Guidance on applying for funding

We can only fund projects or items that cannot be funded by the NHS. Before applying, see if you can secure funding from the Trust first.

Items and projects must directly benefit patients being treated at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, or support the staff providing their care.

We can fund:

• Equipment (medical and non-medical). 
• Consumables and materials. 
• Non-permanent staff costs – for example, staff hired to support a project.
• Service improvement initiatives.
• Any other items that directly support the care of patients and that can’t be funded from other sources.

It’s possible we will award a grant from funding we already have, but sometimes we’ll decide to make a project a fundraising goal.

We also manage restricted Special Purpose Funds with different eligibility criteria used to support a range of activities over and above that which is usually available on NHS budgets. Get in touch to find out if you could be eligible to apply.  

If your project will specifically benefit patients of Evelina London or Guy’s Cancer, please apply with their respective charities: 

• Evelina London Children’s Charity
• Guy’s Cancer Charity 

Projects solely benefiting patients of Guy’s Cancer or Evelina London – please reach out to their respective charities for support in those cases.

However cross-site projects which could have benefits to these areas of service, amongst others, are eligible.

You can apply if you are a member of staff at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

You can apply if you hold an honorary contract with Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

You can apply if you work in GSTT Community Services in Lambeth and Southwark.

Yes.

Yes. However, please consider whether your Special Purpose Fund could be used for your project. We have a duty to encourage the spending of more restricted funds before less restricted funding. You could use funds from your SPF alongside funds from us for your project. 

• Guidance on how to use your Special Purpose Fund.

The smallest amount you can apply for is £500. There is no limit, but we have limited funds to give away so please make sure your request is realistic and appropriate to the outcomes you hope to achieve.

You can apply by: 

• Completing a Share Your Idea form. We’ll ask you some simple questions to get an outline of your project idea.

• Contacting a member of the Funding team. We can talk through your idea and answer any questions before you submit a Share Your Idea form

You can find full details here. 

Stage 1 – Share Your Idea

You need to submit a Share Your Idea form to start the process. This is not your full application. If your Share Your Idea is eligible and a good fit with the funding focus and charity objectives, we’ll invite you to submit a full application. We aim to get back to you within 10 days, except during funding call outs where the timelines may be different.

If your Share Your Idea is ineligible/cannot be progressed, we’ll let you know by email and give you some feedback.

Stage 2 – Invited to submit a full application

If you are invited to complete a full application form, we will email you a link to the application form. You will be assigned a Trust Funding Manager who you can reach out to for guidance and support while filling out your application. They can provide feedback on your draft application.

In this email we’ll also give you a deadline – it will be a minimum of 2 weeks from the date you receive the full application form. This is the time you have to complete your full application and submit it to us. Missing this deadline might mean we won’t be able to take your application forward in this round.

Stage 3 – Your application is triaged

We triage your full application to make sure it is still a fit with our funding focus, and whether there is any more detail we need from you. If we need more detail in a specific area of your application, we will ask you to add this. We’ll set you a new deadline to add this further information. Missing this deadline might mean we won’t be able to take your application forward in this round. Please be prepared to hear from us and check your emails regularly.

We may choose not to put your application to committee at this stage.

Stage 4 – Charitable Committee

Your application is reviewed and discussed by a committee of experienced Trust and Charity staff who make a decision on whether to fund your project.

You may be invited to attend the committee to briefly present your project and committee members can ask you some questions afterwards. Occasionally, committee members raise additional queries after the meeting.

Stage 5 – Outcome

We will let you know the Charity’s decision on your application within a few weeks. If you are successful, we will share with you any conditions of the award and take the next steps to issue you a grant agreement. If you are unsuccessful, you will get feedback. We only have a limited amount of funding to award, so we might have to say no to some good applications

If you’re asked to fill out a full application form, you’ll be asked to give us the contact details of the Manager and Finance Officer who will approve your application. You should make them aware of your project before finishing your full application form. We’ll get in touch with them to make sure the project has their approval. Projects that require additional sign-off, for example from IT for digital developments, you should also be able to show who has given approval. If your project involves the creation of health content, please follow the GSTT Health Content team’s guidance and contact them with any queries. 

Get in touch with your line manager if you are unsure who this is for you. We will need confirmation of their approval prior to the application going for consideration at Committee. 

If you are awarded funding, the Trust will be asked to sign an offer letter and its terms and conditions

• Guidance for grant holders.

If your idea isn’t funded, we will give you feedback from the committee. Being unsuccessful doesn’t mean you can’t apply again – get in touch with us if you would like to discuss an unsuccessful application further.