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The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) is calling for the creation of a National A&E Appreciation Week to recognise the vital work of emergency department staff across the UK.
The charity, which provides welfare support to emergency services, will launch the first A&E Appreciation Week from 13-17 October 2025, with plans to host 100 coordinated events in hospitals nationwide.
At each event, RRT volunteers will serve more than 8,000 coffees and cakes to A&E teams, offering a morale boost and a moment of respite from high-pressure working environments. The initiative comes as violence against emergency department staff has almost doubled since 2019.
“Through A&E Appreciation Week, we want to shine a light on their vital contribution, give them a moment to pause, and ensure their efforts are recognised. We’re calling for this week to become a formal annual event, so that frontline emergency staff continue to receive the national appreciation they deserve.
“Every day A&E teams work under extraordinary pressure in fast-paced, challenging environments to keep our communities safe. Yet their critical work too often goes unseen.
Ross Norman, Head of Operations, RRT UK.
Working with local NHS matrons, RRT has designed the events to fit around the demands of hospital life, ensuring teams can take short breaks to connect with colleagues and feel supported.
Made up of volunteers from the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, RRT has more than a decade of experience supporting frontline healthcare teams. The charity regularly marks key occasions such as International Nurses Day and organises welfare events for emergency and hospital staff across the UK.
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