NHS Lothian Charity

The Charity funds projects and initiatives that align with its priority objectives: enhanced patient and carer experience, improved clinical outcomes, reduced health inequality, improved community health, and improved staff wellbeing. Supported activities include those in physical health, mental health, older people, children and youth, disability, carers, community development, and arts and culture. The types of costs covered include equipment, capital works, training, research, project delivery, and salaries. Additionally, a dedicated Course, Travel and Accommodation Funding stream supports staff development by covering training and transport costs. All funded work must take place within the Lothian region—Edinburgh, East Lothian, West Lothian, and Midlothian—and benefit NHS Lothian patients or staff.

Only individuals can apply for funding, specifically NHS Lothian staff. The Charity does not accept applications from registered charities, community groups, social enterprises, or other organisations. Applicants must be based in and carry out their work within the Lothian region. The funding is intended to support staff-led initiatives that directly benefit patients or enhance staff wellbeing and professional development. There is no religious restriction on applicants. The Charity prioritises projects that align with its mission to reduce health inequality and improve clinical outcomes and community health.

The Charity does not fund core costs, retrospective requests, running costs of ongoing projects, or core activities and items. Equipment replacement is unlikely to be supported. For staff development, mandatory or core training is not funded. Additionally, the Charity does not accept applications from organisations—only from individual NHS Lothian staff.

The Charity welcomes unsolicited applications from NHS Lothian staff for projects that align with its priority objectives. Funding is provided for specific initiatives, covering costs such as equipment, capital works, training, research, project delivery, and salaries. There is no requirement for match funding. The Charity’s approach is to empower frontline staff to drive improvements that directly enhance patient care and staff experience.