The Hospital Saturday Fund is a grant-making charity which donates to medically associated charities for care and research, and to some individuals with health problems throughout the UK the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and, historically, Malta.
The Charitable Company's principal objects as set out in its Memorandum of Association are:
"The relief of sickness and suffering and giving of help to those who are aged, infirm unemployed or in need and who require Medical Relief as hereinafter defined or who are pregnant and for the promotion of medical research for the benefit of the public in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Eire, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Malta."
Large Grants of between £2,001 and £10,000 (or up to €11,600) and Standard Grants of up to £2,000 (or €2,324) are available with no matched funding requirement.
Grants can be used to support capital projects, hospice/respite care, medical care, medical projects, medical training, research or running costs. Large Grants tend to be awarded for specific projects, research or equipment rather than running costs.
During 2022, the Hospital Saturday Fund processed 571 applications (2021: 392) on behalf of individuals and awarded 445 (2021: 326) grants totalling £343,953 (2021: £123,968).
A further total of £1,758,170 (2021: £1,687,382) was awarded to 534 (2021: 568) medical charities, hospices and hospitals including the special medical school grant
The vast majority of grants awarded were for £2,000 (or €2,324), with a number of lesser donations being made. Several examples of grant recipients are provided on the Trust's website.
Funding is not available for:
o Charitable projects outside the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, Republic of Ireland.
o Donations towards general fundraising appeals or requests.
o Organisations that are carrying out non-medically related activities.
o Organisations that are not registered with their regulatory body (for example, the Charity Commission for England and Wales, the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator), or
o Overseas projects.
The 2024 application deadlines for Large and Standard Grants are:
(1) Large Grants (between £2,001 and £10,000 (or up to €11,600)):
o Wednesday 3rd April 2024.
o Wednesday 12th June 2024.
o Tuesday 27th August 2024, and
o Monday 2nd December 2024.
(2) Standard Grants (up to £2,000 (or €2,324)):
o Wednesday 1st May 2024.
o Wednesday 10th July 2024, and
o Monday 23rd September 2024.
Guidelines and an online application form are available on the Hospital Saturday Fund website. Please note that paper and letter applications are not accepted. All applicants will receive an email indicating the result of their application.
