Leicester Hospitals Charity exists to support the three hospitals in the city – the Leicester Royal Infirmary, the Leicester General, and the Glenfield Hospital. They also help patients, carers, and the NHS workers who look after them.

‘The NHS is exceptional at what it does, and we love working closely with the community to make the care received across our hospitals even better. We run regular events and targeted fundraising appeals, and manage ongoing donations to provide additional resources, assets, and skills to improve the service we offer patients and the working lives of our doctors, nurses and ancillary staff. 

Sunita Patel, Head of Corporate and Community Fundraising at the charity.

The charity has a general fund which ensures donations reach areas which are in need of charitable funding, and alongside that they have ongoing appeals for particular items or programmes. 

In 2023, they’re turning their attention to developing their spiritual care offer through creating new spaces where the social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors can be taken care of. The creation of a new Spiritual Care Centre will provide spaces that will allow faith, hope and compassion to come to the fore in the healing process. The vision for the new spaces is ‘from tired and exhausted to loved and cared for’ – which will be situated at the heart of the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

The charity needs to raise £2 million to make the vision a reality. This will include raising funds to build a new St. Luke’s Chapel, to replace the old chapel which was demolished during the construction of a new emergency floor at the Infirmary. It will also uplift and transform the existing prayer rooms into lighter, brighter, and more welcoming spaces, reflecting the varied cultures and religions within the city. They will also create a multi-purpose room to create a space of sanctuary to be used by everyone.

‘As a charity we are well-supported by the people of Leicester and beyond, and also by many businesses and other organisations, and this gift from Berkeley Insurance and Ecclesiastical Insurance is a real boost. We can’t thank them enough.’

Berkeley, one of the UK’s largest independent Chartered Insurance Brokers, has an office in the city. ‘Leicester’s hospitals provide an amazing service for our local community and we are delighted to be able to make this Closer to you grant in conjunction with Ecclesiastical, in addition to the support we provide to Leicester Hospitals Charity as our chosen charity of the year.’ 

Sue Hull, Operations Director, Berkeley

‘It’s a pleasure to have been able to help Sunita and her fundraising via the team at Berkeley. To think that our contribution will have some small effect on the huge process of saving lives is humbling.’

Phil Edwards, Strategic Account Manager, Ecclesiastical Insurance.

Visit the charity: Leicester Hospitals Charity