Work begins on Nightingale’s Rainbow
Work has begun on the construction of Nightingale’s Rainbow, a new sculptural installation in the grounds of Stoke Mandeville Hospital, thought to be the UK’s first permanent tribute of its kind to the response to the Covid-19 crisis.
The structure is designed to pay tribute to the community spirit and resilience seen across Buckinghamshire through the Covid-19 crisis and will support local healthcare charities through the sale of the thousands of rainbow tiles which make up the design.
Trust Chief Executive Neil Macdonald said: “Here at the Trust we are delighted to be home to this fantastic symbol which represents everything we have been through as a hospital, community and county over the past sixteen months.”
Everyone across Buckinghamshire is invited to be part of this new structure by dedicating a Rainbow Tile to any individual or group which has supported them or their local community to get through the pandemic and leaving a public message of appreciation on a Virtual Nightingale’s Rainbow.
The construction of Nightingale’s Rainbow is being funded by local organisations and private individuals, meaning all the proceeds from the sale of Rainbow Tiles will be split between Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity and the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust Charitable Fund.
Chief Executive Officer Jo Turner of Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity said: “ We are so honoured to be part of this project and hope that everyone will take this opportunity to show their thanks and gratitude to those who have supported them and their community through the crisis – from the neighbours who picked up shopping and prescriptions to the care home workers who looked after family members, the supermarket delivery drivers to the customers who supported local businesses, children who coped with homeschooling and lockdowns to the friends & family who entertained us with Zoom quizzes. Everyone has played their part, and now they can be part of Nightingale’s Rainbow.”
You can get find out more about buying a Rainbow Tile and leaving a message of thanks on the Virtual Nightingale’s Rainbow at www.nightingalesrainbow.org.uk
