Funding to improve patient care

Our grants must not replace core NHS funding. But they can help you enhance patient care to provide a service that is above and beyond what is currently being delivered.

We are looking for projects that:

• Provide patient information and resources in different languages and formats
• Offer preventative health-related activities related to diet, exercise and mental wellbeing
• Provide activities to support patients in their rehabilitation
• Provide activities to support patients receiving palliative care
• Improve patient monitoring
• Provide activities for groups of patients who are living with disabilities or who may have special requirements
• Provide activities for groups of patients who are elderly, young, or from communities or groups of patients experiencing health inequalities
• Improve hospital environments and surroundings for patients, including furniture, fittings and fixtures for patient rooms
• Purchase certain medical devices or equipment.

To be eligible for funding, your project must:

• directly benefit the Trust’s patients, either in our hospitals or in the community
• be delivered within 12 months of your grant being awarded
• be straightforward and simple to deliver
• be a standalone initiative and not part of a larger project
• have the support of a project champion, such as a general manager, matron, senior sister or Trust budget holder within your department/service - they must read your full application and sign the signatures of approval form, which can be downloaded from our website.

Unfortunately we will not be able to fund:

• research, pilot studies, PPI studies or clinical trials
• medical devices or equipment to support any of the above
• an expansion of, or to continue a project for which you’ve already received an Imperial Health Charity grant
• the design or adaptation of an app/device/use of technology
• patient support groups or forums
• projects that benefit only one patient
• projects that directly benefit staff, such as education/training
• replacement of old equipment
• projects outside north west London
• projects that are primarily for the benefit of patients receiving care at other NHS trusts.

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Only permanent members of staff at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust staff can apply for funding.

You will need a project champion (who can be your Trust budget holder or someone senior within your service such as general manager, matron, senior sister) to support you to deliver your project and to sign your application. You can download the signatures of approval form.

You can apply for between £1,000 and £10,000. Your project should not cost more than £10,000 to deliver. There are several cost types to choose from on the Flexigrant application form when you complete the costings for your project. Read our Guidance Notes for costs that we can and cannot support.

• You can apply at any time
• Applications close on 28 September 2023

You’ll need to apply online via our grants platform, Flexigrant. You must open a Flexigrant account with your Trust email address and details. Use the Sample Application Form that you can download to work up your application before you use the online form. ​​​​

• You can download the Guidance Notes and the Sample Application Form.
   
• We've organised a series of grant support sessions to offer guidance and advice that will help you with your application. You can talk to us about your ideas for improving patient care and ask us any questions about the application process. Sign up for one of our virtual sessions here.

After you’ve submitted your application, we will aim to notify you of our decision within 20 working days. However, if we need additional information from you, this process may take longer.

How you receive your grant monies will depend on the nature of your project. We will provide you with this information in your Grant Award Letter. Please read your letter carefully and make sure you comply with all our terms and conditions.

Login to Flexigrant to accept your grant offer within 10 working days of receiving your Grant Award Letter. When you accept our offer, please tell us when you will start and complete your project. You must deliver your project within 12 months of the date of your letter. Finally, you’ll need to complete an end of grant report on Flexigrant within 20 working days of completing your project. We won’t be able to pay the final invoice on your project until we’ve received your report.