KEY workers have been honoured in a coronavirus recognition campaign which will feature merchandise including mugs and t-shirts with a swan logo.

Clergy, postmen, shop assistants, volunteers, teachers, policemen and nurses are all honoured in the campaign, launched today which will raise extra money for our frontline key workers.

Welfare For Healthcare, a Worcestershire-based fundraising initiative for the NHS, has today launched a merchandise range to honour the nation’s key workers using the “Worcester Swan” as its theme.

H-J Colston-Inge, a business woman and wife of the Bishop of Worcester, set up Welfare For Healthcare in early April 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Through generous donations from the public, the appeal has already raised over £10,000 for the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Charity.

“We needed to keep the fundraising momentum alive, to enable us to extend our support to other key workers and to meet additional well-being needs in the community,” said Mrs Colston-Inge.

“My wonderful colleague and co-volunteer, Frances Burton, who has been working for many years supporting young people and their mental health, first came up with idea for some products. She took the initiative and contacted Worcester-based contemporary artist, Susan Birth, to see what she could do to help us.”

A few subsequent conversations have resulted in a product range, including mugs, t-shirts and cloth bags that represent seven key-workers, including clergy, a postie, shop assistant, volunteer, teacher, policeman and nurse.

Artist Susan Birth said: “I’ve had a lot of fun creating the little swans in my own colourful style! I have affection for them all, but my favourite is the Teacher Swan because there are teachers in my family.”

Money raised through the sale of these products will be donated to support healthcare in the community including care homes and mental health.

They have also created a special edition ‘Crown Swan’ for the Queen.

"We will send it by very special delivery and hope that she likes it” said Mrs Colston-Inge.

The products will go on sale from Friday.

For more information visit www.welfareforhealthcare.com and www.susanbirth.com