Additional funding announced to provide vital wellbeing support to NHS staff

As NHS staff across the country continue to work under intense pressure, NHS Charities Together and NHS England have today announced a further £2.9 million in funding to help strengthen crucial mental and physical wellbeing support for healthcare workers.  

The grants have been awarded as part of an £11 million programme – which includes a £5 million contribution from NHS England – which is designed to support projects across the country that will help the NHS workforce get well and stay well, including £1.1 million ringfenced by the charity for projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

NHS staff are the driving force behind our healthcare system, but they are currently working in some of the toughest conditions in history, with growing pressure from increased demand for health services and rising NHS vacancies. With the latest NHS England staff survey results⁽¹⁾showing that nearly one in three NHS workers describe themselves as ‘burnt out’ and 42% saying they experienced work related stress, the need for targeted, sustainable support has never been greater and NHS charities are uniquely positioned to provide this.  

The latest round of funding will support 32 ambitious projects across England, each designed in partnership with NHS staff to address the challenges they face in their day-to-day roles. From reducing burnout and fatigue among those working in high-pressure environments such as emergency departments and intensive care units, to creating more inclusive workplaces for staff joining the NHS from overseas, the projects reflect the diverse and evolving needs of the workforce.  

Ellie Orton OBE, Chief Executive at NHS Charities Together said:

The programme builds on the success of earlier funding, with over £5 million now invested in 61 projects since launching in 2024, supporting NHS staff across England with targeted, locally led wellbeing initiatives. Together, these projects will deliver targeted, practical support shaped by the real experiences of NHS staff, helping to address the root causes of burnout, improve workplace wellbeing and ensure staff feel supported in their roles.  

Evaluation and learnings from these projects will be used to inform future rounds of funding to support NHS staff wellbeing and to ensure that all projects are sustainable and have a lasting legacy to benefit the workforce both now and in the future.  

(1) NHS England staff survey data for 2025  https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-englands-2025-staff-survey-results/  

The 32 NHS Charities to receive funding in this round are:

·        North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust - Peterborough and Stamford Umbrella Charitable Fund  

·        West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Charity

·        ELFT Charity

·        Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust Charitable Fund

·        The Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust Charitable Fund

·        The Whittington Hospital NHS Trust Charitable Funds

·        Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospital Charity

·        Leicester Hospitals Charity

·        Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust Charitable Funds

·        North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust Charity

·        The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust Charity

·        The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity

·        South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Funds

·        The Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity

·        NorthCare Charity

·        Pennine Care Charity

·        The Walton Centre Charity

·        South East Coast Ambulance Service Charitable Fund

·        Sussex Community NHS Charity

·        Devon Partnership NHS Trust Special Charity

·        Dorset Healthcare Charitable Fund

·        Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust Charitable Fund

·        East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust Charitable Fund

·        Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund and Other Related Charities

·        South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust Charitable Fund

·        Derby and Burton Hospitals Charity

·        The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

·        NHS Blood and Transplant Trust Fund

·        Doncaster and Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Charitable Fund

·        Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Charity

·        East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust Charitable Fund

·        South Central Ambulance Charity