Greenwich Hospital

Charity Number: CUSTOM_A694F259

Annual Expenditure: £6.3M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £6.26 million (2023-24)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Minimum 21 days
  • Grant Range: Up to £250,000 per application
  • Geographic Focus: UK-wide (Royal Navy and Royal Marines community)
  • Review Threshold: £20,000 (applications above this reviewed by Charity Scrutiny Panel)

Contact Details

Website: https://www.greenwichhospital.co.uk

Email: funding@grenhosp.org.uk

Phone: 0207 396 0150

Pre-application Contact: Applicants must contact the Charity Team before submitting an Expression of Interest to discuss eligibility and project alignment.

Overview

Greenwich Hospital was founded by Royal Charter in 1694 and is the oldest provider of Royal Navy charity. As a unique Crown body (not registered with the Charity Commission but recognized by HMRC as a not-for-profit organization), it has been supporting serving and former Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel and their families for over 330 years. The charity awarded £6.26 million in grants and bursaries during 2023-24, with expenditure rising to £33.9 million (including sheltered housing subsidies and educational support). Director Deirdre Mills, appointed in February 2023, leads the organization's charitable provision. The charity receives no public money and operates through investment income and property holdings, achieving a 7.5% gross return on its total fund in 2022-23. Greenwich Hospital works in partnership with the Royal Navy, military charities, and other organizations to support the naval community through different life stages and challenges.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Greenwich Hospital does not operate fixed grant programs but considers applications on merit across multiple funding strands. Applications are reviewed in two tiers:

  • Up to £20,000: Reviewed by the Greenwich Hospital Charity Team (rolling basis)
  • £20,001 to £250,000: Reviewed by the termly Charity Scrutiny Panel

The charity will fund salary costs, project costs, and overhead expenses.

Priority Areas

Greenwich Hospital funds work that improves health and well-being and empowers people to realize their potential across six key strands:

  • Education: Educational bursaries, learning support programs, and opportunities for Service children
  • Housing: Support for housing-related needs and maintenance of sheltered housing for eligible beneficiaries
  • Family Support: Programs supporting naval families through various life challenges
  • Health and Well-being: Physical and mental health initiatives, including horticultural therapy and therapeutic interventions
  • Employability: Civilian employment support and skills development for transitioning personnel
  • Crisis Support: Emergency financial assistance and intervention during hardship

Recent funded areas include sailing courses for youth, horticultural therapy, employment transition programs, nursing care support, travel assistance, and benevolence grants for families facing financial hardship.

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are outlined in the Grant Making Policy 2025 document. Organizations must work directly with serving or former Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel or their families to be eligible. The charity does not fund:

  • Organizations without a clear connection to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines community
  • Projects requiring funds in less than 21 days
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Governance and Leadership

Greenwich Hospital operates outside the traditional charity trustee model. The Secretary of State for Defence holds legal responsibility on behalf of the Sovereign and the Crown. Day-to-day operations rest with the Director, currently Deirdre Mills (appointed February 2023).

Advisory Board: Chaired by the Second Sea Lord, with members appointed by the Secretary of State for Defence.

Advisory Board Members Include:

  • Bethany Burrow (joined 2024) - Governance and People Committee Chair, Audit Committee member
  • Robert Hayes (joined 2023) - Finance Committee member
  • Philip Lawford (joined 2023) - Charity and Education Committee Chair, Governance and People Committee member
  • Mark Lewthwaite (joined 2022) - Audit Committee Chair, Finance Committee member
  • Nigel Bolton (joined 2023)
  • Trevor Rowell (joined 2023)
  • Ed Skeates (joined 2023)

Finance Committee: Chaired by the Royal Navy Finance Director, advises on investments.

Director Quote: Deirdre Mills stated, “Greenwich Hospital funding supports serving and former personnel through different life stages and challenges” and “Supporting children and young people from Naval family backgrounds goes far beyond fulfilling basic needs.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1 - Initial Contact: Contact the Charity Team at funding@grenhosp.org.uk to discuss your inquiry and confirm eligibility.

Step 2 - Expression of Interest: Upon confirmation, applicants receive a link to create an online account and complete an Expression of Interest form.

Step 3 - Full Application: The Charity Team reviews the expression of interest and advises whether there is scope to support the request. If approved, a complete charity application is sent via the online account.

Required Documents: Review the Grant Making Policy 2025 and Advice for Applicants guidance documents (available on their website).

Decision Timeline

  • Minimum Notice: 21 days before funds are required
  • Up to £20,000: Reviewed on a rolling basis by the Charity Team
  • £20,001-£250,000: Reviewed termly by the Charity Scrutiny Panel

Exact decision timelines are not publicly specified but depend on the application tier and panel meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Greenwich Hospital delivered £5.31 million in charitable spending and provided 231 grants and bursaries in their most recent reported year. Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policies are not explicitly detailed in publicly available materials. Applicants should discuss reapplication options with the Charity Team at funding@grenhosp.org.uk.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Beneficiary Group: Applications must clearly demonstrate direct benefit to serving or former Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel or their families. This is the fundamental eligibility criterion.

Measurable Impact on Well-being: Projects should show how they improve health and well-being or empower beneficiaries to realize their potential. Greenwich Hospital values concrete outcomes.

Partnership Approach: The charity emphasizes collaboration. Director Deirdre Mills noted their commitment to "collaborate with RNRMC in supporting the Naval Children's Charity's Benevolence Grants Programme," highlighting the value placed on partnership working.

Life Stage Support: Applications demonstrating understanding of different life stages and challenges faced by the naval community are well-received. Mills emphasized that funding “supports serving and former personnel through different life stages and challenges.”

Recent Funded Projects Include:

  • HighGround Charity (£24,448): Horticultural therapy sessions at Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre
  • Forces Employment Charity (£300,000): Support for former Royal Navy personnel transitioning to civilian employment
  • Naval Children's Charity (£640,908 over three years, plus £720,000 annually with RNRMC): Life Chances programme and Benevolence Grants Programme
  • Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society (£221,360): Nursing care fee support for eligible former Royal Navy personnel
  • Fares4Free (£119,936 over three years): Travel assistance for Scottish-based naval families
  • RNSA and Andrew Simpson Foundation: Free sailing courses for children aged 11-17 with naval parent/carer

Advice from the Funder: Contact the Charity Team early to discuss eligibility and project fit before investing time in a full application. The two-stage process (Expression of Interest followed by full application) allows for dialogue and refinement.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Beneficiary eligibility is paramount: Your project must directly serve serving or former Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel or their families. Without this connection, applications will not be considered.
  • Early engagement is encouraged: Contact funding@grenhosp.org.uk to discuss your project before formal application. This dialogue can save time and increase alignment.
  • Plan ahead for timing: Request funds at least 21 days in advance. Applications above £20,000 reviewed termly, so factor in additional time.
  • Understand the funding strands: Frame your application within their six priority areas (education, housing, family support, health and well-being, employability, crisis support) and demonstrate clear outcomes.
  • Partnership is valued: Greenwich Hospital works collaboratively with other naval charities and organizations. Showing how your work complements or enhances existing provision strengthens applications.
  • Be realistic about grant size: Applications can range up to £250,000, but review recent awards to understand typical grant sizes for different project types.
  • Demonstrate multi-year impact where relevant: Several recent grants span three years, suggesting Greenwich Hospital is open to sustained funding relationships for strategic initiatives.

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