East Cheshire NHS Trust Charitable Fund

East Cheshire NHS Trust Charitable Fund is the official charity of East Cheshire NHS Trust, operating as an umbrella for over 80 sub-funds to enhance NHS healthcare services beyond statutory funding. Established to relieve sickness and promote health among patients, families, carers, and staff in the Trust's catchment, it aligns with the 2022–2026 strategic vision 'Our Healthy Future Together,' emphasising patient-centred care, health inequalities, community partnerships, and workforce wellbeing. Overseen by the Trust as corporate trustee, it stewards donations with rigorous due diligence, ensuring alignment with NHS priorities, donor intent, and Charity Commission rules.

The fund supports patient welfare through homely environments, specialist equipment, and programmes like hospital@home, pulmonary rehab, and long COVID services; staff development via training centres (£1.48m in 2023/24) and wellbeing initiatives; health promotion with community partners; and occasional capital enhancements for cancer care, palliative services, cardiac rehab, and neuro-rehabilitation. Beneficiaries are strictly those served by Macclesfield District General Hospital and community services across Macclesfield, Knutsford, Congleton, Poynton, Disley, Handforth, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Holmes Chapel, and surrounding areas.

Unsolicited applications from external entities are not accepted—funding is internal only, allocated via staff/department requests reviewed ongoing by fund holders and the Charitable Funds Committee. No income/size rules or deadlines apply externally; recent allocations range from £9,000 for equipment to multi-million infrastructure. It excludes statutory clinical costs or core NHS-funded activities, distinguishing itself through deep NHS integration, localism, and flexible, need-responsive enhancements unavailable from national medical charities. Contact for partnership or designated giving opportunities.