Southampton Hospitals Charity

Southampton Hospitals Charity is a charity registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales (charity number 1206909).

Southampton Hospitals Charity exists to support any charitable purposes that benefit University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, or that contribute to the wider benefit of the National Health Service. It mainly works through grant-making and does not generally oversee the delivery of services and projects. Its Patient Benefit programme has distributed approximately £1,000,000 across hospital departments, and its annual giving is £2,521,000 according to the Charity Commission register.

Priority Areas

Southampton Hospitals Charity funds projects that go beyond what NHS budgets can cover, working with University Hospital Southampton to improve care, comfort and patient experience. Its support includes equipment and improvements to hospital spaces, projects that enhance patient care, and research and clinical innovation. It backs medical research, seed, practice-based and bridge funding, and invests in NHS staff wellbeing, training and professional development. Its work supports patients, families and carers through projects intended to improve experience and outcomes, including hospital and community services. For open patient-benefit funding, projects are submitted by UHS staff; the charity also makes annual allocations to the Trust for staff education, training and wellbeing. Applications are assessed for alignment with charitable objectives and UHS priorities, demonstrable patient impact, need beyond core NHS provision, deliverability and value for money.

Themes

• Patient care
• Hospital equipment
• Hospital spaces
• Medical research
• Staff wellbeing
• Staff training
• Community health

Geographic Focus

Priority: Southampton.

UHS staff submit applications through Southampton Hospitals Charity’s grants portal during programme windows. Patient Benefit Fund applications must be submitted by a UHS staff member; eligible projects include kit, equipment or refurbishment for patient benefit. Applications are assessed after submission, and applicants should set out the need, patient benefits and intended outcomes.

Deadlines: Larger Patient Benefit applications open twice per year.

Application windows:

• Patient Benefit Fund: Opens on 1 October and closes at 16h00 on 31 December

Who can apply:

• Patient Benefit Fund
  • Be submitted by a UHS staff member
  • Be for kit, equipment or refurbishment for patient benefit. We will also consider funding small one-off events, if there is evidence of need and the long-term impact of this work. This grant round is not for salaries or ongoing project delivery.
  • Be additional to what is offered by the NHS

What to send:

• Patient Benefit Fund: Provide a clear breakdown of item costs, accompanied by an active quote for works, if required.

Applying again: If you miss an application window, there will be opportunities in future to re-apply.

What the charity says:

• Applications should demonstrate need, patient benefits and intended outcomes.
• Applications are assessed for strategic alignment, quality, patient input and impact, value for money, evaluation and sustainability.
• The charity prioritises eligible applications according to their overall assessment, strategic fit, and expected meaningful and achievable patient benefits when demand exceeds the available budget.
• Applicants should align proposals with the charity's objectives and annual funding priorities, have support from UHS or the University of Southampton, and address a need beyond NHS provision.