Imperial Health Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £7.6 million (charitable activities 2023/24)
• Total Income: £7.2 million (2023/24)
• Decision Time: 2 working days (patient hardship), 10 working days (small grants under £2,000), quarterly meetings (small grants £2,000+), annual committee in October (Innovate at Imperial)
• Grant Range: £1,500 - £85,000
• Geographic Focus: Five hospitals in north west London (Charing Cross, Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea, St Mary's, Western Eye)
• Total Assets: Holds investments generating £1.72 million annually
• Volunteers: 936 active volunteers

Contact Details

Website: www.imperialcharity.org.uk

Email: info@imperialcharity.org.uk

Grants Team: grants@imperialcharity.org.uk

Phone: 020 3857 9840

Online Portal: imperial.flexigrant.com

Overview

Imperial Health Charity (registered 2015, charity number 1166084) is the official charity of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, supporting five London hospitals: Charing Cross, Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea, St Mary's and the Western Eye. With annual charitable expenditure of £7.6 million (2023/24), the charity funds initiatives “above and beyond what the NHS can do on its own” including major redevelopments, medical research, cutting-edge equipment, staff wellbeing, and patient hardship support. Since launching their Innovate at Imperial programme in 2019, they have awarded over £2 million to help hospital staff develop innovative healthcare solutions. The charity also manages an Arts Council-accredited hospital art collection and coordinates 936 volunteers across all five hospitals. Leadership transitioned in 2025 from Ian Lush OBE (Chief Executive for 11 years) to Gail Scott-Spicer, who brings renewed focus on supporting the NHS through challenging times.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Small Grants: £1 - £10,000 (rolling applications)

• Supports staff-led projects to improve patient experience and staff amenities
• Grants under £2,000: decision within 10 working days
• Grants £2,000-£10,000: quarterly decision meetings
• Maximum 12-month funding period
• Requires Expression of Interest form before full application

Innovate at Imperial: Up to £85,000 (annual funding round)

• Pioneering projects addressing hospital processes, staff wellbeing, patient safety, or care improvements
• Applications assessed at annual committee meeting in October
• Since 2019, awarded over £2 million; most recently £737,000 to 11 projects
• Independent review found programme “fair, equitable and beneficial to patients”
• Open to permanent clinical and non-clinical Trust staff, plus honorary contract holders delivering Trust services

Research Fellowships: Up to £85,000 (was £65,000, recently increased)

• 12-month funding covering salary and research expenses
• Pre-doctoral and post-doctoral opportunities
• For doctors, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, pharmacists, psychologists
• Since 2009, awarded 80+ fellowships totalling over £3 million
• Applicants must be UK residents with right to work in UK

Patient Hardship Grants: Up to £1,500 (rolling applications)

• Emergency grants for patients facing sudden financial crisis due to hospital care
• Covers travel, food, accommodation, other essentials
• Decision within 2 working days
• Only Trust staff can apply on behalf of patients
• Over 100 grants awarded recently

Special Purpose Funds: Variable amounts (hundreds of individual funds)

• Dedicated funds for specific departments, services, or purposes
• Donated by grateful patients and families
• Accessible to Trust staff for projects beyond NHS provision

Compassionate Communities (Community Grants): Variable amounts

• For organisations serving north west London boroughs
• Must have 3+ years operating history, turnover under £500k
• Supports health and wellbeing in local communities

Priority Areas

Imperial Health Charity's three strategic objectives for the next three years:

1. Enhance patient experience throughout care and treatment journey
2. Expand the Trust's capacity to provide outstanding care and improve health outcomes
3. Support better health and wellbeing for patients in surrounding communities

Specific funding themes:

• Medical equipment and assistive technology
• Research and innovation in healthcare delivery
• Staff wellbeing and professional development
• Patient experience improvements (waiting areas, information access, wellbeing activities)
• Major hospital redevelopments and facility improvements
• Arts in healthcare
• Community health initiatives in north west London

What They Don't Fund

Small Grants exclusions:

• Projects benefiting only one individual
• CQC recommendations (core Trust responsibility)
• Quality accreditation requirements (core Trust responsibility)
• Scientific medical research, pilot studies, feasibility studies (direct to Research Fellowships)
• Individual conference attendance or publication costs (covered by Trust's Learning & Development Awards)
• Patient beds and similar furniture (core Trust responsibility)
• App/device development or technology projects (direct to Innovate at Imperial)
• Branding and website development
• Projects solely benefiting private patients (though can benefit them if NHS patients benefit in majority)

Innovate at Imperial exclusions:

• Fellowship supplements or active research project supplements
• Salaries for research fellows or research nurses
• Applications from fixed-term contract staff
• Imperial College London employees (unless co-located and pre-discussed)
• Teams with active Innovate at Imperial grants

Research Fellowship exclusions:

• Non-UK residents or those without UK work rights
• Applications not using Trust contact details and nhs.net email

General principle: All funding must support activities “above and beyond what the NHS can do on its own”

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Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Chair: Dr Andreas Raffel - Served 10 years as non-executive director of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, extensive board and trustee experience in education, health, and not-for-profit sectors

Board Composition: Up to 10 trustees (7 independent members, 3 representing NHS Trust)

Trustees include:

• Bob - Vice Chair of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Non-Executive Director at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust and London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
• Julian - Consultant in emergency medicine
• Arun - Over 20 years IT and leadership experience in global organizations
• Tingting - Chief Transformation Officer at Moove (global mobility fintech)
• Christiane - Finance and investment committees

No trustees receive remuneration

Executive Leadership Team

Chief Executive: Gail Scott-Spicer (appointed 2025, succeeding Ian Lush OBE)

Senior Team:

• Graeme - Director of Finance & Resources (joined March 2024)
• Carolyn - Head of Grants (joined June 2024)
• Chris - Head of Volunteering (appointed June 2022)
• Lucy - Arts Manager
• Louise - Head of Office (HR, office management, executive support)

42 employees, 9 trustees, 936 volunteers

Leadership Quotes

Gail Scott-Spicer on her appointment: “I am immensely excited to be stepping into the role of Chief Executive of Imperial Health Charity and leading the staff and volunteers as they continue to deliver excellence across all areas of our work. The NHS is facing challenging times, and hospital charities like ours have a vital and growing role to play in supporting the health and wellbeing of staff and patients across the hospital estate. As we move toward a new strategic period, I am confident we have the skills and ambition to help our hospitals do even more, and help everyone in the communities we serve to thrive.”

Ian Lush OBE on his retirement: “After more than ten years in this wonderful job, it has not been an easy decision to retire, but I feel it is the right time for me, and – with a new chairman, a strong board of trustees, and a great leadership team in place – the right time for the charity as well.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: Imperial Health Charity funding is restricted to Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust staff applying for projects at the five Trust hospitals. This is not a public grant-making charity - only NHS staff at Charing Cross, Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea, St Mary's, and Western Eye hospitals can apply.

Online Portal: All applications must be submitted via Flexigrant (imperial.flexigrant.com) - hard-copy applications not accepted

Application Process:

• Projects requiring line manager and directorial support (Divisional Director, Divisional Director of Operations, Divisional Director of Nursing, Clinical Director, or Divisional Director of Research)
• Detailed cost breakdown required
• Quotations needed for items over £500
• Full justification for each cost

Application Journey Support: Charity provides “Your Application Journey” infographic and comprehensive Guidance Notes

Innovate at Imperial specific: Two-stage application process with separate deadlines for Stage 1 and Stage 2

Decision Timeline

Patient Hardship Grants: 2 working days

Small Grants under £2,000: 10 working days

Small Grants £2,000-£10,000: Quarterly decision meetings

Innovate at Imperial: Annual committee meeting in October

Research Fellowships: Variable, based on programme cycle

Notifications: Acknowledgement email sent via Flexigrant upon submission. Charity always informs applicants when to expect decision and keeps them informed of changes.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages not publicly disclosed. However:

• Innovate at Imperial most recently funded 11 projects from available pool
• Since 2019, Innovate at Imperial awarded over £2 million across multiple funding rounds
• Research Fellowships have awarded 80+ fellowships since 2009
• Over 100 patient hardship grants awarded recently

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants can reapply with no specified waiting period.

Feedback process:

• All unsuccessful applicants receive feedback explaining the decision
• Feedback includes guidance about reapplying
• Strongly advised: Address issues raised in feedback when reapplying
• Applicants can contact grants team with queries about feedback

The charity takes a supportive approach to reapplications, viewing them as opportunities for applicants to strengthen proposals.

Application Success Factors

Programme-Specific Advice from the Charity

Strategic Alignment Critical: Projects must clearly demonstrate meeting at least one of Imperial Health Charity's strategic objectives:

• Improve patient experience and deliver patient-centred care
• Develop careers and enhance wellbeing of Trust staff
• Expand Trust's capacity for outstanding care
• Support health and wellbeing in surrounding communities

Cost Justification: Provide detailed breakdown and full justification for each cost. For items over £500, include quotations. This demonstrates thorough planning and value for money.

Avoid AI-Generated Content: The charity explicitly warns that applications perceived to be “significantly supported by the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as ChatGPT to generate, cut and/or paste answers without subsequent personalization are likely to be scored down during the shortlisting process.” Personalization is essential.

Use Provided Resources: Download and review sample application forms for Stage 1 and Stage 2 to understand what strong answers look like. The charity provides these specifically to help applicants succeed.

Address Feedback: If reapplying after an unsuccessful attempt, the charity “strongly advises” addressing issues raised in feedback. This is the clearest indicator of what they want to see improved.

Funded Project Examples Demonstrating Success Patterns

Innovation with Measurable Impact: Obstructive Sleep Apnoea wearable sensor project showed 80% reduction in patient waiting times for diagnosis - quantifiable outcomes matter.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Virus Shield project partnered clinicians with Mercedes F1 engineers - creative partnerships beyond traditional healthcare are valued.

Equity and Data: Ovarian cancer data analysis project explicitly examined inequalities by demographics (age, ethnicity, geographical location) - addressing health inequalities aligns with NHS priorities.

Staff Wellbeing with Patient Impact: Breakroom transformations created “calm and peaceful environments for [staff] to relax and recharge during a busy shift” - staff wellbeing projects should connect to improved patient care.

Independent Validation

Innovate at Imperial underwent independent review (September 2024, Powellite Impact) found it “fair, equitable and beneficial to patients” - this suggests equity considerations are embedded in assessment.

What Makes Projects Stand Out

1. Clear “Above and Beyond” Rationale: Explicitly show why NHS core funding won't cover this
2. Patient Experience Focus: Even staff wellbeing projects should demonstrate patient benefit
3. Evidence-Based Need: Use data, feedback, or Trust priorities to establish need
4. Realistic Budget: Over-specified quotations and justifications build confidence
5. Sustainability Thinking: While not always required, consider project legacy beyond funding period
6. Trust-Wide Benefit: Projects benefiting multiple departments or hospitals may have stronger case than single-ward initiatives
7. Innovation Readiness: For Innovate at Imperial, show you've moved beyond theoretical to implementable solutions

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• NHS STAFF ONLY: This charity exclusively funds Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust staff for projects at the five Trust hospitals - not available to external organizations
• Multiple Entry Points: Different programmes for different scales - start small (£1-£10,000 Small Grants) to build relationship before pursuing major innovation funding (up to £85,000)
• Speed Varies by Scale: Patient hardship decided in 2 days, small grants under £2,000 in 10 days, larger grants quarterly/annually - plan application timing accordingly
• Strategic Fit Non-Negotiable: Must explicitly demonstrate alignment with at least one of three strategic objectives - review these before drafting application
• Expression of Interest Required: For Small Grants, submit EOI to grants@imperialcharity.org.uk before full application - use this to test project viability
• Director-Level Buy-In Essential: Innovate at Imperial requires support from line manager AND relevant director - secure this early, not as afterthought
• Personalize Everything: Charity explicitly scores down AI-generated content - invest time in authentic, specific narrative about your project and its context
• Learn from Feedback: Reapplication welcomed and encouraged, but must address previous feedback - treat unsuccessful applications as development opportunities rather than rejections
• “Above and Beyond” Test: Every project must clearly articulate why this cannot be funded through core NHS provision - weak rationale on this point likely leads to rejection
• Patient Benefit Central: Even staff wellbeing and education projects must demonstrate connection to improved patient experience or outcomes - this is healthcare charity, not general staff benefits fund

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The London Community Foundation
• THE BRIDGE TRUST
• THE BLAIR FOUNDATION
• SCHRODER CHARITY
• National Lottery

References

1. Imperial Health Charity official website - www.imperialcharity.org.uk
2. Charity Commission Register of Charities - Charity number 1166084, https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regId=1166084&subId=0
3. “Small Grants Programme” - https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/grants/small-grants-fund
4. “Innovate at Imperial” programme page - https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/grants/Apply-for-funding/innovate-at-imperial
5. “Funding for Research” - https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/nhs-staff-area/Apply-for-funding/Funding-for-research
6. “Funding to Support a Patient” - https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/nhs-staff-area/Apply-for-funding/Funding-to-support-a-patient
7. “Our Strategy” - https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/about-us/our-strategy
8. “Our Trustees” - https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/about-us/our-people/our-trustees
9. “Our Executive Team” - https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/about-us/our-people/our-executive-team
10. “Imperial Health Charity appoints new Chief Executive” - https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/news-and-stories/news/imperial-health-charity-appoints-new-chief-executive
11. “Charity-funded project transforming diagnosis for patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnoea wins top health award” - https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/news-and-stories/news/charity-funded-project-transforms-diagnosis-for-patients-with-obstructive-sleep-apnoea-through-a-wearable-sensor
12. “Kick-start for more healthcare innovation projects, thanks to charity funding” - https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/news-and-stories/news/kick-start-for-more-healthcare-innovation-projects-thanks-to-charity-funding
13. “Applications open for Research Fellowships programme” - https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/news-and-stories/news/applications-open-for-research-fellowships-programme
14. “Supporting patients and their families at times of financial crisis” - https://www.imperialcharity.org.uk/news-and-stories/news/supporting-patients-and-their-families-at-times-of-financial-crisis