Guidance on applying for funding

Your project can be focused on any area of cancer services, either clinical or operational.

We can only fund projects or items that cannot be funded by the NHS. Before applying, see if you can secure funding from the Trust first.

Items and projects must improve cancer patient experience and/or staff wellbeing in cancer services at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

We can fund:

• Equipment (medical and non-medical), furnishings, refurbishment, any other items or projects that benefit patients and patients care, and that can’t be funded from other sources.
• Research projects that seek to bring direct benefit to cancer patients and will directly translate into service, without requiring further research after the completed project. The applicants must seek approval and authorisation from all the relevant departments and governing bodies before an application is made.
• Training, but only if it is part of an overall project to improve patient care and experience or staff wellbeing.

It’s possible we will award a grant from funding we already have, but sometimes we’ll decide to make a project a fundraising goal.

We can’t fund:

• Items that are core NHS funding responsibilities (such as those related to ensuring health and safety).
• Applications to support individual, named patients.
• recurrent and on-going maintenance costs for equipment that has already been purchased (projects and equipment must be self-sustaining once an initial grant has been given).
• Projects or activities which directly or indirectly benefit commercial companies providing services to the hospital, such as GSTS, the public/private partnership for Trust pathology services.
• Applications for activities or equipment that have already been completed.
• Research costs unless for highly translational projects which will directly result in improved care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Trust.

You can apply if you are a member of staff at Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

You can apply if you hold an honorary contract with Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.

You can apply if you work in GSTT Community Services in Lambeth and Southwark.

You can apply by:

• Completing a Share Your Idea form. We’ll ask you some simple questions to get an outline of your project idea.
• Contacting a member of the Funding team. We can talk through your idea and answer any questions before you submit a Share Your Idea form.

You can find full details on the ‘I’ve got an idea I want funded‘ page.

Our most recent round of funding closed on 31st October 2022. We will have more funding rounds in the near future.

Stage 1 – Share Your Idea:

You need to submit a Share Your Idea form to start the process. This is not your full application. If your Share Your Idea is eligible and a good fit with the funding focus and charity objectives, we’ll invite you to submit a full application.

If your Share Your Idea is ineligible, we’ll let you know by email and give you some feedback.

Stage 2 – Invited to submit a full application:

If you are invited to complete a full application form, we will email you a link to the application form. In this email we’ll also give you a deadline – it will be around 2 weeks from the date you receive the full application form. This is the time you have to complete your full application and submit it to us. Missing this deadline might mean we won’t be able to take your application forward in this round. Please complete your application form fully and on time You can contact us if you have any questions about your application and we will be happy to support you.

Stage 3 – Your application is triaged

We triage your full application to make sure it is still a fit with our funding focus, and whether there is any more detail we need from you. If we need more detail in a specific area of your application, we will ask you to add this. We’ll set you a new deadline to add this further information. Missing this deadline might mean we won’t be able to take your application forward in this round. Please be prepared to hear from us and check your emails regularly.

We may choose not to put your application to committee at this stage.

Stage 4 – Cancer Committee

Your application is reviewed and discussed by a committee of experienced Trust and Charity staff who make a decision on whether to fund your project.

Stage 5 – Outcome

We let you know the Charity’s decision on your application. If you are successful, we will share with you any conditions of the award and take the next steps to issue you with a grant agreement. If you are unsuccessful, you will get feedback. We only have a limited amount of funding to award, so we might have to say no to some good applications.

If you’re asked to fill out a full application form, you’ll be asked to give us the contact details of the Manager and Finance Officer who will approve your application. You should make them aware of your project before finishing your full application form. We’ll get in touch with them to make sure the project has their approval. Get in touch with your line manager if you are unsure who this is for you.

Yes. However, please consider whether your Special Purpose Fund could be used for your project. We have a duty to encourage the spending of more restricted funds before less restricted funding. You could use funds from your SPF alongside funds from us for your project.

• Guidance on how to use your Special Purpose Fund.

Yes.

If you are awarded, you will be asked to sign an offer letter and its terms and conditions.

• Guidance for grant holders.

If your idea isn’t funded, we will give you feedback from the committee. Being unsuccessful doesn’t mean you can’t apply again – get in touch with the Funding team if you would like to discuss an unsuccessful application further.