Grants Scheme

What can we fund?

We will usually consider requests for medical equipment, furniture, and any other item or project that may improve patients’ experience while in hospital. We cannot normally support research, staff training, or any payments of money to individuals.

How does the application process work?

• If you have a request for less than £2,000: Please complete our application form, which you can download here: Friends of CW Initial Application Form
• Requests of £2,000 and above: CW+ and the Friends are jointly running a grants programme for projects between £2,000 and £10,000 that will help Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust staff deliver better patient experience and care. Applications are considered on a monthly basis and applicants are usually asked to make a presentation to support their request. You will be informed of the outcome soon after the meeting. You can download the application form here: CW+ and The Friends Grant application – between £2k and £10k

Please return your form to us via email or in person to the Friends Office (ground floor Lift B, next to the Friends Shop).

Mini Grants Scheme

We are keen to raise awareness of the grants scheme among staff and encourage more people to apply. However we know that clinical staff are under huge amounts of pressure at the moment, and may not have the time or energy to go through a lengthy grant application process. We have therefore launched a scheme called ‘Mini Grants’, which will allow staff to request small items that will benefit patients but without too much time-consuming paperwork.

If you have an idea for an item that would improve the patient experience on your ward and costs £100 or less, please email us with the following information:

1. Your name, ward and job title
2. Details of the item/s you would like to purchase (with links if possible)
3. A brief explanation of why the item/s would benefit patients.

There is no particular deadline, and we will aim to give you a decision within two working days.

SOME OF OUR RECENT GRANTS

• £2,500 to InterAct Stroke Support for their specialist reading service for stroke patients on Nell Gwynne ward
• £3,926 to the Palliative Care Team for cloth bags with a butterfly logo to store the belongings of patients who have passed away
• £1,013 to the Hand Therapy Team for a Woodcast oven for making biodegradable splints
• £94 to the Maternity Department for earplugs and eye masks for use by women on the labour/postnatal wards
• £2,366 (cost shared equally with CW+) to the Outpatients Department for the refurbishment of a changing room for use by hysteroscopy/biopsy patients
• £97 to the Phlebotomy Department for three fans to keep the department cool in the summer
• £59 to Edgar Horne Ward for a new microwave for their staff kitchen
• £4,694 (cost shared equally with CW+) to Respiratory Physiotherapy for a specialist wheelchair for moving critically ill patients
• £240 to the Children’s Music Therapy Department for a 3/4-size cello for use in therapy sessions
• £467 to the Cheyne Child Development Service for a selection of sensory toys for use in Sleep Clinic for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
• £3782 (cost shared equally with CW+) to the Clinical Learning & Development team for mannequins for training staff in cannula/IV placement
• £535 to the Labour Ward for a selection of aromatherapy oils for use by women in labour

If you have any questions or would like more information on our grants scheme, please contact the office by email or telephone.