Our Grant-Making Priorities
In October 2023, the Trustees reviewed the charity's priorities for this year and next, and our grant-making framework can be summarised under four key themes:
Meeting our obligations – We are keen to complete current obligations, such as the Advanced Nurse Practitioner rotation-based training pilot, the Simulation Based Education programme, Outside Spaces staff rest areas funded by NHS Charities Together, the Borders Macmillan Centre enhancements, the Volunteer Services Manager, the Clinical Practitioner for Complex Dementia Care, and the Music Therapist in DME.
Spending our ‘restricted’ funds – We have over 200 funds designated across multiple wards, hospitals, services, and departments. We are working with the relevant Fund Managers and departments to see how these funds can be put to best use to support patient care. This is facilitated by our Small Grants and Advancing Health Programmes.
Raising unrestricted funds – We are proactively trying to increase our unrestricted funds so that we can be flexible and respond to the needs wherever and whenever they arise across NHS Borders. To do this, we are raising the charity's profile across our sites and encouraging donations to be given to where the need is greatest.
Supporting fundraisers – We know that staff, patients and the community are often keen to fundraise to support new initiatives, even if they fall outside our current priorities. We are delighted to support these efforts and are on-hand with fundraising advice, support and plenty of encouragement along the way. There are some great examples of what our fundraisers are up to on our website here. We are also happy to share our new fundraising pack.
It does mean that we will be less able to support grant applications beyond the budget of an individual fund or for areas which do not currently hold a ‘restricted’ fund, as we concentrate on our priorities.
If you were hoping to make an application in the meantime, please do contact our Charity Development Manager Colleen (colleen.barlow@borders.scot.nhs.uk) and she can advise you further.
