Head of Charity and Volunteering Services, Emma Kovaleski, has been invited to represent CHFT as part of the Core20PLUS Ambassadors Programme, which is a partnership between NHS England and NHS Charities Together, and aims to reduce inequalities across the healthcare system.

The programme received more than 700 applicants from across the NHS and voluntary sectors. As an ambassador, Emma will be helping to narrow healthcare inequalities and ensure equitable access, excellent experiences and optimal outcomes for anyone accessing the NHS and wider systems. Particularly Core20PLUS populations who are most likely to experience healthcare inequalities.

Emma, and our CHFT Charity, will be joining the programme's third cohort alongside four other NHS charities. NHS England will be supporting them to develop their knowledge, skills and insights as they go through the programme, and they will be able to access local, regional and national networking opportunities.

Emma said: “As CHFT's Charity continues to grow and develop, it has become clear that our Trust's charity has a very real opportunity to support CHFT, our colleagues and communities – above and beyond ‘funding the extras'. We have an amazing opportunity to support the transformation of our healthcare, fund innovations that improve patient care and mobilise prevention projects to keep people well in our communities.

"We have already started some of this work, such as the project to install defibs across Todmorden and by supporting patients through our learning disability projects - such as the A&E care bags and work within the Children and Young People's Strategy.

"Becoming a Core20PLUS ambassador will help support our ambitions to be the very best and most impactful NHS Charity for and on behalf of CHFT and the communities we are here to serve."