Sheffield Hospitals Charity

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £2.5 million+ (minimum)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: 2 weeks post-panel meeting (grants over £5k); up to 4 weeks (grants under £5k)
• Grant Range: £500 - £50,000
• Geographic Focus: Sheffield (NHS services)

Contact Details

Address: Leah's Yard, 20 Cambridge Street, Sheffield

Email: charity@shct.nhs.uk (general enquiries) / grants@shct.nhs.uk (grant applications)

Phone: 0114 700 4430

Office Hours: 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday

Website: https://www.sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk/

Pre-application Support: Grants Team available at grants@shct.nhs.uk for advice on applications

Overview

Sheffield Hospitals Charity (registered charity number 1169762) was incorporated as a private limited company by guarantee on 12 October 2016, with its governing document amended by scheme dated 29 March 2017. The charity grants a minimum of £2.5 million annually to Sheffield's hospitals, community teams, and health and social care services. Its mission is to enhance the care and treatment of patients accessing NHS services in Sheffield by supporting high-priority areas beyond the scope of government funding. The charity supports five main hospitals: Northern General Hospital, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Charles Clifford Dental Hospital, The Jessop Wing Maternity Hospital, and Weston Park Cancer Hospital. Led by CEO Beth Crackles, the charity has recently undergone strategic transformation and works collaboratively with NHS colleagues, trustees, and external stakeholders to ensure funding reaches areas where it's most needed.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Little Wishes Fund (Rolling)

• Amount: Up to £2,500 (inclusive of VAT)
• Total pot: £50,000 per financial year
• Decision time: Reviewed end of each month; outcome within 4 weeks
• Application method: Rolling basis
• Exclusions: Cannot support research, staff roles, study leave/training, or areas with sufficient earmarked funds

Grants Over £5,000 (Panel Review)

• Amount: £5,000+
• Decision time: Reviewed by Grants Investment Panel (meets 6 times/year) or Research Grants Investment Panel (meets 2 times/year); outcome within 2 weeks of panel meeting
• Application method: Expression of Interest required; application form sent if eligible
• Note: Applications cannot be for “top-up funding” - must fund initiative in its entirety

SHC Travel Scholarship

• Amount: £500 - £5,000
• Total available: £10,000 annually
• Opens: May 8, 2025
• Closes: June 16, 2025
• Eligibility: Registered nurses, midwives, allied health professionals at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS FT
• Focus: Cross-learning and implementing best practices in patient care

Supporting Caring & Cared for Staff

• Amount: £5,000 minimum
• Total available: £75,000
• Opens: March 17, 2025
• Closes: May 1, 2025
• Focus: NHS staff mental health and wellbeing

Reducing Health Inequalities in Sheffield

• Amount: £5,000 minimum
• Total available: £100,000
• Opens: June 5, 2025
• Closes: July 17, 2025
• Focus: Addressing systematic health differences across Sheffield

Dragons' Den

• Amount: Up to £25,000 (standard); up to £50,000 (exceptional projects)
• Total available: £300,000
• Application deadline: November 21, 2025
• Pitches: January 13-22, 2026
• Awards announced: Mid-March 2026
• Focus: Innovative ideas supporting patient care and staff wellbeing

Sheffield Hospitals Charity Research Call

• Amount: Up to £50,000
• Total available: £300,000
• Timing: November (annually)
• Note: Ethical and regulatory approval required before research commences

Priority Areas

The charity has four strategic priorities:

1. Supporting Patient Centered Experiences: Enhancements to patient care, improvements to hospital environment, equipment
2. Supporting Caring and Cared for Staff: Staff development, wellbeing initiatives, mental health support
3. Reducing Health Inequalities in Sheffield: Projects addressing systematic health differences across communities
4. Maximizing Technology, Research and Innovation: Life-changing research, technological advancement, innovative solutions

The charity is “always interested to hear from NHS staff about innovative ways to support day-to-day work” and funds projects that cover costs NHS budgets cannot.

What They Don't Fund

• Commercial research: The charity cannot fund or manage funds for commercial research
• Top-up funding: Applications must fund an idea/initiative in its entirety, not supplement other funding
• Research without approval: All charitably funded research must have ethical and regulatory approval before work commences
• Areas with sufficient funds: Little Wishes Fund not available to areas with sufficient earmarked funds
• Staff roles via Little Wishes: Little Wishes Fund cannot support staff roles
• Study leave/training via Little Wishes: Little Wishes Fund cannot support study leave or training
• Projects outside charitable objects: Grant activities must further the Objects of Sheffield Hospitals Charity and be in the public benefit

Ready to write a winning application for Sheffield Hospitals Charity?

Our AI helps you craft proposals that match their exact priorities. Save 10+ hours and increase your success rate.

Get Free Beta Access

Governance and Leadership

CEO: Beth Crackles - leads the charity with varied charity experience, working with the Board of Trustees, Charity staff, NHS colleagues, and external stakeholders to ensure strategic and collaborative approaches.

Governing Structure: The charity operates under a Memorandum and Articles of Association, with oversight from a Board of Trustees responsible for controlling the work, management, and administration of the charity. A Finance Director works with the Senior Leadership Team, CEO, and Trustees to ensure strategic objectives are achieved. An Executive Assistant supports board coordination and effectiveness.

Strategic Approach: The charity has undergone strategic transformation over the last 12 months, working to a collaboratively developed strategy that emphasizes partnership with NHS colleagues and alignment with trust priorities.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Grants Under £5,000 (Little Wishes Fund):

• Applications open year-round on a rolling basis
• Complete application form on charity website
• Applications reviewed at end of each month
• Outcome notification within 4 weeks of completed application

For Grants Over £5,000:

1. Notification within 2 weeks of panel meeting

For Specific Funding Calls:

• Check funding calls page for specific deadlines and requirements
• Some calls include webinars (e.g., Dragons' Den) and pitch presentations
• Each call has specific opening/closing dates and review timelines

After Approval:

• Grant Holder must sign and return Grant Acceptance Form within 1 month of notification
• Grants must be used solely for purposes outlined in original application
• Detailed reporting and evaluation required after grant completion

Eligibility: Applications open to:

• Staff members employed or holding honorary contracts at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust or Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
• Staff members of partner universities working in collaboration with these NHS Foundation Trusts
• Other charities and organizations with direct links back to one of the Trusts

Decision Timeline

| Grant Type | Review Process | Decision Time |

|------------|---------------|---------------|

| Little Wishes (up to £2,500) | Monthly review | Within 4 weeks |

| Grants over £5k | Panel meets 6x/year | Within 2 weeks post-panel |

| Research grants over £5k | Panel meets 2x/year | Within 2 weeks post-panel |

| Specific funding calls | Varies by call | Specified in each call |

Sample Panel Dates:

• Application received by: April 21, 2025 → Panel review: May 22, 2025 → Outcome: May/June 2025
• Application received by: February 9, 2026 → Panel review: March 10, 2026 → Outcome: March/April 2026

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. Contact grants@shct.nhs.uk for guidance on your specific project's fit with charity priorities.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly stated. Unsuccessful applicants should contact the Grants Team at grants@shct.nhs.uk for feedback and guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

What the Charity Values

• Innovation: The charity is “always interested to hear from NHS staff about innovative ways to support day-to-day work”
• Patient-centered approaches: Projects that enhance patient experiences and care quality
• Addressing gaps: Initiatives that support “high priority areas beyond the scope of government funding”
• Strategic alignment: Projects that align with the charity's four priority areas
• Complete funding plans: Applications must fund initiatives in their entirety, not serve as top-up funding
• Public benefit: All grant activities must be in the public benefit

Recent Funded Projects

Arts in Health and Volunteer Services (2023-2024):

• 302 active volunteers supported over 73,000 patients
• 26,000+ pharmacy packages delivered by volunteer pharmacy runners
• 18 professional music concerts per month across 19 wards

Jessop Wing Operating Theatres:

• Installation of landscape artwork
• Creation of wellbeing garden

Application Tips

1. Start with Expression of Interest: For grants over £5k, the EOI process allows the charity to assess eligibility before full application investment
2. Demonstrate innovation: Show how your project brings new approaches or solutions to healthcare challenges
3. Align with priorities: Clearly map your project to one or more of the charity's four strategic priorities
4. Show NHS budget gaps: Articulate why this can't be funded through standard NHS budgets
5. Plan for full funding: Ensure your application covers the complete project, not partial funding
6. Contact the Grants Team: Use grants@shct.nhs.uk for pre-application advice - the team is available to help assess fit
7. Consider timing: Be aware of panel meeting dates when planning larger grant applications
8. Check funding calls: Regular themed funding calls offer larger amounts for specific strategic priorities
9. Ensure eligibility: Verify your employment/contract status or organizational link to the relevant NHS Trusts

Strategic Guidance from Leadership

Beth Crackles, CEO, emphasizes that the charity drives forward "working with the Board of Trustees, Charity staff, NHS colleagues, and external stakeholders to ensure they're being as strategic and collaborative as possible, so that together they can support the NHS where it's most needed." This collaborative approach suggests successful applications demonstrate partnership thinking and alignment with broader NHS strategic objectives.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Eligibility is restricted: Only staff from specific NHS Trusts, partner university staff collaborating with these trusts, or organizations with direct links to the trusts can apply
• Multiple routes available: Choose between rolling Little Wishes Fund (faster, smaller), panel-reviewed grants (larger), or themed funding calls (largest, most competitive)
• Expression of Interest saves time: For larger grants, submit EOI first to confirm eligibility before investing in full application
• Innovation is valued: The charity actively seeks innovative approaches to supporting NHS services
• Strategic alignment matters: Map your project clearly to one of the four strategic priorities
• Plan ahead for panels: With panels meeting only 6 times/year (or 2x for research), timing matters for larger grants
• Contact the team: The Grants Team is accessible and encourages pre-application contact for guidance
• Watch for funding calls: Themed calls offer substantial funding (£75k-£300k pots) for aligned projects

References

• Sheffield Hospitals Charity website - Apply for a Grant page: https://sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk/nhs/apply-for-a-grant
• Sheffield Hospitals Charity website - What We Fund: https://sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk/nhs/what-we-fund
• Sheffield Hospitals Charity website - Funding Calls: https://sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk/nhs/funding-calls
• Sheffield Hospitals Charity website - Grants Over 5K: https://sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk/nhs/grants-over-5k
• Sheffield Hospitals Charity website - Meet The Team: https://sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk/who-we-are/meet-the-team
• Charity Commission Register - Sheffield Hospitals Charity (1169762): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5089147
• Sheffield Hospitals Charity website - Arts in Health and Volunteer Services: https://sheffieldhospitalscharity.org.uk/what-we-do/stories/arts-in-health-and-volunteer-services
• Civil Society News - "Who's Moving: English Heritage, Children's Trust, Henshaws and more" (Beth Crackles appointment): https://www.civilsociety.co.uk/news/who-s-moving-english-heritage-children-s-trust-henshaws-and-more.html