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Apply For Funding

From the everyday to the transformational, we work in partnership to support you to excel for everyone who accesses or delivers NHS Lothian services; patients, their families, staff or communities.

NHS Lothian staff can apply to the Charity for funding to help improve the care and experience of patients in hospitals and local communities, enable innovation, and support initiatives that enhance wellbeing and develop the careers of NHS Lothian staff.

We have a number of funding options available that NHS Lothian staff can apply for.

Explore the sections below to find out more:

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Funding Opportunities and Support

Learn about the different types of funding available, including Small Grants, Staff Wellbeing Microgrants, and the Elsie Inglis Fund.
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Funding Application Process and Guidance

Understand how decisions are made, what the process looks like, and how to access help.
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Impact, Improvement and Learning

At the heart of everything we do is making a real difference for patients and having a positive impact on health in Lothian.

Frequently asked questions

  1. Read our application guidance
  2. Complete our online application form
  3. NHS Lothian Charity assesses the application for charitable purpose and available funding.
  4. NHS Lothian Charity assesses and scores the application for alignment with the Charity’s strategic objectives.
  5. Following assessment, and the Charity’s assessment panel’s approval in principle, this decision will be sense checked with the relevant service management team (and/or other relevant experts) to identify any reasons the project is not deliverable, not sustainable after charity funding or moves against the service’s strategic direction.
  6. Depending on the amount of money requested, there may be further approvals required by charity committees in order to comply with the Charity’s financial governance.

Guidance, support and regular feedback is provided throughout the application process and prior to the application process being started.

  1. You can discuss your needs with the member of your team who is able to requisition items or services in the NHS Lothian Charity PECOS. (If you are unsure who this is please contact [email protected].)
  2. The requisitioner will place the order in PECOS using the relevant Specific Fund code as the cost centre.
  3. The order request is received by the Charity who checks to ensure it meets our charitable purpose in general and, specifically, the purpose of the fund selected as the cost centre.
  4. If there are no issues, the order will be progressed and delivered to the requested site.
    In the unlikely event that there is a query about if the order is appropriate for charitable funding or that there is insufficient money to support the request, then NHS Lothian Charity will contact the requisitioner/you to discuss.

NHS Lothian Charity remains committed to supporting staff development. To access support for yourself or a member of your team to attend a course or conference for professional development related to their current employment with NHS Lothian, follow on the steps below:

  1. Identify professional development need/desired learning outcomes.
  2. Identify the course or conference that will support professional development.
  3. Complete the online application form.
  4. Form is supported by line manager/rostering manager to confirm absence from work/relevance of course.
  5. NHS Lothian Charity will check for charitable purpose.
  6. NHS Lothian Charity will check there is sufficient relevant funding.
  7. The applicant will be notified if the application is being progressed or not, and why.
  8. If the application meets our charitable purpose and there is sufficient funding, it will be approved and progressed to the NHS Lothian Travel team for booking.

Throughout the application process, if there are any issues or concerns, then the participant will be contacted for more information.

NB: remember you might also want to consider applying for an NHS Lothian Charity funded Elsie Inglis Staff Development Award. Visit NHS Lothian’s staff intranet for more information. (You will need to be logged into the NHS Lothian network to access this page.)

Still got questions?

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