The Victoria Foundation

Charity Number: 292841

Annual Expenditure: £0.4M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £365,122 (FY ending March 2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: £500 - £22,000 (based on recent awards)
  • Geographic Focus: England and Wales (primary focus on Richmond, Kingston, and Hounslow)
  • Founded: 2007 (upon sale of New Victoria Hospital; roots date to 1958)

Contact Details

Website: www.thevictoriafoundation.org.uk

Email: g.ball@thevictoriafoundation.org.uk, info@thevictoriafoundation.org.uk

Phone: 020 8949 9000, 020 8332 1788

Address: St David's House, 15 Worple Way, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6DG

Charity Number: 292841

Overview

The Victoria Foundation was created in 2007 upon the sale of The New Victoria Hospital and is the parent charity of what was, until August 2025, the hospital (subsequently sold to Bupa). The charity's origins trace back to 1958 when The New Victoria Hospital was opened by the Duchess of Sutherland, created by 14 Kingston doctors who formed a charitable foundation. With total income of £378,699 and expenditure of £365,122 in the financial year ending March 2024, the Foundation operates with a unique funding model historically receiving annual donations from the New Victoria Hospital, allowing every penny donated to be spent directly on beneficiaries rather than administration.

The Foundation's charitable aims are broad but firmly medical: to promote good health and relieve ill-health by providing or assisting in the provision of medical and surgical advice, treatment, equipment, and training and education of medical, nursing, and para-medical staff. The charity is making a lasting difference to the lives of individuals and families in great need, and medical students facing real financial hardship during their studies. The trustees identify and fill gaps in current provision by the State, focusing on four main donation strands.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Medical Toolkit Grants & Elective Bursaries

  • Supports UK medical students from lower socio-economic backgrounds studying at UK universities
  • Covers purchase of books, medical instruments, travel costs to placements
  • Elective Bursaries contribute towards overseas travel to electives
  • Supports over 100 medical students annually, including approximately 70 students on the Extended Medical Degree Programme (EMDP) at King's College London
  • Application: Specific application form available on website (updated May 2024)

Mobility Aids

  • £500 grants for specialist buggies, trikes, lightweight wheelchairs, and gym equipment
  • For children and young people up to age 25 with disabilities
  • Geographic focus: Richmond and Kingston residents
  • Helps children gain independence and reach their potential
  • Application: Case-by-case basis

Accessible Transport

  • Grants for accessible transport vehicles
  • Keeps elderly connected and prevents loneliness and isolation
  • Recent example: £22,000 towards accessible minibus for shopping services

Medical Assistance (General)

  • Wide range of medical support and equipment awarded case-by-case
  • For individuals and organizations
  • Medical equipment or support not funded by the State or readily available on NHS
  • Where treatment would be life-enhancing

Medical Treatment

  • Free medical treatment at New Victoria Hospital (historically)
  • For residents of London Boroughs of Richmond and Kingston in financial hardship
  • Where treatment not readily available on NHS

Priority Areas

  • Children and young people with disabilities requiring mobility equipment
  • Elderly people requiring accessible transport to prevent isolation
  • Medical students from disadvantaged backgrounds
  • Organizations supporting health and disability services in Richmond, Kingston, and Hounslow
  • Medical equipment and treatments not readily available through state provision

What They Don't Fund

  • Tuition fees for medical students (explicitly excluded)
  • Activities outside their medical/health focus
  • Work outside their charitable objectives
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Governance and Leadership

Trustees: 7 trustees govern the charity

Volunteers: 10 volunteers support operations

Staff: Chief Executive and operational team

Key Personnel:

  • Graham Ball BCom FCA - Founder, Chief Executive, and Chairman
  • Chartered Accountant with experience at Arthur Andersen and Controlaccount plc
  • Provides strategic leadership on the foundation's medical focus areas

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Victoria Foundation accepts applications through downloadable grant application forms available on their website:

  1. Medical Toolkit & Elective Bursaries: Specific application form (updated May 2024) available as PDF download
  2. General Medical Assistance: General grant application form (dated June 2020) available as PDF download
  3. Applications are considered case-by-case

Contact for Applications:

  • Email: enquiries@thevictoriafoundation.org.uk
  • Phone: 020 8332 1788

The Foundation operates on a rolling basis for applications, evaluating each request individually rather than operating fixed funding rounds.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Applicants should contact the Foundation directly for information about typical processing times.

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly available. The Foundation supported over 100 medical students annually and makes numerous grants to organizations and individuals each year.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified. Given the case-by-case nature of their assessment process, applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation directly about reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

Geographic Alignment is Critical:

The Foundation has a strong focus on Richmond, Kingston, and Hounslow, though medical student support extends UK-wide. Applications from organizations serving these London boroughs or individuals residing there are prioritized for mobility aids and medical assistance grants.

Demonstrate Gap in State Provision:

The trustees explicitly identify “gaps in current provision by the State” as their focus. Applications should clearly articulate how the request addresses medical needs not met by NHS or other state funding. The Foundation states they fund “medical equipment or support which is not funded by the State or readily available on the NHS.”

Medical Focus Must Be Clear:

All funding relates to the Foundation's medical objectives: promoting good health, relieving ill-health, providing medical equipment, or supporting medical education. Non-medical projects will not be considered.

For Medical Students - Evidence of Financial Hardship:

The Foundation specifically supports medical students “from lower socio-economic backgrounds” and “facing real financial hardship.” Applications should demonstrate genuine financial need and how the grant will support completion of medical studies.

Life-Enhancing Impact:

The Foundation seeks applications where support would be “life-enhancing” - whether helping children gain independence through mobility aids, preventing elderly isolation through accessible transport, or enabling future doctors to complete their training.

Recent Grant Examples Show Range:

  • Crossroads Care Richmond & Kingston: £10,000
  • Greenmead Primary School: £15,000
  • University of Leeds School of Medicine NHS Student Workforce fund: £5,000
  • Kingston Hospital Charity: £8,000
  • Barnfield Riding for the Disabled Association: £3,500
  • Individual mobility aids: £500 grants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic targeting matters: Primary focus on Richmond, Kingston, and Hounslow for most grants; medical student support is UK-wide
  • Fill the gap: Clearly demonstrate how your request addresses medical needs not met by NHS or state funding - this is the Foundation's explicit mission
  • Medical focus is non-negotiable: All grants must relate to health, medical equipment, medical treatment, or medical education
  • Case-by-case assessment: No fixed funding rounds; applications reviewed individually allowing for tailored requests
  • Unique funding model: Until the 2025 sale of New Victoria Hospital to Bupa, annual donations from the hospital allowed 100% of donations to benefit recipients rather than administration
  • Evidence of impact: Show how the grant will be life-enhancing, whether preventing isolation, enabling independence, or supporting future NHS doctors
  • Financial hardship matters: For individual applicants (especially medical students), demonstrating genuine financial need is essential

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