Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds

The charity funds project grants for medical equipment, facility upgrades such as hydrotherapy pools, patient amenities like books for anxious youth and stroke rehabilitation devices, and staff welfare initiatives. It also supports innovative projects, including music therapy technology in mental health settings. Funding targets tangible improvements across Somerset NHS Foundation Trust services, covering hospitals and community-based care throughout the county. All funded work must demonstrate clear additionality to core NHS funding and align tightly with NHS strategy for maximum local impact.

Only Somerset NHS Foundation Trust staff can apply for funding; the charity does not accept unsolicited applications from external charities or groups. There are no organisational size, income, or religious restrictions, but proposals must show a clear geographic tie to Somerset services and demonstrate how they go beyond statutory NHS provision. The charity prioritises projects that enhance patient care, staff wellbeing, and healthcare environments, with a focus on holistic and sustainable outcomes.

The charity avoids funding core costs or statutory replacements, focusing instead on supplementary enhancements. It does not accept applications from external organisations or individuals, as funding is exclusively internal to Somerset NHS Foundation Trust staff.

The charity provides project grants that are supplementary to NHS funding, often described as 'icing on the cake' investments. It welcomes legacy gifts, corporate donations, and community fundraising, and decisions are guided by a Charitable Funds Committee that emphasises quality, value-for-money, and additionality. The charity does not accept unsolicited applications, working instead with internal staff to identify and develop projects that align with NHS strategy.