Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds is the parent charity supporting Somerset NHS Foundation Trust services across Musgrove Park Hospital, Yeovil Hospital, 13 community hospitals, and mental health and learning disability provisions throughout Somerset. Its core mission is to advance public health and patient welfare by funding enhancements beyond statutory NHS resources, focusing on patient care, staff wellbeing, and improved healthcare environments. Operating through brands like Love Musgrove, Yeovil Hospital Charity, and Somerset NHS Charity, it channels legacy gifts, corporate donations, and community fundraising into supplementary "icing on the cake" investments, guided by a Charitable Funds Committee emphasizing quality, value-for-money, and additionality.

It prioritizes project grants for medical equipment, facility upgrades (e.g., hydrotherapy pools), patient amenities (books for anxious youth, stroke rehab devices), staff welfare, and innovative initiatives like music therapy technology in mental health settings. Funding targets tangible improvements for patients, families, and NHS staff, fostering holistic, sustainable outcomes in countywide services.

Exclusively internal funding means it does not accept unsolicited applications from external charities or groups—only Somerset NHS Foundation Trust staff can apply via online or paper forms. No organizational size, income, or religious restrictions apply, but proposals must demonstrate clear additionality to core NHS funding and geographic tie to Somerset services. Small requests under £5,000 ("Wishes") are reviewed rolling with four-week decisions; larger "Dreams" grants up to £25,000+ undergo quarterly committee scrutiny and business case development. Distinctively, it avoids core costs or statutory replacements, prioritizing responsive, community-engaged projects that align tightly with NHS strategy for maximum local impact.