Grants

Our grants programme

Through our grants programme, we provide extra support to help our hospitals – above and beyond what the NHS can do on its own.

We fund major refurbishments to hospital buildings and facilities, invest in ground-breaking research, and provide advanced medical equipment, as well as helping patients and their families at times of serious financial hardship.

Our grants help to:

improve the care and experience that patients receive in our hospitals and in our local communities
enhance the mental health and wellbeing of NHS staff, while providing opportunities for their professional development
enable innovation in healthcare by providing funding for staff to test and develop pioneering improvement projects.

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In 2022/23, we awarded £5.2 million to support a wide range of healthcare projects at the Trust's five hospitals - Charing Cross, Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea, St Mary's and the Western Eye. This included £467,000 towards transformative innovation projects and £574,000 to support ground-breaking medical research. We also awarded more than 100 emergency hardship grants to patients facing sudden and unexpected financial pressure as a result of their hospital care.

As well as improving care for patients, our funding also provided extra support for hard-working NHS staff at our hospitals. More than 450 members of staff accessed mental health and wellbeing support through the Trust's CONTACT counselling service, which was significantly expanded thanks to our grant. Nine out of 10 staff who used the service told us they now felt better able to cope with pressures and challenges at work.

"Without the charity's support, I wouldn't be where I am today. I've learned so much, and gained new knowledge and skills."

Nunzia Altieri, Cardiac Health and Rehabilitation Dietitian

Our funding helped people like Nunzia Altieri. Nunzia, a dietitian at St Mary's Hospital, who was awarded a research fellowship grant in 2020, which helped her pursue her dream of an academic career. She completed her first full research project in 2022, exploring ways of helping people with type 2 diabetes manage their condition more effectively by building specific food groups into their diet.

"The fellowship played a massive role for me to progress in research," said Nunzia. "I'm so grateful to Imperial Health Charity for giving me this opportunity. WIthout their support I wouldn't be where I am today. I've learned so much and gained new knowledge and skills. I feel much more confident in approaching research."

Through our grants programme we were also able to transform breakrooms and rest spaces for hospital staff, creating calm and peaceful environments for them to relax and recharge during a busy shift. We funded a major programme of improvements to staff facilities, including more than 80 renovations - from basic redecorations to new changing rooms, showers, toilets and kitchen areas.

Seven out of 10 staff told us they found it easier to relax in their new breakroom, while two thirds said the enhanced spaces had improved their sense of wellbeing.

"Our breakroom is now a light, airy, calm and welcoming space for all the staff on the ward to enjoy."

Charlotte Jaye, Deputy Divisional Director for Nursing

Want to read more about how our funding is making a real difference for patients and NHS staff? Go to ‘Our Impact’ to find out more.

If you’re a member of staff at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, you can apply for funding to support your team, help a patient in financial hardship, or drive forward a new project. Go to ‘Info for NHS staff’ to find out more.