Nottingham University Hospitals Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £3,680,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Approximately 16 weeks
• Grant Range: £5,000 - £25,000 (research grants); varies for equipment/facilities
• Geographic Focus: Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust sites only
• Eligibility: NUH staff only - not open to external organizations

Contact Details

Address: Nottingham University Hospitals Charity, 2 Embley Road, Nottingham, NG5 1RE

Phone: 0115 962 7905

Email:

• General: charity@nuh.nhs.uk or hello@nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk
• Grant applications: charitygrants@nuh.nhs.uk
• Research grants: CharityResearch@nuh.nhs.uk

Website: www.nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk

Overview

Nottingham University Hospitals Charity (registered charity 1165397) was established to support Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The charity raises approximately £4 million annually to fund improvements across four hospital sites: Queen's Medical Centre (including Nottingham Children's Hospital), City Hospital, Ropewalk House, and Hayward House. Since its formation, the charity has distributed £3.68 million in grants annually, focusing on state-of-the-art equipment, facility improvements, medical research, staff development, and enhanced patient care services. The charity has contributed almost £12 million to research at the hospitals over the past 15 years. Under the leadership of CEO Nigel Gregory (appointed March 2024) and Chair of Trustees Carole Ayre, the charity works closely with NUH staff to identify areas of greatest need and transform patient experiences through strategic funding.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Research Grant Programme (England Pump Priming)

• Amount: Up to £25,000 per project
• Duration: Maximum 2 years
• Purpose: Entry-level grants for pilot clinical research studies and early-stage research
• Eligibility: NUH-based researchers (staff only)
• Focus: Original research benefiting patients; interdisciplinary proposals particularly welcome
• Annual Budget: Up to £125,000 per year
• Review: Applications assessed by Research Advisory Board including public and patient representatives
• Reporting: Six-monthly progress reports required

General Grants Programme

• Amount: Varies (threshold at £5,000 for application categorization)
• Purpose: Equipment, facility improvements, patient care enhancements, staff development
• Eligibility: NUH staff across all four hospital sites
• Application: Online grants system via NHS SharePoint portal
• Requirements: Must align with Charity Guidelines (available on NUH Intranet)

Priority Areas

The charity funds projects across four strategic themes:

1. Patient Facilities and Equipment

• State-of-the-art medical equipment (e.g., £3 million iMRI scanner, brain wave monitors)
• Life-saving devices (air ambulance equipment, specialist diagnostic tools)
• Patient comfort amenities (rest gardens, music therapy, massage therapy)
• Major refurbishment projects (e.g., £500,000 parent accommodation refurbishment)

2. Research and Innovation

• Clinical research studies across adult and paediatric specialties
• Early-stage research requiring “pump priming” funding
• Interdisciplinary research proposals
• Studies directly benefiting patient health and communities

3. Staff Education and Development

• Professional development initiatives
• Staff training programmes
• Staff wellbeing support

4. Community Health Initiatives

• Youth violence intervention programmes (e.g., £100,000 Redthread partnership)
• School-based health education (Injury Minimisation Programme for Schools)
• Specialist services addressing health inequalities

Recent Major Funded Projects

• £999,999 for surgical robot at City Hospital
• £3 million intra-operative MRI machine (iMRI) for Nottingham Children's Hospital
• £500,000 refurbishment of parent and family accommodation
• £400,000 for specialist Advanced Nurse Practitioners in dementia care
• £100,000 Youth Violence Intervention Programme
• £70,000 PhD research fellow in dementia care
• £43,000 Playlist for Life dementia project

What They Don't Fund

This charity only funds projects within Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. External organizations, community groups, other NHS trusts, or independent researchers not employed by NUH cannot apply.

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Governance and Leadership

Executive Team

Nigel Gregory - Chief Executive (from March 2024)

• Former Director of Development at the charity (7 years)
• On his appointment, stated: “I know from my experience with the Charity what is needed to develop even stronger partnerships between us and the hospital Trust, to make patient care as good as it can possibly be.”

Julie Brailsford - Deputy Chief Executive & Finance Director

• Qualified accountant with the charity since 2008
• 20-year NHS Finance background
• Oversees finance and governance arrangements

Board of Trustees

Carole Ayre (Chair)

• Retired Partner at Browne Jacobson law firm
• Led Clinical Negligence team with extensive NHS sector experience
• National Trust volunteer

Sir David Greenaway

• Former Vice Chancellor of University of Nottingham (until 2017)
• Chair of Armed Forces Pay Review Body
• Led Shape of Training Review (2013)
• Knighted for services to higher education and public policy (2014)

Roger Whittle

• Founder and CEO of Jigsaw24 (IT solutions company, £150M+ annual sales)
• Trustee since 2016
• Personal connection: daughter received care at Nottingham Children's Hospital (2011-2013)

Mark King

• 27-year aerospace career at Rolls-Royce
• Former President of Aerospace division (£8.5B sales, 27,000 employees)
• Currently chairs three companies

Roger Summerton (joined February 2020)

• Chartered accountant with 45-year career
• Former KPMG partner (20 years)

Ilana Freestone

• CEO of Active Partners Trust
• Focus on community empowerment and activity programmes

Paul Matthew

• Chief Financial Officer at Nottingham University Hospital (joined May 2023)
• Link Trustee representing the NHS Trust
• Oversees Estates, Facilities, and Major Programmes

Dr Judith Grant

• 24-year career as Consultant Neonatologist at Queen's Medical Centre
• Former Training Programme Director in Paediatrics (10 years)

How to Apply to Nottingham University Hospitals Charity

How to Apply

Important Note: This charity does not accept applications from external organizations. Grants are only available to staff employed by Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust.

For NUH Staff - General Grants:

1. Access the online grants system via NHS SharePoint portal
2. Review Charity Guidelines available on NUH Intranet before applying
3. Complete application form indicating whether grant is below or over £5,000
4. System allows saving progress and ensures alignment with guidelines
5. Applications assessed by charity team in consultation with hospital leadership

For NUH Staff - Research Grants:

1. Contact Research & Innovation Funding Development Team for guidance
2. Engage with NIHR Research Support Service for proposal development support
3. Submit application through formal research grant application process
4. Consider connecting with Public and Patient Involvement Team for research development
5. Ensure proposal is for original, unpublished research
6. Applications reviewed by Research Advisory Board

Key Contacts:

• General grants: charitygrants@nuh.nhs.uk
• Research grants: CharityResearch@nuh.nhs.uk
• General enquiries: hello@nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk or 0115 962 7905

Decision Timeline

• Typical Decision Time: Approximately 16 weeks from submission to decision
• Research Grants: Reviewed by dedicated Research Advisory Board on scheduled basis
• Reporting Requirements: Research grant recipients submit progress reports every six months

Success Rates

Success rate statistics are not publicly available. However, the charity distributes £3.68 million annually and has supported hundreds of research projects over 15 years, alongside major equipment and facility projects across four hospital sites.

Reapplication Policy

• Research funding awarded for maximum 2 years; all income must be utilized within this timeframe
• Funding awarded cannot be transferred to a different proposal
• Specific reapplication policies not publicly detailed; contact charity for guidance

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Hospital Priorities:

The charity “works closely with NUH staff to identify the areas in greatest need of funding.” Applications should demonstrate how proposed projects address identified gaps or priorities within the hospital trust's strategic objectives.

Patient-Centered Focus:

The charity prioritizes “state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to directly enhance patient care.” Applications should clearly articulate direct patient benefits and improvements to care quality or patient/family experiences.

Research Quality and Innovation:

For research grants, “proposals which are interdisciplinary in nature will be particularly welcome.” Applications should demonstrate:

• High-quality, original research methodology
• Clear pilot or “pump priming” value for future larger studies
• Potential to benefit patients and communities directly
• Involvement of public and patient representatives where appropriate

Strategic Partnership Approach:

CEO Nigel Gregory emphasizes “developing even stronger partnerships between us and the hospital Trust, to make patient care as good as it can possibly be.” Applications should show collaboration across departments or specialties and alignment with trust-wide initiatives.

Comprehensive Proposal Development:

Applicants are encouraged to engage with support services:

• NIHR Research Support Service for methodology and health economics guidance
• Public and Patient Involvement Team for community engagement
• Funding Development Team at Research & Innovation department

Clear Reporting and Accountability:

Successful applicants must demonstrate capacity to provide regular progress updates (six-monthly for research grants) and deliver measurable outcomes within specified timeframes.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This charity is not open to external applications. It exclusively funds projects within Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and only NUH staff can apply.

For NUH Staff:

• Partnership is paramount: The charity operates as a true partner to the hospital trust, working collaboratively to identify and address priority needs
• Patient impact is central: Every application should clearly demonstrate how funding will directly improve patient care, experiences, or outcomes
• Use available support: Engage with Research Support Services, Public and Patient Involvement Team, and Funding Development Team before submitting
• Think strategically: Projects aligned with hospital trust priorities and demonstrating cross-departmental collaboration are valued
• Research applications should emphasize innovation: Interdisciplinary proposals and those providing “pump priming” for larger future studies are particularly welcome
• Plan for accountability: Be prepared to provide regular progress reports and demonstrate measurable outcomes
• Consider the long-term vision: The charity has invested £12 million in research over 15 years and funded transformational equipment - they think strategically about long-term impact

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity
• University Hospitals Bristol & Weston Charity
• The Get A-head Charitable Trust
• Imperial Health Charity
• The Stoller Charitable Trust
• Sheffield Hospitals Charity
• The Haydn Green Foundation
• The Tompkins Foundation
• The Rosemere Cancer Foundation
• Westminster Medical School Research Trust

References

• Nottingham University Hospitals Charity official website: https://www.nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk
• Team NUH staff information: https://www.nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk/team-nuh
• Research Fund information: https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/nhc-england-2024/
• Trustees page: https://www.nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk/what-we-do/about-us/our-trustees
• Annual Reports: https://www.nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk/what-we-do/about-us/annual-reports
• Patient facilities and equipment impact: https://www.nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk/what-we-do/our-impact/patient-facilities-and-equipment
• Meet the team: https://www.nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk/what-we-do/about-us/meet-the-team
• Charity Commission register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5068297
• NUH Funding overview: https://www.nuh.nhs.uk/funding-research/