The Sydney Driscoll Neuro-science Foundation

Quick Stats

• Registered Charity Number: 1129387
• Company Number: 06606603
• Annual Income: £25,578 (2024)
• Annual Expenditure: £98,640 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: £2,000 - £250,000
• Geographic Focus: Lancashire and South Cumbria (primarily Preston area)
• Application Process: No public application process - trustee discretion

Contact Details

Registered Office:

Napthens

7 Winckley Square

Preston

PR1 3JD

Phone: 01772 904231

Alternative Contact for Donations:

c/o Department of Neuroscience

Royal Preston Hospital

Sharoe Green Lane

Preston

PR2 4HT

Websites:

• neurocharity.co.uk
• sdnf.co.uk

Overview

The Sydney Driscoll Neuro-Science Foundation was established in 1989 following a generous donation from Mrs Lucille Driscoll in memory of her late husband Sydney, a Blackpool business entrepreneur who was treated for a brain tumour at Preston Royal Infirmary in the 1960s. The initial donation of £1,000 was made to Mr Kenneth Tutton, Consultant Neurosurgeon, to purchase essential books for medical staff. When Lucille died in 2000, she left a substantial legacy to the foundation, enabling the trustees to significantly expand their support for neuroscience projects. Formally registered as a company in 2008 and as a UK Charity in 2009, the foundation is based at the Department of Neuroscience at Royal Preston Hospital, which serves approximately two million people throughout Lancashire and South Cumbria, admitting around 6,000 patients per year and performing around 2,000 major operations on the brain and spine.

The foundation's mission is to drive pioneering research at the forefront of neuroscience and develop new treatments that will improve the lives of patients with life-changing neurological diseases including brain injury due to trauma, brain cancer, strokes, brain haemorrhage, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, motor neurone disease, and Parkinson's disease. The foundation provides resources to support high-quality training for doctors, nurses, medical students, and allied clinical teams working in the neurosciences.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs and Activities

The foundation operates several funding streams, though none have a public application process:

Student Awards

Since 1994, the foundation has offered an annual award to trainee or student neuroscientists for original papers (clinical or research-based) on neuroscience topics. Currently worth over £2,000, recipients are encouraged to use funds to visit centres of excellence in neuroscience in the UK or overseas to expand their knowledge and expertise.

Professional Development Support

The foundation supports doctors, nurses, and practitioners to attend neuroscience-based medical courses and conferences, enabling clinical staff to keep abreast of the latest diagnostic methods, treatments, and surgical techniques.

Equipment Funding

• £250,000 donated to Lancashire Teaching Hospital in 2009 for neuro-navigation equipment
• £20,000 donated to the Department of Neurosurgery for equipment to facilitate teaching and surgical planning for junior surgeons

Research Funding

• Approximately £20,000 per annum for 10+ years supporting a project at Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust to provide cell cultures of brain cancers for research teams
• £100,000 pledged in 2018 for a brain cancer research programme through a collaboration agreement with the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), funding PhD studentships

Specialized Library

The foundation established and maintains an independent library facility at Royal Preston Hospital to support the professional work of staff in the neuroscience department, providing access to specialized neuroscience literature and resources for medical professionals and students.

Annual Lecture Series

Since 1992, the foundation has arranged for eminent neuroscientists to deliver annual lectures as part of the academic programme for the Department of Neurosciences at Preston. The 2023 lecture was delivered by Professor Peter Hutchinson, Professor of Neurosurgery and Head of the Division of Academic Neurosurgery at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge.

Priority Areas

The foundation's primary focus is neuroscience education and research, with particular emphasis on:

• Brain cancer research (stated as a particular focus area)
• Neurosurgical and neurological medicine
• Training and professional development for neuroscience healthcare professionals
• Equipment and resources for the Department of Neuroscience at Preston

The foundation's charitable objects are “to heal and relieve sick disabled and aged persons from the disabilities and infirmities with which they are afflicted in relation to neurosurgical and neurological medicine.”

What They Don't Fund

Not explicitly stated, but the foundation's funding appears exclusively focused on:

• Neuroscience-related activities at or connected to Royal Preston Hospital
• Projects within Lancashire and South Cumbria region
• Individuals and organizations already connected to the Department of Neuroscience at Preston

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Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees consisting of four members:

Andrew Ferguson (Chair)

A commercial lawyer based in Preston who co-founded the foundation with Professor Gurusinghe and Dr Sarosh Vakil in 1989. After Lucille Driscoll's initial donation, Professor Gurusinghe approached Ferguson to help establish a Trust Fund and set up the Board of Trustees to govern the charity.

Professor Nihal Gurusinghe

Consultant Neurosurgeon at Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Preston, appointed in 1985. He co-founded the foundation and served as the first Chair for over a decade. He was awarded an MBE by King Charles III in 2023 for his contribution to charitable services.

Nicholas Daniel Park

Trustee (limited public information available)

Janet Winnard

A trustee for nearly 20 years, Winnard is responsible for the foundation's independent library facility at Preston. She is a retired lecturer and teacher and has also been a volunteer for the Rosemere Cancer Charity.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation operates based on trustee discretion and appears to identify funding opportunities through their close relationship with the Department of Neuroscience at Royal Preston Hospital and the University of Central Lancashire.

The foundation's grants appear to be awarded through:

• Direct identification of needs by trustees who have deep involvement in neuroscience at Preston
• Established partnerships with Royal Preston Hospital and UCLan
• Invitations to students and trainees within the Preston neuroscience department for the annual award

Getting on Their Radar

Since the foundation has no public application process, organizations and individuals seeking support should note:

For Individuals (Students/Trainees)

The annual student award appears to be available to those training or studying in the Department of Neurosciences at Preston. Being connected to the department through training, research, or clinical work may provide opportunities to be nominated or invited to submit original manuscripts for consideration.

For Organizations/Research Projects

The foundation's significant grants have gone to institutions they have direct relationships with: Lancashire Teaching Hospital NHS Trust and the University of Central Lancashire. New partnerships appear to be developed through the trustees' involvement in neuroscience at Preston rather than through external applications.

Key Connections

The foundation's trustees are deeply embedded in Preston's neuroscience community. Building relationships with the Department of Neuroscience at Royal Preston Hospital may be the most effective way to come to the foundation's attention for potential support.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. The foundation holds trustee meetings to make funding decisions, but the frequency and timing are not disclosed.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. With an annual expenditure of £98,640 against an income of £25,578 (suggesting they are spending from reserves built up from Lucille Driscoll's legacy), the foundation makes selective grants to projects and individuals closely connected to their mission and geographic focus.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the absence of a public application process.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's operational model, the following factors appear critical for receiving support:

Established Connection to Preston Neuroscience

All documented grants have gone to individuals or organizations directly connected to the Department of Neuroscience at Royal Preston Hospital or the University of Central Lancashire. The foundation operates as a dedicated supporter of neuroscience in the Preston area rather than as an open grant-maker.

Alignment with Brain Cancer Research

The foundation has explicitly stated that brain cancer research is a “particular focus area,” as evidenced by their 10+ year support of cell culture research (£20,000 per annum) and £100,000 collaboration with UCLan on brain cancer research.

Educational and Training Value

The foundation's original mission was to support education, starting with the purchase of books. They continue to prioritize supporting professional development, training equipment, and resources that help healthcare professionals deliver better patient care.

Long-term Impact on Patient Care

The foundation's charitable objects focus on healing and relieving sick, disabled, and aged persons from disabilities and infirmities related to neurosurgical and neurological medicine. Projects that demonstrate direct benefits to patients in Lancashire and South Cumbria appear most aligned with their mission.

Trustee-Identified Needs

With trustees deeply embedded in Preston's neuroscience community (including a consultant neurosurgeon and the foundation's chair who co-founded it), funding decisions appear to be driven by needs identified by the trustees themselves rather than by external proposals.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this is not a foundation that accepts unsolicited proposals or has application forms
• Geographic focus is highly specific - all documented funding benefits the Department of Neuroscience at Royal Preston Hospital and affiliated institutions in Lancashire/South Cumbria
• Brain cancer research is a stated priority - multiple major grants have supported brain cancer research and cell culture projects
• Student awards worth £2,000+ are available annually - but appear limited to trainees/students within the Preston neuroscience department
• Major grants are substantial - ranging from £20,000 to £250,000, showing the foundation can provide significant support for the right projects
• Trustees have deep expertise - led by a consultant neurosurgeon and commercial lawyer who founded the charity, ensuring funding decisions are informed by clinical and organizational expertise
• The foundation operates like a dedicated supporter - functioning more as a committed patron of neuroscience at Preston than as a traditional open grant-maker
• Relationship-building is essential - connecting with the Department of Neuroscience at Royal Preston Hospital is the most viable path to potential support

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• The Get A-Head Charitable Trust
• The Rosemere Cancer Foundation
• The Woosnam Foundation
• H AND M CASTANG CHARITABLE TRUST
• The Medicash Foundation
• The Eranda Rothschild Foundation
• THE JGW PATTERSON FOUNDATION
• Robert Luff Foundation Limited
• The Janet Nash Charitable Settlement
• The Glenn Tipton Parkinson's Foundation

References

• Charity Commission Register of Charities: THE SYDNEY DRISCOLL NEURO-SCIENCE FOUNDATION (1129387). Available at: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5000681/full-print []

• Companies House: THE SYDNEY DRISCOLL NEURO-SCIENCE FOUNDATION (Company No. 06606603). Available at: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/06606603 []

• Sydney Driscoll Neuroscience Foundation official website: About Us. Available at: https://neurocharity.co.uk/about-us/ []

• Sydney Driscoll Neuroscience Foundation official website: Trustees. Available at: https://neurocharity.co.uk/about-us/trustees/ []

• Sydney Driscoll Neuroscience Foundation official website: Awards. Available at: https://sdnf.co.uk/awards/ []

• Lancashire Neuroscience: Sydney Driscoll Neuroscience Foundation. Available at: https://www.lancashireneuroscience.co.uk/for-the-public/charities []

• University of Central Lancashire: Local charity to hand UCLan generous cash boost to fund pioneering brain tumour research. Available at: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/news/uclan_brain_tumour_research_cash_boost.php []

• UCLan Research: Neuro-oncology. Available at: https://www.uclancbsresearch.co.uk/group/neuro-oncology/ []

• Tilak's Blog: Dr Nihal Gurusinghe conferred a Professorship. Available at: https://www.tilaksblog.com/2018/06/dr-nihal-gurusinghe-conferred-a-professorship/ []

• Expert Witness: Professor Nihal Gurusinghe Reflects on receiving an MBE. Available at: https://www.expertwitness.co.uk/articles/news/professor-nihal-gurusinghe-reflects-has-received-an-mbe []