TikTok donates £5m to Royal College of Nursing fund

TikTok has donated £5 million to a nursing fund supporting frontline health workers during the coronavirus outbreak.

The donation has been made to the RCN Foundation, part of the Royal College of Nursing Group, and its Covid-19 Healthcare Support Appeal.

The video app said the donation would help with emergency funding for frontline workers, including practical and psychological support to nurses, midwives, healthcare support workers, paramedics, physiotherapists, cleaners and porters during and after the pandemic.

It came as the video-sharing platform revealed that TikTok videos celebrating NHS and other healthcare workers reached 330 million in one month, a 5,000% increase on four weeks ago, according to the app.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “The whole country has been overwhelmed by the dedication and professionalism of all of our health and social care heroes battling against this global pandemic.

“I know the extraordinary pressures this virus has brought to professional and private lives, and I’m delighted that TikTok is supporting the RCN Foundation, which brings so much support to so many.”

The courageous work of those on the front line of our healthcare system is both poignant and inspiring, and 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

According to the video platform, more than 200,000 #ThankYouNHS videos have been published on TikTok, as well as some 4,000 #ClapForOurCarers videos.

Rich Waterworth, TikTok’s UK general manager, said: “The courageous work of those on the front line of our healthcare system is both poignant and inspiring, and 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.

“Despite the huge challenges frontline healthcare workers face on a daily basis, I have been enormously heartened by what we are seeing on our platform.

“Not only have we seen the TikTok community show their thanks and appreciation for the healthcare workers in their masses through some amazing videos, we’re also seeing the workers themselves use the platform for some light relief.

“We have seen so many of them take to TikTok in their breaks to add a bit of light relief while at work, which I hope has provided a touch of joy during their difficult days.”

The donation is part of a global fund of 250 million US dollars (£201 million) for frontline medical workers, educators and local communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic.