Elft Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Income: £1,352,632 (2023-24)
• Annual Expenditure: £61,084 (2023-24)
• Grant Range: Up to £5,000 (small grants) / £5,000+ (large grants)
• Decision Process: Monthly committee review
• Geographic Focus: East London, Luton & Bedfordshire
• Eligibility: ELFT staff members only (as lead applicant)

Contact Details

Address: Robert Dolan House, 9 Alie Street, London E1 8DE

Phone: 020 7655 4000

Email: elft.charity@nhs.net

Website: https://www.elft.nhs.uk/get-involved/elft-charity

Overview

ELFT CHARITY (registered March 2022, charity number 1198337) is the NHS charity for East London NHS Foundation Trust. With an annual income of £1.35 million, the charity exists for any charitable purposes associated with the Trust and its community health services across East London, Luton, and Bedfordshire. The charity funds projects that go above and beyond what NHS funding would usually provide, enabling novel, imaginative and alternative approaches that benefit the workforce or local community. Charitable funds are designed to be used year-on-year to assist or enhance developments rather than being stored or saved. The charity operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organization (CIO) with East London NHS Foundation Trust as the sole trustee.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Small Grants (Up to £5,000)

• Duration: Up to 12 months
• Focus: Ideas and improvements for supporting service users in East London, Luton & Bedfordshire
• Application: Simple application form

Large Grants (Over £5,000)

• More detailed application required
• For projects addressing larger aspects of needs within the wider community
• Application: Extended application form

Priority Areas

The charity has opted to focus on three specific areas to support people who receive services from the Trust:

1. Improving Social Networks - Projects that help service users build connections and reduce isolation
2. Improving Employment Prospects - Initiatives supporting pathways to work and skills development
3. Improving Digital Accessibility - Projects enhancing digital inclusion and access to technology

What They Look For

• Projects demonstrating clear benefit to service users, public and/or staff with a concrete implementation plan
• Originality, innovation and inventiveness
• Plans for sustainability and impact monitoring
• Novel, imaginative and alternative approaches

What They Don't Fund

• Services or items that NHS funding should provide
• Projects without sustainability plans (charity cannot re-fund previously funded projects)

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Governance and Leadership

Trustee: East London NHS Foundation Trust (sole trustee)

Decision-Making Body: ELFT Charitable Funds Committee considers all applications on a monthly basis.

No trustees receive remuneration, payments or benefits from the charity.

How to Apply to Elft Charity

Eligibility

Lead Applicants: Must be employed by ELFT and will remain employed for the duration of the grant.

Co-Applicants: External organizations or individuals may be co-applicants if their specific expertise is needed, but the lead applicant must be ELFT staff.

Important Note: External organizations cannot apply directly as the main applicant. This is an NHS trust charity that operates primarily for internal staff-led initiatives.

How to Apply

1. Submit applications to: elft.charity@nhs.net
2. Applications are reviewed by the ELFT Charitable Funds Committee

Decision Timeline

• Committee meets on a monthly basis to approve requests
• Specific decision timeframes not publicly stated

Reapplication Policy

No restrictions on how many times a staff member can apply for charitable funds. However:

• New bids must show how the project will be supported going forward
• The charity cannot re-fund a project that it has already funded
• Projects must demonstrate sustainability plans

Application Success Factors

Based on the charity's guidance, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Impact: Articulate the benefit on service users, public and/or staff with a clear plan to make it happen

1. Innovation: Show originality, innovation and inventiveness in approach - “novel, imaginative and alternative approaches especially welcome”

1. Sustainability: Include plans to make the project sustainable beyond the grant period and methods to monitor its impact

1. Strategic Alignment: Align with one or more of the three priority areas (Social Networks, Employment Prospects, Digital Accessibility)

1. Beyond Core NHS Services: Demonstrate that the project goes above NHS standard provision, trying “new approaches” and working “with people creatively to improve wellbeing”

1. Partnership Justification: If including external co-applicants, clearly explain why their specific expertise is needed

Example Funded Project:

• Winter Kits for Homeless People: The Greenhouse Practice in Hackney (providing GP services to rough sleepers and hostel residents) received funding for Winter Kits consisting of new coats, hats, gloves and socks for service users.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Staff-led only: You must be an ELFT staff member to apply as the lead applicant - external organizations cannot apply directly but may partner with staff
• Think creatively: The charity explicitly welcomes “novel, imaginative and alternative approaches” that go beyond standard NHS provision
• Plan for sustainability: Show how the project will continue after funding ends; the charity won't re-fund the same project
• Monthly opportunities: With monthly committee meetings, there are regular opportunities to apply throughout the year
• No reapplication restrictions: Unsuccessful applicants can reapply without waiting periods
• Focus on the three priorities: Strongest applications align with Improving Social Networks, Employment Prospects, or Digital Accessibility
• Contact for guidance: Email elft.charity@nhs.net for pre-application support and queries

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Tudwick Foundation
• St Giles-in-the-fields And William Shelton Educational Charity
• House Of Industry Estate
• The Harlow Health Centres Trust Limited
• Charles S French Charitable Trust
• Colchester Catalyst Charity
• Fowler Smith And Jones Trust
• The Wixamtree Trust
• St Andrew Holborn And Stafford's Charity
• Rosca Trust

References

• ELFT Charity Registration Details, Charity Commission Register of Charities, charity number 1198337: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5181532/full-print
• ELFT Charity webpage, East London NHS Foundation Trust: https://www.elft.nhs.uk/get-involved/elft-charity
• ELFT Charity Funding Guidance document, May 2023: https://www.elft.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/2023-07/ELFT Charity - Funding Guidance 05.05.23_0.pdf
• ELFT Charity article, Trust Talk Magazine: https://www.trusttalk.elft.nhs.uk/article/elft-charity/