If you have a fundraising idea and would like the ELFT Charity to be the beneficiary, we would be delighted to hear from you. All ideas are welcomed and we can help you to explore it.

You could be sponsored for a feat such as running, walking, swimming, climbing or any other human endeavour.

You could do something for others and encourage them to make a donation to the ELFT charity in exchange. Eg. Bake cakes, biscuits, plant seedlings, etc.

You could offer a talent and donate money raised to the ELFT Charity. Eg. A singing or speaking booking, a masterclass, haircut, make-up session, litter collection, etc.

You could do something a bit zany such as wear a gorilla suit all day, or sit in a bath of baked beans (but that might be a bit too messy and your family/flatmates might complain, as well as being wasteful!)

Get in touch with us to jointly work out the logistics. Email: elft.charity@nhs.net

No idea is too crazy or too zany for us!!!!

People who have been cared for by our staff may want to express their appreciation to those who have supported them through a difficult or challenging time, or provided end of life care.

A donation to the ELFT Charity can go into the general charitable fund to support a range of projects across the Trust, to help patients, service users and the wider community.

You need to make sure your wishes are explained clearly in a professionally written will that is up-to-date. This is the best way to ensure that people and causes that are important to you are supported.

If you are considering bequeathing a legacy or donation to the ELFT Charity and would like more details, please contact us: elft.charity@nhs.net 

You can also make a donation through our JustGiving page here

The Charity funds are not meant to be stored or saved. They have to be used and issued year-on-year to assist or enhance developments. The ELFT Charity has opted to focus on three specific areas to support people who receive services from the Trust:
•    Improving Social Networks
•    Improving Employment Prospects
•    Improving Digital Accessibility

What is an NHS charitable fund?
NHS Charitable Funds is the term used to cover the money that is not received as a normal part of NHS business but is rather money donated or left to the Trust, to pay for additional items that might not be purchased in the normal course of business

What kinds of things can charitable funds pay for?
The funds can be used for the following purposes:

• Equipment to support patient safety at home, trial new interventions not currently offered and support and small research projects
• To create a better environment and generally enhance patient care
• To provide extra comforts or opportunities for patients/service users currently not permitted from other sources
• Staff and service user welfare, amenities, training, and education.

What types of support is the ELFT Charity focusing on?
ELFT Charity has opted to focus on three specific areas to support people who receive services from the Trust:
•    Improving Social Networks
•    Improving Employment Prospects
•    Improving Digital Accessibility

What is the criteria for applying to the funds?
An application form is available to download below. This will need to be completed with some clear information on the reasons for requesting the funds, the amount, and how you intend to spend.

A successful proposal will:
•    Benefit patients, residents, carers, or staff
•    Be clear about who the beneficiaries are
•    Be properly costed including showing the impact of revenue implications separately and how these will be picked up.
•    Be supported by the relevant manager
•    Have sufficient funds
•    Show value for money

The form will be submitted to the ELFT Charitable Funds Committee, which meets on a monthly basis to approve any requests made.

Is a grant a one-off payment or can you apply for repeat funds?
There are no restrictions on how many times you can apply for charitable funds, we want to hear your ideas and support where possible. But we do ask for bids to show how the project will be supported going forward. The charitable funds we not re-fund a project that it has already funded.

Is there a minimum or maximum amount you can ask for?
Depending on what the request is, there are some restrictions on the amount. We have two forms of application:
•    Option 1: This is limited up to £5,000, duration 12 months
•    Option 2: For funding applications in excess of £5,000 that are more detailed in support and address larger aspects of needs within the wider community that may require larger funding.

What is the process for applying for funding?
There is a simple form that you have to complete and submit:

• ELFT Charity Funding Guidance
• ELFT Charity Expression of Interest (Only if applying for Option 2 - £5000+)

Where does the money in the ELFT Charity come from?
The funds currently have come from many sources including, patients, donors, and fundraising events.

What is your Charity number?
The ELFT Charity is registered with the Charities Commission (Charity Number 1198337) 

Who decides or makes the decision on allocating funds?
The ELFT Charitable Funds Committee considers all applications.

What is the process for people to contribute to the fund?

•    Monthly donations as gifts
•    A one-off gift
•    In memory – donations in honour of someone special
•    Through a will as a legacy
•    Via phone or post using the appropriate forms
•    Fundraising activities
•    Online donation via our JustGiving account

Can I specify the person or service I want my donation to go to? 
The ELFT Charity is not able to restrict or earmark funds donated for specific group or service. If your donation is to demonstrate your regard and gratitude for a specific team, we would encourage them to apply for funds to support something for the team/service or other patients in the unit/caseload.

It is understandable that donors would want a portion of the funds to go to the individuals who were personally involved in the care and support of a loved one. The terms of NHS employment mean that staff members are not at liberty to accept gifts or benefits. However, we can determine if there is something that would benefit the service that they could bid for. We can assist them with the application and offer support with this. It can be gratifying to see a positive endeavor come from a sad or difficult situation. 

What is the fund not for?
Charitable funds cannot be used to meet budget deficits, funding gaps, or personal items for individuals

If I donate money, can I specify how it should be used?
We are grateful for all donations to the ELFT Charity.  We aim to keep Charity monies open more broadly, therefore donated funds are kept in a general pot and all services are able to apply for the funds for within their part of the service. The ELFT Charity has opted to focus on three specific areas:

•    Improving Social Networks
•    Improving Employment Prospects
•    Improving Digital Accessibility

How does the ELFT Charity complement ELFT’s work?
ELFT provides outstanding care to our service users and aims to be an exemplary employer taking care of and supporting our teams. The Trust will continue to do this but there are times when the needs of the people we support and work with cannot be met within ELFT’s remit as an NHS organisation. Our charitable arm will aim to meet these needs, which will typically be beyond the clinical care and exceptional employee support ELFT provides

For this reason we will not fund work that ELFT should rightly have within its budget eg PPE, clinical care, ward renovations, team training and away days.  We have capital and expenditure budgets in place for these already in ELFT.

How does the ELFT Charity fit within the Strategy of the Trust?
Our charitable work supports and works within the Trust Strategy and potentially can play a key role in funding an initiative not otherwise possible. The Trust’s population health objectives in particular is a key focus.

What are the ELFT Charity’s key priorities?
Every year we will set some broad priorities that will guide our key projects.  These will be set in consultation with our service users, colleagues, and governors and will be informed by our People Participation priorities and others. We will balance our funding across our geography and communities taking into account needs and donor priorities. Our current priorities are:

•    Improving Social Networks
•    Improving Employment Prospects
•    Improving Digital Accessibility

Our key projects give focus to our work and enable requests to be made against them and for us to fundraise for them [ie donor friendly ideas too]

Our current key projects are:
•    Healthier Wealthier Families: 
•    Newham Hope Garden Project: 

Updated November 2023

The ELFT Charity is keen to receive bids from staff who want to start innovative projects that will make a positive and long-lasting change and go above and beyond what we’d expect the NHS to normally provide. You can apply with co-applicants. They may be external to the Trust, but you’ll need to explain why their specific expertise is needed.

Funding cannot go towards a service or item that NHS funding should provide but the ELFT Charity can support projects that will benefit service users and staff. 

The ELFT Charity is providing an opportunity for services to consider applying for grants for the following priority areas:
• Improving Social Networks
• Improving Employment Prospects
• Improving Digital Accessibility

There are two types of funding that can be applied apply for:

Option 1: This is limited to £5,000
Purpose: Ideas and improvements focused on supporting service users in East London, Luton & Bedfordshire.
Level of Funding: Up to £5,000 is available
Duration of funding: Up to 12 months
Region: East London, Luton & Bedfordshire

Option 2: For funding applications that are in excess of £5000 that are more detailed in support and address larger aspects of needs within the wider community. We understand in such situation’s application may require larger funding.
Purpose: Ideas and improvements focused on supporting our service users in East London, Luton & Bedfordshire.
Level of Funding: In excess of £5,000
Duration of funding: Up to 12 months
Region: East London, Luton & Bedfordshire

Application Criteria
In an application for a grant, we will look for:

•    The benefit on service users, public and/or staff
•    A clear plan to make it happen.
•    Originality, innovation and inventiveness
•    Plans and commitment to making the project sustainable beyond ELFT Charitable funds and/or lead to a lasting change
•    Plans to monitor and evaluate the impact and share your findings and outcomes (both locally and in the wider healthcare sector, if appropriate)
•    Why the project should be supported by charitable funds

We manage funds donated for a restricted or specific purpose which we may be able to use to help fund your idea in those cases so still do get in touch.

Who can apply?
If you are employed by ELFT (and will be for the duration of the grant), you can apply for funding as the main applicant. You can apply with co-applicants external to the Trust but you will need to state why their specific expertise is needed.

ELFT Charity - Small Grants Application Form

ELFT Charity - Large Grants Application Form

ELFT Charity - Funding Guidance

ELFT Charity - Expression of Interest

* Please note, you have to be on an ELFT computer to be able to complete an online form