University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Charity

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Charity, established in 1996 as the dedicated charitable arm of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust—including University Hospital Coventry, Hospital of St Cross in Rugby, and Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust—exists to enhance patient, family, and staff experiences beyond standard NHS provision. Its mission centers on delivering compassionate, holistic care through innovation, community partnerships, and well-being improvements, funding equipment, research, facilities, and services that address local health needs in cancer care, cardiac and trauma, paediatrics, mental health, learning disabilities, and community health across Coventry, Rugby, and Warwickshire.

The charity supports a broad spectrum of activities, including cutting-edge medical equipment (e.g., pressure management tools, robotic surgery, AI diagnostics), pioneering research in cancer, digital health, and rehabilitation, new facilities like Maggie's Centres and community diagnostics hubs, staff training, and welfare initiatives. Beneficiaries encompass acute and long-term patients of all ages, their families, NHS staff, and the local community, with a focus on equity, measurable impact, and strategic alignment to Trust priorities.

Eligibility is strictly limited to applications from staff of the specified NHS Trusts for ward, department, or service improvements; unsolicited proposals from external charities or organisations are not accepted. There are no income thresholds or religious restrictions, but projects must demonstrate additionality beyond NHS funding.

Grants typically range from under £1,500 for small requests to £20,000 for standard awards, with larger sums requiring a detailed business case and trustee presentation. Staff submit via downloadable forms on the website (with quotations and signatures) anytime, with decisions at quarterly board meetings in January, May, July, and October. Distinctively, its NHS integration enables rapid, place-based responses to urgent needs, differentiating it from general health funders through direct hospital and community transformation.