Charities dedicated to supporting the work of NHS staff and volunteers are appealing for a million people across the country to donate cash alongside their applause for healthcare workers tonight.

For the past two weeks, people across the nation have taken to their gardens, windows and balconies to applaud NHS staff treating those suffering with coronavirus.

Now in a major appeal for financial support aimed at helping those on the frontlines of the fight against Covid-19, the NHS Charities Together umbrella group, which incorporates 150 NHS charities, has called on people to accompany their claps with cash.

The organisation hopes to inspire at least a million people to show their backing for the NHS by texting “clap” along with a message of support and a donation of £5 to 70507.

Donations will then be used to provide supplies and support to NHS staff and volunteers — including food, travel, accommodation and counselling.

Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Show all 32 1 /32 Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People clap from a block of flats opposite St Thomas' Hospital in London. Briton's were encouraged to clap for carers at 8pm local time to celebrate employees of the NHS EPA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Staff outside the St James's University Hospital in Leeds, wave to people applauding them from their balconies PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS A sign by Wembley Park Tube Station in London that thanks the hardworking NHS staff PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Barbara Leigh, aged 93, (second left) rings a bell for the NHS, with her family who are all staying together throughout the lockdown, from their front garden across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester Getty Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS NHS staff respond as people in Blackpool join in the national applause PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak applaud outside 10 Downing Street Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Tyne Bridge lit up in blue to support the NHS Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Residents in a Northampton street applaud Getty Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Princes George (right), Louis (centre) and Princess Charlotte joining in a national applause for the NHS as people across the country showed their appreciation for all NHS workers who are helping to fight the coronavirus Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People in Woodford Green, London, join in a national applause PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People in flats wave the Scottish flag in Glasgow as they join in a national applause for the NHS PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Ventura', a Grand-class cruise ship of the P&O Cruises fleet, docked at Southampton Docks shows its support for the NHS by lighting up rooms on the cruise ship to spell '#I LOVE NHS' Getty Images Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital join in a national applause PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS The SSE Hydro in Glasgow is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Residents applaud NHS staff for all their hard work during the Coronaviroutbreak in Glasgow Getty Images Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Wembley Arch in London is lit up in blue in a gesture of thanks to the hardworking NHS staff PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Dr Olivera Potparic Anestesis applauds her colleagues after finishing a 12 hour shift at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Residents in a Northampton street applaud in support of the NHS Getty Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People applaud infront of big screen in Piccadilly Circus Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital Getty Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS A police officer joins staff from the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in a national applause for the NHS PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS The London Eye is pictured lit blue in support of the NHS Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital Getty Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS NHS workers wave from a window at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital Getty Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Redcar Pier lit up in blue Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council/PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales joining in the national applause for the NHS workers battling coronavirus, coupled with photos from previous visits to NHS facilities Instagram/clarencehouse/PA Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People applaud the NHS from their balconies and gardens across the road from Wythenshawe Hospital Getty Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS A family applaud outside their home during the Clap for our carers campaign in support of the NHS in Newcastle-under-Lyme Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, EnfieldPeople applaud outside their homes in Parsonage Gardens during the Clap For Our Carers campaign in support of the NHS in Enfield Reuters Clap For Our Carers: People across UK thank the NHS People show appreciation outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Reuters

Individual messages of support will be forwarded to local NHS charities and sent to the donors’ local hospital.

Ellie Orton, chief executive of NHS Charities Together, said: “Like everyone else I’ve been incredibly moved by the millions of us showing our public support for our health service over the last two Thursday evenings. I really hope #OneMillionClaps inspires those who can to give a donation that will make a real difference to the amazing staff and volunteers who are daily saving lives and battling against this horribly virus on our behalf.”

She added: “Thousands of staff are risking their lives every day for us and many of them are now sick themselves or at breaking point. If we can raise £5 million tonight, it will go a long way to providing them and their families with the support they so desperately need.”

It comes as footballers across the premier league also announced their support for the charity network, with players from across the top tier of English football’s 20 teams sharing a joint statement last night in support of the health service.

It comes after players were criticised for continuing to earn while stadium staff were furloughed by some major clubs — with the health secretary Matt Hancock saying he believed players should take a pay cut.

The statement said the campaign was “separate to any other club and league conversations”.

“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 it’s needed most in this Covid-19 crisis; helping those fighting for us on the NHS frontline as well as other key areas of need”, it added.