FAQs

From 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, 314 applications totalling £1.85m were submitted. Of these, 251 projects were funded for a total of £780,000. Click this link for a list of items funded.

We know it can feel like a lot, but the detail really helps us review your application properly. It ensures your request meets both Trust and Charity requirements, and that the right people (like your line manager or specialist teams such as Estates, IPC, IT, IG) are aware and supportive.  It also helps us understand your idea so we can show donors how their support is making a real difference to patients and staff. 

 We ask for quotes too, just to make sure you’ve explored options and are getting good value for money. This helps us be fair and consistent, especially when we’re reviewing lots of applications with limited funding.  Providing as much information as you can upfront also helps avoid delays and reduces the need for follow-up questions. 

This is your chance to bring your application to life and show the difference your idea will make. You might include: 

• The need or problem you’re addressing (e.g. gaps or challenges your team is facing) 

• How it will improve patient care (e.g. safety, outcomes, experience, or efficiency) 

• Any supporting evidence or feedback (e.g. team input, data, guidance, or manager support) 

The clearer and more specific you can be, the easier it is for us to understand the impact of your idea. 

Every application is reviewed with the Trust to make sure the funding has the biggest impact and is assessed fairly, in line with both the Trust’s priorities and the charity’s expenditure guidance, here.

You can find full details on timelines and the review process at the bottom of the page linked here.

A quick note: funding for staff support like Wellbeing, Reward & Recognition, and Development has changed, so please check points 10, 11, and 12 in this list of FAQ’s. For training-related funding, see point 13. 

Meeting with Trust teams helps us review applications together and make fair, consistent decisions. It means we can focus funding on the projects that will have the biggest impact for patients, staff, and services, especially as resources are limited. 

Funding is usually awarded for up to 12 months from the date it’s approved. If it isn’t used within that time and there hasn’t been any progress, the Charity may need to withdraw the funding.  That said, we understand delays can happen, whether that’s due to procurement or project timelines.

If this applies to you, just get in touch as early as you can and we’ll be happy to talk through your options and support where possible.  If your project needs to change or you’d like to use the funding differently, please speak to us first, as any changes will need to be approved. 

Once your funding is approved, you’ll receive an email with your ‘G’ number (our guarantee of payment). 

Here’s what to do next: 

• Share the approval email with your procurement team
  They’ll use the G number to process your order. 

• Follow your Trust’s usual procurement process
  This ensures everything is ordered correctly and compliantly. 

Following these steps helps make sure your items are purchased smoothly and without delays. 

We’re not able to place orders directly, as everything needs to go through your Trust’s usual procurement process.  If your application is approved for charity funding, we’ll send you an email with a ‘G’ number. This confirms that funding has been approved and acts as our guarantee that the charity will cover the cost. You can then share this ‘G’ number with your procurement team, they’ll be able to support you with placing the order through the Trust’s systems if needed.   

All purchases are made directly by the Trust to make sure everything is bought safely, follows the correct processes, and is properly owned, maintained, and covered under the Trust’s warranty arrangements. 

We work closely with your Finance team to make sure the funding is used as agreed in your application. Once your project is complete, we’ll also get in touch with you and your line manager to hear how it went and understand the impact.

This might include measurable outcomes, examples of the difference the funding has made, and quotes from staff or patients who’ve benefited. 

We may also talk with you about ways to highlight the funding, such as posters, stickers, or sharing your story more widely.

This helps us show our donors the real impact of their support and celebrate the difference their contributions make. 

Yes, it has. We’ve seen a growing number of requests in this area, so we’ve updated our approach by providing a lump sum to each Trust.

This helps make sure funding is shared fairly and benefits as many colleagues as possible. 

Yes, absolutely, Charity funding still supports staff wellbeing. Applications are submitted through the usual Charity system and then shared with the relevant Trust, who will review the request and get in touch with you directly.  If your application is successful, it will be funded from the lump sum already provided to your Trust.   

Decisions are based on staff need, potential impact, and how well the request aligns with Trust priorities. This approach means we can continue supporting staff wellbeing in a more strategic way, helping reach and benefit more colleagues across the Trust. 

The aim is to have a coordinated Trust wide approach. Separate or “standalone” schemes are unlikely to be funded outside of this, however it will be up to the Trust to communicate this to you.

Training can still be supported by the Charity; however, please first check whether it can be funded through the Trust budget before submitting an application. Liaise with the relevant Trust teams for guidance.

Training funding is managed separately from wellbeing, development, and reward & recognition, and should be applied for through the Patient Pathway Fund, as it benefits patient care.

Applications and Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are reviewed together with the Trust during monthly Charity Triage Meetings. This helps make sure decisions are consistent, aligned with priorities, and that the funding will have a real, meaningful impact. 

You can find full details on timelines and the review process at the bottom of this page.

Yes! The more awareness we raise about the charity, the more funds we can generate. You can help by: 

• Supporting charity fundraising activities 

• Encouraging colleagues to get involved 

• Promoting the charity’s work across the Trust 

We absolutely encourage fundraising; every effort really does make a difference! 

All funds raised go into one shared charitable pot. This allows us to support priority needs across the Trust and make sure funding is used fairly and responsibly.  That said, you’re very welcome to apply for the amount your team has raised (and even more), as long as your request: 

• aligns with the Charity’s aims 

• supports Trust priorities 

• is for something above and beyond standard NHS provision 

This way, we can make sure all donations are used in the most impactful way, while still supporting the teams who fundraise.