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.
We support colleagues across NHS Lothian to help improve the care and experience of patients in our 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 grant programmes available that NHS Lothian staff can apply to. You can find out more about different funding options by following the links below:
Funding Options
Specific and Ward Funds
Small Grants
Climate Challenge Grants
The Elsie Inglis Staff Development Award
From time to time, other grant programmes may become available and will be listed here so please check back regularly for the most up to date information.
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
Helping children deal with sudden and traumatic loss
The Critical Care Unit at the Royal of Infirmary Edinburgh deals with sudden and traumatic deaths which can present unique […]
Helping to alleviate stress and distress for children in pre and post operative care
NHS Lothian Charity has recently funded sensory equipment at the Royal Hospital for Children and Young People to improve the […]
Helping to build a support network for families of children with complex medical needs
In the summer, staff at Calareidh and Sunndach, hosted their annual garden party to help families of children and young […]
Climate Challenge Grants support reduction of single-use plastics across NHS Lothian
Thanks to funding from NHS Lothian Charity through their Climate Challenge Grants programme, NHS Lothian is rolling out the use […]