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. You can find out more about how to apply for funding and the different funding options available by following the links below:
Funding Options
Small Grants
Climate Challenge Grants
Specific and Ward Funds
The Elsie Inglis Staff Development Award
Staff Wellbeing Microgrants
Impact, Improvement and Learning
At the heart of everything we do is making a real difference for patients. We want to be able to demonstrate how the funding we provide translates to better experiences and care of patients in hospital and communities and how it aligns to our mission of having a positive impact on health in Lothian. To enable us to do this, we’ve developed an evaluation framework.
Our framework adopts an outcomes-based approach that uses indicators to measure what has changed for individuals and services. The outcomes and related indicators will vary from project to project. For example, new equipment might mean reduced waiting times, a less invasive procedure could result in quicker recovery, or a refurbished child-friendly waiting room could lead to less anxiety and a more positive experience for young patients. By measuring these changes, we can see how our funding directly impacts the lives of patients in Lothian.
Using this framework can help strengthen your funding application. So, when completing your application, remember to tell us not only what you want support for but also what difference (the outcomes) that investment will make and how you will know (indicators). Building evaluation into the project design will allow us to assess its effectiveness in achieving its stated goals. By prioritising evaluation from the outset, we can move beyond simply completing a project to demonstrating positive change and continuous learning.
NHS Lothian Charity Evaluation Framework
Consider how you could strengthen your application by incorporating elements from our Evaluation Framework into your application for funding.
Frequently asked questions
- A Fund Steward can authorise expenditure from a fund if it is for an item or service that costs under £5,000
- All the usual procurement and H&S policies and procedures apply
- The item or service must meet the Fund’s purpose and the Charity’s funding rules
- If unsure about who the Fund Steward is, a Fund’s purpose or the Charity’s rules contact: [email protected]
- Think about what would make a difference
- Complete a ‘Funding request – £5k and over’ form (request from [email protected])
- Fund Steward endorses the application by signing the form
- Service/site management endorses the application by signing the form
- Send form to NHS Lothian Charity
- Charity assesses and scores
- Funding released if approved
Once the Fund Steward has authorised spend:
- Place an order through the NHS Lothian Charity PECOS, via travel team or petty cash
- Order checked by Charity Finance Team
- Order approved by NHS Lothian Charity
- Items arrive, travel booked or petty cash released
- Project started, NHS Lothian Charity recognised for funding where possible
- Brief evaluation required
Please note that the Charity might contact you to do a case study on the project to share with supporters.
Alternatives are available if there is no fund or insufficient money in a fund.
- Elsie Inglis Fund – for staff development, training and learning
- Staff Wellbeing Microgrants – for staff wellbeing activities and items
- Small Grants – for items or activities with benefits for patients.
Contact us about your idea and we can help work out the best route to get it funded: [email protected]
Still got questions?
How teams have used charitable funding to support patients
A Day of Wellness and Development: Investing in staff to improve patient care
Our commitment to enhancing wellbeing support for our NHS Lothian colleagues recognises that happy and healthy staff leads to better patient care.
Making a difference for children living with cancer
Young people aged 13 to 18 who are undergoing treatment for cancer enjoyed a special trip to connect with others and try new experiences.
Building for the Future: Supporting a Legacy of Patient-Centred Care at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre
We are delighted to have supported the teams at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre with their ongoing programme of works and their holistic approach to patient care.
Enhancing the Patient Experience at East Lothian Community Hospital
Thanks to the generous support of The Blythe Family Trust, we are delighted to be funding several key projects designed to significantly enhance the experience of patients and their families, with a particular focus on those in our inpatient wards who require more specialist and long-term care.
