Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (WWL) is delighted to announce a partnership with iconic local business, Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls, as part of the WWL Big Birthday Month, Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan turning 150 years old, and the NHS 75 Birthday celebrations this year.
Chris Swann, Senior Executive Assistant at WWL Trust Headquarters came up with the innovative idea to commemorate all the occasions with a special ‘NHS blue’ Uncle Joe’s Mint Ball.
Chris reached out to the Uncle Joe’s team who were immediately onboard as they too celebrate 125 years of ‘making life sweeter’ in the same year.
After a fascinating tour of the ‘Toffee Works’ factory with WWL’s Medical Director, Professor Sanjay Arya, to look at how the mint balls are produced, a plan was developed to create the new sweet.
Chris said “It was a real treat to visit the factory and I’m thrilled that the Uncle Joe’s team and especially John and Antony Winnard were so welcoming and open to working with us. I’m sure that many of our staff and patients will be keen to purchase this limited-edition ‘NHS blue’ mint ball.”
The specially made ‘NHS blue’ mint balls are now being sold exclusively in shops and outlets across the Trust with all profits being donated to WWL’s Three Wishes Charity.
Prof. Arya, said: “It was an honour to be invited to visit the factory and I’m very excited to see the culmination of this initiative come to fruition. As an anchor institution in the Wigan Borough, it is always pleasing to work in conjunction with long-standing businesses in our community.”
John Winnard MBE, Joint Managing Director at William Santus & Co Ltd who produce the mint balls said: “We are so very proud to work in collaboration with WWL to commemorate all the special birthdays this year and also to help WWL to raise money for such a worthy cause as the Three Wishes Charity. I was privileged to be invited into to WWL to see our ‘NHS blue’ sweets in the shop at Wigan Royal Albert Edward Infirmary on sale this week.”