NHS Charities Together

NHS Charities Together
Name	NHS Charities Together
Type	Charity umbrella organisation
Founded	2008
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Area served	England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland

NHS Charities Together is a national membership body representing independent charities that support the National Health Service and its staff, patients, and volunteers across the United Kingdom. It acts as an umbrella organisation coordinating fundraising, distributing grants, and advocating for member charities during major events such as public health emergencies, philanthropic drives, and cultural partnerships. The organisation operates at the intersection of UK public life, engaging with institutions such as the Department of Health and Social Care, major philanthropists, and corporate partners.

History

NHS Charities Together was established in 2008 to provide a unified voice for dozens of independent charities associated with the National Health Service. Early interactions connected the group with bodies like the King's Fund, the Nuffield Trust, and the British Medical Association as the organisation navigated charity regulation under the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. During the 2012 Summer Olympics and later high-profile health campaigns, the organisation coordinated with cultural institutions such as the Wellcome Trust, the Tate Modern, and the Royal Opera House for public engagement. Its role expanded markedly during the COVID-19 pandemic when it worked alongside the NHS England, the British Red Cross, and the House of Commons to distribute emergency funds and manage national appeals.

Organisation and governance

The governance model incorporates a voluntary board and executive team accountable to charity law overseen by regulators including the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. Trustees have come from diverse backgrounds including leaders associated with Oxford University, Cambridge University, the London School of Economics, and institutions such as Great Ormond Street Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. Corporate partnerships have connected the organisation with companies like Sainsbury's, Tesco, BP, HSBC, and John Lewis Partnership, while philanthropic engagement has included foundations such as the Wellcome Trust, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and family philanthropies linked to the Gatsby Charitable Foundation. Governance practices reference standards from bodies including the Institute of Fundraising, the Association of Charitable Foundations, and the National Audit Office guidance on public funding.

Membership and member charities

Membership comprises dozens of independent charities tied to individual NHS trusts and health boards across the UK, including organisations connected to major hospitals such as St Thomas' Hospital, Guy's Hospital, Royal Free Hospital, Addenbrooke's Hospital, and Royal London Hospital. Members also include regional charities affiliated with entities like NHS Scotland, NHS Wales, and Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland. Several member charities have historical links with institutions such as St Bartholomew's Hospital, Christie Hospital, Mayo Clinic (reference partnerships), and international exchanges with organisations like World Health Organization and Médecins Sans Frontières for knowledge sharing. The network engages academic partners including Imperial College London, UCL Hospitals, King's College London, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and research funders such as the Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Fundraising and campaigns

The organisation has coordinated national appeals, high-profile fundraising campaigns, and corporate initiatives involving partners like BBC, ITV, Sky Group, BBC Children in Need, and media figures tied to outlets such as The Times, The Guardian, and Daily Mail. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a major national fundraising effort involved celebrity supporters from the worlds of Sir Elton John, Dame Judi Dench, David Beckham, Sir Paul McCartney, and television personalities with ties to programmes like Coronation Street and EastEnders. Campaigns have included collaborations with events such as Comic Relief, Sport Relief, London Marathon, and cultural institutions like the Royal Albert Hall and the British Museum for benefit concerts and auctions. Corporate fundraising initiatives have linked to loyalty schemes at Tesco Clubcard, Sainsbury's Nectar, and workplace giving programmes at Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group.

Grants and support programmes

NHS Charities Together administers grant programmes to distribute funds to member charities for patient welfare, staff wellbeing, equipment, and community initiatives. Grants have supported projects at trusts including Barts Health NHS Trust, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Birmingham Women's Hospital, and specialised centres such as Royal Brompton Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital. Support has ranged from funding music therapy linked to organisations like the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama to mental health initiatives associated with Mind, Samaritans, and the Anna Freud Centre. Emergency response grants have mirrored partnerships with Public Health England, the National Environment Research Council for infrastructure, and logistics partners such as British Red Cross and Ambulance Service Charities.

Impact and criticism

Supporters cite increased patient services, staff welfare programmes, and rapid emergency funding as major impacts, with measurable contributions to trusts such as Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Royal Papworth Hospital, and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Critics have raised questions about reliance on charitable funding for services linked to core functions traditionally funded through statutory allocations, prompting debate involving commentators at Institute for Fiscal Studies, Resolution Foundation, and policy researchers at the King's Fund and the Nuffield Trust. Scrutiny from investigative outlets including The Guardian and BBC Newsnight examined transparency, administrative costs, and allocation priorities, while regulators such as the Charity Commission for England and Wales have advised on governance standards. The balance between philanthropy and public finance remains a subject of review among policymakers at HM Treasury, health leaders at NHS England, and parliamentary committees including the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee.

Category:Health charities in the United Kingdom