Premier League stars launch #PlayersTogether fund to help NHS

A number of Premier League stars have joined forces to create an initiative called #PlayersTogether which aims to raise funds for NHS charities during the coronavirus pandemic.Top-flight professionals have come under fire after some clubs placed non-playing staff on the Governments furlough scheme, with health secretary Matt Hancock last week calling for Premier League players to take a pay cut.Premier League clubs proposed wage cuts of around 30 per cent to ease the financial burden caused by the crisis but talks over the weekend with the Professional Footballers Association and the League Managers Association failed to reach a resolution.#PlayersTogether pic.twitter.com/e7uWYIOhL2 Jordan Henderson (@JHenderson) April 8, 2020However, a statement posted by a number of Premier League players, including England captain Harry Kane, said: We can confirm that after extensive conversations between a huge number of players from all Premier League clubs we have created our own collective player initiative, #PlayersTogether, and have partnered with NHS Charities Together (NHSCT) in order to assist them in generating and distributing funds quickly and efficiently to where they are needed most.The statement continued: Over the course of the last week we, as a group of Premier League players, have held numerous talks together with the vision of creating a contribution fund that can be used to distribute money to where its needed most in this COVID-19 crisis; helping those fighting for us on the NHS frontline as well as other key areas of need.This is a critical time for our country and for our NHS, and we are determined to help in any way that we can.NHSCT is the national umbrella organisation for over 150 registered NHS charities, working closely with the Charity Commission, Department of Health and Social Care, and NHS England to represent, champion, and support the NHS official charities. NHSCT are the official charity partner of the NHS nationally.#PlayersTogether pic.twitter.com/BrVaFcmulI Harry Kane (@HKane) April 8, 2020The contributions that this initiative will generate will help NHSCT quickly grant funds to the front line to support in a number of ways, including to help enhance the well-being of NHS Staff, volunteers and patients impacted by COVID-19 as well as helping them in their work supporting many other critical areas of need, both now and in the longer term.#PlayersTogether is about we, as players, collaborating together to create a voluntary initiative, separate to any other club and league conversations, that can help get much needed funds to those that need it right now. To try and help, along with so many others in the country, make a real difference.Our prayers and thoughts go out to everybody affected by this crisis. By sticking together, we will get through this. Stay Home. Protect the NHS. Save Lives.(function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){

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