I want to know about Special Purpose Funds

Special Purpose Funds are created when funds are donated to us for a specific purpose.

These funds may be to say ‘Thank you’ for the care of a loved one on a ward or to support a particular type of research.

How do Special Purpose Funds work?

Each Special Purpose Fund has a main and deputy fundholders who are responsible for planning how to spend the donations we receive. If you’re a fundholder, we’ll ask you to prepare an annual spending plan to tell us how you intend to spend donated funds.

Special Purpose Funds rely entirely on donations from patients, staff and members of the public. Where teams have a substantial source of voluntary donations for their service, they can apply to set up a special purpose fund to drive improvements and help build a better future of healthcare at Guy’s and St Thomas’.

What are Special Purpose Funds used for?

Special Purpose Funds are usually highly restricted. We work closely with the fundholders to ensure that they are managed carefully and provide the maximum possible benefit for patients and staff.

The funds are used to support a range of activities over and above that which is usually available on NHS budgets. This could include investment in education, patient care, equipment, research, and staff wellbeing across the different wards, clinics and departments in the Trust’s acute hospital and community sites.

What has been previously funded by Special Purpose Funds?

There are around 200 funds of varying sizes and purposes and around 150 for Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital. For example, the Amputee Rehab Unit Fund supported the development of a Garden Green House which facilitates year-round gardening therapy sessions for patients. Meanwhile, the Medical Physics Department Fund funded coffee machines for staff in their break room.

We love hearing about how fundholders have been spending donated funds, so please get in touch if you would like to tell us about anything especially interesting or impactful that you’ve done with your special purpose fund.