Duty To Care
1461. Harriet Hunt
Harriet Hunt, from London, set up ‘Duty To Care’, an online directory of therapists, mindfulness practitioners, personal trainers, yoga teachers and life coaches, who are all providing free virtual consultations and wellbeing support to more than 600 NHS workers.
Harriet, whose husband Charlie is a doctor, saw the need for frontline NHS staff to have easy and instant access to professionals able to offer dedicated wellbeing support, in response to the increased pressure they have faced from the pandemic. The platform maintains a directory of accredited practitioners, all offering their services especially for NHS workers.
In a personal letter to Harriet, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
“On behalf of the whole country, I want to thank you for your fantastic initiative to support our incredible frontline workers.
“You know from your husband how much they are giving to save so many lives and to help our country to defeat Coronavirus.
“So it is wonderful that you have brought together an online army of therapists, personal trainers and life coaches who are providing free care to those who are doing so much to care for us.”
Harriet said:
“I am incredibly honoured to receive the Points of Light award and to be recognised by the Prime Minister. Setting up ‘Duty To Care’ would not have been possible if it weren’t for my fellow trustees, Sadie Reid and William Engert. They have invested an enormous amount of time and effort, remaining committed even at times that were personally very testing. Their effort and determination has been limitless, and I am so grateful for what they enabled us to facilitate together.
“We would all like to thank the incredible volunteers who continue to support us, as well as the many therapists and wellbeing practitioners who came forward offering their time at charitable rates for NHS workers.
“Finally I would like to pay tribute to my husband, Charlie Hunt, whose never-ending desire to help people, putting his patients first before anything else, inspired me to set up ‘Duty To Care’. Selflessness seems to be a quality that people who work in healthcare intrinsically possess. I hope we can continue to show our thanks and provide support for NHS workers, as they continue to care for us.”
Picture credit: Nicole Hains