only had to buy the sugar. I brought in the second batch of jam this week and there is more damson on the way! I have just asked for a small £2 donation to MC charity."
Lynda has also recently joined us in becoming a Mersey Cares Charity Champion, a role which is open to all staff across the Trust and will help us to make a significant impact in raising both awareness and funds for the charity. Charity Champions are members of staff who are committed to supporting the Mersey Cares Charity and become an internal voice to help us support our charitable delivery and encourage fundraising within our wards and departments. This will enable us to deliver essential projects and developments that benefit our patients, service users and staff.
Speaking about joining our expanding network of Charity Champions she said:
"I think being a Champion urges us to think more broadly about what we do and what others might need or appreciate. If I can help in any small way, it’s worth it."
With jam season in full swing and staff eagerly snapping up Lynda's jars of homemade fruit condiments, she already has an eye on what variety might come next...
"All the jam has gone now (about 16 jars!) so I'm waiting for more empty jars. I can then perhaps do some chilli jam too, made with apples from my dad’s tree."
