The money will go to the RCN Foundation’s COVID-19 Support Fund, which provides both practical and psychological support to health workers.
Rich Waterworth, General Manager for TikTok in the UK, said the work of those on the frontline of the country’s health system is both “courageous and inspiring”.
“I hope our donation to the COVID-19 Healthcare Support Appeal, established by the RCN Foundation, can go some way in alleviating just some of the pressures many of these workers are dealing with at this time. I would like to personally thank them for the work they are doing in these unprecedented times.”
The donation has been welcomed by the charity, which says it will make a “significant difference” to those making an “invaluable contribution” in the fight against the virus.
Professor Jane Cummings, chair of the RCN Foundation, “In these unprecedented times, the healthcare community is facing significant challenges and this donation will not only support those individuals who may be experiencing personal hardship as a result of COVID-19 but will also help to address some of the psychological implications associated with working on the frontline at this time.“
News of the donation comes as TikTok reports that healthcare-related videos have received over 330 million views in the last month, while over 200,000 videos with the hashtag #ThankYouNHS have been published on the platform to date.
One of the popular videos created by healthcare workers sees NHS staff take part in the ‘Blinding Lights Challenge’ – a viral dance routine to the song by The Weekend – which currently stands at over 2.5 million views.
“Not only have we seen the TikTok community show their thanks and appreciation for the health care workers in their masses through some amazing videos, we’re also seeing the workers themselves use the platform for some light relief,” Rich added.
More information about the RCN Foundation and its COVID-19 support fund can be found on the charity’s website.
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